August 13, 2023 by Amy Gold
During the week of August 6, 2023, the world bade a final farewell to three oldies music icons - Robbie Robertson of The Band, Kinks keyboardist John Gosling, and Sixto Rodriguez, a little-known Detroit-area rocker from the 1960s who had a resurgence in popularity after the 2012 Oscar-winning documentary, "Searching For Sugar Man."
Also that week, The Velvet Underground topped Billboard's list of the greatest album covers of all time with their 1967 recording, "The Velvet Underground & Nico," which features artwork by Andy Warhol. Coming in at #2 is The Beatles' "Abbey Road" featuring the Fab Four walking across the famous crosswalk. Other classic recordings in this list include Patti Smith's "Horses" (1975) at #3, Led Zeppelin's 1969 eponymous album at #5, Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side Of The Moon" (1973) at #6, Elvis Presley's 1956 eponymous album at #9, and The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) at #11.
The late Freddie Mercury and Johnny Cash are among those to be inducted into the Asian Hall of Fame. The awards ceremonies will take place at the Biltmore in Los Angeles on October 21, 2023.
Also that week, it was announced that the 1977 mockumentary, ABBA: The Movie, will be shown on September 16 and 17, 2023 in select theaters worldwide. This film follows ABBA on an Australian tour performing such classics as "Dancing Queen," "SOS," and "Waterloo," with a subplot about a deejay going to great lengths to snag an interview with the legendary band.
Finally, The Beatles Book Monthly is making some rare photos from its library available for purchase for the first time in celebration of this magazine's 60th anniversary. Launched in August 1963, the final edition was published December 1, 1969 and later revived in May 1976 and again in October 1982.
In Memoriam:
John Gosling (February 6, 1948 - August 4, 2023): English keyboardist, pianist, singer, and member of The Kinks during the 1970s
Sixto Rodriguez (July 10, 1942 - August 8, 2023): Highly acclaimed ca. late 1960s-1970s Detroit-born singer, songwriter, and guitarist who became hugely popular in South Africa beginning in the 1990s and had another resurgence in popularity in the U.S. after the 2012 Academy Award-winning documentary, "Searching For Sugar Man"
Robbie Robertson (July 5, 1943 - August 9, 2023): Famed Canadian guitarist and co-founder of The Band who served as the group's main songwriter and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member
Newly-Announced Tours & Shows:
(Band/Artist - Event(s) - Location - Dates)
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter of Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers - Tour - U.S. - August 6-23, 2023
Paul McCartney - Tour (Got Back) - Brazil - November 30-December 16, 2023
Newly-Announced Recordings:
(Band/Artist - Title - Format - Release Date)
Quincy Jones - Back On The Block (1989 album reissue) - digital download, streaming - August 10, 2023
Quincy Jones - Q's Jook Joint (1995 album reissue) - digital download, streaming - August 10, 2023
Alice Cooper - Welcome To The Show (single from "Road") - digital download, streaming - August 10, 2023
Fleetwood Mac - Say You Love Me (single from "Rumours Live") - digital download, streaming - August 10, 2023
Alice Cooper - Road - CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming - August 25, 2023
Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On (50th anniversary reissue) - Dolby Atmos, vinyl, digital download, streaming - August 25, 2023
James Taylor - Flag (1979 album limited-edition reissue) - vinyl - September 1, 2023
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours Live - CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming - September 8, 2023
Steely Dan - Aja (1977 album reissue) - vinyl - September 29, 2023
New & Upcoming Books:
(Author - Title - Publisher - Publication Date)
Jack Marriott - Beatles Blackouts: Trips Around The World In Search Of Beatles Monuments - Microcosm Pub - September 26, 2023
