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Patti Smith has just released a Live at Electric Lady seven song EP on Spotify. She performed these songs when I saw her at City Winery NYC this past spring. It was such a lovely show, and she was in very good form.
I’m glad she decided to preserve the recordings. Maybe she’ll release a full show on CD, the venue her fans would prefer. (Older folks are not into streaming.) But I pay for Spotify like everyone else, and I can share the songs with you, too. As I wrote last spring, these are all inspired choices, especially Stevie Wonder’s “Blame it on the Rain.”
Australian actor Ingo Rademacher, on and off with “General Hospital” for 25 years, is angry with his fans. In an Instagram video he calls them “morons,” “bigots,” and “terrible people.” I think he’s trying to get his character killed off, I’ve never seen anything so stupid in my life.
Rademacher says fans started a Twitter hashtag to get him fired when they learned that he was against vaccinations. I wrote the other day that Rademacher was participating in anti-vaxx rallies. It’s possible to infer from his past interviews that he’s never had his children vaccinated for anything. (He might consider getting one for distemper.)
At least two of Rademacher’s “GH” screen partners have tested positive for COVID-19. One of his castmates complained on Twitter about actors on the show who weren’t vaccinated. It seems impossible that ABC/Disney doesn’t require everyone on the GH set to be vaccinated simply because they work in such close proximity. “GH” has a large cast that includes children, teenagers, and people over 65. Everyone needs to be protected.
Rademacher wrote a statement next to his video on Instagram which should ensure his unpopularity at least at in person fan events. He wrote: “To all the bigots that called for my firing at GH and made #fireIngo trend 🙏 (thanks for the press btw) about a post of mine that is factually correct. Getting vaccinated does not stop you from spreading the virus. That’s straight from the CDC. Mandating any vaccine is wrong but especially one that doesn’t help stop the spread, that’s nothing short of crazy talk. If you want to take the vaccine, take it. Just know you’re doing it for yourself, not to save anyone else. You’re not a hero.”
He obviously does not take advice from a publicist or anyone else. He’s putting people at work at risk, and his career on the line. He must know that in daytime drama, characters are killed off or sent on expeditions to Russia with the clack of a computer key.
Laurie Metcalf won back to back Tony Awards on Broadway for Lead Actress in 2017 and 2018. (Also four other Tony nominations in her career.) She has a long theater history in Chicago with Steppenwolf Theater Company.
Now Metcalf and co-star John Goodman — one Emmy award, several nominations, many Oscar noms that should have been — will get to show off their acting chops with a live broadcast of “The Conners.”
The “Roseanne” spin off will start its fourth season on September 22nd with a show performed live on the East and West coast feeds. Sarah Gilbert, who is great live after being on “The Talk,” plus all the other “Conners” regulars will be on hand. They should add Candice Bergen, who can do “live” with the best of them.
This is a gimmick since “The Conners” needs a ratings boost. But it’s also a clever way to use a talented cast. Let’s hope they play to Metcalf’s strengths, she’s the one we want to see do this!
I have never understood who Rita Ora was. Is she a singer? A celebrity? An actress? A girlfriend to lots of famous guys?
Now that I’ve heard her sing “Seaside,” dropping tonight from Diane Warren’s album, “The Cave Sessions, Vol. 1,” I get it. She is actually a really good pop singer. “Seaside,” sung with Sofia Reyes and Reik, could be a breakthrough hit.
Can you blame me, though? Ora was recently pictured with “Jojo Rabbit” director Taika Waititi somewhere in the South Pacific. That’s usually how her name comes up. She’s been “linked to” a bunch of famous guys including, of course, Rob Kardashian, Bruno Mars, and Drake.
But records? She’s almost 31 and has released just two albums, neither of which did anything. In the UK she had a run of middling singles, but nothing here. And nothing recently.
So it’s a sweet surprise that “Seaside” is so catchy and well sung by Ora and her two compadres. When the video hits tonight or tomorrow, I’ll add it here. And I suggest radio programmers take it for a spin ASAP. You won’t be able to get it out of your head.
“The Cave Sessions” is full of potential hits, by the way. I love “Domino” with the singer LP. It’s a little reminiscent of “Exes and Ohs,” but better. Country fans are going to go crazy for “I Save Me,” with Maren Morris. (Pop fans, too.) Ty Dolla $ign, who I thought was a rapper, sings “Drink You Away” like an old fashioned crooner. Wait til you hear him. (And wait til country singers grab this song.)
And more: I’m not really a Celine Dion fan, but “Superwoman” sounds like a smash. John Legend on “Where’s Your Heart?” is his best track in ages. And, of course, there’s “She’s Fire” featuring G Eazy and Santana, already with over 3 million streams and blowing up everywhere. “She’s Fire” is also featured on Santana’s new album coming this fall. He doesn’t play guitar on other people’s records unless he likes the song. He told me over the weekend he loved doing “She’s Fire.”
So keep refreshing. I’ll have some updates on “The Cave Sessions” tonight…
On the subject of Charlie Watts’s untimely and sad death, only one former Rolling Stone remains mum.
Mick Taylor, who famous played guitar and bass guitar as a member of the Stones from 1969 to 1974, has still not said a word about Charlie’s passing. Taylor joined the group in ’69 after Brian Jones left. Then Taylor resigned in ’74 after reportedly not getting along with Keith Richards. Taylor is heard on a number of key Rolling Stones records including “Sticky Fingers” and “Exile on Main Street.”
Meanwhile, Bill Wyman, the band’s bassist and original member from 1962 to his departure in 1993, called Watts “like a brother” on Instagram.
PS Stones records are selling and downloading like crazy. The “Hot Rocks” Greatest Hits is doing the best, but you guys should be downloading “Out of Time” from More Hot Rocks. One of Charlie’s best numbers.
For people of a certain age, who love music, we are going through our golden period. I never thought I’d be Living in the Past so much but it’s fun.
Besides all the Beatles news this morning comes more info about Joni Mitchell reissues. There’s a big Archives. Vol. 2 coming in November which looks back at Joni’s Reprise years, 1968-71. Now, in addition to that, there’s a separate box set of Joni’s Carnegie Hall debut in 1969. This “Chelsea Morning” comes from that collection.
Now, follow this: the whole Carnegie Hall concert will be in the CD box set. But if you love it, you can get the Carnegie Hall concert as a special LP set on white vinyl. You know, Rhino Records is going crazy making all this Joni stuff extra great. If you get the white vinyl set, white doves fly out of the package as well. Graham Nash comes a day later and picks them up in a VW bus. (Just kidding.)
But doesn’t this video sound sparkling? Joni wrote this song when she lived on West 16th St. I’ve lived six blocks away for decades and the only song I wrote was a comedy rap record about my landlord. No one is reissuing that!
Yes, yes, yes. we’ve been talking about the “Let It Be” 50th anniversary edition for eons. And now it’s finally on its way.
Even though the actual 50th anniversary was a year ago in May, at last the gang at Apple Records has announced a 5 CD set that includes engineer Glyn Johns’s much bootlegged but never officially released original mix of the Beatles’ final release. This is what we’ll all be buying this box set for. I listened to the title track “Let it Be” last night and it really is the best of all the versions we know.
The box set has 57 tracks including a new stereo mix of the original album (12 tracks); 27 previously unreleased outtakes, studio jams, and rehearsals; the previously unreleased 1969 Get Back LP mix by Glyn Johns, newly mastered (14 tracks) and an EP of 4 tracks that includes Glyn Johns’ unreleased 1970 mixes: “Across The Universe” and “I Me Mine” and Giles Martin & Sam Okell’s new stereo misxes of the “Don’t Let Me Down” & “Let It Be” singles.
Whew!
All of this comes October 15th, three weeks before Peter Jackson’s documentary, “Get Back,” which expands the original “Let it Be” movie into a multi-parter that shows how cool the making of this penultimate album was in 1969.
It also coincides with the release of Paul McCartney’s two volume memoir, “The Lyrics,” which covers 154 songs from his career.
And then…that will be it. We’ve reached the end of Beatles anniversaries. Apple might serve up new editions of “Revolver” and “Rubber Soul,” but basically all the albums have been remixed, remastered, boxed up, and so on. It’s been a phenomenal run, really. The only thing left would be a bootleg series, something like the Stones or Springsteen do now for themselves.
Just a PS about “Let it Be”: It’s still the weirdest story how they made the album and the movie, kind of walked away from the whole thing, and then went back and made their masterpiece, “Abbey Road,” which they then released right away. And held “Let it Be,” letting Phil Spector mix the final release. And also, that all of this was made between, say 1966 and 1969, just three whole calendar years, from “Revolver” through “Pepper,” “White Album,” “Let it Be,” “Abbey Road,” “Magical Mystery Tour,” all the singles like “Hey Jude,” “Penny Lane,” and “Strawberry Fields.” It’s completely insane when you think about it. Amazing, brilliant, and insane.
LET IT BE SPECIAL EDITION
Tracklists
SUPER DELUXE [5CD+1Blu-ray + 105-page hardbound book in slipcase | digital audio collection]
CD1:Let It Be(new stereo mix of original album)
1: Two Of Us
2: Dig A Pony
3: Across The Universe
4: I Me Mine
5: Dig It
6: Let It Be
7: Maggie Mae
8: I’ve Got A Feeling
9: One After 909
10: The Long And Winding Road
11: For You Blue
12: Get Back
CD2:Get Back– Apple Sessions
1: Morning Camera (Speech – mono) / Two Of Us (Take 4)
2: Maggie Mae / Fancy My Chances With You (Mono)
3: Can You Dig It?
4: I Don’t Know Why I’m Moaning (Speech – mono)
5: For You Blue (Take 4)
6: Let It Be / Please Please Me / Let It Be (Take 10)
7: I’ve Got A Feeling (Take 10)
8: Dig A Pony (Take 14)
9: Get Back (Take 19)
10: Like Making An Album? (Speech)
11: One After 909 (Take 3)
12: Don’t Let Me Down (First rooftop performance)
13: The Long And Winding Road (Take 19)
14: Wake Up Little Susie / I Me Mine (Take 11)
CD3: Get Back – Rehearsals and Apple Jams
1: On The Day Shift Now (Speech – mono) / All Things Must Pass (Rehearsals – mono)
2: Concentrate On The Sound (mono)
3: Gimme Some Truth (Rehearsal – mono)
4: I Me Mine (Rehearsal – mono)
5: She Came In Through The Bathroom Window (Rehearsal)
6: Polythene Pam (Rehearsal – mono)
7: Octopus’s Garden (Rehearsal – mono)
8: Oh! Darling (Jam)
9: Get Back (Take 8)
10: The Walk (Jam)
11: Without A Song (Jam) – Billy Preston with John and Ringo
12: Something (Rehearsal – mono)
13: Let It Be (Take 28)
CD4:Get Back LP– 1969 Glyn Johns Mix
1: One After 909
2: I’m Ready (aka Rocker) / Save The Last Dance For Me / Don’t Let Me Down
3: Don’t Let Me Down
4: Dig A Pony
5: I’ve Got A Feeling
6: Get Back
7: For You Blue
8: Teddy Boy
9: Two Of Us
10: Maggie Mae
11: Dig It
12: Let It Be
13: The Long And Winding Road
14: Get Back (Reprise)
CD5: Let It Be EP
1: Across The Universe (unreleased Glyn Johns 1970 mix)
2: I Me Mine (unreleased Glyn Johns 1970 mix)
3: Don’t Let Me Down (new mix of original single version)
4: Let It Be (new mix of original single version)
Blu-ray: Let It Be Special Edition audio mixes
Dolby Atmos
96kHz/24-bit DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
96kHz/24-bit High Res Stereo (2019 Stereo Mix)
SUPER DELUXE VINYL [limited edition 4LP+12-inch EP + 105-page hardbound book in slipcase]
LP One:Let It Be(new stereo mix of original album)
Side 1
1: Two Of Us
2: Dig A Pony
3: Across The Universe
4: I Me Mine
5: Dig It
6: Let It Be
7: Maggie Mae
Side 2
1: I’ve Got A Feeling
2: One After 909
3: The Long And Winding Road
4: For You Blue
5: Get Back
LP Two:Get Back– Apple Sessions
Side 1
1: Morning Camera (Speech – mono) / Two Of Us (Take 4)
2: Maggie Mae / Fancy My Chances With You (Mono)
3: Can You Dig It?
4: Don’t Know Why I’m Moaning (Speech – mono)
5: For You Blue (Take 4)
6: Let It Be / Please Please Me / Let It Be (Take 10)
7: I’ve Got A Feeling (Take 10)
Side 2
1: Dig A Pony (Take 14)
2: Get Back (Take 19)
3: Like Making An Album? (Speech)
4: One After 909 (Take 3)
5: Don’t Let Me Down (First rooftop performance)
6: The Long And Winding Road (Take 19)
7: Wake Up Little Susie / I Me Mine (Take 11)
LP Three:Get Back – Rehearsals and Apple Jams
Side 1
1: On The Day Shift Now (Speech – mono) / All Things Must Pass (Rehearsals – mono)
2: Concentrate On The Sound (mono)
3: Gimme Some Truth (Rehearsal – mono)
4: I Me Mine (Rehearsal – mono)
5: She Came In Through The Bathroom Window (Rehearsal)
6: Polythene Pam (Rehearsal – mono)
7: Octopus’s Garden (Rehearsal – mono)
Side 2
1: Oh! Darling (Jam)
2: Get Back (Take 8)
3: The Walk (Jam)
4: Without A Song (Jam) – Billy Preston with John and Ringo
5: Something (Rehearsal – mono)
6: Let It Be (Take 28)
LP Four: Get Back LP– 1969 Glyn Johns Mix
Side 1
1: One After 909
2: I’m Ready (aka Rocker) / Save The Last Dance For Me / Don’t Let Me Down
3: Don’t Let Me Down
4: Dig A Pony
5: I’ve Got A Feeling
6: Get Back
Side 2
1: For You Blue
2: Teddy Boy
3: Two Of Us
4: Maggie Mae
5: Dig It
6: Let It Be
7: The Long And Winding Road
8: Get Back (Reprise)
12-Inch Let It Be EP
Side 1
1: Across The Universe (unreleased Glyn Johns 1970 mix)
2: I Me Mine (unreleased Glyn Johns 1970 mix)
Side 2
1: Don’t Let Me Down (new mix of original single version)
2: Let It Be (new mix of original single version)
DELUXE [2CD in digipak with 40-page booklet]
CD 1:Let It Be(new stereo mix of original album)
CD 2: Outtake Highlights
1: Morning Camera (Speech – mono) / Two Of Us (Take 4)
2: Maggie Mae / Fancy My Chances With You (Mono)
3: For You Blue (Take 4)
4: Let It Be / Please Please Me / Let It Be (Take 10)
5: The Walk (Jam)
6: I’ve Got A Feeling (Take 10)
7: Dig A Pony (Take 14)
8: Get Back (Take 8)
9: Like Making An Album? (Speech)
10: One After 909 (Take 3)
11: Don’t Let Me Down (First rooftop performance)
12: The Long And Winding Road (Take 19)
13: Wake Up Little Susie / I Me Mine (Take 11)
14: Across The Universe (unreleased Glyn Johns 1970 mix)
STANDARD [1CD | digital | 1LP vinyl | limited edition 1LP picture disc vinyl]
The “Downton Abbey” sequel is shooting away, will miss the Oscar deadline and get released next March.
The second movie from the makers of the popular TV series is now called “Downton Abbey: A New Era.” It may be the finale for this whole enterprise, too. I’ll tell you why.
Undoubtedly, Maggie Smith’s Violet, the Dowager Countess, bites the dust in this one. She announced she had cancer in the last one. She’s also, as Maggie Smith says, 150 years old by now.
The timeline for “Downton” is not moving quickly. It’s still like 1926 or so. They’re not going to get into the worldwide economic crash of 1929. But the actors are getting older. Even with makeup, it’s going to get ridiculous soon.
We’re coming to the end of the story anyway. Branson is going to marry the illegitimate cousin, the daughter of Imelda Staunton’s character, reclaim the Downton legacy and money, and everyone’s going to live happily ever after. Or at least in our minds. When the markets crash, the Nazis come, and World War II starts, no one will be the wiser.
So let’s get ready for “A New Era” next March. We’re going to love it no matter what!
After spouting conspiracy theories about how the World Trade Center buildings fell on 9/11, Spike is re-editing the fourth episode of his documentary called “NYC Epicenters: 9/11-2021½.”
Through HBO Spike says: “I’m Back In The Editing Room And Looking At The Eighth And Final Chapter Of ‘NYC EPICENTERS 9/11-2021½.’ I Respectfully Ask You To Hold Your Judgement Until You See The FINAL CUT.”
Lee told the New York Times in an article: “The amount of heat that it takes to make steel melt, that temperature’s not reached. And then the juxtaposition of the way Building 7 fell to the ground — when you put it next to other building collapses that were demolitions, it’s like you’re looking at the same thing. But people going to make up their own mind. My approach is put the information in the movie and let people decide for themselves. I respect the intelligence of the audience.”
It turns out the fourth episode of the docu-series featured interviewed with other conspiracy theorists and a group called Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth. Presumably Warner Media, HBO’s parent, caught wind of this and asked for changes– to facts and not just crazy theories that are unsubstantiated.
If that’s the case, good for them. HBO documentaries since the exit of Sheila Nevins have included far out series like “Allen v. Farrow” and “Leaving Neverland” which have broken conventional documentary rules to include speculation and one sided allegations. Even their recent “Tina Turner” doc was kind of a mess. All we need is a 9/11 anniversary film that questions whether the US didn’t take down the WTC buildings, or some other nonsense.
Ronnie Wood has chimed in along with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards bidding farewell to their fallen Rolling Stone drummer Charlie Watts.
Woody writes: “I love you my fellow Gemini ~ I will dearly miss you ~ you are the best”
The Charlie Watts death at age 80 has hit everyone hard because it points up the fragility now of our beloved classic rock stars. Everyone is over 70, a few over 80, and there are no replacements for them. It hurts to say goodbye!
