Allbutforgottenoldies.net Music News Digest: Week Of March 17, 2019

March 25, 2019 by Amy Gold

During the week of March 17, 2019, fans bade a final farewell to pioneering and influential surf rock guitarist and songwriter, Dick Dale (May 4, 1937 - March 16, 2019), and famed R&B singer and songwriter, Andre Williams (November 1, 1936 - March 17, 2019). Dale's hits included "Let's Go Trippin'" (1961), widely regarded as the first surf rock instrumental, and "Miserlou" (1962), the latter of which was used to great effect as part of the movie soundtrack to "Pulp Fiction" (1994). Williams' best known songs included "Bacon Fat" (1957) and "Cadillac Jack" (1968), and he co-wrote the extensively-covered "Shake A Tail Feather" which became a hit in 1967 for James & Bobby Purify.

Also that week, the Library of Congress announced this year's additions to its National Recording Registry. Among the entries are such oldies classics as Ritchie Valens' "La Bamba" (1958), Sam & Dave's "Soul Man" (1967), Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" (1969), and Earth, Wind & Fire's "September" (1978). Also included are the original Broadway cast recording of "Hair" (1968) and Curtis Mayfield's album, "Superfly" (1972).

Blind Faith's self-titled 1969 album, which includes the ethereal "Can't Find My Way Home," will be coming out on April 19, 2019 as a vinyl reissue. Also, Bonnie Tyler announced a new album, "Between The Earth And The Stars," which was recently released in the U.K. and is due out sometime later this year in the U.S. Highlights include "Battle Of The Sexes," a feisty duet with the similarly raspy-voiced Rod Stewart.

The full lineup for the upcoming Woodstock 50 fest (August 16-18, 2019) has been announced, and among the featured performers are Canned Heat, David Crosby & Friends, Dead & Company, John Fogerty, Country Joe McDonald, Melanie, Robert Plant, Santana, and John Sebastian. Also, Paul Simon will headline the final day of the 2019 Outside Lands festival at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, to take place August 9-11.

Sammy Hagar's AXS TV reality series, "Rock & Roll Road Trip," will return for a fourth season that begins on May 5, 2019. Among the featured guests are Cheech & Chong, Charlie Daniels, Robby Krieger of The Doors, Willie Nelson, REO Speedwagon, and Rick Springfield. AXS TV also announced the May 5 premiere of the second season of "Real Money," the reality TV series starring Eddie Money and his family.

Also that week, it was announced that a restored version of the star-studded 1968 concert special, "Rolling Stones Rock And Roll Circus," will be shown April 1-4, 2019 in select theaters across the U.S. Along with The Rolling Stones, this movie's featured performers also include Marianne Faithfull, Jethro Tull, and The Who. Also, a special screening of rare archival Bruce Springsteen footage from his early days to the present has been added to the 2019 Asbury Park Music & Film Festival, which will take place April 25-28 in Asbury Park, NJ.

Finally, the affable Roger Daltrey of The Who apologized for using profanity during a recent interview with U.K.'s Sky News. He reportedly became annoyed when asked if he thought Brexit would have a negative effect on British music.

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