Publisher Simon & Schuster have agreed to refund Bob Dylan fans who shelled out almost $600 for what was supposed to be personally “hand-signed” copies of his book The Philosophy of Modern Song.
It turns out, the 900 books sold were not actually signed by Dylan, and instead, the signatures were just mechanical duplicates. According to Variety, complaints about the signatures started rolling in Friday as those who purchased the book started receiving their copies. Many quickly realized they were actually signed using “autopen,” which reproduces real signatures using a machine. The publisher initially insisted the books had been hand-signed, especially since each book came with “a letter of authenticity,” and refused refunds, but later announced they had changed their stance.
“To those who purchased the ‘Philosophy of Modern Song’ limited edition, we want to apologize,” Simon & Schuster tweeted. “As it turns out, the limited edition books do contain Bob’s original signature, but in a penned replica form. We are addressing this information by providing each purchaser with an immediate refund.”
The Smashing Pumpkins closed out their U.S. tour over the weekend in Los Angeles with a special guest.
During the show, Billy Corgan and company were joined by WILLOW for a performance of the Siamese Dream classic “Cherub Rock.” The Pumpkins retweeted fan-shot footage of the onstage collaboration, while the “Transparent Soul” artist posted photos to Instagram of her jamming alongside the “1979” rockers.
Meanwhile, among those in attendance at the LA concert was pop star Demi Lovato.
The Pumpkins have been on tour with Jane’s Addiction since October. The outing experienced a few hiccups on the way to its closing concert, with Jane’s missing several shows after Perry Farrell suffered an onstage injury and the Pumpkins canceling a date because Corgan came down with laryngitis. Additionally, Jane’s guitarist Dave Navarro missed the entire tour due to his continued bout with long COVID-19.
There’s some new infighting within the band Journey. New legal documents show Neal Schon is suing bandmate Jonathan Cain over a credit card.
According to the Page Six, docs accuse Cain of opening up an Amex card through the company that operates the band, suggesting “millions of Journey funds have flowed through it.” Both Schon and Cain have a 50% stake in the company, Nomota, and in his suit, Schon insists he “has the right to access and control Nomota’s books and records” in order to “oversee and manage” the company and the band. Schon, however, argues Cain has yet to turn over important records about their finances.
Schon’s documents argue he needs the financial records in order “to determine the proportion of Journey’s profits that he’s entitled to as the founder and president of Journey,” adding, “Schon’s right to Journey’s profits is being controlled by Cain — Schon’s bandmate, who Schon brought into the band in the 1980s — and despite all of his requests and efforts, Schon has been unable to get full access.”
Schon adds that Cain has told him he will have access to that Amex card, but so far, he has yet to be added to it. He says he only knows it exists because American Express told him about it.
Despite the legal fighting, Journey is set to hit the road on a 38-city, 50th anniversary tour in February, with special guests Toto.
Bruce Springsteen has another hit record. The Boss moved 39,500 copies of his new covers album, Only the Strong Survive, to debut at eight on the Billboard 200 Albums chart. Of those albums moved, 36,500 were in traditional album sales.
Only the Strong Survive is now Bruce’s 22nd top 10 record, landing him at eight for the most top 10 albums and at six for the most among solo artists. The Rolling Stones currently have the most, with 37, followed by Barbra Streisand with 34, and The Beatles and Frank Sinatra, with 32.
Only the Strong Survive has Bruce covering some of his favorite soul songs, including “Do I Love You (Indeed I Do),” “Nightshift,” “Don’t Play That Song” and more. He recently told Rolling Stonethat a second volume of covers is on the way and that he has about “three-quarters” of it recorded.
Neil Young and his frequent side band Crazy Horse are back with their third new album in three years, World Record, which follows 2019’s Colorado and 2021’s Barn.
The 10-song collection was co-produced by Young and Rick Rubin and recorded at Rubin’s Shangri-La studio in Malibu, California.
Founding Crazy Horse bassist Billy Talbot tells ABC Audio that World Record came together in a similar way to most of the albums the band has made with Neil: recorded quickly and live in the studio.
“We didn’t do these songs more than once or twice in the recording of them,” Talbot says. “Once we decided on which way they would be played, electric guitar or organ or acoustic guitar or piano … then we did ’em once or twice and that was it. So … it was a great experience.”
On the new songs, Young touches on such topics as the environment, his wish for a world without war and his love for vintage cars.
“He likes to write about what he’s feeling, you know, lyrically, and then having the melodies and having a good feel,” Talbot says of Young. “And he’s a natural songwriter, like he’s a natural guitar player … He likes to keep it natural and real. [He] doesn’t like to, I guess the word’s pontificate. I mean, when you think things through for too long, they get … kind of lost.”
Talbot says working with Rubin “was great,” noting, “he has a great ear, and he knows when something’s right and when it’s really happened, and when it’s not happening. And so does Neil on that level. So consequently, they were able to really work together and understand when they got the great feel on a song.”
You can orderWorld Record now. Here’s the track list:
“Love Earth”
“Overhead”
“I Walk with You (earth ringtone)”
“This Old Planet (changing days)”
“The World (is in trouble now)”
“Break the Chain”
“The Long Day Before”
“Walkin’ on the Road (to the future)”
“The Wonder Won’t Wait”
“Chevrolet”
“This Old Planet (reprise)”
Instead of a sequinned LA Dodgers baseball uniform, he wore a sequinned LA Dodgers bathrobe, but Elton John’s final North American show Sunday night at Dodger Stadium will likely be just as fondly remembered as the original career-making shows he played there in 1975.
The third night of Elton’s three-night stand at the stadium was streamed live globally by Disney+, and was preceded by a 20-minute pre-show that included goodbye wishes from the likes of Dolly Parton, Sting, Coldplay, Bette Midler, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Ed Sheeran, JoniMitchell, Tony Bennett, Prince Harry and even President Joe Biden.
The concert itself featured hits, album cuts and fan favorites from across Elton’s entire career, from his very first hit, “Your Song,” to last year’s “Cold Heart,” performed with special guest Dua Lipa. She was one of three guests for this final show: Brandi Carlile stood in for the late George Michael on “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” while Kiki Dee, who sang with Elton at the original Dodger Stadium shows in 1975, returned to sing their number-one hit “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.”
As Elton wrapped up the concert, he brought onstage the man without whom, he noted, he wouldn’t be here: Bernie Taupin, his songwriting partner of 55 years. He also brought out what he said is the reason he’s retiring: his family. His husband David Furnish came onstage, along with their two adorable sons, Zachary and Elijah.
Elton told the crowd, “I became successful first in America, and you bought the singles and the albums, and the 8-tracks, the cassettes, and CDs, and more importantly, you bought the tickets to the shows….so I want to thank you for that, because you made me.”
He added, “Without America, I wouldn’t be here. So thank you for all the years of love and generosity and loyalty.”
“I wish you health and love and prosperity,” he concluded. “Be kind to each other, O.K.? And farewell.”
Here’s the set list for Elton’s final North American show:
“Bennie and the Jets”
“Philadelphia Freedom”
“I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues”
“Border Song”
“Tiny Dancer”
“Have Mercy on the Criminal”
“Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time)”
“Take Me to the Pilot”
“Someone Saved My Life Tonight”
“Levon”
“Candle in the Wind”
“Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding”
“Burn Down the Mission”
“Sad Songs (Say So Much)”
“Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word”
“Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” (with Brandi Carlile)
“The Bitch Is Back”
“I’m Still Standing”
“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” (with Kiki Dee)
“Crocodile Rock”
“Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”
Encore:
“Cold Heart” (with Dua Lipa)
“Your Song”
“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”
Bruce Springsteen just released his soul covers record Only The Strong Survive, which is billed as volume 1, so of course fans are wondering when they’ll get to hear volume 2. And it sounds like it’s not too far off.
“Volume 2, I would say, is probably three-quarters recorded,” The Boss tells Rolling Stone, explaining the genre he’ll focus on is “very similar” to the first album. “I continued working in soul music because I was just having so much fun,” he says. “But I thought of doing a series of these records in a variety of different genres with songs that I love.”
Bruce shares that he’s currently not writing anything new, noting, “I might not write in a while,” which is “very normal for me.” But with these cover albums, fans “don’t have to sit around and wait four years for me to make another record.”
Bruce says he’s also interested in tackling covers of country and rock songs: “There’s just so many different things, and all focused around my voice … I’d really like to use this time when I’m not writing to really focus on my vocals.”
And this may not be the only music Bruce is going to release. He seemed to confirm the rumors of a Tracks 2 box set, saying he has “five unreleased albums that are basically post-1988” that he’ll eventually release. While he says some fans felt the ‘90s “wasn’t a great decade” for him, the Tracks set will “give people a chance to reassess what I was doing during that time period,” noting, “I can’t wait to see the response to some of it.”
Ringo Star has dropped a new video for the Linda Perry-penned track “Everyone and Everything,” from his recent release EP3, which just came out on 10-inch vinyl and blue cassette. The colorful clip was directed by pop artist and owner of Los Angeles’ La-La Land Gallery, Kii Arens, who previously directed the video for Glen Campbell’s 2011 track “Ghost on the Canvas.”
“I had so much fun making this record, and I love that the vinyl and this video for it are coming out as we head into Thanksgiving,” Ringo shares. “As I’ve said before, every song on this EP relates to Peace and Love. And this track that Linda wrote for me has such a beautiful message, reminding us to be thankful, to be giving, to be more peace and loving.”
The video features clips of Ringo playing drums on the beach, cut with images of him walking in front of colorful backgrounds, as well as photos from the early days of his life and career.
“I feel we really captured the positive energy of the song in this video, it was so great working with Kii and I loved filming on the beach,” he says. “I hope this brings everyone joy, peace and love as we start heading into the holidays.”
Fans of The Doors are finally getting to hear what’s being called their last known unreleased tune. The track, “Paris Blues,” has been released digitally for the very first time.
The track is part of The Doors’ contribution to Record Store Day Black Friday on November 25. That release, available at independent record stores, will be a limited-edition compilation of rare blues recordings, coming out on translucent blue vinyl. Only 10,000 numbered copies will be available, complete with an original painting by guitarist Robby Krieger.
Although it isn’t clear when “Paris Blues” was recorded, it is believed to be a product of The Doors’ sessions for either 1969’s The Soft Parade or 1971’s L.A. Woman. Keyboardist Ray Manzarek had the only copy of the song, although it was damaged by his son, Pablo, who, as a toddler, recorded over parts of it. It has now been reconstructed, with use of “creative editing.”
The Rolling Stones are sharing a newly restored version of the music video for “2000 Light Years From Home,” from their 1967 experimental/psychedelic album, Their Satanic Majesties Request. The clip, filmed and produced in 1967, has now been restored in 4K resolution and released digitally for the first time.
The “promotional film,” as it was known back then, was directed by the late Peter Whitehead and shot on 35 MM film. The performance clip opens with closeups of the band members bathed in various colors, with Mick Jagger’s face painted, something he would do again for the “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” video, which was filmed the following year.
The track, written by Mick and Keith Richards, was the B-side to the single “She’s A Rainbow.” It is believed Mick wrote the lyrics in prison during an incarceration from a drug bust.
