Hey everyone,
The past week has been a rough one. As most of you know, I got sick last weekend with what turned out to be a mystery virus. I was tested twice for Covid, flu, and RSV, and twice was told I didn’t have any of those viruses, but what I had was very similar in terms of symptoms. As of yesterday, my fever is (finally!) gone, but I have a lingering, persistent cough that will not let up and it’s slowly driving me insane.
Nevertheless, the show must go on and so we’re back this week with all of the latest music news you’ve come to expect, plus lots of info on new releases for 2023, a killer weekly playlist, and tons of birthdays to celebrate.
So, let’s chug some cough syrup, dive in, and get all caught up, shall we?
Thank you to everyone who sent me “get well soon” wishes. You’re the best!
“I think the most important thing about music is the sense of escape.”
―Thom Yorke
HEAVY ROTATION
New weekly playlists highlighting great music
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WEEKLY PLAYLIST #35
Victoria Bigelow • Patchnotes • My Morning Jacket • Reverend and the Makers • Brendan Benson • Pool Kids • Journey • Lana Del Rey • Rachika Nayar • Makaya McCraven
MASTER PLAYLIST (ALL WEEKS)
MUSIC NEWS
The latest happenings in the world of music
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Christine McVie, Keyboardist and Singer for Fleetwood Mac, Dead at 79
A cause of death was not available, but McVie’s family said she died at a hospital “following a short illness.” [RollingStone]
Metallica Announce Upcoming ‘72 Seasons’ Album, 2023-2024 World Tour
The veteran metal band’s 12th studio album, 72 Seasons, is due out on April 14 via the band’s Blackened Recordings imprint. [Billboard]
Lana Del Rey Announces New Album, Shares New Song
Her new album, Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd is out March 10 via Interscope. [Pitchfork]
The Postal Service Reuniting For 2023 Tour With Death Cab For Cutie
Ben Gibbard is going to be one busy man come next September, when he performs both with Death Cab for Cutie and his reunited side project The Postal Service as part of a co-headlining U.S. tour. [Spin]
Dolly Parton Wants Elton John to Appear on Her Rock Album
The country legend will cover 'Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me' alongside tracks from The Rolling Stones, Prince and more. [NME]
Elton John Leaves Twitter Over ‘Misinformation’ on the Platform
Elon Musk responded to the singer's decision, asking if there's "any misinformation in particular" he is "concerned" about. [Billboard]
‘Nirvana Baby’ Spencer Elden Appeals Nevermind Child Pornography Suit Dismissal
Here we go again. Elden is seeking monetary damages for ‘extreme ongoing psychic or emotional injury.’ Insert eye roll here. [Spin]
The Flaming Lips Announce 2023 West Coast Tour
Billed as An Evening With the Flaming Lips, the career-spanning, two-hour shows kick off in Vancouver next year. [Pitchfork]
Taylor Swift to Direct Her First Feature-Length Film
The singer-songwriter has written an original script for the movie, with details on the plot and characters currently unknown. [NME]
Mick Fleetwood’s Iconic Wooden Balls From ‘Rumours’ Album Cover Sell for $128,000
The rumors are true: Mick Fleetwood’s balls are worth a whole lot of money. On Dec. 3 and 4 in Beverly Hills, items from the Fleetwood Mac archives were auctioned off shortly after the death of Christine McVie, with the biggest sale price — $128,000, to be exact — going to the pair of wooden balls sported by the band’s namesake on the iconic Rumours album cover. [Billboard]
OFF TOPIC
May or may not be music-related
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St. Vincent to Host New Podcast History Listen: Rock
She’ll narrate a chronicle of key moments from rock history, touching on artists like Jimi Hendrix and Patti Smith. [Pitchfork]
Stax Records Founder Jim Stewart Dead At 92
According to a statement from the Stax Museum Of American Soul Music, Stewart passed away “peacefully, surrounded by his family.” Stewart was 92. [Stereogum]
Man Who Shot Lady Gaga’s Dog Walker Sentenced To 21 Years
The man who shot and wounded Lady Gaga's dog walker while stealing her French bulldogs last year took a plea deal and was sentenced to 21 years in prison on Monday. [NPR]
Bomb Threat Disrupts Patti LaBelle Concert in Wisconsin
Patti LaBelle was rushed off stage and the nearly full 2,500-seat Milwaukee theater had to be evacuated because of a bomb threat. [Billboard]
VIDEO SPOTLIGHT
See it to believe it
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Hiking With Kevin: Julian Lennon
Hiking host Kevin Nealon hikes and chats with singer/songwriter/ humanitarian /producer Julian Lennon. Julian shares how he and his dad once spotted a UFO, chats about his new album Jude, his White Feather Foundation, his past smoking addiction, marriage, his favorite Beatle, his first concert, the documentary Get Back, and more. [via YouTube]
NEW RELEASES
Listen to these recently dropped albums
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Brendan Benson: Low Key [listen]
Neil Young: Harvest (50th Anniversary Edition) [listen]
NOFX: Double Album [listen]
Alabama Shakes: Boys & Girls (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) [listen]
David Crosby & The Lighthouse Band: Live at the Capitol Theatre [listen]
Journey: Live in Concert at Lollapalooza [listen]
My Morning Jacket: Circuital (Deluxe Edition) [listen]
Patchnotes: Golden Hour (Deluxe) [listen]
UPCOMING RELEASES
These albums are coming soon
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DECEMBER 16
Cheap Trick: Live at the Whisky 1977 • Frank Zappa: Waka/Wazoo
DECEMBER 21
Weezer: Sznz - Winter EP
JANUARY 6
Iggy Pop: Every Loser
JANUARY 13
Bob Weir: Ace (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) • Margo Price: Strays • Tycho: Dive (Reissue)
JANUARY 20
Bad Brains: The Youth Are Getting Restless (Reissue) • Ella Fitzgerald: Live At Montreux 1969 • Guided By Voices: La La Land • John Cale: Mercy • Måneskin: Rush!
JANUARY 27
The Arcs: Electrophonic Chronic • Elle King: Come Get Your Wife • Green Day: Nimrod (25th Anniversary Edition) • Kimbra: A Reckoning • Meg Baird: Furling • New Order: Low-Life (Definitive Edition Box Set) • Pelican: City of Echoes
JANUARY 31
The Smashing Pumpkins: ATUM – Act 2
ON THIS DATE
Musical happenings of historical significance
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DECEMBER 12
Birthdays: Frank Sinatra (1915) • Dionne Warwick (1940) • Grover Washington Jr. and Dicky Betts of The Allman Brothers Band (1943) • Rob Tyner of MC5 (1944) • Guitarist & founding member of Steely Dan, Denny Dias (1946) • Sheila E. (1959) • Dan Hawkins of The Darkness (1976) • The Doors played what would be their last ever live show with Jim Morrison at the Warehouse in New Orleans. (1970)
DECEMBER 13
Birthdays: American session musician, Chuck Findley (1947) • Jeff “Skunk:” Baxter (1948) • Tom Verlaine of Television (1949) • Tom Delonge of Blink 182 (1975) • Amy Lee of Evanescence (1981) • Taylor Swift (1989) • Bruce Hornsby & The Range went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “The Way It Is.” (1986)
DECEMBER 14
Birthdays: Cliff Williams of AC/DC (1949) • Peter 'Spider' Stacy of The Pogues (1958) • Mike Scott of The Waterboys (1958) • Beth Orton (1970) • The Clash released their third studio album London Calling. (1979) • Yoko Ono called on fans to observe ten minutes of silence in memory of John Lennon. 30,000 gathered outside St George's Hall in Liverpool, while nearly 100,000 attend a memorial in New York's Central Park. (1980) • Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun died, aged 83. (2006)
DECEMBER 15
Birthdays: Legendary producer & A&R scout John Hammond (1910) • Max Yasgur, owner of the farm where the 1969 Woodstock festival was held (1919) • American DJ Alan Freed (1921) • Carmine Appice, drummer of Vanilla Fudge (1946) • Paul Simonon, bassist with The Clash (1955) • American multi-instrumentalist Tim Reynolds (1957) • Alana Haim (1991) • “Do They Know It's Christmas?” by Band Aid entered the charts at #1 and stayed at the top for five weeks. (1984)
DECEMBER 16
Birthdays: Robben Ford (1951) • Steven Irvine, drummer for Lloyd Cole And The Commotions (1959) • Frank Zappa's film 200 Motels opened at London's Piccadilly Classic Cinema in the UK. The film which also featured Ringo Star, covers a loose storyline about The Mothers of Invention going crazy in the small town of Centerville. (1971) • MTV aired Nirvana's Unplugged session for the first time. (1993) • Dan Fogelberg died at his home in Maine at the age of 56. (2007)
DECEMBER 17
Birthdays: Art Neville (1937) • Eddie Kendricks of The Temptations (1939) • Paul Butterfield (1942) • Drummer Jim Hodder (1947) • Paul Rodgers (1949) • Mike Mills of R.E.M. (1958) • Bob Stinson of The Replacements (1959) • Micky Quinn of Supergrass (1969) • Taylor York of Paramore (1989) • David Bowie released his fourth album Hunky Dory. (1971) • Captain Beefheart died, aged 69, from complications from multiple sclerosis. (2010)
DECEMBER 18
Birthdays: Chas Chandler (1938) • Keith Richards (1943) • Elliot Easton of The Cars (1953) • Geordie Walker of Killing Joke (1958) • Grant Marshall of Massive Attack (1959) • Jack Lawrence, bassist for The Raconteurs, The Greenhornes, The Dead Weather, and City and Colour (1976) • Billie Eilish (2001) • Hall and Oates started a four-week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Maneater.” (1982)
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As always, thanks for reading, sharing, and caring.
🤘🏻
CZ
I’m glad you’re feeling better! Can’t believe Patti Labelle’s show had a bomb threat called in, but also... Wisconsin.
Saying I’m excited for the Low Life reissue will surprise exactly no one. Lol.
Yes, glad you are feeling better, at least better enough to return to the newsletter -- a barometer of improved health if there is one.... I am excited to hear the new Brendan Benson. Not much new music comes out in December (and thank goodness -- I’m still catching up with the onslaught from Jan-Nov) so good to see BB back solo again.