Classic Rock News

The recently announced limited-edition box set gathering together Paul McCartney‘s three self-titled solo albums — 1970’s McCartney, 1980’s McCartney II and 2020’s McCartney III — hit stores today.

The McCartney I II III collection is available in three formats -– a three-CD set, a three-LP black-vinyl package and a limited-edition three-LP colored-vinyl set.

All three versions feature three photo prints with notes from the former Beatles star about each record. 

Coinciding with the release of the box set, McCartney, McCartney II and McCartney III have become the first solo albums by Sir Paul to be mixed in the high-res Dolby Atmos format. You can listen to the Dolby Atmos mixes via various streaming outlets.

The common thread between all three albums is that Paul wrote, produced and recorded them almost entirely by himself.

Released in April 1970, McCartney was Paul’s debut solo album and signaled the breakup of The Beatles. The record spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, although no singles were released from it. The album included the enduring song “Maybe I’m Amazed,” as well as such gems as “Every Night,” “Junk” and “Teddy Boy,” three tunes that McCartney previously had worked on with The Beatles.

McCartney II was released in May 1980 and found the veteran rocker experimenting with synthesizers and modern recording techniques. The album reached #3 on Billboard 200 and included the chart-topping hit “Coming Up” and the tune “Waterfalls,” which was a top-10 single in the U.K.

McCartney III was recorded during the COVID-19 lockdown and was released at the end of December 2020. It debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200.

Here’s the McCartney track list:

“The Lovely Linda”
“That Would Be Something”
“Valentine Day”
“Every Night”
“Hot as Sun/Glasses”
“Junk”
“Man We Was Lonely”
“Oo You”
“Momma Miss America”
“Teddy Boy”
“Singalong Junk”
“Maybe I’m Amazed”
“Kreen-Akrore”

Here’s the McCartney II track list:

“Coming Up”
“Temporary Secretary”
“On the Way”
“Waterfalls”
“Nobody Knows”
“Front Parlour”
“Summer’s Day Song”
“Frozen Jap”
“Bogey Music”
“Darkroom”
“One of These Days”

Here’s the McCartney III track list:

“Long Tailed Winter Bird”
“Find My Way”
“Pretty Boys”
“Women and Wives”
“Lavatory Lil”
“Slidin'”
“Deep Deep Feeling”
“The Kiss of Venus”
“Seize the Day”
“Deep Down”
“Winter Bird/When Winter Comes”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

About three years ago, Kinks guitarist Dave Davies told ABC Audio that he and his brother and band mate Ray had spent time working on material for a possible new album project, although none of that music has been released yet.

In a new ABC Audio interview, Dave says he feels there’s still a good chance that he and Ray will finish and release some new collaborative, songs and perhaps perform together as well.

“It’s possible,” Dave offers. “[I]t’d be nice, you know? I don’t know if it will [happen], but I’m hopeful that we’ll get together, and see where we can go.”

As for the possibility of performing again with his brother, Dave says, “[O]bviously, we’ll have to meet with Ray and think what sort of shows we can do and what makes sense…[We] can’t do elaborate rock shows like we did decades ago, but, you know, we should be able to do something fun.”

The only time Davies brothers have performed together in public since the final Kinks tour ended in 1996 was at a December 2015 solo show that Dave played in London, where Ray came out at the end of the concert and sang “You Really Got Me.”

Meanwhile, Dave candidly discusses his often-contentious relationship with Ray in his new memoir, Living on a Thin Line, which was published in digital formats globally last month and will be released in physically in the U.S. in January 2023.

“I tried to be as honest but as fair as possible, and I hope I achieved it,” Dave says with regard to writing about Ray. “I don’t want to be mean spirited. I want to make sure that he’s covered in a respectful, honest and inspiring way. And I hope that’s in there.”

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An NFT featuring an animated version of a drawing by late Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia depicting Garcia’s frequent collaborator, bluegrass mandolinist David Grisman, will be auctioned on Friday, August 5, at 6:30 p.m. ET.

The sale, which is being held at MakersPlace.com, is taking place in conjunction with what would have been Garcia’s 80th birthday on August 1. The NFT is being sold by Jerry Garcia Music Arts, a music and arts company launched by Garcia’s daughter Keelin and his ex-wife Manasha.

In addition to featuring the animated “Mandolin Player” drawing, the digital token includes a studio recording of Garcia and Grisman playing “Jack-A-Roe.” Three percent of the proceeds from the auction will benefit the Jerry Garcia Foundation, which supports various environmental, artistic and humanitarian causes.

The NFT was created in collaboration with the ecologically minded Aerial platform, which focuses on reducing humanity’s global carbon footprint.

The auction winner will receive a signed certificate of authenticity and a large canvas print of the “Mandolin Player” drawing.

“Working with MakersPlace allows us to celebrate my father’s art through new mediums on what would have been his 80th birthday,” says Keelin. “We’re grateful to the Aerial team as well for being able to continue to honor his legacy as an environmentalist by ensuring the collection is carbon neutral.”

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Vanilla Fudge, Nektar and Pat Travers Band are among the artists set to perform at the Sea of Tranquility Fest 2022 event, taking place October 1 at The Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie, New York.

The one-day festival is organized by the Sea of Tranquility web portal, which focuses on prog-rock, fusion and various forms of metal music.

In addition to a variety of performances, the Sea of Tranquility Fest will offer artist panels and Q&A sessions that will feature Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, Chris Caffery of Savatage and Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and others.

The event is split into afternoon and evening sessions, with most of the Q&A sessions taking place in the afternoon and the performances scheduled for the evening portion of the fest.

“We’re happy to be headlining the Sea of Tranquility Festival,” says Nektar’s Derek “Mo” Moore. “Hope you can join us for what’s sure to be a great evening!”

Tickets are available now at TicketWeb.com, priced at $60 for general admission and $75 for reserved balcony seating. Limited-edition T-shirts can also be purchased.

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Slash is featured on a new song called “Crimson Chaos,” which is being released by the charity organization Road Recovery.

The tune was written and recorded by participants in Road Recovery’s Trax Program, which “offers young people the opportunity to build healthy networks during challenging times, helping them avoid self-destructive or risky behavior.”

In a statement, Slash says, “I’ve been hanging out with Road Recovery for a while now and I always find it a really enriching experience hanging and jamming with the kids.”

“These guys wrote me a song that I recorded and it’s really inspirational to see how young people and adults are inspired by the arts to get it together, get out of that funk, and get out of a bad situation to be able to turn their life around,” the Guns N’ Roses shredder adds. “That’s what these kids at Road Recovery have done and that’s pretty awesome.”

Footage of Slash playing with the Road Recovery kids is featured in the “Crimson Chaos” video, which is streaming now on YouTube.

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Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay will bring the traveling exhibit showcasing his expansive collection of rock memorabilia and other historic artifacts to the home of his football team, Lucas Oil Stadium, on September 9.

As part of the event, which is free and open to the public, Heart‘s Ann Wilson will give a special guest performance with The Jim Irsay Band, which features Irsay backed by founding R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, longtime John Mellencamp guitarist Mike Wanchic, John Fogerty touring drummer Kenny Aronoff and other noteworthy musicians.

Wilson also joined Irsay and his band at the previous exhibit of the collection, which took place last Tuesday in Chicago.

Like the Chicago exhibition, the Indianapolis event is free and open to the public, but tickets will be required to attend and can be reserved at Eventbrite.com.

Irsay’s collection includes guitars and other items that were used and/or owned by Bob Dylan, members of The Beatles, The Who‘s Pete Townshend, Prince, Eric Clapton, The Grateful Dead‘s Jerry Garcia, Pink Floyd‘s David Gilmour, U2‘s The Edge, The Doors‘ Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain and many others.

Some non-music-related items also are part of the collection, including an original John Wilkes Booth “Wanted” poster, a baseball bat used by Jackie Robinson and a robe worn by Muhammad Ali.

In addition, the upcoming exhibit will feature historic memorabilia from the Colts’ history in both Indianapolis and Baltimore, including game-used uniforms and equipment.

“I am only a steward of this collection, so it’s my job to share it with as many people as I can,” says Irsay. “That’s why we’re especially excited to share this special evening with our friends, fans and neighbors right here in Indianapolis.”

Visit JimIrsayCollection.com for more info.

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Newly restored versions of two official Rolling Stones promotional videos for the band’s classic 1968 hit “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” have debuted at the ABKCO label’s YouTube channel.

The videos, which were directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, were shot on the same day in the spring of ’68 at Olympic Studios in London and feature two versions of the song. Both clips have been restored in the high-res 4K format.

One of the videos features The Stones’ classic early lineup — Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman — wearing face makeup and performing as a recording of the single version of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” plays, with Jagger also singing live along with the track.

The other video features the band performing without makeup along with a completely different recording of the tune.

Lindsay-Hogg, who also directed the famed concert film The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus and The Beatles‘ Let It Be documentary, recalls that he shot the video featuring the band without makeup first, and he then got the idea to have the members add some color to their faces while watching Jones put on some makeup during a break in the filming.

“When I edited them and played them back, they loved the videos,” Lindsey-Hogg notes. “I’d hate to think they didn’t, because then I went on to do their videos for 15 years.”

“Jumpin’ Jack Flash” topped the U.K. singles chart in June 1968 and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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The Strokes opening for Red Hot Chili Peppers is already a pretty stacked bill, and that’s before Eddie Vedder joined in on the fun.

The Pearl Jam frontman made a surprise appearance during Julian Casablancas and company’s support set in Seattle Wednesday, joining them for a rendition of their 2005 single “Juicebox.”

Fan-shot footage of the onstage collaboration was posted by YouTube user supercones. Come for the music, stay to watch Vedder’s hip-shaking dance moves.

The Strokes will be opening for Red Hot Chili Peppers for the remainder of their U.S. headlining tour, which will conclude September 18 in Arlington, Texas. The bill also includes acclaimed bassist — and recent Gorillaz collaborator — Thundercat, as well as King Princess for select shows.

The Chili Peppers are touring in support of their new album, Unlimited Love, which dropped in April. The “Can’t Stop” group will release their second record of the year, Return of the Dream Canteen, on October 14.

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The Moody Blues‘ John Lodge and Justin Hayward haven’t performed together since the band’s tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of 1967’s Days of Future Passed album ended in November 2018, and Lodge says there are no plans for them to work together moving forward.

Since 2018, Lodge and Hayward have regularly toured as solo artists, although their respective concerts always showcase plenty of Moody Blues material.

Meanwhile, Lodge tells ABC Audio that his contact with Hayward these days only involves business matters.

“He’s doing what he wants to do,”Lodge says. “I email him about different things, but I don’t know what he wants to do [with regard to new music]. He doesn’t want to be a Moody Blue. That’s all I know.”

As for his feelings about Hayward, Lodge notes, “We’ve had a friendship for over 50 years, so that’s not gonna change, from my point of view.”

In a Facebook post last November following the death of founding Moody Blues drummer Graeme Edge, Hayward explained that he felt the band couldn’t carry on without Edge.

Lodge recently played a one-off show with his solo group in Ocean City, New Jersey, and although he has no other confirmed concerts scheduled this year, he tells ABC Audio that he’s hoping to line up more tour dates for later in 2022.

“I told my agent when I want to go on the road, and hopefully he’s working hard at it,”Lodge says with a laugh. “It’s my life, you know? I love being on the road. I love meeting people. I love playing the music to people and getting the reaction from it. And it’s what I’ve done since I was 15.”

Hayward will kick off a two-week U.K. solo tour on September 11.

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Sammy Hagar and Rush‘s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are among the many well-known musicians who have lent their talents to former Bruford bassist Jeff Berlin‘s new tribute album, Jack Songs, a salute to late Cream singer/bassist Jack Bruce.

The 10-track collection, which focuses mainly on Bruce’s post-Cream solo work, is available now on CD and as a digital download and can be ordered at JeffBerlinMusicGroup.com.

Other guests artists featured on Jack Songs include former Santana singer Alex Ligertwood, All Starr Band drummer Gregg Bissonette, Level 42‘s Mark King, ex-Guns N’ Roses guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, King Crimson‘s Tony Levin, Nathan East, guitar whiz Eric Johnson, Mr. Big‘s Billy Sheehan, Snarky Puppy‘s Michael League and more.

“Recording the music of Jack Bruce has been the most emotional recording project of my career,” says Berlin, who was friends with Bruce. “Jack was the greatest bass influence I ever had. In the center of his music were these strange and wonderful bass lines weaving in and out of the key, reaching for resolutions and finding them, again, and again. Jack’s playing was a living evolving improvisation.”

He adds, “When he died, I immediately set out to honor him by reviewing his music to choose some of my favorite songs of his and recording them via my own musical vision.”

Berlin explains that he used producer Giles Martin‘s work on the soundtrack to Cirque du Soleil’s The Beatles LOVE stage production, a collection of Beatles mashups, as inspiration for Jack Songs.

“I arranged the music so that each song on ‘Jack Songs’ would end up as an individual work comprised of various parts of other songs in them,” Jeff notes.

Bruce died of liver disease in 2014. He was 71.

Here’s the album’s full track list:

“Creamed”
“Theme from an Imaginery Western”
“A Letter of Thanks”
“L’Angelo Misterioso”
“Rope Ladder to the Moon”
“One Without a Word”
“Smiles Story and Morning Grins”
“Folk Song”
“Traintime Time”
“Fuimas (We Have Been)”

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