Bob Andrews has reportedly died in New Mexico of cancer. He was 75.

Andrews was unsung hero of the New Wave movement of the mid to late 70s. He fronted the band The Rumour, which also played behind Graham Parker.

Prior to The Rumour, Andrews was part of the band called Brinsley Swartz, which also included the titular star and Nick Lowe. They recorded — and Andrews produced — the original version of “What’s So Funny (‘Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding).”

When Parker rose to prominence in 1979 with his album, “Squeezing Out Sparks,” The Rumour had their own release on Stiff Records with hits “Emotional Traffic” and “Frozen Years.” They were all pop gems.

Andrews produced the debut album by Carlene Carter, then married to Nick Lower. His credits are all over the Stiff catalog. Jona Lewie’s “Stop the Cavalry” was a massive number 1 song, and Lewie’s “You’ll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties” is maybe the cleverest record ever made.

Andrews had his biggest with a late 80s Liverpool group called The La’s. “There She Goes,” is a classic one off hit, instantly memorable, and used now for commercials all the time.

Parker Tweeted this afternoon: “My dear friend Bob Andrews, keyboard player in the Rumour has died. So deeply saddened by this news.”

Not everyone gets Grammys or is in the Rock Hall. More often than, the uncelebrated great musicians get overlooked. RIP Bob Andrews.

One of the greatest pop classics is back.

The Go Go’s Belinda Carlisle has covered The Hollies’ “The Air That I Breathe.”

The song was written by Mike Hazlewood of the Hollies and Albert Hammond, released around the time Hammond had a hit with “It Never Rains in California,” circa 1972. Over time, it became Radiohead’s “Creep.” 

These are such great songs, they only grow better with time.

Belinda Carlisle is doing what Mariah should do: using her voice to best effect with real songs.

The new album is called “Once Upon a Time in California.” All the songs are classics, including Bacharach and David’s “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” plus “Never My Love,” “Everybody’s Talkin,” and “One (Is the Loneliest Number).”

Who wouldn’t want to hear it? Comes August 29th. 

It’s hard to imagine anyone manages Mariah Carey at this point.

Wealthy beyond reach, Mariah lives on her holiday song, “All I Want for Christmas,” and a handful of concerts per year. Let’s not forget Virgin Records dumped her after “Glitter” and had to pay out $49 million. She’s doing fine.

But Mariah still doesn’t get about making records in 2025. Her new single, “Dangerous,” sounds like something from 2005. It was released last night and hasn’t charted. On YouTube, “Dangerous” has 158,000 views, which is nothing.

The song references Mariah’s career and ex loves, still harping on her marriage to Tommy Mottola. She does use the word “rigamarole,” which is very Long Island.

Mariah is wasting her time and her voice. She could be adding to her legacy with real music. This is just a piffle.

I like Sabrina Carpenter’s new single, “Manchild.”

But for some reason, the Jack Antonoff produced single interpolates or samples the Doobie Brothers’ “What a Fool Believes.”

Why? I don’t know. I mean, good for Michael McDonald if they paid him. But what’s the point? As soon as you hear the opening staccato piano, you know the song.

It doesn’t make any sense. Couldn’t they think of another underpinning? “Manchild” could have been a much better single. “Espresso” and “Please Please Please” were so original and spot on.

Let’s hope her all whole album coming up doesn’t indulge more in this nonsense.