Allbutforgottenoldies.net Music News Digest: Week Of October 11, 2020

October 19, 2020 by Amy Gold

During the week of October 11, 2020, it was announced that the legendary Jerry Lee Lewis, who recently turned 85, will be honored at a celebration to take place October 27 as a virtual live stream event accessible via JerryLeeLewis.com, YouTube, and other websites. Special guests will include Elton John, Tom Jones, Willie Nelson, Joe Walsh, former President Bill Clinton, and more.

Also that week, a number of Van Halen songs resurfaced on several Billboard charts in the wake of the recent passing of Eddie Van Halen. "Jump" topped both the Hot Hard Rock Songs and the Hard Rock Streaming Songs charts and also reached #2 on the Rock Digital Sales and #9 on the Rock Streaming Songs and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs tallies. Other Van Halen songs that reappeared on various Billboard charts include "Panama," "Runnin' With The Devil," "You Really Got Me," "Eruption," and "Hot For Teacher." In addition, the band's eponymous debut LP topped the Hard Rock Albums chart, followed by "1984."

Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" made a return to the Billboard Hot 100 at #21, 43 years after it originally topped that chart in 1977. This song's resurgence in popularity followed a viral TikTok video featuring Nathan Apodaca lip syncing to the song while skateboarding down a highway drinking Ocean Spray cranberry juice. In addition, Fleetwood Mac's classic album, "Rumours," which includes this song, re-emerged on the Billboard 200 at #13, making this its first appearance in this chart's Top 20 since 2011.

Jeff Lynne of ELO was among those honored in the 2020 edition of Queen Elizabeth II's annual Birthday Honours list which recognizes outstanding achievements of those across the U.K. The veteran Rock & Roll Hall of Famer was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) for his services to music.

Finally, Alice Cooper will be running for President again as he has every four years since 1972. As part of his campaign for this year, the affable shock rocker released a new animated lyric video for the 2016 version of his 1972 smash, "Elected." His slogan is I can do nothing as well as they can do nothing, and his platform this time around is I have absolutely no idea what to do.

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.)