June 12, 2017 by Amy Gold
During the week of June 4, 2017, The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" re-entered the Billboard 200 at #3 and topped the UK Official Albums Chart for the second time since its original release in 1967.
Also that week, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, which houses the site where the 1969 Woodstock festival took place, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.
A remastered version of the soundtrack to "Tonite Let's All Make Love In London," a 1967 British documentary about the then-swinging London scene, was recently released featuring early songs by Pink Floyd and Small Faces. The soundtrack to the upcoming movie, "Baby Driver," will be coming out later this month that includes songs by Simon & Garfunkel, The Beach Boys, Dave Brubeck, and more. A new Elvis Presley box set titled "A Boy From Tupelo: The Complete 1953-1955 Recordings" will be coming in July. Also that month, The Doors' "Light My Fire" will be reissued as a limited-edition vinyl single to commemorate the song's 50th anniversary. In August, Carlos Santana and Ronald and Ernie Isley will release a new album titled "Power Of Peace."
A new version of the 1984 documentary, "Gospel According To Al Green," will be coming out in July on DVD and Blu-ray.
Johnny Mathis and KC & The Sunshine Band both announced U.S. tours beginning later this month. Also, Pete Townshend announced a series of shows this September featuring an orchestral version of The Who's 1973 album, "Quadrophenia."
Also that week, it was announced that The Beach Boys and The Four Tops will perform at this year's upcoming PBS Independence Day special, "A Capitol Fourth." A new film titled "Carole King: Tapestry -- Captured Live At Hyde Park" documenting her 2016 London concert will be shown in theaters around the country for one night only (July 11, 2017). Also, the Recording Academy will honor Sly Stone, The Velvet Underground, Charley Pride, and Jimmie Rodgers at this year's Grammy Salute to Music Legends to take place in July. This event will be recorded and broadcast on PBS sometime later this year.
Finally, a street in Detroit was named after soul legend Aretha Franklin.
(For more information about the above-listed news items, please see below for a list of sources with links and article summaries.)
2016 Nobel Prize in Literature recipient Bob Dylan delivers lecture in Los Angeles (June 4, 2017).
June 5, 2017: Soundtrack To 1967 British Counterculture Documentary Reissued
A remastered version of the soundtrack to "Tonite Let's All Make Love In London," a 1967 British documentary about the then-swinging London scene, was recently released. Highlights include rare early songs by Pink Floyd (then known as The Pink Floyd), Small Faces, and British rocker Chris Farlowe.
June 5, 2017: KC & The Sunshine Band Announce Upcoming Shows And New Single
KC & The Sunshine Band announced eight concerts beginning June 9, 2017 in Jefferson, IA and ending September 2 in Coarsegold, CA, covering various cities in California, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The legendary R&B/disco band also recently released a new dance single titled "Movin' Your Body," along with a companion lyric video of the same title on YouTube.
Source: KC and the Sunshine Band keeping booties shaking with new single, "Movin' Your Body"
June 5, 2017: New Collaborative Album By Santana And The Isley Brothers Album To Be Released
Carlos Santana and Ronald and Ernie Isley of The Isley Brothers recorded an album together last year titled "Power Of Peace" which will be coming out on August 4, 2017. This 13-track collection features mostly covers of such oldies classics as Curtis Mayfield's "Gypsy Woman," Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)," and Jackie DeShannon's "What The World Needs Now Is Love Sweet Love."
Source: Santana's Isley Brothers collaboration, "Power of Peace," due out in August
June 5, 2017: The Beatles 'Sgt. Pepper' Tops UK Album Chart, Re-enters Billboard 200 At #3
The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" re-entered the Billboard 200 at #3 following its 50th anniversary reissue on May 26, 2017. The album had previously topped this chart in 1967, the year of its original release, spending a whopping 15 weeks at the #1 spot. "Sgt. Pepper" also recently shot to the top of the UK Official Albums Chart, making this the second time this album has occupied the #1 slot on this chart since its original release.
Source: The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper" reenters "Billboard" 200 at #3; tops UK album chart
June 5, 2017: Soundtrack To 'Baby Driver' Features Songs by Simon & Garfunkel And More
The soundtrack to the upcoming action movie, "Baby Driver," will be coming out on June 23, 2017. Highlights of this 30-track collection include Simon & Garfunkel's "Baby Driver," which was used as the title song to the movie, plus songs by The Beach Boys, Dave Brubeck, The Commodores, Queen, Sam & Dave, Barry White, and more. The film opens in theaters on June 28.
June 6, 2017: The Doors 'Light My Fire' To Be Reissued As Vinyl Single
On July 28, 2017, The Doors' "Light My Fire" will be reissued as a limited-edition vinyl single in commemoration of the song's 50th anniversary. "Light My Fire" spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard 100 in 1967, the year of its original release, and this oldies classic was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
Source: Fire sale: The Doors releasing limited-edition vinyl "Light My Fire" single
June 6, 2017: Pete Townshend Of The Who To Bring Orchestral Version Of 'Quadrophenia' To US
Pete Townshend of The Who announced a series of shows this September in the U.S. featuring an orchestral version of The Who's 1973 concept album, "Quadrophenia." The concerts will take place in Lenox, MA at Tanglewood, New York City at the Metropolitan Opera House, and Los Angeles at The Greek Theatre. The Boston Pops Orchestra will perform at the Tanglewood concert, and conductor Robert Ziegler will lead the performances in New York City and Los Angeles.
June 6, 2017: Recording Academy To Honor Sly Stone, Velvet Underground, And More
This year's Grammy Salute to Music Legends, which honors the Recording Academy's Special Merit Awards winners, will take place July 11, 2017 at New York City's Beacon Theatre. Among this year's Lifetime Achievement Award winners are Sly Stone, The Velvet Underground, Charley Pride, and Jimmie Rodgers. The show will be recorded and will air sometime later this year on PBS as an episode of Great Performances.
Source: Grammy Salute to Music Legends honoring Sly Stone, Velvet Underground and others scheduled for July
June 7, 2017: New version Of 1984 Al Green Documentary Due Out On DVD And Blu-ray
A new version of the 1984 documentary, "Gospel According To Al Green," will be coming out July 7, 2017 on DVD and Blu-ray. In this movie, the R&B icon-turned preacher/gospel singer recounts the grizzly incident that took place in 1974 that made him decide to give up pop music. Before committing suicide, a spurned girlfriend threw boiling hot grits on him while he was taking a shower at his home, burning him badly.
Source: New version of 1980s Al Green documentary due out on DVD and Blu-ray in July
June 7, 2017: The Beach Boys And Four Tops To Perform On 'A Capitol Fourth' Independence Day Special
The Beach Boys and The Four Tops are among the featured performers at this year's upcoming PBS Independence Day special, "A Capitol Fourth," to take place in Washington, D.C. on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Actor John Stamos will host the festivities and will also play drums with The Beach Boys. The show will air live on July 4, 2017 at 8PM ET.
Source: The Beach Boys, Four Tops & more to perform on "A Capitol Fourth" Independence Day special
June 7, 2017: Woodstock Festival Location Becomes Official Historic Site
On June 6, 2017, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel, NY has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Opened in 2006, it is a not-for-profit performing arts center and museum located at the site of the iconic 1969 Woodstock festival. In 1996, Alan Gerry purchased the original festival field and 1,700 acres surrounding it, with eventual plans for an arts center. The museum preserves the historic site where Woodstock took place.
Source: Woodstock location designated historic site
June 8, 2017: Detroit Street Named After Aretha Franklin
A street in Detroit's theater district was named after soul legend Aretha Franklin during a ceremony that took place on June 8, 2017. Aretha Franklin Way, which runs on Madison between Brush and Witherell, is the latest in a series of honorary street designations established by the Detroit City Council. This event kicked off a weekend celebrating the Queen of Soul as part of the inaugural Detroit Music Weekend festival downtown.
Source: 'Aretha Franklin Way' street unveiled for tearful Queen of Soul
June 8, 2017: New Elvis Presley Box Set To Be Released
A new Elvis Presley box set that gathers together his earliest recordings, including all those he made with Sun Records, will be coming out July 28, 2017 on CD, vinyl, and as a digital download. Titled "A Boy From Tupelo: The Complete 1953-1955 Recordings," highlights include various old familiar favorites made while at Sun, plus concert performances, radio appearances, and such rarities as the four self-financed recordings Presley made before signing with the legendary record label.
Source: New Elvis Presley box set, "A Boy from Tupelo," compiles the King's earliest recordings
June 8, 2017: Carole King 2016 London 'Tapestry' Concert To Be Shown In Theaters
A new film titled "Carole King: Tapestry -- Captured Live At Hyde Park" documenting her 2016 concert at London's famous venue will be shown in select theaters around the country for one night only (July 11, 2017). During this concert, King gave her first-ever performance of "Tapestry" in its entirety. She also sang some of the many oldies classics she co-wrote with then-husband Gerry Goffin during the 1960s as made famous by other artists.
Source: Carole King's 2016 London "Tapestry" concert to be screened in hundreds of US theaters in July
June 9, 2017: Johnny Mathis Announces Tour
Johnny Mathis announced a tour that will take the legendary smooth jazz/pop singer across the U.S. This upcoming 18-date trek begins on June 23, 2017 in Nashville, TN and ends on April 13, 2018 in Newark, NJ, covering California, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Oregon, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Mathis will also appear in a PBS TV special titled "Wonderful! Wonderful!" to air June 10, 2017.
Source: A "Wonderful!" Johnny Mathis concert special premieres Saturday
