Carlos Santana releasing retrospective album, ‘Sentient’, in March

February 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Carlos Santana is set to release the new career-spanning album Sentient, featuring 11 tracks, including three previously unreleased songs.

The album, dropping March 28, features collaborations with Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Miles Davis, Italian pianist Paolo Rustichelli, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and Cindy Blackman Santana.

“I’m always driven by passion, emotion and inner instinct,” says Santana. “When I first heard these tracks floating around in the house, I said, ‘Why don’t we put these all in one place?’”

The first single released from Sentient is a new take on “Please Don’t Take Your Love,” featuring Robinson. The original tune first appeared on Smokey’s 2009 album, Time Flies When You’re Having Fun.

“I went to the studio and did my own thing,” Santana says of recording the song. “I said, ‘Let’s just roll it.’ I did another take with Smokey sort of guiding me. Smokey loved them both, so he wound up combining the two. What’s on Sentient is the first version.”

“Please Don’t Take Your Love” is now available.

Other songs on the album include an instrumental cover of Jackson’s “Stranger in Moscow,” which will be released March 14, and “Get On,” from Rustichelli’s 1996 album, Mystic Man, featuring Santana and Miles Davis, which will be released March 17.

Sentient is available for preorder now.

Santana is set to hit the road on his Oneness tour starting April 16 in Highland, California. The tour includes a set at New Orleans Jazz Fest on May 1. A complete list of dates can be found at santana.com.

Elton John on his eyesight loss: ‘This is not going to beat me’

February 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Elton John‘s ongoing eyesight problems, caused by a severe infection he got last year, initially delayed the release of his new album Who Believes in Angels? But while his vision hasn’t improved, he insists that he won’t let it bring him down.

Speaking the U.K. paper The Guardian, Elton says, “I’m an optimist permanently. I’ve got bad eyesight at the moment. There have been days where I’ve been miserable, but then I think about how lucky I am.”

“I’ve got a new respect for sight-impaired people and people who are totally blind, some of whom I’m in touch with,” he continues. “But to hell with it, I’ve got a great life, and hopefully my sight will improve … I’ve overcome a lot. This is not going to beat me. I’ve beaten addiction, I’ve beaten health issues, and I can pick myself up and dust myself off.”

While he can handle his physical problems, Elton reveals that he was negatively impacted emotionally while filming a cameo in the upcoming sequel Spinal Tap 2: In it, he gets killed while onstage. But filming the bit in a huge auditorium gave him a panic attack. “I did kind of hyperventilate,” Elton notes. “I said, ‘Jesus, I’m so glad I don’t have to do this any more.’”

But Elton’s excited about the new album, which he made with his longtime friend Brandi Carlile. “I could do an ‘Elton John’ record easily,” he says. “That’s what I didn’t want to do any more. I wanted a challenge.”

Brandi, who was often on the receiving end of Elton’s temper tantrums in the studio, tells the paper, “It was really volatile, but really cool.”

On This Day, Feb. 21, 1990: Bonnie Raitt wins four Grammys, including album of the year

February 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

On This Day, Feb. 21, 1990 …

At the 32nd annual Grammy Awards, Bonnie Raitt took home four awards, including album of the year for Nick of Time.

She also won for best female pop vocal performance and best female rock vocal performance for the album’s title track, as well as best traditional blues recording for her John Lee Hooker collaboration “I’m in the Mood.”

Raitt won her most recent Grammys in 2023, taking home three trophies: the coveted song of the year award for “Just Like That,” which also won best American roots song, and for best Americana performance for “Made Up Mind.”

In total, Raitt has won 13 Grammy Awards from 30 nominations. She was also honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.

Lou Reed, Paul Simon, David Bowie & more make list of the most disappointing albums ever

February 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Not every album from your favorite artist will necessarily be a winner, and now Mojo is singling out some of those disappointments.

The magazine just released a list of what it’s calling “the 20 most disappointing albums ever,” although it tries to make the case for why they aren’t so bad.

“Every major artist has at least one album that critics and fans routinely dismiss,” it writes. “Yet sometimes they’re records we secretly cherish the most and, when judged strictly on their own merits, reveal themselves to have been badly wronged.”

Topping the list is Lou Reed’s 2003 album, The Raven, a rock opera inspired by Edgar Allen Poe that featured guest appearances by David Bowie, Willem Dafoe, Steve Buscemi and others.

Paul Simon’s 1997 release, Songs from the Capeman, featuring tunes from his critically panned Broadway musical The Capeman, lands at #2, followed by Bowie’s 1977 album Earthling at #3. The Clash’s final album, 1985’s Cut The Crap, lands at #4 and Bob Dylan’s 1985 release, Empire Burlesque, is #5.

Other albums on the list include Pink Floyd’s The Final Cut (1983), Queen’s Hot Space (1982), Neil Young’s Trans (1982), Led Zeppelin’s In Through The Out Door (1979), The Rolling Stones’ Black and Blue (1976) and Van Morrison’s Hard Nose the Highway (1973).

Peter Gabriel working on follow-up to ‘i/o’

February 20, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Peter Gabriel has revealed that he’s already working on a new album, which will be the follow-up to 2023’s i/o.

In an interview with Mojo, the two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer discussed the new project, sharing, “It will be called o/i … that’s i/o backwards.”

Gabriel released i/o over the course of 2023, dropping a song a month, with the complete 12-track album officially dropping in December of that year. The record was Gabriel’s first album of new material since 2010’s Scratch My Back.

I/o won two trophies at the recent 67th annual Grammy Awards, best immersive audio album and best engineered album, non-classical.

Paul McCartney looks back on ‘fabulous week’ in New York

February 20, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Paul McCartney is reminiscing about his busy time in New York.

The Beatles legend headlined three intimate club shows at the Bowery Ballroom, Feb. 11, Feb. 12 and Feb. 14, then closed SNL50: The Anniversary Special Sunday night. He just posted a carousel of photos from both on Instagram.

“We had a fabulous week in New York with three small gigs leading to the 50th anniversary show of @nbcsnl,” McCartney writes. “It is always exciting to play at small venues it reminds me of when we began in places like the Cavern and Hamburg. The three gigs we played at @boweryballroom were fabulous.”

He adds, “We really enjoyed playing to the young, enthusiastic audience and the atmosphere was intimate and electric!”

The three shows had McCartney playing a mixture of Beatles, Wings and solo material. At SNL:50 he ended the show with the Abbey Road side two medley that includes “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight” and “The End.”

Elton John to headline Singapore Grand Prix

February 20, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Remember how Elton John said he didn’t want to tour anymore because he was tired of traveling all over the place and wanted to be home with his family? Well, he just booked a gig in Singapore.

Two years after ending his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, Elton will headline the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2025 on Oct. 5.

Elton has another live show coming up, as well: He and Brandi Carlile will headline the London Palladium on March 26 as part of a special show promoting their new joint album, Who Believes In Angels?, due out April 4.

Elton won’t be performing during the Oscars March 2, due to the producers’ decision not to have live performances of the tracks nominated for best original song. But we may still see him up on the podium if he and Brandi win for “Never Too Late,” from the Disney+ documentary of the same name.

Steve Miller joins Playing for Change on cover of ‘Fly Like an Eagle’

February 20, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Steve Miller is taking part in a new cover of his classic tune “Fly Like an Eagle.”

The new take on the song was released by Playing For Change, a multimedia project that aims to connect the world through music. It was released in conjunction with World Day of Social Justice and features artists from five different countries, including New Orleans musician Ivan Neville.

“So much is at stake for humanity in today’s world, it is difficult to create a message that is positive and inspirational. To help unify the world through the power of music is my greatest dream,” Miller shares. “Performing a new version of ‘Fly Like an Eagle,’ with such talented people from around the world is a humbling experience.”

“Fly Like an Eagle” was the title track of Steve Miller Band’s ninth studio album, released in May 1976. The song peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Rock for Ronnie 2025 benefit concert scheduled for May

February 20, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

The 2025 Rock for Ronnie benefit concert, held in memory of late metal icon Ronnie James Dio, has been announced.

The show takes place May 18 at the Autry Museum in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park. Sebastian Bach will headline.

“The Autry Museum park is a beautiful setting for Rock for Ronnie with plenty of room for the event to grow in future years,” says Ronnie’s widow, Wendy Dio. “It will be an exciting afternoon for the whole family.”

Rock for Ronnie benefits the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund, which also hosts the annual Bowl for Ronnie charity celebrity bowling tournament.

Dio died in 2010 of stomach cancer.

The late Phil Lesh to get street named after him in Port Chester, New York

February 20, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

The late Phil Lesh is being honored with his very own street in Port Chester, New York.

The corner of Westchester Avenue and Broad Street, right outside the historic Capitol Theatre, will be renamed Phil Lesh Lane on March 14, which would have been the Grateful Dead bassist’s 85th birthday.

Lesh has a strong connection to the Capitol Theatre. Following its reopening in 2012 he played 106 performances at the venue, several of them either on or around his birthday. And between 1970 and 1971 he played 18 shows there with the Grateful Dead.

“The Lesh Family is so honored that the many magical nights that Phil spent at The Cap will be commemorated with Phil Lesh Lane,” says Phil’s son Grahame Lesh. “Phil loved The Cap and the entire community that came to his shows here, and our whole family will always feel the love that reflected back to him and all of us.”

The street dedication is set to take place at 4 p.m. and will be followed by a four-night celebration in honor of Lesh at the Capitol Theatre, hosted by Grahame and Lesh’s grandson Levi, along with an all-star lineup of guests including Gov’t Mule’s Warren Haynes and Dead & Company’s Oteil Burbridge. A complete lineup for each show can be found at thecapitoltheatre.com.

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