Classic Pop Icons

The New Releases page has been updated to include music CD, DVD and Blu-ray releases for February.

Highlights for February include:

• Paul McCartney’s “Kisses on the Bottom” in standard and deluxe editions (Feb 7)
• deluxe editions of the last five Queen albums (Feb 7)
• a number of classic Bob Dylan albums on limited edition vinyl (Feb 7)
• the Van Halen reunion album, “A Different Kind of Truth” (Feb 7)
• the 3-CD set “Santana Anthology 68-69″ (Feb 14) and “Santana – Live at Montreux” on DVD and Blu-ray (Feb 21)
• Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” in Experience, Immersion and Vinyl editions – Feb 28.

Marty Balin, founding member of American rock group Jefferson Airplane, celebrates his 70th birthday today.

Balin was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on January 30, 1942. He formed Jefferson Airplane in 1965 and recorded five albums before leaving the band in 1970. Among these were the classic “Surrealistic Pillow,” which hit number three on the Billboard album chart and spawned the singles “White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love.” Another standout song from the period was the title track of the band’s 1969 album “Volunteers,” which was co-written by Balin and Kantner, and featured Balin and Grace Slick on lead vocals.

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Rick Nelson’s country rock hit “Garden Party” is Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons. “Garden Party” was released in June 1972, backed with “So Long Mama,” and was the title track of an album released several months later.

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Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will hit the road on March 18 for their first tour since 2009. The 19-date US tour begins in Atlanta, Georgia on March 18 and finishes in Newark, New Jersey on May 2. The European leg of their tour commences on May 13 and includes appearances at the Isle of Wight Festival and a return to the Hard Rock Calling Festival in London.

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