moment and think hard,no doubt somebody comes to mind. I'm here to ease your burden though,so here are some acts we are still waiting on for new material...
BOB SEGER:
Native Michigan rocker's last release was 1995's "It's a Mystery." A year and a half ago,I reported that Seger and his long time producer "Punch" were gearing up for a Christmas 2001 release. Well,we're beyond Christmas
2002,and there's still no record in sight. Seger hasn't been completly out of the public eye though;He did win the Port Huron to Mackinac Island Yacht race the past 2 years. In an interview with the Detroit Free Press in
2001,Seger allowed that while he was still recording new songs, he didn't hold out alot of hope for current radio play,which in turn meant he didn't know if he would be touring again. I continue to keep my eyes and ears posted for anything new.
JOHN FOGERTY:
Fogerty's recorded output with Creedence Clearwater Revival was much more prolific than his solo work--7 albums in 5 years compared to 5 albums in almost 25 years! Discounting the 1998 Live record "Premonition",its now been almost 6 years since "Blue Moon Swamp." But Fogerty places his family first now. The newest addition to the Fogerty clan came a year and a half ago when Kelsy Cameron was born--already joining big Sister Lindsay,now 18 and brothers Shane(11)and Tyler(10). In a message to his website,Fogerty said,"Now I
get to start all over again. Finally,career and family are one life,and the family comes first!" Rumours abound that Fogerty's next solo album will be due sometime in the Summer of 2003.
VAN HALEN:
Its been almost 5 years since the last studio album,with nothing in sight. Sure,Former lead singers David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar joined forces last year for the "Sam and Dave" tour,and Eddie Van Halen has beaten
cancer,but the band remains without a lead singer following the Debackle of having former Extreme frontman Gary Cherone Handle vocals on the "Van Halen 3" project. The groups bassist,Michael Anthony,recently appeared on a radio show in L.A. but said little about the bands current plans. He did confirm that the band was on "Hiatus",Eddie was fit and healthy,and that he was attempting to bring Sammy Hagar back to the band.
THE EAGLES:
Here's a group that was one of the top 5 touring bands of 2002. Not bad for an act that hasn't had a new studio album since 1980's "The Long run",and who's live collection "Hell Freezes over" was released almost a
decade ago. But the Eagles are set to make a valiant comeback,kicking off with a new studio release in the Spring,and continuing on with another tour in the Summer of 2003. They'll do it with current members Don Henley,Glenn Frey,Timothy B. Schmit and Joe Walsh;Guitarist Don Felder was fired from the band about a year and a half ago.
GUNS 'N ROSES:
Really now,does anybody care at this point,especially after the recent tour was aborted? To begin with,Axl Rose was the only original member of a band that used to be known for its outrageous personalitys--long gone in
2003.The much hyped but long overdue "Chinese Democracy" album still has no release date,and after the bands recent problems,one has to wonder if this group will ever get on track again.
FLEETWOOD MAC:
Last years 2 CD "The Very Best Of" was just a primer for the new studio set due to be released in the Spring. While the band has undergone a number of personnel changes over the years,it was the 1975 version that would
ultimatly become the most successful. The next release will be without original member Christine McVie,but WILL include Mick Fleetwood,John McVie,Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. A major tour for the Summer of 2003 is also planned. if you did pick up a copy of the recent "best of",the disk is enhanced with exclusive footage of the band making their new album,which would be the first new studio record in 15 years.
Had I done this topic last week I could have included Country performers Steve Wariner and Vince Gill,who both have new CD's due in February--but I covered that last week!
Odds & ends...
Longtime fans of the soft-rock group BREAD may have to dig a bit to find it,but there's a new compilation now out in England. Its actually a new DAVID GATES collection called "Songbook",featuring solo hits,Bread classics
and 5 new recordings...Reverend and soul legend AL GREEN gets the deluxe reissue treatment in February as his first four albums will be re-released,including classics like "Lets Stay Together"(#8,1972) and "I'm Still in Love with you"(#4,1972). Rare bonus tracks will be added to each release,due in stores February 11th. 2 weeks prior to those reissues,a new compilation is due called "Al Green: The Love Songs Collection",featuring 17 of Greens
best known ballads...Upcoming DVD-Audio titles for January include R.E.M.'s "Document" and the Bands "Music from Big Pink",both due on the 28th...Sony records releases its "Love songs" collections next week with disks due from Loverboy,Toto,Paul Young,Aaron Neville,Marvin Gaye,The O'Jays,Johnny Mathis,Ray Conniff and George Jones. Also due for reissue are 2 MARVIN GAYE titles: "Lets Get it on"(1973), and "Whats going on"(1971),both with bonus tracks. In addition to the "ove songs" disk I just mentioned,Universal records is also releasing Gaye's "Greatest Duets: A love songs collection".
Email Steve at themusictree@hotmail.com