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Here’s the pop chart round up: Adele is still a sold number 1 with her “25” album. Even the Grammys couldn’t knock her off. She sold 124,000 albums last week, god bless her. She can buy all the In and Out Burgers she likes. (She should really come to the Vanity Fair Oscar party. They serve them right out of a truck!)
The number 2 album is by Joey and Rory, a country duo couple. They sold half of Adele’s number. But it’s a sad story. Joey, the wife, is battling terminal cancer. They have three kids between them, but just one– a two year old girl with Down syndrome– is theirs together.
In Bieber land, “Purpose” sold just 38,000 copies this week. But you can add on 50,000 streams. His fans are listening to his music on Spotify and AppleMusic but they don’t necessarily want to buy it. What does that mean? Where is he now? Who knows?
Rihanna’s album “Anti” is number 9, with a total including streaming of 66,510. Sales (not streaming) were 28,532 according to hitsdailydouble.com. Not a hit. And she blew off the Grammys. I hope Tidal and Samsung paid her a lot of money.
Kanye is nowhere. The album is only on Tidal, it can’t be bought, he says it will never be on iTunes. My friends at DefJam must drink themselves to sleep. They don’t deserve to be treated this badly by a musical terrorist.
How long has “Law & Order SVU” been on? Seventeen years? A hundred? Recently renewed for a new season next September, “SVU” continues to amaze and surprise everyone. On Wednesday night, the show scored 7.73 million viewers, the largest number of any scripted show on that night. (The exceptions were “Survivor” and “American Idol.”)
Plus, “SVU” had a 1.7 in the key demo. That may not seem like a lot, but of the seven dramas on Wednesday night, “SVU” was the run away hit. They even beat “Modern Family” and “Chicago PD.”
Wednesday night’s episode was typical of how good the show has been this year. In a ripped from the headlines story, the writers combined an Elliot Spitzer type story with Jared Fogle of Subway sandwich fame. Josh Pais played a deputy police commissioner who railed against child pornographers in public. But at home, he was secretly one himself. And he was married to an assistant district attorney (Jessica Phillips, great performance) who prosecuted pedophiles. She was clueless.
The writing was top notch and the performances were uniformly excellent. What really struck me was how good Mariska Hargitay still is, better than ever really. She should really be back in the Emmy nomination game. On network TV, she is really a cut above. So is Broadway vet Raul Esparza, who plays ADA Barba. Their energy has given the show a kick in the pants.
Sadly, the current showrunner of “SVU,” Warren Leight, is leaving after this season. He’s run the show for five years, and literally breathed life back into it. With Chris Meloni, Dann Florek, and Richard Belzer gone, Leight added a whole new cast around Hargitay and Ice T. Kelli Giddish, Raul Esparza, and Peter Scanavino have really gelled into a superb supporting cast. Plus, Hargitay herself is now directing more episodes. She has a new one just being cast this week.
It does look like “SVU” may make 20 seasons. With ratings like this week’s, and maybe some Emmy action this summer, that would be terrific. Plus, a new plot is brewing, with Peter Gallagher as Deputy Chief Dodds and Broadway star Andy Karl as his cop son, Mike. They already look like they could be spun off into a new show.
The decade long legal battle over the late Billy Preston’s estate and finances is finally over. His legacy — which includes all of his intellectual and intangible property rights, catalog, name, likeness — has finally been settled.
Joyce Moore, Billy’s partner in Preston Music Group Inc. and his friend for more than 30 years, has finally prevailed after 10 years in court. Her pledge to Billy has been fulfilled. Did it go round in circles? Almost. But that’s the way god planned it, as Billy might have said.
Preston was the real “Fifth Beatle,” the only artist ever given full label credit on a Beatles record, “Get Back”.
Joyce tells me: “It was a long time coming.” In the nearly 10 years since Billy fell into a coma– that went on for months– and passed away, Moore says, there’s been little to no attention paid to his body of musical works on any level.
Preston had a glorious history starting as a child prodigy in 1957 when he appeared with Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson, Pearl Bailey, Nat King Cole, Eartha Kitt and W. C. Handy in the movie “St. Louis Blues.” Preston went on to be Mahalia Jackson’s keyboardist during her days with Dr. Martin Luther King.
Moore continued, “Billy was so much a factor in both overt and subtle ways in so much music, so many songs, the ones he played on, the ones he wrote and the ones he did both sometime getting credit, others not so much or at all.”
Preston co-wrote “You Are So Beautiful To Me.” The Joe Cocker 1974 hit version just entered the NARAS Song Hall of Fame this February. He was credited for holding the Beatles together through their last 2 or 3 albums. He was the only keyboard player, though rarely seen in the photos, on the last ever Beatles concert — the Abbey Road rooftop show in 1969, filmed for the “Let it Be” film.
Stephen Stills does acknowledge that it was Billy who “gave him” his most successful song title and inspiration while they were both at a party and Stills’s date left him. Preston told him, “Hey, if you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.” The rest of that is history. Billy also laid out the bass line for the Rolling Stones’ “Miss You”–something Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Bill Wyman all admit.
Preston is not in the Rock and Roll of Fame, even though as a side man Billy played and often toured with everyone from Mahalia Jackson, Little Richard and Ray Charles to Eric Clapton, all of The Beatles as the group and individually, Bob Dylan, and The Stones. He had two major number 1 back to back hits in the early 1970s with “Nothing from Nothing” and “Will it Go Round in Circles.”
Oft-forgotten: Billy, and Janis Ian, were the very first musical guests on “Saturday Night Live” in 1975. Preston was also the first pop artist to play a solo show at Radio City Music Hall.
He also has plenty of uncredited appearances on records by Sly and The Family Stone, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Neil Diamond, to name only a few. His last recording ever was with Moore’s husband, legendary Soul Man Sam Moore, on Moore’s “Overnight Sensational” album. The track garnered them a Grammy Nomination for their version of Billy’s classic “You Are So Beautiful” in 2006.
The world is about to hear a lot about Billy Preston now that his financial legacy is in order. “That’s all about to change, you can quote me,” says Joyce, remembering Billy was also a regular on “Shindig” with artists like Jackie Wilson.
The legal issues having been resolved in PMGI’s favor finally clears the path for PMGI to move forward. Billy passed away June 6, 2006.
Billy would have turned 70 this coming September 2nd, an event that will be celebrated to coincide with the release of a very special Billy Preston project that’s in the works, but, with the ever present tinge of sadness that he’s physically gone.
Is he singing? Are they playing? Is it Memorex? I have no idea. It’s very odd, that’s for sure. How dark does it have to be? How much can you obscure a mic? When the album comes out, let’s go back and compare the tracks.
Anyway here is Zayn, one the eve of teen zeal. Sounds like a Cowboy Junkies song, frankly:
Woody Allen’s still untitled new film, a comedy set in the 1930s, has been sold to Amazon. They will choose a distributor, and release the film next fall. Steve Carell, Jesse Eisenberg, and Kristen Stewart star in it.
The news is a little bit of a surprise since Woody’s last several films have been with Sony Pictures Classics. SPC could still distribute the film.
The Amazon connection comes through Woody’s 6 part TV series, which also went to Amazon. Jeff Bezos really wants some Oscar action, and figures he might get it through Woody. You never know. Woody is Oscar magic- think Blanchett, Wiest, Keaton and so on.
I am told that the film is supposedly much better than Woody’s last two, Magic in the Moonlight and Irrational Man, which were strike outs after big hits like Vicki Cristina Barcelona, Midnight in Paris, and Blue Jasmine.
Amazon also paid a decent price– something that was getting harder and harder to find. They’ll release into theaters and do an exclusive for their Prime members.
Clive Davis’s pre-Grammy party, his 40th, was as hip and plugged in as ever. No wonder this truly is the most coveted ticketed in town. Celebrities just kept pouring in. Chris Rock, with girlfriend Megalyn Echikunwoke, whom he seemed smitten with, sat with Caitlyn Jenner and her bestie, fellow transgender Candis Cayne.
When I asked Chris how he was doing pre-Oscars, which he’s hosting in case you live under a rock and didn’t know, he told me that, “I’m going to do the best I can.” To which Caitlyn replied, “that’s the only way to do it honey.” Chris retorted, “Well you know a little something about pressure,” to which Caitlyn replied, “me…nah!” She then went on to tell Chris, “Babe, you are going to kill it!” Chris, as gracious as ever, just downplayed all.
Jamie Foxx then joined in the conversation and told Chris, “I cannot wait for you, you’re the king,” as he put his hand on his shoulder. Jaime was front and center with a bevy of ladies and the bopping up and down and just being the uber fan to everyone who performed on stage.
When, in one of the breaks, Clive introduced Virgin’s Richard Branson, the British mogul was literally leaving the men;s room as Clive called his name. Branson bounded down the stairs waving and went to his table to be greeted by Ringo Starr who gave him a high five.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and producer/songwriter Bruce Roberts with Grammy and Oscar Nominee Diane Warren were chatting it up, along with President Obama’s White House adviser Valerie Jarrett and her lovely daughter Laura.
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton brought the PDA to the event, boy did they ever, as Gwen snuggled in his lap for most of the night. When Sylvester Stallone and wife Jennifer came in and sat at their table, Sly quickly glanced at the two smooching and exclaimed, “You two get a room,” to which Blake got up and gave Sly a kiss on the cheek and then a bear hug. Blake exclaimed, “hugging Rocky southern style.”
When Carly Simon performed “You’re So Vain,” which literally had everyone standing, Gwen jokingly pointed to Blake as Carly sang.
John Legend and his very pregnant model wife Chrissy Teigen went over to say hello to Josh Groban and his lady actress Kat Dennings and Meghan Trainor who was also at their table. The ladies were admiring Chrissy’s massive cleavage, to which John quipped, “I’m a lucky guy.”
Barry Manilow–ever the trouper after oral surgery– performed but left early because of it, to which Kathy Griffin gave him a gentle kiss on his way out, saying, “ugh, I don’t want to hurt you.”
All the performers gave it their musical all. Whom did Paul Schaffer– whose date was his lovely daughter Victoria–think topped the night? “Elle King rocked it. Everyone was sensational, but Elle King just blew it away.”
Clive’s party is consistently the one Hollywood soiree that blows everyone away. On to the 41st! Go Clive!
Beyonce at the Super Bowl. Beyonce in “Formation.” Beyonce presenting the final Grammy Award. Beyonce, Beyonce, Beyonce.
Trust me. The recent spate of Beyonce is not a coincidence. I am told that her new album will drop “sometime” before her world tour tour begins on April 27th.
“Formation” is just the lead single and there is much to come. A big pressing question will be: what notice will she give Sony? And will Sony let her stream exclusively or do anything else on Tidal, the streaming service owned by her husband, a Mr. Jay Z?
So far, Tidal has wrecked new releases from Rihanna and Kanye West. Because of the screwed up Tidal situation, Rihanna’s “Anti” may never sell 250,000 copies. It’s going to come in at number 10 this week in its third week. Kanye is a bigger mess, with “The Life of Pablo” a sales mystery at this point.
Something tells me Beyonce is too chart oriented to let even Jay Z destroy her chances of being Number 1 with a bullet. So hold on. The summer of Beyonce is upon us.
Cyndi Lauper is going country! And guess who’s producing? Seymour Stein, founder of Sire Records, curator of the Ramones, Talking Heads, Pretenders and dozens of other influential groups. Seymour is one of the GREAT music men of rock history. This is a big big deal and I can’t wait to hear how the album, called “Detour,” sounds. This will be a HIT. Special duets include Emmylou Harris, Jewel, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, and Willie Nelson.
Cyndi is a musical genius, I think. Forget “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” or “True Colors” or “Time After Time.” Her Tony award winning musical, “Kinky Boots,” is still a hit on Broadway. Check out her blues album, “Memphis Blues,” featuring my favorite take on “Mother Earth.” She can do anything! And now she’s got Seymour Stein. Real music still lives!
The album is out on May 6th:
DETOUR Track Listing:
“Funnel Of Love”
“Detour” – Featuring Emmylou Harris
“Misty Blue”
“Walkin’ After Midnight”
“Heartaches By The Number”
“The End Of The World”
“Night Life” – Featuring Willie Nelson
“Begging To You”
“You’re The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly” – Featuring Vince Gill
“I Fall To Pieces”
“I Want To Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart” – Featuring Jewel
“Hard Candy Christmas” – Featuring Alison Krauss
Kanye West doesn’t write his own songs. He samples old hits to make new records. His audience is too young to know the difference.
On his not very good album “The Life of Pablo,” the final track– “Fade”– is composed of two old hits. The instrumental part comes Larry Heard aka Mr. Fingers’ 1985 hit “Mystery of Love.” The vocal is from Rare Earth’s 1970 hit “I Know I’m Losing You.”
For all of Kanye’s ranting about black or white music, I wonder if he knows that Rare Earth was Motown’s only white group during their heyday. Rod Richards was their lead singer, and it’s voice you hear on “Fade.” Funny, no? This is what we call irony.
I just found this video of Carly Simon’s surprise appearance at Clive Davis’s pre-Grammy dinner this past Sunday night. All you young girl singers, this is what it’s all about.
