Allbutforgottenoldies.net Music News Digest: Week Of August 16, 2020

August 23, 2020 by Amy Gold

During the week of August 16, 2020, two former U.S. presidents made the news in the world of oldies music. Barack Obama released this year's edition of his annual summer playlist which includes songs by such veteran artists as Bob Dylan, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Otis Redding, War, and Stevie Wonder. Also, "Jimmy Carter Rock & Roll President," a new documentary about how he integrated his love of music with his political career, will premiere September 9 in theaters and virtual cinemas and released as a home video on October 9.

"Herb Alpert Is...," a new documentary about the famed trumpet player and A&M record label founder, will make its world premiere on October 1, 2020 via a Facebook Live event before getting a nationwide virtual cinema release on October 2 when it will also debut on Amazon, iTunes, and other digital platforms. Coinciding with this movie's premiere, a career-spanning Herb Alpert box set of the same name will also be released. For more info, visit herbalpertis.com.

A restored and re-edited version of Pink Floyd's 1989 concert video, "Delicate Sound Of Thunder," will be shown on October 15, 2020 in select theaters for one night only. This film captures the band on tour in support of its 1987 album, "A Momentary Lapse Of Reason." Most of the movie was filmed at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY where Pink Floyd performed in August 1988. For more info, visit DelicateSoundofThunder.com.

A number of classic songs by Billy Joel will be featured in the upcoming 2nd season of Amazon's superhero series, "The Boys," to premiere on September 4, 2020. The Piano Man's memorable 1989 chart topper, "We Didn't Start The Fire," with lyrics consisting mainly of a long list of headline events, was featured in the series' Season 2 trailer. Other featured songs include Joel's 1985 Top 10 hit "You're Only Human (Second Wind)," which he wrote to help teens struggling with depression and thoughts of suicide.

Finally, fans bade a final farewell to Pete Way (August 7, 1951 - August 14, 2020), a founding member of UFO who served as the band's bassist through 1982. Formed in 1968, UFO is a veteran U.K. rock band best known in the U.S. for "Doctor Doctor" (1974) and "Too Hot To Handle" (1977), which were both minor hits. Way rejoined the band briefly from 1988–1989 and again from 1991-2008 on a more permanent basis. He died one week after his 69th birthday after battling life-threatening injuries from an accident two months earlier.

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