Allbutforgottenoldies.net Music News Digest: Week Of February 4, 2018

February 11, 2018 by Amy Gold

During the week of February 4, 2018, the Songwriters Hall of Fame announced its inductees for 2018. Among this year's honorees are "Whisperin'" Bill Anderson, John Mellencamp, and Kool & The Gang members Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell, George Brown, and James "JT" Taylor. The awards ceremonies will take place June 14 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

Also that week, Paul Simon announced his upcoming final trek, "Homeward Bound -- The Farewell Tour." This 29-date tour begins May 16, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia and will cover much of the U.S., Canada, and Europe before wrapping up on July 15 at London's Hyde Park.

Chicago and REO Speedwagon announced a 34-date co-headlining U.S. tour beginning June 13, 2018 in Concord, CA and ending August 12 in Clarkston, MI, with stops in many states across the country. Due to popular demand, Elton John added a new series of show dates for late 2018-2019 covering several states to his three-year "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour. The Eagles also announced an extension of their 2018 North American tour through October 20 in Cleveland, with five additional new concerts in California, Connecticut, and Wisconsin starting in September.

A new Nina Simone archival album titled "Mood Indigo: The Complete Bethlehem Singles" was just released featuring many of the late R&B/jazz legend's earliest recordings. Also coming out this week is a new limited-edition colored vinyl edition of The Beach Boys' classic 1966 album, "Pet Sounds."

Don McLean announced a new album titled "Botanical Gardens" which is due out on March 23, 2018. A new box set edition of Love's critically acclaimed "Forever Changes" will be coming out on April 6 to commemorate the album's 50th anniversary. Also coming out on the same day is the soundtrack to the upcoming HBO documentary, "Elvis Presley: The Searcher," which will be available in various formats.

Also that week, it was announced that "Concert For George," a documentary that captures a 2002 George Harrison tribute concert at London's Royal Albert Hall, will be shown in theaters starting February 20, 2018 in observance of what would have been the late Beatle's 75th birthday. Another Fab Four-related documentary is also in the works that covers the band's 1968 visit to the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram to study Transcendental Meditation (TM). Titled "Beatles In India," this upcoming film is expected out sometime later this year.

Finally, fans bade a final farewell to Craig MacGregor (September 13, 1949 - February 9, 2018), a longtime member of Foghat who had served as the band's bassist.

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

"Eric Clapton: Life In 12 Bars" makes its TV premiere February 10, 2018 on Showtime.