March 28, 2021 by Amy Gold
Library of Congress adds 25 historic recordings to the National Recording Registry—including music by Louis Armstrong, Pat Metheny, Albert King, Leontyne Price, Odetta, Jimmy Cliff, Jessye Norman, Jackson Browne, Janet Jackson, and Kool & the Gang. https://t.co/Ge0odmcjcc pic.twitter.com/tRFdRhb24o
— Ted Gioia (@tedgioia) March 24, 2021
During the week of March 21, 2021, the Library of Congress announced the latest additions to its National Recording Registry that include Louis Armstrong's "When the Saints Go Marching In," Kool & The Gang's "Celebration," LaBelle's "Lady Marmalade," and Jackson Browne's album, "Late For The Sky." Other artists featured in LOC's complete list of recordings include Jimmy Cliff, Janet Jackson, country singer Connie Smith, and Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog.
Also that week, it was announced that Linda Ronstadt sold her recorded music assets to Iconic Artists Group, an entertainment rights management company formed by longtime Eagles manager, Irving Azoff. Iconic will partner with Ronstadt and her team to market her catalog.
Queen's 1975 smash, "Bohemian Rhapsody," was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America for passing the $10 million mark in sales and stream equivalents in the U.S. This milestone makes Queen the first-ever British band to achieve RIAA Diamond status for an individual song.
Also that week, it was announced that "Cher & The Loneliest Elephant" will premiere April 22, 2021 on Paramount+ in the U.S. and will air May 19 on the Smithsonian Channel. This new documentary follows the good-hearted pop icon in her quest to rescue an elephant from a life of misery and squalor in a zoo in Pakistan.
Finally, March 20, 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of Janis Joplin's "Me And Bobby McGee" reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. In commemoration, this song's first official music video made its premiere on the YouTube channel for the late singer. Also, a new book titled "Janis Joplin: Days & Summers -- Scrapbook 1966-68" will be coming out on June 10.
New & Upcoming Releases:
(Band/Artist - Title - Format - Release Date)
Van Morrison - Only A Song (single from "Latest Record Project: Volume 1") - digital download, streaming - March 23, 2021
Elton John - Scarecrow (single from "Jewel Box") - digital download, streaming - March 25, 2021
Elton John - Holiday Inn (single from "Jewel Box") - digital download, streaming - March 25, 2021
Elton John - Keep It A Mystery (single from "Jewel Box") - digital download, streaming - March 25, 2021
Elton John - Smokestack Children (single from "Jewel Box") - digital download, streaming - March 25, 2021
Elton John - Two Of A Kind (single from "Jewel Box") - digital download, streaming - March 25, 2021
Elton John - Conquer The Sun (single from "Jewel Box") - digital download, streaming - March 25, 2021
Tower Of Power - 50 Years Of Funk & Soul: Live At The Fox Theater (album and video) - CD/DVD, DVD, vinyl, digital download, streaming - March 26, 2021
Jon Anderson of Yes - Olias Of Sunhillow (1976 album reissue) - CD/DVD - March 26, 2021
The Jacksons - The Jacksons Live! (1981 album reissue) - vinyl - March 26, 2021
Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top - West Coast Junkie (single from "Hardware") - digital download, streaming - March 26, 2021
Neil Young - Young Shakespeare (1971 archival live album and concert video) - CD, DVD, vinyl, digital download, streaming - March 26, 2021
Dennis DeYoung of Styx - Isle Of Misanthrope (single from "26 East, Volume 2") - digital download, streaming - April 7, 2021
Cream - Live At The Forum (1968 archival recording, limited edition) - Vinyl - April 23, 2021
The Jacksons - Triumph (1980 album reissue) - CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming - April 30, 2021
The Jacksons - Victory (1984 album reissue) - CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming - April 30, 2021
The Jacksons - 2300 Jackson Street (1989 album reissue) - CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming - April 30, 2021
Van Morrison - Latest Record Project: Volume 1 - CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming - May 7, 2021
Judy Collins with Joan Baez & more - White Bird: Anthology Of Favorites - CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming - May 7, 2021
Steve Miller Band - Steve Miller Band Live! Breaking Ground: August 3, 1977 (archival recording) - CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming - May 14, 2021
Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top - Hardware - CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming - June 4, 2021
Dennis DeYoung of Styx - 26 East, Volume 2 - CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming - June 11, 2021
Grateful Dead - Grateful Dead: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (1971 live album reissue) - CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming - June 25, 2021
(For more information about the above news items, please see below for a list of sources with links.)
Former @STYXtheBand frontman Dennis DeYoung has unveiled the details of his final album: https://t.co/ggJ0Wpn1JI
— UltimateClassicRock (@UltClassicRock) March 19, 2021
New post (Expanded Digital Editions of The Jacksons Studio Albums--Triumph, Victory, and 2300 Jackson Street - Out Friday, April 30) has been published on The Hype Magazine - https://t.co/5O7R9xWBzM pic.twitter.com/OUSO2LDJrG
— The Hype Magazine™ (@TheHypeMagazine) March 19, 2021
Irving Azoff's Iconic Artist Group continues its acquisition binge, buying of Linda Ronstadt's recorded music assetshttps://t.co/PmAz6Xdj33
— billboard (@billboard) March 22, 2021
Judy Collins releasing new covers compilation 'White Bird,' featuring duets with Stephen Stills, Joan Baez - https://t.co/MwuT3C8Kbu pic.twitter.com/SOXrCsHTfE
— AM 880 KIXI (@AM880KIXI) March 23, 2021
Stream This: Listen to @VanMorrison's "Only A Song" for a taste of the iconic musician's forthcoming 'Latest Record Project: Volume 1' double albumhttps://t.co/7VTt3O0XvB
— JamBase (@JamBase) March 23, 2021
Library of Congress adds 25 historic recordings to the National Recording Registry—including music by Louis Armstrong, Pat Metheny, Albert King, Leontyne Price, Odetta, Jimmy Cliff, Jessye Norman, Jackson Browne, Janet Jackson, and Kool & the Gang. https://t.co/Ge0odmcjcc pic.twitter.com/tRFdRhb24o
— Ted Gioia (@tedgioia) March 24, 2021
How about some good news? @Cher & the Loneliest Elephant, our documentary about #KaavansJourney is coming soon. Stream it early this Earth Day - April 22nd - exclusively on @ParamountPlus#CherTheLove #ParamountPlus pic.twitter.com/beKx4yFw35
— Smithsonian Channel (@SmithsonianChan) March 24, 2021
.@JanisJoplin's #MeAndBobbyMcGee gets first-ever official video for 50th anniversary #janisjoplin https://t.co/uk6Rl6aYxF
— The Music Universe (@themusicuni) March 24, 2021
Cream's 1968 'Live At The Forum' Show Coming to Blue Vinyl 2LP Edition https://t.co/jvQjk1MMjH
— uDiscover Music (@uDiscoverMusic) March 25, 2021
The Grateful Dead's self-titled 1971 live album is getting a remastered expanded edition for its 50th anniversary: https://t.co/Nt0JsZnn8V
— UltimateClassicRock (@UltClassicRock) March 25, 2021
ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons to release new solo album, 'Hardware' out June 4, 2021 via Concord Records. Most of the new album is original, rock-oriented. Feat. guest Larkin Poe. New single/video "West Coast Junkie" premiered March 26. Check this out! https://t.co/odDz1Fre1j pic.twitter.com/CQK3GNZZvX
— @RockBluesMuse (@RockBluesMuse) March 25, 2021
Bohemian Rhapsody Reaches Diamond Status for 10 Million US Sales! https://t.co/3u1lOAz7Tf pic.twitter.com/1ZeTiqeArU
— Queen (@QueenWillRock) March 25, 2021
Steve Miller has dug deep into his archives and found an unreleased, full-length concert recording, Steve Miller Band Live! Breaking Ground: August 3, 1977, arriving via Sailor/Capitol/UMe on Friday, May 14. @SMBofficial https://t.co/tf1aABlFN6
— uDiscover Music (@uDiscoverMusic) March 26, 2021
. @TheJonAnderson's expanded and remastered version of his debut solo album Olias Of Sunhillow is out today. Here's the Prog review... https://t.co/QKDs7qU7tY
— ProgMagazineUK (@ProgMagazineUK) March 26, 2021
Six deep cuts have been made available on streaming and digital formats for the first time, including the tune "Scarecrow," which began Elton John's legendary songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin in 1967. https://t.co/1lyZE1iLcS
— NBC12 WWBT Richmond (@NBC12) March 26, 2021
Neil Young releases 'Young Shakepeare' archival 1971 concert album and video - https://t.co/Aw6TRHn32U pic.twitter.com/x8JEkTi9W9
— AM 880 KIXI (@AM880KIXI) March 26, 2021
Music News: Tower of Power releases new live album and concert video, '50 Years of Funk & Soul' https://t.co/LGlLN1dFsL More @ https://t.co/u9twSRpzVO pic.twitter.com/obv44ao56A
— X101 - wxhc 101.5 fm (@X101_wxhc) March 27, 2021