Natalie Merchant to perform, be honored at annual John Lennon Tribute

Natalie Merchant. Photo by Jason Blickenstaff.

Announced today: 

Natalie Merchant To Be Honored at 39^th Annual John Lennon Tribute. Artist to receive the 2019 “John Lennon Real Love Award” and play a set of her favorite John Lennon Classics December 6 at Symphony Space, NYC.  More Artists to be announced.

Tickets on sale Tuesday, August 6 at 1PM

August 6, 2019 (New York, NY) – Theatre Within, the grassroots non-profit behind the Annual John Lennon Tribute since 1981, will honor acclaimed alternative rock singer and songwriter Natalie Merchant as the sixth recipient of the “John Lennon Real Love Award” at its 39^th Annual John Lennon Tribute –  Friday, December 6 at Symphony Space, NYC. Previous recipients of the prized award include Rosanne Cash, Patti Smith and Donovan. Tickets for Theatre Within’s 39^th Annual John Lennon Tribute will go on sale Tuesday, August 6 at 1pm and will be available online anytime at LennonTribute.org or by telephone at the Symphony Space Box office at 212-864-5400, Tuesday - Sunday, 1pm - 6 pm. Plus, a limited number of VIP packages are available at LennonTribute.org.

Ms. Merchant who will be appearing in the long-running charity concert for first time and will play a set of her favorite John Lennon and Beatles classics, said in a statement:

“John and Yoko’s activism had a profound impact upon me as a child. Through their ingenious war protests they challenged the entire world to reflect upon itself. In my estimation, ‘Imagine’ remains the most powerful three minutes and eight seconds of music ever recorded. It contains a vision of our highest aspirations in the most concise language and simple melody. John and Yoko realized that popular art and celebrity could be used to push society closer toward equity and compassion. I’ve tried to follow their example throughout my life, as an artist and citizen. It’s such an honor to be recognized for my work with the John Lennon Real Love award this year.”

“With her beautiful songs, social activism, and support of charitable causes, Natalie Merchant has truly brightened our world and our hearts,” said Yoko Ono. “Natalie’s outspokenness on the environment, domestic violence, and special-needs children shines light on these vitally important issues. I am so happy that Theatre Within is honoring her with this year’s John Lennon Real Love Award.” 

Theatre Within Artistic Director and longtime Tribute producer, Joe Raiola added, “John Lennon combined music and social activism in a unique and remarkably positive way. Natalie Merchant is a great artist blazing a similar path with heart, caring and compassion, and she is very deserving of this honor.”

In addition to Ms. Merchant, the Tribute will feature performances by a diverse line-up of veteran and emerging artists to be announced. Recent performers include Jackson Browne Debbie Harry, Joan Osborne and the late Ben E. King. 

Proceeds from the Tribute will support Theatre Within’s ongoing free workshops – in songwriting, art, meditation and more – at Gilda’s Club NYC for those whose lives have been impacted by cancer. Workshops include the John Lennon Real Love Project, a visionary songwriting program for children who have lost a parent to cancer and adult cancer survivors.

Theatre Within, a 501(c)3 non-profit, relies on contributions from supporters to produce the annual Tribute. John Lennon and Beatles fans are invited to join “Friends of the Annual John Lennon Tribute” at LennonTribute.org/join-friends.

Theatre Within’s Annual John Lennon Tribute is produced in association with Music Without Borders. It is the only ongoing John Lennon Tribute concert in the world sanctioned by Yoko Ono.

Lennon doc 'Above Us Only Sky' coming to video Sept. 13

JOHN LENNON & YOKO ONO: ABOVE US ONLY SKY

RELEASED ON DVD, BLU-RAY & DIGITAL ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2019

 New York, NY (July 30, 2019) – John & Yoko: ABOVE US ONLY SKY shares the untold story of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s unique relationship, and the artistic journey that culminated in the iconic Imagine album. This feature-length documentary film, directed by Emmy Award Winner and Oscar nominee Michael Epstein, explores how the art, activism, politics and music of the pair lead to the creative and personal collaboration that defined an era.

A compelling new commentary follows the creative journeys John and Yoko took to arrive at Imagine, as well as their paths to the innovative music film Imagine and Yoko’s lesser-known but extraordinary album Fly. Through a deep dive into previously unreleased recordings, including the first demo of "Imagine", and unseen film, as well as both archive and brand-new interviews, ABOVE US ONLY SKY lays bare childhoods scarred by inequality, racism, exploitation and the horrors of war—and later redeemed by love and art.

Yoko said, “Rock/pop songs appeal. They talk to people. And there's nothing like that. Imagine was a result of that. Both of us knew that we were talking in a way that people understand. The fact that 'Imagine' as a song was written and put out in the world was magical. And I hope you will smell the magic of it. I feel in the big picture the fact that John and I met - was to do this song.”

As well as a new and exclusive interview with Yoko, the film features new interviews with those closest to the couple at that time, including John Lennon’s son Julian, photographer David Bailey who famously captured the couple in a 1971 photograph that graced the cover of Vogue, gallerist John Dunbar who set up Yoko’s first London art show and introduced the couple, Dan Richter, a neighbor of Yoko’s who became their personal assistant, pioneering studio designer Eddie Veale who built Ascot Sound Studios at their home in Tittenhurst Park, as well as Klaus Voormann, Alan White and Jim Keltner - musicians who all played on the Imagine album. These influential figures provide open and unprecedented insight to the Imagine narrative, alongside previously-unseen footage, photographs and audio recordings.

In John’s words can be found the central mission of ABOVE US ONLY SKY: to dig past the sweet exterior of Imagine, and in the process reclaim both the song’s radical vision and its fierce relevancy for a new generation.

Paul McCartney announces new reissues of four live albums.

By Steve Marinucci

 Paul McCartney has confirmed updated releases of four live albums with performances spanning from 1975 to 1976. The albums — Amoeba Gig, Paul Is Live, Choba B CCCP, Wings Over America — will be released July 12, 2019 via MPL/Capitol/UMe digitally, on CD and on both black and limited edition color vinyl. Notably, the full 21-song set from the Amoeba show will be released for the first time legally. Paul Is Live also has some tracks added to the original lineup. 

Order them through the links below from Amazon.com. (Also at Amazon.co.uk for Great Britain.)

Amoeba Gig has been newly remixed by Paul’s engineer Steve Orchard and will be available in configurations including CD, 2 x 180g black vinyl, and limited edition color vinyl (LP1 - clear, LP2 - hazy amber transparent).

Amoeba Gig vinyl
Amoeba Gig CD

Amoeba Gig (CD)
1. Drive My Car
2. Only Mama Knows
3. Dance Tonight
4. C Moon
5. The Long And Winding Road
6. I’ll Follow The Sun
7. Calico Skies
8. That Was Me
9. Blackbird
10. Here Today
11. Back In The USSR
12. Nod Your Head
13. House Of Wax
14. I’ve Got A Feeling
15. Matchbox
16. Get Back
17. Baby Face
18. Hey Jude
19. Let It Be
20. Lady Madonna
21. I Saw Her Standing There
 
Amoeba Gig (LP)
Side A:
1. Drive My Car
2. Only Mama Knows
3. Dance Tonight
4. C Moon
5. The Long And Winding Road
6. I’ll Follow The Sun
 
Side B:
1. Calico Skies
2. That Was Me
3. Blackbird
4. Here Today
5. Back In The USSR
6. Nod Your Head
 
Side C:
1. House Of Wax
2. I’ve Got A Feeling
3. Matchbox
4. Get Back
 
Side D:
1. Baby Face
2. Hey Jude
3. Let It Be
4. Lady Madonna
5. I Saw Her Standing There
6. Coming Up [Soundcheck]

Paul Is Live has been newly remastered at Abbey Road Studios and will be available in configurations including CD, 2 x 180g black vinyl, and limited edition color vinyl (LP1 - opaque baby blue, LP2 - plush peach white opaque).

Paul Is Live (CD)
1. Drive My Car
2. Let Me Roll It
3. Looking For Changes
4. Peace In The Neighbourhood
5. All My Loving
6. Robbie's Bit (Thanks Chet)
7. Good Rockin' Tonight
8. We Can Work It Out
9. Hope Of Deliverance
10. Michelle
11. Biker Like An Icon
12. Here, There And Everywhere
13. My Love
14. Magical Mystery Tour
15. C'mon People
16. Lady Madonna
17. Paperback Writer
18. Penny Lane
19. Live And Let Die
20. Kansas City
21. Welcome To Soundcheck (link)
22. Hotel In Benidorm (soundcheck)
23. I Wanna Be Your Man (soundcheck)
24. A Fine Day (soundcheck)
 
Paul Is Live (LP)
Side 1:
1. Drive My Car
2. Let Me Roll It
3. Looking For Changes
4. Peace In The Neighbourhood
5. All My Loving
6. Robbie's Bit (Thanks Chet)
 
Side 2:
7. Good Rockin' Tonight
8. We Can Work It Out
9. Hope Of Deliverance
10. Michelle
11. Biker Like An Icon
12. Here, There And Everywhere
13. My Love
 
Side 3:
1. Magical Mystery Tour
2. C'mon People
3. Lady Madonna
4. Paperback Writer
5. Penny Lane
6. Live And Let Die
 
Side 4:
7. Kansas City
8. Welcome To Soundcheck (link)
9. Hotel In Benidorm (soundcheck)
10. I Wanna Be Your Man (soundcheck)
11. A Fine Day (soundcheck)

Paul Is Live vinyl
Paul Is Live CD

Choba B CCCP has been newly remastered at Abbey Road Studios and will be reissued as the original 11-track Russian release. It will be available in configurations including CD, 180g black vinyl, and limited edition opaque yellow vinyl.

Choba B CCCP vinyl
Choba B CCCP CD

Wings Over America will be available in configurations including double CD, 3 x 180g triple vinyl, and limited edition color vinyl (LP1 - transparent red, LP2 - transparent green, LP3 - transparent blue) both come with original souvenir poster.

Wings Over America vinyl 
Wings Over America CD

A must read: Paul McCartney's tender letter to the son of Harry Nilsson

Paul McCartney (MJ KIM/MPL Communications Ltd.)

Zak Nilsson, the oldest son of the late singer Harry Nilsson’s seven children, posted Feb. 16 on social media that he had received a letter from Paul McCartney after the former Beatles bassist had learned Nilsson was being treated for cancer. The letter was dated Feb. 4.

“I got this letter from Paul McCartney the other day. He heard I had cancer and sent me this note. I was very touched that Harry’s friendship meant this much to Paul,” Nilsson wrote on Facebook.

You can read the rest of the story that we wrote on Medium.

Beatles News Briefs 2-part series: The Week The Beatles Hit America

 

"The Week the Beatles Hit America"

A two-part Beatles News Briefs series on YouTube

(Also available on iTunes, Google Play, Podbean and wherever you get your podcasts.)

Part 1

Part 2

The Beatles and 'The Big Bang Theory'

Latest "Beatles News Briefs" podcast -- an exclusive interview with Gay Linvill, the associate director on "The Big Bang Theory," who reveals how the show's biggest Beatles fans and Sirius/XM came together for "Big Bang Beatles."

Listen now!!

Beatles fan tour travels to Abbey Road in celebration of album's 50th anniversary

The Liverpool waterfront as seen from the River Mersey. (Photo from Creative Commons)

Charles Rosenay's Liverpool Productions will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Abbey Road with their 36th “Magical History Tour” from August 19-28, 2019. Travelers will be at Abbey Road on the 50th anniversary. The fully-guided, professionally-escorted tour to London and Liverpool also includes visits to Penny Lane, Strawberry Field and the Cavern Club. 

Other highlights of the tour include “Beatleweek” in Liverpool, featuring the International Beatles Convention, Liverpool's Beatles Auction at LIPA plus a fully-guided coach tour hosted by Beatles expert David Bedford, author of "Liddypool," and several walking tours escorted by historian Rene Van Haarlem of Beatles Unlimited. Among those who will greet fans is John Lennon's sister, Julia Baird.

In London, landmarks include the recording studios at Abbey Road, Trident Studios and Twickenham, an afternoon visit to Chiswick Park where The Beatles filmed their "Paperback Writer" and "Rain" videos, and locations from The Beatles' films "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!" Travelers will also spend an afternoon in Henley-on-Thames, where George Harrison lived.

The vacation is hosted by Charles F. Rosenay!!!, long-time sponsor of these tours  and producer of "The Fab 4 Music Festivals" in Connecticut, and "NYC FAB 50," which was 2014's Beatles' 50th Anniversary in New York.

The basic tour package is $2,599 based on double occupancy with other add-on options. Price deluxe accommodations, transfers, ground transportation, breakfasts in Liverpool and all advertised events, parties, admissions, guests and activities. Packages with flights start at $2,999 per person, with group departures from New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities in the U.S. and Canada. Single supplements and group packages available.

For further information, write: email LiverpoolTours@aol.com or phone (203) 795-4737. The website for the tour is www.LiverpoolTours.com and the Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolTours/.