ADAM LAMBERT GIVES HEADS UP ELVIS TRIBUTE
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THE GLORIOUS CORNER
Story By: G. H. Harding
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| Jimmy Fallon |
FALLON BUSINESS – As good as little Jimmy Fallon was Monday night on his Tonight Show debut Monday -and we’ll get to that in a minute- could you believe U2 performing their “Invisible” on the roof of 30 Rock; the so-called Top Of The Rock? Talk about precipitous … that roof is long and thin and though they had some amazing camera shots, drummer Larry Mullen sure didn't sit down … and Bono most definitely had his performing space somewhat reduced.
Granted it’s a great song, but the backdrop, literally the skyline of Manhattan, was sumptuous. OK, Fallon was good, but conspicuously low-keyed. Obviously overwhelmed, he surely opted to be kind and rather reverential. I've always liked Fallon and truth be told, he’s probably been the best choice for host since Carson. O’Brien was good, if a bit caustic, and, Leno (22 years!) was good, but ultimately too cornbread for my tastes.
Will Smith and Billy Crystal was terrific as well. Fallon’s talents let him attract a wider array of contemporary artists. He’s got the goods and will deliver. Welcome Jimmy!
SHANNON BACK? --- After an exile of just several weeks, radio-legend Scott Shannon is rumored to be returning to the airwaves monetarily. How is that possible? When a talent the stature of Shannon leaves a prominent post, usually they get paid to stay away for quite some time. Face it, WPLJ is a behemoth … so, a golden parachute would seem in order.
My sources tell me there was a clause in Shannon’s contact that provided for such a quick return. Meanwhile, Elliot Segal from WOR (of the original Elvis & Elliot team of years back) has departed that station after an impressive media push. His show lasted just under one-month with rather grim ratings. Wonder what the real story was here?
His show was indeed an odd fit book ended by conservatives Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. Interesting considering the Shannon-news … do they pieces fit? Stay tuned.
FREE RODGERS --- Paul Rodgers has had a career that most would envy. In the 70's, he was the lead singer of Free and Bad Company. The 80's brought The Firm, the 90's was The Law and the 2000's included Queen + Paul Rodgers. Plus, throughout, the singer has had a very sensational solo career.
Now comes his latest solo effort, The Royal Sessions, recorded in Memphis with the musicians of Royal Studios which opened in 1956 and has recorded the likes of Al Green, Chuck Berry, Buddy Guy, Soloman Burke, Robert Cray and many more. Boz Scaggs’ most recent album, Memphis, was recorded there as well.
Rogers’ album is a treasure trove of classic soul compositions performed by one of the great voices of the rock era. Rodgers took the sessions very seriously and carefully chose songs that represented the sound of Memphis, covering Otis Redding, O. V. Wright, Albert King, Ann Peebles, Sam and Dave and many more. Where others have tried to recreate and pay tribute to the Memphis sound in the recent past, Rodgers has the pipes and the emotional delivery to truly make it happen.
The Royal Sessions has been received extremely well by the critics and the public alike with Rodgers scoring hits on both the Classic Rock Charts and, for the first time in his career, the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart where I Can't Stop the Rain is quickly ascending.
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| Adam Lambert |
HERE’S ADAM --- Adam Lambert has joined a slew of famed celebrities to honor Elvis Presley in a special tribute book. On Monday he tweeted his excitement about the project: “Check this out! A photography project I'm a part of ! Such amazing company! @Chrisaphoto's Shades of Elvis!
The book, Shades of Elvis, is by Christopher Ameruoso and Priscilla Presley. It is a photography book that includes images of more than 75 different artists wearing/posing with a pair of Elvis's sunglasses. Featured in the book are: Steven Tyler, Robert Plant, Lionel Richie, Johnny Depp, Celine Dion, Rob Lowe, Ozzy Osbourne, and Elton John, among others.
CLOSING NOTES --- Looks for Monkees Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith to go on Howard Stern right before their convention in early-March. Stern’s a long-time fan and has addressed the issue of why the band is not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I predict it'll be a game-changing interview …
Rock and roll designer John Varvatos has just started his own record label; through Monte Lippman’s Universal Records. Varvatos is a talented designer; his ads usually feature a music personality; Willie Nelson, Jimmy Page and Gary Clark, Jr., among is subjects. His New York-base is headquarters in the original location of Hilly Kristal’s CBGB's. This will be interesting to watch …
Talking about CBGB’s: Whatever happened to that movie? The movie premiered on DirecTV's video on demand platform DirecTV Cinema on September 5, 2013, and was available through October 2, 2013. It was shown at various times throughout the CBGB Music & Film Festival in New York City from October 9 through October 13, 2013, before a national release in select theaters beginning October 4, 2013. The DVD and Blu-ray were scheduled for release on December 31, 2013. I didn’t even see it advertised in a theater. Could it have really been that bad? With Alan Rickman, Johnny Galecki and, Malin Ackerman … really? …
Frankly, I'm surprised that Jay Leno hasn't yet guested on Letterman. To tell you the truth, I would have had him on the first opportunity. Anyway, Dave's show Monday night featured a veritable slew of stars: Kevin Spacey, Gary Clark, Jr., and, the entire cast of How I Met Your Mother. Powerhouse for sure...
Finally, just caught the first episode of NetFlix's House Of Cards second season ... wow is all I can say. Spacey, just devastatingly good.
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