Allbutforgottenoldies.net Music News Digest: Week Of August 19, 2018

August 27, 2018 by Amy Gold

During the week of August 19, 2018, fans bade a final farewell to famed guitarist Ed King (September 14, 1949 - August 22, 2018) who was a founding member of Strawberry Alarm Clock and later joined Lynyrd Skynyrd. During his time with the legendary Southern rock band, he co-wrote "Sweet Home Alabama" and many other hits.

Also that week, Aretha Franklin's 1985 compilation, "30 Greatest Hits," re-entered the Billboard 200 at #7, giving the late Queen of Soul her highest ranking album since 1972 when "Amazing Grace" also reached #7 on this chart. Franklin also posthumously re-entered the Billboard Artist 100 chart at No. 4, having previously spent one week on this chart in November 2014 at No. 68.

The Eagles' hugely popular 1976 compilation, "Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975," recently overtook Michael Jackson's "Thriller" as the best-selling album of all time. The band's classic "Hotel California" (1976) also currently ranks at #3 in this list, making The Eagles one of very few recording artists to achieve such a milestone.

David Crosby announced an upcoming U.S. fall tour beginning November 2, 2018 in Seattle, WA and ending December 8 in Port Chester, NY, also covering California, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Barry Manilow will extend his Las Vegas residency at the Westgate resort through June 2019, with 33 new show dates lined up beginning in November. Also, Micky Dolenz and Mike Nesmith of The Monkees have announced the first of their rescheduled "Mike & Micky Show" concerts which will take place beginning March 8, 2019.

An expanded version of John Lennon's classic 1971 album, "Imagine," will be coming out on October 5, 2018. Dave Davies of The Kinks announced a new solo album titled "Decade" that features songs recorded from 1971-1979 due out on October 12. Also, a new compilation titled "Appleseed's 21st Anniversary: Roots And Branches" will be coming out on October 19. This 57-track collection includes material from the folk label's archives, plus nine newly-recorded songs, by such top artists as Joan Baez, Jackson Browne, Judy Collins, Donovan, Jonathan Edwards, Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Bruce Springsteen.

Also that week, AXS TV announced that Ringo Starr will be the featured guest on the 100th episode of this station's series, "The Big Interview," hosted by Dan Rather. Other artists who will appear on upcoming episodes this fall include Rod Stewart, members of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Kansas, Joan Baez, Kenny Loggins, and Dickey Betts of The Allman Brothers Band.

Finally, a long-lost duet by Carly Simon and Mick Jagger recorded 46 years ago was recently discovered on a tape owned by a Rolling Stones collector in London. Titled "Fragile," this gem was recorded at around the same time that the Jagger-backed hit, "You're So Vain," was released.

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

Watch Led Zeppelin perform "Misty Mountain Hop" live at NYC's Madison Square Garden (July 1973) from the upcoming reissue of "The Song Remains The Same."