January

• 4 Jan – Gerry Rafferty (solo singer-songwriter and former member of the Humblebums and Stealers Wheel), age 63
• 4 Jan – Mick Karn (bassist with Japan), age 52
• 7 Jan – Phil Kennemore (bassist with Y&T), age 57
• 10 Jan – Pat Moran (record producer for Robert Plant and Iggy Pop), age 63
• 12 Jan – Tommy Crain (country rock guitarist and songwriter), age 59
• 13 Jan – Alex Kirst (former drummer with Iggy Pop), age 47
• 14 Jan – Trish Keenan (member of Broadcast), age 42
• 17 Jan – Don Kirshner (song publisher/producer), age 76
• 20 Jan – Margaret Whiting (pop and country singer), age 86
• 22 Jan – Bobby Poe (singer with 1950s rockabilly band Bobby Poe and the Poe Kats), age 77
• 26 Jan – Charlie Louvin (country singer), age 83
• 26 Jan – Gladys Horton (member of the Marvelettes), age 65
• 29 Jan – Bruce Jackson (audio engineer), age 61
• 29 Jan 11 – Milton Babbitt (composer), age 94
• 30 Jan – John Barry (Oscar-winning composer), age 77.

February

• 1 Feb – Doc Williams (bandleader and singer), age 96
• 6 Feb – Gary Moore (rock guitarist), age 58
• 14 Feb – George Shearing (jazz pianist), age 94
• 20 Feb – Harrell “Buddy” Jones (drummer), age 70
• 27 Feb – Eddie Kirkland (blues singer), age 88.

March

• 4 Mar – Johnny Preston (pop singer), age 71
• 8 Mar – Mike Star (bassist with Alice in Chains), age 44
• 9 Mar – Robert Marcucci (record company owner and songwriter), age 81
• 12 Mar – Joe Morello (jazz drummer), age 82
• 14 Mar – Todd Cerney (songwriter and musician), age 57
• 14 Mar – Ronnie Hammond (former lead singer for the Atlanta Rhythm Section), age 60
• 15 Mar – Nate Dogg (rapper), age 41
• 15 Mar – Melvin Sparks (soul and jazz guitarist), age 64
• 17 Mar – Ferlin Husky (country singer), age 85
• 18 Mar – Jet Harris (bassist with the Shadows), age 71
• 20 Mar – Joseph “Pinetop” Perkins (blues pianist), age 97
• 20 Mar – Ralph Mooney (steel guitar pioneer), age 82
• 21 Mar – Loleatta Holloway (soul/disco singer), age 64
• 30 Mar – Harley Allen (country music songwriter), age 55
• 31 Mar – Mel McDaniel (country singer), age 68.

April

• 5 Apr – Gil Gibbons (folk singer), age 80
• 9 Apr – Roger Nichols (Grammy-winning recording engineer), age 66
• 11 Apr – Lacy Gibson (Chicago blues guitarist), age 74
• 11 Apr – Billy Bang (jazz violinist and composer), age 63
• 22 Apr – Hazel Dickens (bluegrass singer-songwriter), age 75
• 25 Apr – Poly Styrene, aka Marianne Joan Elliott-Said (singer with punk band X-Ray Spex), age 53
• 26 Apr – Phoebe Snow (singer-songwriter), age 60
• 29 Apr – David Mason (classical musician who played the piccolo trumpet on “Penny Lane”), age 85.

May

• 3 May – Odell Brown (jazz organist and songwriter), age 70
• 7 May – John Walker (founding member of The Walker Brothers), age 67
• 8 May – Cornell Dupree (guitarist for Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin and more), age 69
• 9 May – Dolores Fuller (actress and songwriter), age 88
• 12 May – Lloyd Knibb (drummer for The Skatalites), age 80
• 13 May – Jack Richardson (record producer), age 81
• Bob Flanigan – (singer with the Four Freshmen), age 84
• 19 May – Kathy Kirby (pop singer and television host), age 72.

June

• 3 Jun – Andrew Gold (singer, musician and songwriter), age 59
• 4 Jun – Martin Rushent (record producer), aged 62
• 10 Jun – Kenny Hawkes (DJ and producer), age 42
• 10 Jun – Darryl Pandy (singer and producer), age 48
• 12 Jun – Carl Gardner (member of the Coasters), age 83
• 16 Jun – Larry Wayne Fischer, aka Wild Man Fischer (songwriter), age 66
• 18 Jun – Clarence Clemons (saxophonist with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band), age 69
• 30 Jun – Jimmy Roselli (pop singer), age 85.

July

• 7 Jul – Manuel Galbán (guitarist with Los Zafiros and Buena Vista Social Club), age 80
• 9 Jul – Michael “Würzel” Burston (former Motorhead guitarist), age 61
• 11 Jul – Rob Grill (singer and bassist with Grass Roots), age 67
• 23 Jul – Amy Winehouse (pop singer), age 27
• 24 Jul – Dan Peek (co-founder of America), age 60
• 25 Jul – Mike Reaves (former guitarist with Full Devil Jacket), age 52
• 26 Jul – Joe Arroyo (Columbian singer-songwriter), age 55
• 29 Jul – Gene McDaniels (singer-songwriter), age 76
• 31 Jul – Tom Garvin (pianist and composer), age 67.

August

• 4 Aug – Conrad Schnitzler (multi-instrumentalist and composer), age 74
• 6 Aug – Marshall Grant (bass player with Johnny Cash & the Tennessee Two), age 83
• 10 Aug – Billy Grammer (singer-guitarist), age 85
• 11 Aug – Jani Lane (former lead singer of Warrant), age 47
• 22 Aug – Nick Ashford (soul/R&B singer), age 70
• 22 Aug – Jerry Leiber (songwriter/producer), age 78
• 24 Aug – Frank DiLeo (music executive, actor and former manager of Michael Jackson), age 63
• 29 Aug – David “Honeyboy” Edwards (blues guitarist and singer), age 96.

September

• 13 Sep – Richard Hamilton (pop artist who designed “White Album” cover), age 89
• 16 Sep – Willie “Big Eyes” Smith (singer and harmonica player), age 75
• 21 Sep – John DuCann (guitarist), age 65
• 26 Sep – Harry “Cuby” Muskee (singer), age 70
• 26 Sep – Sylvia Robinson (singer-songwriter and owner of Sugar Hill Records), age 75.

October

• 1 Oct – David Bedford (composer, musician), age 74
• 5 Oct – Bert Jansch (folk guitarist), age 67
• 8 Oct – Roger Williams (pianist), age 87
• 8 Oct – Mikey Welsh (former Weezer bassist), age 40
• 12 Oct – Paul Leka (songwriter, producer and pianist), age 68
• 18 Oct – Bob Brunning (original Fleetwood Mac bassist), age 68
• 20 Oct – Barry Feinstein (rock photographer), aged 80
• 29 Oct – Sir Jimmy Savile (DJ and television presenter), age 84.

November

• 3 Nov – Cory Smoot, aka Flattus Maximus (Gwar guitarist), age 34
• 7 Nov – Andrea True (singer and actress), age 68
• 8 Nov – Heavy D (rapper), age 44
• 12 Nov – Doyle Bramhall (singer-songwriter and drummer), age 62
• 14 Nov – Lee Pockriss (songwriter), age 87
• 15 Nov – Mark “Moogy” Klingman (musician, songwriter and producer), age 61
• 23 Nov – Montserrat Figueras (soprano singer), age 69
• 25 Nov – Don DeVito (record producer), age 72
• 27 Nov – Sultan Khan (sarangi player and singer), age 71
• 28 Nov – Tom Roady (percussionist), age 62.

December

• 2 Dec – Howard Tate (soul singer and songwriter), age 72
• 4 Dec – Hubert Sumlin (blues guitarist), age 80
• 6 Dec – Dobie Gray (singer-songwriter), age 71
• 8 Dec – Dan “Bee” Spears (bass player for Willie Nelson), age 62
• 8 Dec – Dick Sims (keyboarist for Eric Clapton), age 60
• 14 Dec – Billie Jo Spears (country singer), age 74
• 18 Dec – Ralph MacDonald (percussionist and composer), age 67
• 21 Dec – Nilesh Patel, aka Nilz (mastering engineer), age 46
• 25 Dec – Jim Sherwood (saxophonist and singer for the Mothers of Invention), age 69
• 26 Dec – Sam Rivers (jazz musician and composer), age 88
• 28 Dec – Kaye Stevens (singer and actress), age 79.

The Dead Rock Star Club website offers a more extensive list of musicians we lost in 2011 and before.

“Michael Jackson – Immortal” will play at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino nightly until December 27, before an extensive tour of North America that concludes in August 2012. Fans who attend the Las Vegas shows can also view never-before-seen memorabilia at the first ever Estate-authorized Michael Jackson Fan Fest^TM which runs until December 14 at Mandalay Bay.

Michael Jackson – “Immortal” promo

The following tour dates are confirmed for “Michael Jackson – The Immortal World Tour”:

• December 30-31, 2011 – Phoenix, AZ
• January 3-4, 2012 – Boise, ID
• January 6-8, 2012 – Denver, CO
• January 10-11, 2012 – Sacramento, CA
• January 13-15, 2012 – San Jose, CA
• January 17-18, 2012 – Oakland, CA
• January 21-22, 2012 – San Diego, CA
• January 24-25, 2012 – Anaheim, CA
• January 27-29, 2012 – Los Angeles, CA
• February 7-8, 2012 – St. Louis, MO
• February 10-12, 2012 – Houston, TX
• February 15-16, 2012 – New Orleans, LA
• February 18-19, 2012 – Tulsa, OK
• February 21-22, 2012 – Kansas City, MO
• February 24-25, 2012 – Indianapolis, IN
• February 28, 2012 – Orlando, FL
• March 2, 2012 – Miami, FL
• March 7, 2012 – Jacksonville, FL
• March 10, 2012 – Raleigh, NC
• March 13, 2012 – Charlotte, NC
• March 16-18, 2012 – Milwaukee, WI
• March 20-22, 2012 – Montreal, QC
• March 24-25, 2012 – Quebec city, QC
• March 27-28, 2012 – Minneapolis (area), MN
• March 30-April 1, 2012 – Newark, NJ
• April 3-5, 2012 – New York, NY
• April 7-8, 2012 – Long Island, NY
• April 10-11, 2012 – Philadelphia, PA
• April 13-15, 2012 – Pittsburgh, PA
• April 24-25, 2012 – State College, PA
• April 27, 2012 – Columbia, SC
• May 2, 2012 – Hartford, CT
• May 5, 2012 – Baltimore, MD
• May 16-17, 2012 – Worcester, MA
• June 6-7, 2012 – Dayton, OH
• June 9-10, 2012 – Columbus, OH
• June 12, 2012 – Nashville, TN
• June 15, 2012 – Austin, TX
• June 23, 2012 – San Antonio, TX
• June 29, 2012 – Atlanta, GA
• July 6-7, 2012 – Montreal, QC
• July 13-15, 2012 – Washington (area), DC
• July 17-18, 2012 – Cleveland, OH
• July 20-21, 2012 – Chicago, IL
• July 24, 2012 – Ottawa, ON
• August 3-4, 2012 – Boston, MA
• August 21, 2012 – Salt Lake City, UT.

Standard and deluxe editions of the soundtrack to the “Michael Jackson – Immortal” show were released last month:

Title
Michael Jackson – Immortal (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now
Michael Jackson – Immortal (Deluxe Version) (2 CDs)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now

It’s a quieter month than usual as many top titles were released last month to coincide with the start of the Christmas shopping spree. Check the November 2011 releases page for those titles.

Highlights for December include:

• Paul McCartney’s “Love We Make” on DVD and Blu-ray – Dec 6 (US/CA), Nov 28 (UK)
• “The Very Best Of Neil Diamond” – Dec 6 (US/CA)
• the Queen “Live at Wembley Roadie Box Set” and “Orb Gift Box” – Dec 13 (US/CA)
• The Yardbirds 5-CD “Glimpses – 1963-1968″ box set – Dec 27 (US), Dec 6 (CA), Dec 5 (UK)
• the “Kinks in Mono” box set – Dec 27 (US), Nov 29 (CA), Nov 21 (UK).

McCartney visited the Motown Historical Museum in Detroit earlier this year and was disappointed when told that the 1877 Steinway grand piano is no longer playable.

The piano will now be refurbished by Steinway & Sons at the same New York factory where it was originally built in 1877. The restored piano is expected to be unveiled next March at a fund-raising gala at Orchestra Hall, Detroit.

Motown piano restoration – Detroit Free Press

With Christmas coming, it’s no surprise that this is a busy month for new releases. Highlights include:

• the “Ed Sullivan Shows starring the Rolling Stones” on DVD – Nov 1 (US/CA)
• The Beach Boys’ “Smile Sessions” in multiple formats – Nov 1 (US/CA), Oct 31 (UK)
• Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” in Immersion and Experience Editions – Nov 8 (US/CA), Nov 7 (UK)
• Thin Lizzy “Live at the BBC” box set and 2-CD editions – Nov 15 (US/CA), Nov 7 (UK)
• The Who’s “Quadrophenia Director’s Cut” – Nov 15 (US/CA), Nov 14 (UK)
• The Rolling Stones “Some Girls” box set and “Some Girls – Live in Texas” releases – Nov 21 (US/CA/UK).

You can browse the music CD, DVD and Blu-ray releases for previous months in the New Releases archive.

The show, hosted by Fearne Cotton and Hollywood star Jamie Foxx, featured a run through of some of Jackson’s biggest hits, opening with Ne-Yo’s well received versions of “Billie Jean” and “The Lady In My Life.” This was followed by performances from an eclectic mix of modern and vintage performers, including:

It was also a family affair, with performances from Jackson’s nephews, 3T, his sister, La Toya, and his brothers, Tito, Marlon and Jackie, who performed “Blame It On the Boogie” with boy band JLS.

Beyonce appeared via a pre-taped performance of “I Wanna Be Where You Are” that was introduced by Jackson’s children Prince, Blanket and Paris.

The evening concluded with many of the performers returning to the stage to sing “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.”

The Michael Forever concert was organised by Michael’s brothers Tito, Marlon and Jackie. There was division within the family over the timing of the concert, with brothers Jermaine and Randy stating that the concert was inappropriate due to the ongoing trial of Jackson’s doctor. Commenting on this controversey, Tito, Marlon and Jackie told Sky News:

The Black Eyed Peas and Jennifer Hudson both withdrew from the show, citing “unavoidable circumstances” and “major production issues,” respectively.

A portion of the profits from the show will go to the AIDS Project Los Angeles and Prince’s Trust, which were both charities supported by Michael Jackson.

This months’s highlights include:

• the “Ed Sullivan Shows starring the Rolling Stones” on DVD – Oct 4 (US/CA)
• Martin Scorsese’s “George Harrison – Living in the Material World” on DVD and Blu-ray – Oct 10 (UK)
• the Complete Smiths Collectors’ Edition – Oct 11 (US/CA), Oct 3 (UK)
• the “Leonard Cohen Complete Studio Albums Collection – Oct 18 (US), Oct 19 (CA), Oct 10 (UK)
• the “Phil Spector Presents The Philles Album Collection” box set – Oct 24 (US/CA), Oct 31 (UK)
• the new Tom Wait’s album, “Bad As Me,” in standard, deluxe and vinyl editions – Oct 24 (US/UK), Oct 25 (CA).

You can browse the music CD, DVD and Blu-ray releases for previous months in the New Releases archive.

The single was released in November, 1962 and the song was also featured on the 1963 album “The Fabulous Miracles.”

Although only 22-years-old when “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” was recorded, The Miracles’ lead singer Smokey Robinson was already Vice President of Motown Records and well established as the most important creative force at the label. Smokey had written and recorded Motown’s first million seller in 1960, “Shop Around,” which also hit number one on Billboard’s R&B chart, and he was also having success writing for other artists, including a trio of top 10 hits for Mary Wells – “The One Who Really Loves You,” “You Beat Me to the Punch” and “Two Lovers.”

Smokey has said that the inspiration for “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” came from wanting to replicate the mood and spirit of Sam Cooke’s classic “Bring It On Home To Me.” The infectious doo wop melody, close harmonies, and general interplay with the backing vocalists do evoke the Cooke classic, but it’s lyrical themes are a real departure. From the outset of the song, we encounter the unexpected juxtaposition of the contrasting statements – “I don’t like you, but I Love you.” Most love songs directed at the pop market either celebrate a relationship or bemoan unrequited or lost love, but here we have Smokey taking a more imaginative angle, with the girl featured as both the object of his affection and the source of his frustration. The song further explores the irrationality of his love and the sometimes fine line between love and hate with lyrics such as:

In modern parlance, the singer’s girlfriend appears to be employing “treat ‘em mean, keep ‘em keen” tactics.

Any discussion of “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” is not complete without mention of the brilliant intro, which comprises a bluesy piano line followed by Marv Tarplin’s simple but classic guitar riff. Great pop songs feature moments that make you want to play them time and time again. The intro is one of several such moments on this recording.

For all its strengths, the recording is not perfect. There are (dare I say it?) some tuning issues here and there, but some would argue (and I would agree) that such imperfections give character to a recording and make them much more appealing than the faultless but often charmless autotuned perfection of many modern pop songs.

The Miracles – “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me”

“You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.

Authorship

The words and music for “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” were written solely by Smokey Robinson.

Recording date/location

“You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” was recorded on October 16, 1962 in Studio A of Hitsville USA, Detroit.

Musicians

The Miracles were:

• Smokey Robinson – lead vocal
• Bobby Rogers – harmony lead vocal and backing vocal
• Pete Moore – backing vocal
• Ronnie White – backing vocal
• Claudette Rogers Robinson – backing vocal.
• Marv Tarplin – guitar.

The rest of the instrumentation was provided by Motown’s legendary house band The Funk Brothers.

Chart performance

“You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart on February 10, 1963. The single knocked the Smokey Robinson-penned Mary Well’s single “Two Lovers” off the top spot.

“You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” peaked at number eight on Billboard’s Hot 100.

Other notable recordings

The Beatles – “You Really Got a Hold on Me”

The Beatles’ version of the song is probably as well known as the original. The band were on the cusp of superstardom when they featured the song on their second album “With The Beatles” in November 1963. It’s a fairly straight cover, with John Lennon taking the lead vocal duties and George Harrison singing harmony. George Martin plays the important piano part.

The Beatles’ cover undergoes a minor title change, with “You’ve” becoming “You.”

The song remained a favourite with the band and would feature in their 1970 documentary movie “Let It Be” which featured footage of the sessions for the album of the same name.

The Small Faces – “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me”

The Small Faces gave “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” an ‘in your face’ blues rock treatment, with Steve Marriott’s strong and intense lead vocals suiting the lyric.

The song was a worthwhile inclusion on the band’s 1967 album “From The Beginning.”

There will be a new Song of the Week on October 3.

“You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me” is available on the greatest hits set “Smokey Robinson and the Miracles – The Definitive Collection.” It is also on the excellent 2-CD compilation “The Miracles: Depend On Me” which features the group’s first four albums, including “The Fabulous Miracles.”

Title
The Miracles – Depend On Me: The Early Albums (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles – The Definitive Collection (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now

In a statement about the show, Gest said:

Final dates/venues have not been confirmed, but shows will take place at:

• London
• Reading
• Plymouth
• Edinburgh
• Blackpool
• Hexham
• Liverpool
• Newcastle
• Dublin
• Glasgow
• Wigan
• Leicester
• Birmingham
• Cardiff
• Belfast
• Berwick
• Durham
• Brighton
• Manchester
• Bristol
• York
• Southampton
• South Shields.

This will be a low key affair compared to next month’s “Michael Forever” concert at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. The October 8 tribute show will feature performances from Smokey Robinson, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, the Jackson Brothers, Gladys Knight ande many more.

Click here for “Michael Forever” ticket information

David Gest’s documentary “Michael Jackson: The life of an icon” will be released on DVD/Blu-ray on October 31 in the UK and November 1 in the US/Canada.

After a fairly ordinary month in August, there are a large number of quality releases this month. Highlights include:

• Beatles “1″ album reissue using the 2009 remasters – 13 Sep (US/CA)/5 Sep (UK)
• “Queen: Live At Wembley 25th anniversary” DVD and the latest Queen remasters in standard and deluxe formats (to save space, only deluxe editions are listed in the diary) – 13 Sep (US/CA)/5 Sep (UK)*
• deluxe box set of Jimi Hendrix’s “Wonderland” and other Hendrix CD/DVD reissues – 13 Sep (US/CA)/12 Sep (UK)
• Ed Sullivan Motown DVDs featuring various artists/the Supremes/the Temptations – 13 Sep (US/CA)
• the “Superheavy” collaboration between Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, Dave Stewart, Damian Marley, and A. R. Rahman – 20 Sep (US/CA)/19 Sep (UK)
• “Elvis Presley – Young Man With the Big Beat” 5-CD box, including an unreleased live show – 27 Sep (US/CA)/26 Sep (UK)
• first releases in the Pink Floyd remasters campaign, including deluxe and super deluxe sets for “Dark Side of the Moon,” and a 16-CD “Discovery” box set – 27 Sep (US/CA)/26 Sep (UK)
• “Johnny Cash: Bootleg Vol 3 – Live Around the World”, which features many previously unheard live performances recorded between 1956 and 1979 – 27 Sep (US)/11 Oct (CA)/10 Oct (UK).

There are also new albums from The Bangles, Lindsey Buckingham and Chris Rhea; box sets from Sting and Madness; the Monkees on DVD; and much more.

You can browse the music CD, DVD and Blu-ray releases for previous months in the New Releases archive.