Allbutforgottenoldies.net Music News Digest: Week Of June 23, 2019

July 1, 2019 by Amy Gold

During the week of June 23, 2019, PBS announced that The O'Jays will be joining the lineup of this station's 39th annual "A Capitol Fourth" TV special which will air live on July 4 at 8 PM EST. This show will also be viewable on the Armed Forces Network and will stream live on Facebook, YouTube, and PBS.org.

Also that week, Bruce Springsteen scored his 20th Top 10 album on the Billboard 200 with his latest release, "Western Stars," making him among this chart's most popular recording artists of all time. The Rolling Stones hold the record for the highest number of Top 10 albums (37), followed by Barbra Streisand (34), The Beatles and Frank Sinatra (32), Elvis Presley (27), Madonna and Bob Dylan (22), and George Strait (21). Springsteen's current 20 Top 10 listings tie him with Paul McCartney/Wings and Elton John.

An archival Elvis Presley 11-CD box set titled "Live 1969" featuring 11 complete concerts that the King gave at his historic first residency at Las Vegas' International Hotel 50 years ago will be coming out on August 9, 2019. Also due out that month is a remixed version of "Chicago Transit Authority," the band's debut album which has also reached its 50-year milestone. This album, which peaked at #17 on the Billboard 200, includes three Top 40 hits: "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?," "Beginnings," and "Questions 67 and 68."

Elton John has written and recorded a song titled "Never Too Late" for Disney's upcoming new "Lion King" film which is coming to theaters July 19, 2019. This song will be included in the movie soundtrack which is due out July 11 as a digital download and July 19 in various other formats.

"FM," a 1978 comedy that takes a behind-the-scenes look at a fictional rock radio station, will be coming out June 30, 2019 on Blu-ray. The soundtrack includes songs by such veteran acts as Boston, The Doobie Brothers, The Eagles, Foreigner, Billy Joel, Steve Miller Band, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Queen, Boz Scaggs, Bob Seger, James Taylor, and Joe Walsh, as well as live performances in concert by Linda Ronstadt and Jimmy Buffett. Steely Dan performed the title song, "FM (No Static at All)," which reached #22 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Who has partnered with Omaze to launch a contest offering one winner and a guest a trip to Boston where they will get premium seats to the band's September 13, 2019 concert and a meet-and-greet/photo op with Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey. The prize also includes free airfare, four-star hotel accommodations, and other perks. For more info, visit Omaze.com/TheWho.

Also that week, AXS TV announced the premiere of "Paul Shaffer Plus One," a new series featuring interviews by Shaffer of various music icons. This show will launch on September 15, 2019 with an interview of Joe Walsh, and upcoming episodes will focus on such top artists as Graham Nash, Smokey Robinson, Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.

Finally, fans bade a final farewell to Dave Bartholomew (December 24, 1918 - June 23, 2019) and Jerry Carrigan (September 13, 1943 - June 22, 2019). Bartholomew was a celebrated trumpeter, bandleader, composer, arranger, and record producer who worked closely with Fats Domino. A key figure in the New Orleans music scene, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1998. Carrigan was a highly acclaimed session drummer who worked with Arthur Alexander, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and many other top bands and artists.

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