Allbutforgottenoldies.net Music News Digest: Week Of October 8, 2017

October 16, 2017 by Amy Gold

During the week of October 8, 2017, fans bade a final farewell to Jimmy Beaumont, the lead singer of The Skyliners best remembered for the 1959 hit, "Since I Don't Have You."

A new "NOW That's What I Call Christmas" compilation was recently released featuring many oldies holiday classics. The Moody Blues announced a deluxe 50th anniversary edition of "Days Of Future Passed" which is due out in November. Also coming out that month are a new Carpenters box set titled "The Vinyl Collection," a new Bob Seger album titled "I Knew You When," expanded reissues of The Eagles' "Hotel California," and the first installment in a series of demos Jimmy Buffett recorded during the late 1960s titled "Buried Treasure, Volume One."

Billy Joel announced his upcoming New Year's Eve concert to take place in Sunrise, FL. Chicago announced a Las Vegas residency to take place at The Venetian Theatre next February. Also, Alice Cooper will launch a North American headlining tour in support of his latest album, "Paranormal," beginning next March.

Also that week, CBS announced that Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Bruce Springsteen will take part in the upcoming "Grammys Greatest Stories: A 60th Anniversary Special," to air November 24, 2017.

(For more information about the above-listed news items, please see below for a list of sources with links and article summaries.)


Bob Dylan performs a previously unreleased gospel song, "Making A Liar Out Of Me," from the upcoming album, "Trouble No More: The Bootleg Series Vol. 13/1979–1981."


October 9, 2017: Jimmy Beaumont Of The Skyliners Passes Away

Famed singer and songwriter James L. ("Jimmy") Beaumont died on October 7, 2017 at age 76 in his sleep at his home in McKeesport, PA. He was the lead singer of The Skyliners, a male-female doo-wop group from Pittsburgh famous for "Since I Don't Have You" (1959). This extensively-covered oldies classic was co-written by Beaumont, Skyliners manager Joe Rock, and other group members. The Skyliners also had two other Top 40 hits with "This I Swear" (1959) and "Pennies From Heaven" (1960) before disbanding in 1963. They reunited in 1974 and had another hit the following year with "Where Have They Gone." They continued to tour and perform over the years, with a number of personnel changes. During their early years, The Skyliners made many appearances at The Apollo Theater in Harlem and on such TV shows as "American Bandstand," and they were also a part of Dick Clark's "Caravan Of Stars." The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.

Besides his lifelong work with The Skyliners, Beaumont had also recorded solo during the early-mid 1960s and had two minor hits with "Ev'rybody's Cryin'" (1961) and "I Feel Like I'm Falling In Love" (1965).

Source: Jimmy Beaumont, Co-Writer of 'Since I Don't Have You,' Dies | Texas News | US News

October 9, 2017: Moody Blues To Release 50th Anniversary Edition Of 'Days Of Future Passed'

The Moody Blues announced a deluxe 50th anniversary edition of their second album, "Days Of Future Passed," which is due out on November 17, 2017. This upcoming 2-CD/DVD set includes the original 1967 album plus archival BBC session recordings, alternate takes and versions of selected songs, B-sides, and a previously unreleased video of a January 1968 performance. A 2-LP vinyl set of the original album will also be released. "Days Of Future Passed" includes two of The Moody Blues top hits, "Nights In White Satin" and "Tuesday Afternoon."

Source: The Moody Blues' releasing deluxe 50th anniversary edition of "Days of Future Passed" in November

October 10, 2017: Alice Cooper Announces 2018 Headlining Tour

Alice Cooper announced a North American headlining tour in support of his latest album, "Paranormal." Dubbed "A Paranormal Evening with Alice Cooper," this trek begins on March 1, 2018 in Windsor, ON, Canada and is currently set to end on March 29 in Indianapolis, IN, with 20 show dates confirmed so far covering many East Coast and Northern states. For the remainder of 2017, Cooper will be touring Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.

Source: Alice Cooper plots 2018 US headlining tour in support of "Paranormal" album

October 10, 2017: Jimmy Buffett To Release Album Of Rare Late 1960s Demos

Jimmy Buffett announced the first installment in a series of long-lost demos he recorded during the late 1960s which is due out on November 17, 2017. Titled "Buried Treasure, Volume One," highlights of this 11-track this collection include his rendition of The Mamas & The Papas' "California Dreamin'."

Source: Jimmy Buffett releasing "Buried Treasure," an album of rare demos from the late '60s, next month

October 10, 2017: New 'NOW That's What I Call Christmas' Compilation Features Many Oldies Artists

A new "NOW That's What I Call Christmas" compilation was recently released featuring holiday classics by Gene Autry, The Beach Boys, David Bowie, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Jose Feliciano, Donny Hathaway, Burl Ives, The Jackson 5, Dean Martin, Johnny Mathis, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, The Temptations, and Andy Williams, plus several contemporary artists. Highlights of this 20-song collection include Elvis Presley's recently updated classic, "Blue Christmas," with backing by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and David Bowie and Bing Crosby's duet medley of "Little Drummer Boy" and "Peace On Earth."

Source: New "NOW That's What I Call Christmas" compilation features Elvis, Beach Boys, Temptations & more

October 10, 2017: Chicago Announces 2018 Las Vegas Residency

Chicago announced a Las Vegas residency to take place at The Venetian Theatre, with nine shows running from February 7-24, 2018. The band will donate $1 from every ticket sold to the Las Vegas Victims Fund which provides aid to the victims of the recent mass shooting in the city. For more info on this residency and other upcoming Chicago concerts, visit chicagotheband.com.

Source: Chicago announces 2018 Las Vegas residency; will donate money to city's mass shooting victims

October 10, 2017: Paul McCartney, Elton John, & Bruce Springsteen To Take Part In 60th Anniversary Grammy Special

Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Bruce Springsteen are among those who will take part in the upcoming "Grammys Greatest Stories: A 60th Anniversary Special," which will air November 24, 2017 on CBS. This TV special, which looks back at the 59-year history of the Grammys, will feature archival footage, interviews, and a behind-the-scenes peak at some memorable performances by such artists as Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Joe Walsh, and Aretha Franklin.

Source: Paul McCartney, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen & more taking part in 60th anniversary Grammy special

October 11, 2017: Eagles To Release Expanded Reissues Of 'Hotel California'

The Eagles announced expanded reissues of their classic 1976 album, "Hotel California," which are due out on November 24, 2017. The deluxe edition includes a remastered version of the original album plus a bonus CD with unreleased performances from an October 1976 concert and a Blu-ray Audio disc with three high-resolution mixes of the album. Originally released in December 1976, the Grammy award-winning "Hotel California," which spent 8 weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 the following year, includes the hits, "Life In The Fast Lane," "New Kid In Town," and the album's title track.

Source: Welcome back to the "Hotel California": Eagles releasing expanded reissue of classic 1976 album

October 13, 2017: Bob Seger To Release New Album

Bob Seger announced a new album titled "I Knew You When" that will be coming out on November 17, 2017. Highlights include his covers of Lou Reed's "Busload Of Faith" and Leonard Cohen's "Democracy." For more info, visit BobSeger.com.

Source: Bob Seger unveils full details of upcoming studio album, "I Knew You When"

October 13, 2017: Billy Joel Announces New Year's Eve Concert

Billy Joel announced his upcoming New Year's Eve concert to take place at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, FL, making this the third consecutive year that he will be ringing in the New Year at this venue. The Piano Man also has a series of other concerts lined up through the rest of this year that include three shows at New York's Madison Square Garden as part of his long-term residency.

Source: Billy Joel set for "Miami 2018" on New Year's Eve

October 13, 2017: New Carpenters Vinyl Box Set To Be Released

A new vinyl box set that includes 12 Carpenters' studio albums will be coming out on November 17, 2017. Titled "The Vinyl Collection," this set includes the following: "Ticket To Ride" (1969), "Close To You" (1970), "Carpenters" (1971), "A Song For You" (1972), "Now & Then" (1973), "The Singles 1969-1973" (1973), "Horizon" (1975), "A Kind Of Hush" (1976), "Passage" (1977), "Made In America" (1981), "Voice Of The Heart" (1983), and "Lovelines" (1989). All of the LPs in this box set will also be available for purchase individually.

Source: Box set featuring 180-gram vinyl versions of The Carpenters' albums due in November