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ABBA, The Hollies to be inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:21:08 +0000

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced its 2010 inductees: ABBA, The Hollies, Genesis, The Stooges and Jimmy Cliff. Denied, for the second time, are The Chantels and Donna Summer.

Making the "nonperformer" category of inductions are mogul David Geffen, Brill Building songwriting teams Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil ("You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling") and Ellie Greenwich & Jeff Barry ("Be My Baby"), and songwriters Otis Blackwell ("Don't Be Cruel"), Mort Shuman ("Save the Last Dance for Me," with Doc Pomus), and Jesse Stone ("Shake, Rattle and Roll").

Here's the full list of 2010 Hall of Fame nominees. Click on a link to read their profile:

The winners will be inducted at a ceremony held on March 14, 2010 in New York. (Officials have decided to return to the museum's home base of Cleveland only once every three years for the actual inductions.) Which of these artists should make it into the hall, and which shouldn't even be on this list? Let me know what you think here.

ABBA, The Hollies to be inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame originally appeared on About.com Oldies Music on Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at 19:21:08.

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Matches and Candles and Buns: The Beatles' Christmas Fan Club Records

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:53:17 +0000

Now Updated! Here's a golden oldie I like to revisit every holiday season: the story of the Beatles Fan Club records, released every year for their fans at Christmastime and featuring skits and songs never heard anywhere else - including some Christmas music that's never been released to the general public! Read more about this fab Christmas tradition right here, with all-new information and trivia.

Matches and Candles and Buns: The Beatles' Christmas Fan Club Records originally appeared on About.com Oldies Music on Monday, December 14th, 2009 at 14:53:17.

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If I Can Dream: The '68 Elvis Comeback Special

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 03:51:53 +0000

Now updated! Four decades later, the legacy continues... this simple NBC-TV broadcast, designed merely as a standard pop Christmas special, instead morphed into one of the more fascinating career resurrections in entertainment history. How did the King do it? More importantly, why did he do it? My guide to Elvis' 68 "comeback" answers these questions and more! Now with a timeline, setlists, discography and more!

If I Can Dream: The '68 Elvis Comeback Special originally appeared on About.com Oldies Music on Sunday, December 13th, 2009 at 03:51:53.

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The Oldies Encyclopedia: "New Orleans Soul"

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:32:56 +0000

It made names out of Allen Toussaint and Lee Dorsey, it helped birth Memphis soul and funk, and it was a major influence on the British Invasion. So how come most music fans aren't even aware that New Orleans Soul is a style? Read more about New Orleans Soul music and its history in my latest encyclopedia entry.

The Oldies Encyclopedia: "New Orleans Soul" originally appeared on About.com Oldies Music on Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 at 14:32:56.

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The Beatles Rock Band: "Getting Better"

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:52:39 +0000

The latest in a series of song histories based on the classic tunes in the video game The Beatles: Rock Band... One of the happiest songs from a group known for happy music, "Getting Better" still manages to contain a bit of cynicism -- as well as some rather ugly confessions. Read a detailed breakdown of "Getting Better" in my latest Beatles fact sheet.

The Beatles Rock Band: "Getting Better" originally appeared on About.com Oldies Music on Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 at 02:52:39.

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FAQ: December 8, 1980

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:39:29 +0000

The murder of John Lennon is not an easy subject for many of us to discuss, especially those of us Beatles fans who were alive on the night of the murder and remember all too well what it meant... not just to John's family and the world of music, but the world at large. Everything we knew seemed to change that horrible night, and so, as always around this time of the year, I'm presenting this John Lennon death FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions list) to help those of us who may not know much about the incident, or who still wonder about certain aspects of it. WARNING: the awful details of that night may yet prove too painful for many of you, but this FAQ is offered merely to help the world understand John's death, not celebrate it. And the legacy of John Lennon's life will always overwhelm the power of a gun.

FAQ: December 8, 1980 originally appeared on About.com Oldies Music on Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 at 11:39:29.

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The 52nd Annual Grammy Nominees for 2010

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:41:03 +0000

The nominees for the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards have just been announced, and I've got the full list right here -- or, at least, the nominees oldies music lovers care about, the pop and rock radio favorites of the Fifties, Sixties, and Seventies. Some of these folks are making the best music of their careers, and some, in my opinion, anyway, are just marking time. But you can decide for yourself with this guide, which features clips from all the nominated songs and details on all the nominated albums. Read about the oldies artists nominated for the 52nd Grammys here.

The 52nd Annual Grammy Nominees for 2010 originally appeared on About.com Oldies Music on Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 at 13:41:03.

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The Oldies Encyclopedia: "Motown"

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:27:58 +0000

Motown was a label both before and after it was a sound, but that specific Sound Of Young America is a genre all its own, one that's influenced countless musicians on both sides of the pond -- and one that's often significantly different from earlier and later Motown releases. Read more about Motown music and its history in my latest encyclopedia entry.

The Oldies Encyclopedia: "Motown" originally appeared on About.com Oldies Music on Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 at 11:27:58.

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The Beatles Rock Band: "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds"

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:02:57 +0000

The latest in a series of song histories based on the classic tunes in the video game The Beatles: Rock Band... This may be one of the most popular songs ever written about a real person, but neither the person in question nor John Lennon himself was ever very happy with how it came out. And William Shatner, unfortunately, liked it just a bit too much. Read a detailed breakdown of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" in my latest Beatles fact sheet.

The Beatles Rock Band: "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" originally appeared on About.com Oldies Music on Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 at 11:02:57.

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2009 Holiday Gift Guide

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:50:55 +0000

It's that time of year again, believe it or not... time to start thinking about your loved ones and how you can best show your appreciation in the 2009 holiday season. This all-new selection of gift ideas -- all products that weren't available last year -- scans the net in search of that perfect something for that perfect someone. And with the economy in the shape it's in, good news... most of these presents average out at just about 20 bucks a pop. Check out my 2009 gift guide for oldies lovers here. (photo source: hubpages.com)

2009 Holiday Gift Guide originally appeared on About.com Oldies Music on Thursday, November 26th, 2009 at 04:50:55.

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