Allbutforgottenoldies.net Music News Digest: Week Of July 8, 2018

July 15, 2018 by Amy Gold

During the week of July 8, 2018, fans bade a final farewell to 1950s movie star, pop singer, and teen idol Tab Hunter (July 11, 1931 - July 8, 2018). He topped the charts in 1957 with "Young Love" and co-starred in such films as "Battle Cry" (1955) and "Damn Yankees" (1958).

Also that week, "1," a compilation of #1 hits by The Beatles originally released in 2000, re-entered the Billboard 200 at #38. Also, Michael Jackson posthumously scored his 30th Top 10 hit on the Billboard 100 as the featured artist on Drake's "Don't Matter To Me."

Eric Burdon, Patti Smith, and Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead are among the many featured performers at the upcoming 2018 Pathway to Paris concert to take place September 14, 2018 at The Masonic in San Francisco. Also, John Lodge of The Moody Blues announced a series of fall concerts starting October 12 in Nashville, TN and ending October 23 in Arlington, MA, with stops in several Northeastern states.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple reunited with his old band from the early 1960s, The Javelins, to record their long-delayed debut album. Titled "Ian Gillan And The Javelins," this collection features covers of such rock classics as The Contours' "Do You Love Me" and is due out on August 31, 2018. Paul Simon announced a new album titled "In the Blue Light" coming out on September 7 that features new versions of some of his favorite songs from his back catalog. Also, a new Aretha Franklin compilation featuring highlights from her first few years with Atlantic Records will be released on September 28. Titled "The Atlantic Singles Collection 1967-1970," this 34-song set includes such old favorites as "Respect," "Think," "Chain Of Fools," and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman."

Also that week, Kenny Loggins and Adam Reader, the online music expert and interviewer known as the Professor of Rock, announced a new series of web documentaries in which Loggins will share the stories behind some of his best known songs. Titled "Summer Of Loggins," the series will feature a new weekly installment each Tuesday at ProfessorofRock.com through September 25, 2018.

Finally, June 12, 2018 marks the 60th anniversary of the historic first recording made by Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison when they were members of The Beatles predecessor group, The Quarrymen, which also included drummer Colin Hanton and pianist John "Duff" Lowe. The band recorded a cover of Buddy Holly's "That'll Be The Day" backed with the McCartney-penned "In Spite Of All The Danger."