Allbutforgottenoldies.net Music News Digest: Week Of August 12, 2018

August 20, 2018 by Amy Gold

During the week of August 12, 2018, fans bade a final farewell to R&B-soul legend and cultural icon Aretha Franklin (March 25, 1942 - August 16, 2018) whose rousing 1967 smash hit, "Respect," became an anthem for the civil rights, black power, and feminist movements of the late 1960s. As the long-reigning Queen of Soul with a career spanning over five decades, her very long string of hits also included such oldies classics as "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," "Chain Of Fools," and "Think."

Yes Featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin & Rick Wakeman announced a U.S. tour to commemorate the band's 50th anniversary that will kick off on August 26, 2018 in West Hollywood, CA at the city's Whisky a Go Go and end on September 9 in Huber Heights, OH, also covering Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, and Wisconsin. The band will be offering $2 tickets for the show at the Whisky a Go Go in celebration of the first performance by Yes at this famous venue which took place in 1971. Also, Aerosmith announced a new headlining residency in Las Vegas at the city's Park MGM resort that begins on April 6, 2019 and ends on July 9, with 18 shows scheduled.

Eric Clapton announced a new Christmas album titled "Happy Xmas" featuring bluesy covers of various holiday classics which will be coming out on October 12, 2018. Also, "The Village Green Preservation Society" by The Kinks will be reissued on October 26 in various formats in commemoration of this classic concept album's 50th anniversary.

Also that week, it was announced that a restored version of "Imagine," a 1972 movie co-directed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono that accompanied Lennon's solo album of the same name, will be shown on September 17, 2018 in theaters worldwide. Also, AXS TV will broadcast this year's Farm Aid benefit live from Hartford, CT on September 22. Featured performers will include this event's organizer and founder, Willie Nelson, plus Farm Aid board members Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews.

Finally, Diana Ross made chart history earlier this month when a remix single featuring her 1980 hits, "I'm Coming Out" and "Upside Down," topped the Billboard Dance Club Songs list.

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

Below is the official lyric video for "Time Song," a previously-unreleased 1973 song by The Kinks to be included in the upcoming reissue of the band's album, "The Village Green Preservation Society."