Ringo Starr Covers John Lennon, With The Help Of Paul McCartney

The flavor of a Beatles reunion on ‘Grow Old With Me’ is heightened by the presence, on bass guitar and backing vocals, of Paul McCartney.

Ringo Starr has released his highly poignant version of the John Lennon song ‘Grow Old With Me’ as another taster for his 20th studio album What’s My Name, which is out on 25 October. Its flavor of a Beatles reunion is heightened by the presence, on bass guitar and backing vocals, of Paul McCartney, and by another ingredient that Ringo explained recently.

The recording was part of a collection of Lennon demos, of which Starr only became aware recently. He explained that it had John saying “This will be great for you, Ringo” at the beginning. “The idea that John was talking about me in that time before he died, well, I’m an emotional person,” he said. “And I just loved this song. I sang it the best that I could. I do well up when I think of John this deeply. And I’ve done my best. We’ve done our best.

“The other good thing is that I really wanted Paul to play on it, and he said yes. Paul came over and he played bass and sings a little bit on this with me. So, John’s on it in a way. I’m on it and Paul’s on it. It’s not a publicity stunt. This is just what I wanted. And the strings that Jack [Douglas] arranged for this track, if you really listen, they do one line from [George Harrison’s] ‘Here Comes The Sun.’ So, in a way, it’s the four of us.”

‘Grow Old With Me’ was one of Lennon’s last compositions, written in Bermuda in 1980, a few months before his murder. He recorded it there as a demo but was unable to complete it in time for inclusion on the Double Fantasy album. The demo was included on the posthumous 1984 compilation Milk and Honey, which was produced by Jack Douglas.

The song has prompted several covers over the years, including one by Mary Chapin Carpenter that was part of the 1995 album Working Class Hero — A Tribute to John Lennon. Equally stirring was Glen Campbell’s version, which was on his Meet Glen Campbell set of 2008.

– Udiscovermusic.com – Paul Sexton

Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, James Taylor Top Sting’s Rainforest Benefit Concert

The 30th annual Rainforest Fund benefit concert will feature Sting, Bruce Springsteen and James Taylor.

Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor and John Mellencamp will perform with Sting at the 30th annual Rainforest Fund benefit concert. Hosted by Robert Downey Jr., the event is set to take place at New York’s Beacon Theater on December 9th.

Named “We’ll Be Together” after a 1987 Sting single, the lineup also features Shaggy, Eurythmics, H.E.R., Ricky Martin, Bob Geldof and MJ Rodriguez. Benefit Level tickets start at $1,000; remaining tickets will be available on November 1st via Ticketmaster.

Founded in 1989 by Sting and his wife Trudie Styler, the Rainforest Fund aims to protect the world’s rainforests and defend the human rights of the indigenous peoples who live there. “With the Amazon blighted by fire this summer, and a real and growing awareness of climate change, there has never been a more important or more opportune moment to fight to protect our forests,” Styler said in a statement. “All life on earth depends on their survival.”

The evening is also a tribute to the Eighties, during which MTV-era acts like Mellencamp and Geldof united for social change and participated in massive benefits like Live Aid, Farm Aid, and Band Aid.

Sting and Styler have thrown 17 Rainforest Fund benefit concerts over the years since 1991. The last was in 2016 and featured Springsteen, James Taylor, Idina Menzel, Darlene Love and Ronnie Spector. This is the first year it will be held at Beacon Theater — all have previously taken place at Carnegie Hall.

Sting.com - (c) Rolling Stone by Angie Martoccio

Here's When Coldplay's New Double Album is Arriving

After a week of cryptic teases, Coldplay announced Thursday (Oct. 24) that their eighth studio album, Everyday Life, is on the way.

The new double album is set to be released Nov. 22 via Parlophone/Atlantic Records and will be divided into two halves, Sunrise and Sunset. In making the announcement, Chris Martin and co. also dropped the LP's dual lead singles: "Orphans" and the Stromae-assisted "Arabesque," While both were produced by The Dream Team, the latter also features horns by Nigerian saxophonist Femi Kuti and his backing band.

Earlier this week, the band revealed the LP's 16-song track list via the classified sections of the hometown newspapers of its four members, and the sepia-tinged cover art is based on a 1919 photo of guitarist Jonny Buckland's great-grandfather's band, The Wedding Band and Dance Orchestra.

Fans will also get their first live taste of Coldplay's new music when the band takes to Studio 8H as the musical guest for the Nov. 2 episode of Saturday Night Live.

CREDITS: Billboard Glenn Rowley