September 26, 2021 by Amy Gold
The Temptations are celebrating their 60th anniversary by releasing the new Smokey Robinson-penned song "Is It Gonna Be Yes or No." https://t.co/WiCitv68Pu
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) September 24, 2021
During the week of September 19, 2021, Motown legends Smokey Robinson and The Temptations teamed up for the first time in decades on "Is It Gonna Be Yes Or No," a new song written and produced by Robinson in which he also shares lead vocals with Otis Williams, The Temptations' sole surviving original member. This song was released as a single and will also be included on the upcoming "Temptations 60" LP.
Also that week, Elton John scored a record-breaking 40th Top 10 hit on the Adult Contemporary chart with his recently-released "Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)." His first Top 10 hit on that chart came in 1971 with "Your Song."
"Learning To Live Together: The Return Of Mad Dogs & Englishmen," a new documentary covering the late Joe Cocker's famous 1970 tour, will make its world premiere September 30, 2021 at the Woodstock Film Festival in Woodstock, NY. This movie features archival footage of the original trek plus scenes from a star-studded 2015 Lockn' Festival performance led by the Tedeschi Trucks Band that paid homage to this event.
Finally, concert ticket sales data from StubHub indicate that The Rolling Stones and The Eagles are among the most in-demand live acts of 2021, ranking at #3 and #9, respectively. Elton John ranks at the very top of 2022 when he is slated to resume his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour which had to be postponed this year due to a hip injury.
In Memoriam:
Sarah Dash (August 18, 1945 - September 20, 2021): R&B singer, songwriter, and session musician who was a founding member of LaBelle (of "Lady Marmalade" fame) and later worked with The Rolling Stones
Bob Moore (November 30, 1932 - September 22, 2021): Session musician, orchestra leader, double bassist, and member of the Nashville A-Team during the 1950s and 1960s who worked with such top acts as Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, and Kenny Rogers.
Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis (April 21, 1941 - September 24, 2021): Jazz saxophonist, composer, and arranger who worked with James Brown, Van Morrison, and other top acts
Alan Lancaster (February 7, 1949 - September 26, 2021): English bassist and founding member of Status Quo best known for "Picture Of Matchstick Men" (1968)
Tours & Shows:
(Band/Artist - Event(s) - Location - Dates)
Foreigner - Residency - Las Vegas, NV - March 25-April 9, 2022
Don McLean - Tour (American Pie) - U.K. - September-November, 2022
Newly-Announced Recordings:
(Band/Artist - Title - Format - Release Date)
The Beatles - Get Back (Take 8) (single from "Let It Be") - digital download, streaming - September 20, 2021
The Beatles - One After 909 (Take 3) (single from "Let It Be") - digital download, streaming - September 20, 2021
The Beatles - I Me Mine (1970 Glyn Johns mix) (single from "Let It Be") - digital download, streaming - September 20, 2021
The Beatles - Across The Universe (2021 mix) (single from "Let It Be") - digital download, streaming - September 20, 2021
Carlos Santana & Steve Winwood - A Whiter Shade of Pale (single from "Blessings And Miracles") - digital download, streaming - September 21, 2021
Frank Sinatra - Reprise Rarities Volume 5 - digital download, streaming - September 24, 2021
The Temptations & Smokey Robinson - Is It Gonna Be Yes Or No (single from "Temptations 60") - digital download, streaming - September 24, 2021
Ray Stevens - Ain't Nothin' Funny Anymore - CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming - October 8, 2021
The Beatles - Let It Be (special edition) - various formats - October 15, 2021
Santana - Blessings And Miracles - CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming - October 15, 2021
Cat Stevens - Teaser And The Firecat (expanded 50th anniversary reissue) - various formats - November 12, 2021
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts (1979 archival album and film) - various formats - November 16, 2021
Brian Wilson - At My Piano - CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming - November 19, 2021
Frank Zappa - 200 Motels (reissue of 1971 movie soundtrack) - CD, vinyl - November 19, 2021
The Temptations - Temptations 60 - CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming - ca. 2022
(For more information about the above news items, please see below for a list of sources with links.)
Brian Wilson Goes Solo to Reimagine Beach Boys Classics on 'At My Piano' https://t.co/b1B4WDK6yW
— Variety (@Variety) September 17, 2021
Elton John Notches Record-Extending 40th Adult Contemporary Top 10 With Dua Lipa Collab 'Cold Heart' https://t.co/yXTXEfSjwN
— GoFarther (@farther_go) September 20, 2021
New doc focusing on 1970 Mad Dogs & Englishmen Tour, 2015 Lockn' fest tribute premiering this month - https://t.co/VRxr2Ig9ad pic.twitter.com/7Ap3OKoBWJ
— AM 880 KIXI (@AM880KIXI) September 20, 2021
Music News: Foreigner returning to Las Vegas for 2022 residency dates https://t.co/pmgLXYlhog #musicnews #abcnews
— SuperHits103.7COSYFM (@cosyfm) September 20, 2021
Hear four more tracks from the upcoming Super Deluxe version of The Beatles' 'Let It Be' https://t.co/SNrJygvQyE
— 95.7 The Lake (@957TheLake) September 20, 2021
Hear @SantanaCarlos and @SteveWinwood team up for a cover of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" ... listen HERE --> https://t.co/Eno6kw4VJ3 #RealRockNews
— KSHE 95 (@KSHE95) September 21, 2021
Don McLean sets "American Pie" 50th anniversary Europe/UK tour - https://t.co/1VwzDoNkm3 pic.twitter.com/fVCEFWwOzc
— AM 880 KIXI (@AM880KIXI) September 21, 2021
Labelle singer Sarah Dash died Monday at the age of 76.https://t.co/J00c0H46XD
— HotNewHipHop (@HotNewHipHop) September 21, 2021
StubHub says Rolling Stones are among the most in-demand live acts for 2021, Elton John tops for 2022 https://t.co/JsDix5ZPRg
— 95.7 The Lake (@957TheLake) September 22, 2021
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band's 'Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts' film and album due in November https://t.co/mMHNYX6XEV
— 95.7 The Lake (@957TheLake) September 23, 2021
Expanded 50th anniversary reissue of Cat Stevens' 'Teaser and the Firecat' album due in November - https://t.co/NWs1SnNKG6 pic.twitter.com/kcJpxPaRaN
— AM 880 KIXI (@AM880KIXI) September 23, 2021
@FrankSinatra Reprise Rarities Vol.5 https://t.co/CYno1KR2Ks
— uDiscover Music (@uDiscoverMusic) September 24, 2021
How did Bob Moore die? Nashville A-Team bassist who worked with Elvis dies at 88 https://t.co/DAEcy8acwu
— 9jalover (@9jalover1) September 24, 2021
Check back into Frank Zappa's 200 Motels with a massive, six-CD 50th-anniversary reissue for the 1971 film soundtrack. https://t.co/awUaz8N0YR
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) September 24, 2021
The Temptations are celebrating their 60th anniversary by releasing the new Smokey Robinson-penned song "Is It Gonna Be Yes or No." https://t.co/WiCitv68Pu
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) September 24, 2021
Pee Wee Ellis, the influential jazz saxophonist best known for his work with James Brown, Van Morrison, and Ginger Baker, has died at age 80. https://t.co/JFGBbGUSK7
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) September 24, 2021
Country Music Hall of Famer Ray Stevens Declares 'There Ain't Nothing Political About Vaccines' https://t.co/TIVVEA5XYw
— People (@people) September 24, 2021
Rest in Peace: https://t.co/Cr9WBIbQoj
— UltimateClassicRock (@UltClassicRock) September 26, 2021
