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Mary J. Blige is one of the greatest singers of all time and the queen of hip-hop soul. After a seven-year wait since she first became eligible (and one nomination in 2021), she’s finally an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Blige is no stranger to the Rock Hall stage, having presented the inductions for fellow R&b legends Solomon Burke and Nina Simone in 2001 and 2018, but Saturday, the longtime Hall of Fame snub was finally given her own flowers rather than handing them to someone else.

Cissy Houston, the two-time Grammy-wining gospel singer, mother of the late Whitney Houston and backup singer for acts ranging from Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin to Jimi Hendrix, Paul Simon and Luther Vandross, died today of Alzheimer’s disease complications at her home in New Jersey. She was 91.

Her death was announced by her family.

“In our time of deep sorrow, we announce the passing of Emily ‘Cissy’ Houston, who transitioned today, Monday, October 7, at 10:30 a.m. Et, at her home in Newark, New Jersey, while under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease,” said the family statement, obtained by Deadline.

Houston was born Emily Drinkard on September 30, 1933, in Newark. The youngest of eight children, she launched her singing career in 1938 when she joined her sister Anne and brothers Larry and Nicky to form the gospel group The Drinkard Four.

More famously, Houston was a member of The Sweet Inspirations,...

Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Perfect Couple

Netflix's The Perfect Couple perfectly contrasts its tense score with a fun soundtrack that shapes the bougie, fun murder mystery. After a body is found the morning of a wedding, the characters in The Perfect Couple get caught up in an investigation where everyone is a suspect. The crime also gains an abundance of attention due to the family being ridiculously wealthy.

In addition to The Perfect Couple's A-list cast, the Netflix miniseries makes good use of the setting, score, and music in order to create the tone and pacing for the murder mystery. Though the number of songs in each episode is small, each selection feels purposeful to the scene and characters. These elements help create a binge-able story that will appeal to fans of beachy settings and pulpy mysteries.

Title

Artist

Episode

"Nantucket Island"

Willie Wright

1

"Young Hearts...

Angela Deem's dramatic persona mirrors Miss Piggy's diva behavior, from over-the-top fashion to emotional outbursts. Angela's former relationship with Michael echoes the twisted dynamic of Miss Piggy and Kermit. Angela needs to come to terms with who Michael truly is and also acknowledge her own faults. Like Miss Piggy, Angela has blind spots.

90 Day Fianc star Angela Deem may be putting on a show for a drama-hungry audience, but lately, it seems like she's channeling the notorious diva, Miss Piggy. In fact, that conceited Muppet has nothing on the post-Michael Ilesanmi Angela. Like the great diva who loves to say "moi," Angie's flaunting over-the-top fashion, browbeating an ex, and tossing her super-blonde hair. In fact, the women are so alike that Miss Piggy's one-liners could actually pass for the sometimes violent Angela's.

Behind every good woman is a great left hook. - Miss Piggy

Angela's histrionics are loud,...

Dirty Dancing's iconic status is elevated by classic 1960s songs & original tunes. Movie won an Academy Award & soundtrack went 14x multi-platinum by 2022. Soundtrack features iconic songs like "The Time Of My Life" & "She's Like the Wind".

Besides being a romance classic, the popular Dirty Dancing songs add to its iconic status with classic songs from the 1960s plus some original tunes. Released in 1987 to positive reviews, Dirty Dancing is set in 1963 and follows Frances "Baby" Housemen as she falls in love with a dance instructor while staying at a vacation resort. The movie delivers on its title and is a perfect mix of quintessential star-crossed romance and strong dance performances from stars Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. Though the film became a 1980s staple, the Dirty Dancing songs have stood the test of time.

An immediate box office smash, grossing over $200 million (via Box Office Mojo), Dirty Dancing also...

Quick Links When Every Song On The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Soundtrack Plays In The Movie Where To Listen To The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Soundtrack

In August 2015, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. was released in theaters, and, while it wasn't the most critically well-received spy film ever, it is one of director Guy Ritchie's best works. Almost a decade since its release, it is still an enjoyable and entertaining film, and the strong casting stands out. Henry Cavill, a real-life Briton, plays Napoleon Solo, an American CIA agent. Armie Hammer, a real-life American, plays Illya Kuryakin, a Russian Kgb agent. Their chemistry is unrivaled, and both are excellent in their own regard.

Apart from the heavy-hitting cast, the other obvious strength for The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is its impressive sound design. Composer Daniel Pemberton crafted a score that is true to the Cold...

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, the final season, is currently underway. The series debuted in 2017 and was used as the launch title for the streaming service CBS All Access, now rebranded Paramount+. It was also the first Star Trek series on television in 12 years following the conclusion of Star Trek: Enterprise back in 2005. While Paramount has spent nearly a decade trying to get Star Trek 4 out of development hell, the franchise has been going strong on Paramount+ with various series on the streaming service at different times of the year. Now, there is almost always a Star Trek series on the air at any given point.

Star Trek: Discovery is a fascinating case for the franchise, as it was originally conceived as a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, but following the conclusion of Season 2 and starting in Season 3, the series jumped far into the future, the farthest point in the franchise history.

Tonight, the contestants return to Hollywood to learn the results of America’s first votes for the Top 20, performing again in hopes of securing a spot in the Top 12. “American Idol” 2022 winner Noah Thompson and runner-up HunterGirl will also take the stage. Follow our live blog below (updated in Pacific Standard Time).

“American Idol,” the iconic series that revolutionized the television landscape by pioneering the music competition genre, is back for another season on ABC. Helping determine who America will ultimately vote for to become the next singing sensation are music industry forces and superstar judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie. Emmy Award winner Ryan Seacrest hosts the reality TV competition series for the show’s sixth season on ABC and 21st overall.

See Everything to know about ‘American Idol’ Season 21: Finalists, judges and celebrity mentors

You can vote for your favorite contestants until 9 a.m. Et/ 6 a.

Van Morrison has said that he wants to start looking at alternative outlets to release the “mountain of material” he has ready to go.

The 77-year-old singer, best known for hits such as “Brown Eyed Girl”, “Moondance” and “Crazy Love” said that he’s had to stop himself writing new songs, because he has so many already.

Morrison is releasing his forthcoming album Moving on Skiffle in March – marking his 44th studio record.

The legendary artist says that traditional labels are only able to put out a few records each year, which doesn’t cater for the amount of music he wants to release.

"It’s been a problem getting records out, so I’ve been looking at other alternative outlets,” said Morrision while being interviewed by Billy Bragg for the April issue of Mojo magazine.

"The big companies can only do one or two big records a year. This...

Van Morrison has stated that he is not at all happy with where he and a number of other musicians have been placed on a list of the Top 200 Singers of All Time.

The 77-year-old musician, who has been heavily criticised in recent years for his anti-lockdown rhetoric, was placed No 37 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list, which was published on New Year’s Day.

Speaking in a new interview with The Times’ Saturday Review, the Irish singer said: “People keep calling me to say, ‘Congratulations, you are No 37 in Rolling Stone’s 200 singers.’ Oh great, thanks very much. Who else is there? Joan Baez, one of the greatest folk singers of all time, is at 189? Solomon Burke [183] and Bobby Bland [163] are in the high hundreds?”

At this point in the interview, Morrison reportedly took off his glasses he was so incensed. “What the f***?” he said. “These people should...

Fans watching Angela Deem on 90 Day Fiancé often find themselves asking what her age is because of how different she’s started looking after her weight loss surgery. The 56-year-old Angela got gastric sleeve surgery done in 2020 to jumpstart her fitness transformation. Angela was denied support by her husband Michael Ilesanmi, but it was for him that she wanted to look younger. The grandmother of six had gained several pounds before her wedding in Nigeria and, at one point, weighed 273 pounds.

After going under the knife, the 90 Day Fiancé star Angela dropped from a size 22 to 11. At the same time, she also got liposuction and breast reduction to get her dream figure. But the drastic weight loss meant Angela was left with sagging skin and wrinkles on her face. She was, however, denied a facelift by her doctor who insisted Angela should give up smoking first. Angela, who had lit...

In 1971, Peter Guralnick published Feel Like Going Home, which told the story of the blues through a series of revelatory profiles of Muddy Waters, Skip James, Howlin’ Wolf, and more. He ended the book with a goodbye: “I consider this chapter a swan song,” wrote Guralnick, who was 27 at the time. “Not only to the book but to my whole brief critical career. Next time you see me I hope I will be my younger, less self-conscious and critical self. It would be nice to just sit back and listen...

You could never accuse Man Man of being an upbeat band: cannibals, wolfmen, and plenty of heartbreak litter the Philly-l.A. band’s catalog, going all the way back to their 2004 debut, The Man in a Blue Turban With a Face.

Man Man’s upcoming LP, Dream Hunting in the Valley of the In-Between, out May 1st, is perhaps their most devastating yet. There may be fewer obvious monsters this time, but there are demons aplenty.

“It’s been a while since our last album, and to say it was...

Larry Taylor, longtime bassist of boogie rock act and original Woodstock performers Canned Heat, has died at the age of 77. The band’s manager and one-time producer, Skip Taylor, confirmed on Canned Heat’s Facebook that Taylor died Monday, August 19th at his home in Lake Balboa, California after a 12-year battle with cancer.

Taylor, known by his nickname “The Mole,” joined Canned Heat in 1967, two years after the band’s formation, and helped form what most fans and critics consider their “classic lineup” through 1970. That group played at the...

For all her heartbreakingly honest reflection on nearly a decade of experiencing physical and emotional pain, along with grief, alienation and depression, Julie Miller laughs with more unfettered delight that one might expect.

The songwriting wife of musician and Americana stalwart Buddy Miller, Julie has battled the effects of fibromyalgia, a disorder that causes chronic pain in the muscles and bones as well as fatigue and mood issues. Yet, out of the ashes of loss, abandonment and melancholy, the songwriter has emerged like a phoenix for the sizzling Breakdown on 20th Ave.

When folk-singer Dom Flemons began delving into the cultural history of African-Americans in the West a few years ago, he conceived the subject as a quirky passion project. “At first it was just casual research,” he says. “But when I found out one in four cowboys in the West were African-American cowboys, that sent me on a trajectory to figure something out: Why don’t I hear more about black cowboys in contemporary culture?”

The end result of Flemons’ curiosity was Black Cowboys, released last spring, a deeply historically-minded album...

For the first time in a decade, Buddy and Julie Miller, two of Americana music’s most influential artist-songwriters, have announced the release of a new album. Breakdown on 20th Ave. South reunites the couple – married since 1981 – for their first collaborative LP since 2009’s Americana Music Association Album of the Year, Written in Chalk.

In advance of the June 21st album release, New West Records has issued the project’s first single, “Spittin’ on Fire” backed by “War Child,” with both tracks highlighting the couple’s ragged harmony borne of...

In early 1963, when incoming Alabama governor George Wallace delivered his infamous “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever” speech, the Number One record on the nation’s R&B chart, as well as a recent Top Ten hit on pop radio, was “You Are My Sunshine” by Ray Charles. That country standard was already well-known to generations of pop fans, thanks to sunny, sing-a-long recordings by Gene Autry, Bing Crosby and others. But Charles’ version was something else. A fierce and danceable duet with Raelette Margie Hendrix, Charles’ “You Are My...

Keith Richards can name several highlights of the Rolling Stones’ most recent overseas tour. He talks about how Mick Jagger pushed the band to start opening their shows with “Street Fighting Man,” how they tackled their 1967 rarity “She’s a Rainbow” and brought back their cover of Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone,” which became a frequent highlight. “Mick was having a lot of fun with it, especially with the harp at the end,” says Richards. As the tour wound down, Richards says, “Everyone looked at each other saying,...

Van Morrison’s past half-decade or so of recorded work has been as mystifying and fascinating as it’s been uneven. Unlike most of his 70’s singer-songwriter contemporaries, the 73 year-old’s output has only increased with age. The singer has sprinkled occasional moments of brilliance (see 2016’s Keep Me Singing) amongst a series of pseudo-combative musical statements and records whose winking titles (Reworking the Catalog, Versatile) convey their seemingly tossed-off nature. Not a surprising move from a guy who released a record called A Period of Transition, in 1977.

Morrison’s...

Van Morrison unveiled a brassy new song, “Got to Go Where the Love Is,” which will appear on his upcoming album, The Prophet Speaks, out December 7th via Caroline International. The new track arrives with a neon-lit lyric video that complements the song’s soulful, jazz club vibe. Morrison’s unmistakable vocals glide over a snappy groove of piano, organ and punchy horns as he wails, “Start all over somewhere else/ Somewhere much stronger than this/ Somewhere I can be myself/ ‘Stead of sitting on the shelf/ Got to go where the love is.

“We’ve been doing new tracks that are really fantastic and we’ve just been getting into them,” Jimi Hendrix told Rolling Stone in February 1968, right after he and the Experience had played San Francisco’s Fillmore West. “You have these songs in your mind. You want to hurry up and get back to the things you were doing in the studio, because that’s the way you gear your mind….We wanted to play [the Fillmore], quite naturally, but you’re thinking about all these tracks, which is completely different from what you’re doing now.

Kelly Clarkson, what were you thinking?! Monday night during Night 7 of “The Voice” Season 15, Kelly pitted SandyRedd against Cody Ray Raymond in a battle to the song “Cry to Me” by Solomon Burke. While both artists excelled in their performances, SandyRedd is clearly one of the frontrunners of the season, which is why we’re so shocked that Kelly made the unforgivable mistake of kicking her off of her team. Watch NBC’s “The Voice” battle round video above and read the coaches’ comments below.

SEEMatt Johnson delivers final blind audition of ‘The Voice’ Season 15 after Jennifer Hudson pushes her button [Watch]

“This is stressful! I need food!” Kelly shouted before announcing her controversial decision. “Cody Ray, it’s literally like Chris Stapleton. It’s so smooth. It’s gorgeous. SandyRedd, you’re literally one of the best singers I’ve ever heard in my life. I mean, in the blinds...

Yes, blind auditions aren’t quite finished for “The Voice” in Season 15. But as they wrap up on Monday night’s two-hour episode, the bigger news is that battle rounds begin in the same show. Who is your favorite artist so far this year? Which coach do you think is doing the best job in getting the greatest singers? Make your comments below in our updating live blog as the program airs on NBC.

Six-time coaching champ Blake Shelton, three-time winner Adam Levine, reigning champion Kelly Clarkson and returning coach Jennifer Hudson are facing off each week. Team advisors starting for this new round are CeeLo Green for Team Adam, Thomas Rhett for Team Kelly, Halsey for Team Jennifer and Keith Urban for Team Blake.

Not sure about how all of these contenders got to this stage? Enjoy reading our coverage of all previous blind audition episodes for Monday, October 24, Tuesday,...

Van Morrison has announced his new album, The Prophet Speaks. His 40th studio album is set for release on December 7th via Caroline International.

On his new effort, Morrison offers six new originals alongside his reinterpretations of classics. Sam Cooke’s “Laughin’ and Clownin’,” John Lee Hooker’s “Dimples,” Solomon Burke’s “Gotta Get You Off My Mind” and Willie Dixon’s “I Love the Life I Live” are among the eight songs he covers.

“It was important for me to get back to recording new music as well as...

Ed King wasn’t a founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd and he wasn’t with them on October 20th, 1977 when their plane crashed and killed frontman Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and several others. But the bassist/guitarist — who died of cancer this week — was in Lynyrd Skynyrd when they recorded their first three albums, playing on classics like “Free Bird,” “Simple Man,” “Gimme Three Steps” and their immortal classic “Sweet Home Alabama,” which he co-wrote.

“We wrote that song in half an hour,” King told Classic Bands in 2006. “The song came real quick.

Joe Talbot has known more than his fair share of pain in life. When the singer was 16, his mother suffered a stroke that paralyzed her. He became her caretaker up until her death, right around the time his band, Idles, released their 2017 debut, Brutalism. As the Bristol punk quintet enjoyed critical acclaim for that raw, cathartic record and began work on its follow-up, Talbot grappled with addiction (he’s now sober). Then, in June 2017, Talbot and his partner faced another painful loss when their daughter, Agatha, was stillborn.

It’s...

Aretha Franklin waived her fee to headline the Sam Cooke tribute I produced some years ago. It was the 2005 American Music Masters series, held at the Cleveland Playhouse and hosted by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In Aretha’s case, waiving the fee didn’t mean it was cheap. Traveling light wasn’t her thing. She didn’t fly, so we needed to rent a bus to get her in from Detroit. Hair, make-up, band members, a couple bodyguards, a few people with uncertain roles. By the time we calculated the total,...

Platform makes another notable buy after Tribeca opener Clive Davis in April.

Abramorama and filmmakers Brett and Cassandra Berns announced on Wednesday that Apple Music has acquired Bang! The Bert Berns Story.

The film centres on the life and career of 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bert Berns – songwriter, producer and label chief of the 1960’s whose hits included Twist And Shout, Hang On Sloopy, Brown Eyed Girl, Here Comes The Night, and Piece Of My Heart.

Stevie Van Zandt narrates the film that features interviews with Van Morrison, Paul McCartney, Keith Richards, Ben E King, and Solomon Burke, among others.

Apple Music plans an autumn global release, followed by a release on iTunes Movies to rent or download. Abramorama originally released the film theatrically in North America in April.

Sid Ganis served as executive producer on the film directed by Bert Berns’ son Brett Berns and co-directed by Bob Sarles, who also edited...

What do you do when a Beatle calls you at Christmas to discuss a setlist? Or you’re broadcasting live to millions and your headlining artist is nowhere to be found? Or you’re tasked with overseeing a mass wedding? Or two very powerful stars aren’t happy about being seated next to each other?

Ken Ehrlich has seen it all. The TV veteran has been producing the Grammys since 1980, helping transform the ceremony into the music industry’s most exciting—and unpredictable—event. “Sometimes you do feel like the man behind the curtain,” he says with a laugh. The...

Keep up with the wild and wooly world of indie film acquisitions with our weekly Rundown of everything that’s been picked up around the globe. Check out last week’s Rundown here.

– Bleecker Street has announced it has acquired U.S. and select territory rights to “The Man Who Invented Christmas,” to be directed by Bharat Nalluri. The film will start shooting next month and is targeting a holiday 2017 release date.

The cast includes Dan Stevens as Charles Dickens, Christopher Plummer as Scrooge and Jonathan Pryce as Dickens’ father. The Solution is handling rights for the rest of the world. The script is written by Susan Coyne and is based on the book “The Man Who Invented Christmas” by Les Standiford, published by Crown. The film recounts how Charles Dickens created the classic holiday fable, “A Christmas Carol.”

– Exclusive: Gravitas Ventures has announced it has acquired exclusive distribution rights...

Exclusive: Abramorama has acquired North American theatrical and digital rights to Bang! The Bert Berns Story, the documentary that bowed this year at SXSW and screens tomorrow at Doc NYC. Stevie Van Zandt narrates the biographical docu which features commentary from Berns discovery Van Morrison, Paul McCartney, Keith Richards, Ben E. King and Solomon Burke. Berns’ son Brett produced and co-directed the docu with Bob Sarles. Abramorama is eyeing a theatrical bow in spring…...

Working across a wide range of musical mediums, Ivor Novello Award-winning and BAFTA-nominated composer Daniel Pemberton has embraced everything from large scale orchestral and choral works to innovative electronic sound design, live salsa bands to post-rock guitar line-ups.

From The Counselor, The Awakening and the upcoming Steve Jobs film, to name a few, Pemberton has delivered another eclectic score – this time Guy Ritchie’s latest movie The Man From U.N.C.L.E., in theatres Friday, August 14.

Fans of the TV show are familiar with the theme music from composer Jerry Goldsmith, with additional music for the various seasons provided by Morton Stevens, Walter Scharf, Lalo Schifrin, Gerald Fried, Robert Drasnin and Nelson Riddle.

Now comes the film version and a 5-star, international score that exudes the 1960’s as if it was pulled from a time vault. You’re right into the film from the first musical note and drum beat.

Recently the...

You're joking, right, America? Because there's no way X Factor viewers cast their votes with a straight face this week. It's got to be pure sabotage.

Just when things couldn't get any worse for the show, girl group Sweet Suspense and Over 25 country gal Rachel Potter were sent packing in the first double elimination of the season (hot on the heels of Carlos Guevara being sent home the previous night). But that's not shocking in and of itself, since neither of them ever seemed like frontrunners. What's shocking is the...

On Wednesday's episode of The X Factor, judge Simon Cowell predicted that contestant Carlito Olivero would "go home" this week following his lackluster performance of "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You." But on Thursday night, an annoyed Cowell rolled his eyes when it was revealed that not only was Olivero, 24, staying put this week, but that he was the first contestant to make it through to the top 10. Adding insult to injury, the girl group Sweet Suspense - whose performance of the Tony Basil song "Mickey" left Cowell raving that they were "the best of the night" on Wednesday - was...

On Wednesday's episode of The X Factor, judge Simon Cowell predicted that contestant Carlito Olivero would "go home" this week following his lackluster performance of "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You."

But on Thursday night, an annoyed Cowell rolled his eyes when it was revealed that not only was Olivero, 24, staying put this week, but that he was the first contestant to make it through to the top 10.

Adding insult to injury, the girl group Sweet Suspense – whose performance of the Tony Basil song "Mickey" left Cowell raving that they were "the best of the night" on Wednesday – was sent home...

X Factor contestants, I feel for you. (Yes, that was a Chaka Khan reference.)

Let’s be honest: Your mentors are constantly trying to upstage you with superfluous (sometimes ¡interpretive!) dancers. The apocalyptic on-stage lighting situation is probably only manageable with the use of alcohol, Prozac, intensive psychotherapy or all of the above. And you’re expected to not curl into the fetal position and cry “Mommy!” every time Paulina Rubio slurs into your eyes with a string of words including (but not limited to): “America!” “Nailed it!” “Loved it!” and some mutilated variation on your stage name.

Related...

Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale Thursday, February 21, 2013 The Bowery Ballroom, NYC

Some music needs to be heard in concert to be fully appreciated. No amount of spin doctoring by journalists or peer pressure from fanatical fans can justify an act unless one catches said act live. Best to let the music do the talking in a live music venue and judge said act accordingly. And so it was, again, last night at Bowery Ballroom where Jim Lauderdale and Buddy Miller performed a well-crafted, expertly executed set of Americana music that was exhilarating, entertaining, and well, just plan fun.

I first met the Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale back in the early '90s, around the release of his second solo CD, Pretty Close to the Truth. And I discovered Buddy because he played guitar on Jim's records. I was struck by how effortlessly Jim spun gold with his brand of authentic,...

After all the debates, controversies, and stereotype accusations have cleared, looking back on Blaxploitation cinema today it’s easy to see healthy portions of the crime and action genres. Using these genres and the struggles of the black community, these films were created for those that wanted to see African American characters on the big screen not taking shit from the man, “getting over”, and–above all else—being the heroes in movies. In the documentary Baad Asssss Cinema, Samuel L. Jackson gives his take on the heroes of Blaxploitation: “We were tired of seeing the righteous black man. And all of a sudden we had guys who were…us. Or guys who did the things we wanted those guys to do.”

The unsung supporting players in these films that backed Fred Williamson and Pam Grier and many other stars were people acting and making a living off of it.

It was the summer of 1987, when Patrick Swayze was a pin-up and no one imagined dance shows would be on prime-time TV. On the 25th anniversary of the film's release, do you still have hungry eyes for it?

It was 25 years ago this week that Dirty Dancing's Johnny Castle strutted his way into moviegoers' hearts. Patrick Swayze's performance as the dancer who takes the infatuated Frances "Baby" Houseman (Jennifer Grey) under his wing secured his status as one of the most lusted-after pin-ups of the 1980s.

Thanks to a combination of Swayze and Grey's leading roles, a great supporting cast, 1960s nostalgia, that soundtrack and Eleanor Bergstein's deft screenwriting, the film was a huge box-office hit, earning back more than 35 times its paltry budget of $6m.

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The soundtrack may have won numerous awards, but the film itself has never been a critical darling.

Enter now for your chance to win the 4-episode, 2-dvd set of the world's most renowned rock n' roll band as they take to the historic Ed Sullivan stage throughout the 1960's. The Music The collection features 4 full episodes starring The Rolling Stones and includes: The Rolling Stones making their triumphant return to the Ed Sullivan stage on May 2, 1965, performing an early original composition by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards -- the Top 10 hit “The Last Time”; a rendition of the Willie Dixon blues classic “Little Red Rooster”; a cover of Solomon Burke’s “Everybody Needs Somebody To Love”; and closing out the show -- the rarely performed instrumental homage to Chess Records, “2120 South Michigan Avenue.” Their February 13, 1966, Ed Sullivan Show appearance, presented in gorgeous CBS...

Things I never anticipated seeing on The X Factor‘s second set of “Judges’ Houses” episodes: A microphone stand crashing against elegant pool tiles without making the slightest sound. A ragtag group of 10 children gleefully laying waste to the legacy of beloved music duo Hall & Oates. And a scene set in an elaborately staged junk yard featuring a quaint, handpainted sign with the word “Garbage” leaning against a dumpster.

But there were predictable aspects of X Factor’s latest telecast as well: A carefully groomed and gussied Nicole Sherbetzingy kept her face in a perpetual mask of squinted eye, quivering lip,...

Top 32 contestants vie for spots in the top 16.

By Adam Graham

Paula Abdul with guest judge Pharrell on the "X Factor" on Sunday

Photo: Fox

The second half of the final 32 "X Factor" acts performed in front of the judges at their respective homes on Sunday's episode, vying for spots in the top 16. Those 16 will compete in the show's live episodes and ultimately battle it out for a $5 million recording contract.

The judges were joined by celebrity consultants for this round. Rihanna partnered with L.A. Reid at his home in the Hamptons to evaluate the boys; Pharrell Williams helped Paula Abdul critique the groups in Santa Barbara, California; and Enrique Iglesias assisted Nicole Scherzinger while she evaluated the over-30s at her home in Malibu, California. Over in France, Simon Cowell was joined by a team of industry professionals to assess the girls after his original co-judging choice, Mariah Carey,...

Gavin DeGraw seems a little young to have life regrets, but at 34, he already has a big one: not getting to duet with Solomon Burke. He met the soul legend and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer a few years earlier, and had subsequently asked him to sing on a track. “He was like, ‘Baby, baby, c’mon. I would love that Gavin. That would be wonderful’,” DeGraw recalls, imitating Burke’s deep drawl. Months passed without the pair going to the studio. Then DeGraw gets a call in the middle of the night from Burke. “I was just dog tired from...

DVD Playhouse—April 2011

By

Allen Gardner

Hereafter (Warner Bros.) Clint Eastwood’s spiritual thriller follows a trio of characters whose seemingly disparate paths converge: Matt Damon as a blue collar Joe who tries to fight against his psychic powers that see “the other side,” Cecile de France as a journalist who somehow survives the tsunami that crushed Indonesia, and a London schoolboy (Frankie and George McLaren) who seeks answers after losing his twin brother. Like all of Eastwood’s films, the narrative construction is tight as a drum, with solid work by all involved. That said, “solid” would have to be the operative word to describe the proceedings here, as well as “unremarkable” and “uninvolving” on an emotional level. Perhaps we expect too much when we see Clint’s name on a film these days, but that’s the flip side of being one of the best. Blu-ray/DVD combo pack.

DVD Playhouse—April 2011

By

Allen Gardner

Hereafter (Warner Bros.) Clint Eastwood’s spiritual thriller follows a trio of characters whose seemingly disparate paths converge: Matt Damon as a blue collar Joe who tries to fight against his psychic powers that see “the other side,” Cecile de France as a journalist who somehow survives the tsunami that crushed Indonesia, and a London schoolboy (Frankie and George McLaren) who seeks answers after losing his twin brother. Like all of Eastwood’s films, the narrative construction is tight as a drum, with solid work by all involved. That said, “solid” would have to be the operative word to describe the proceedings here, as well as “unremarkable” and “uninvolving” on an emotional level. Perhaps we expect too much when we see Clint’s name on a film these days, but that’s the flip side of being one of the best. Blu-ray/DVD combo pack.

Eminem picks up two awards, with Esperanza Spalding topping Justin Bieber and Drake for Best New Artist.

By Gil Kaufman

Arcade Fire win at the 2011 Grammys

Photo: Getty Images

The evening was supposed to be a coronation for Eminem, who was up for a leading 10 awards. But on Sunday night (February 13) at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards, Slim Shady ended up with only two rap honors as his smash comeback Recovery took a backseat to country trio Lady Antebellum, who shocked the world with a slew of high-profile wins and a night's-best haul with five Golden Gramophones.

But that wasn't the only banner headline of the night. No, the Album of the Year category served up one of the all-time jaw-droppers in Grammy history, as Eminem was denied that honor for a third time. Many considered that one a lock for the superstar Detroit rapper, whose fight back from addiction...

While award shows typically remain a trite affair, last night’s Grammys proved otherwise, providing plenty of surprises and memorable moments. Cee-Lo Green dressed as a peacock, Janelle Monáe crowdsurfing, Mick Jagger’s Solomon Burke tribute and Dylan & Brothers & Sons all stood as highlight performances. Lady Antebellum won five Grammys, while Arcade Fire and Esperanza Spalding shocked with their huge and unexpected wins. While the 53rd annual Grammys still held plenty of head-scratching instances, we would consider this year’s ceremony to be an overall success. We’ve listed the notable 2011 Grammy winners alongside our predictions. Check them out the below....

Predictable they were not, and this year's Grammys were actually more reminiscent of a live variety show than an awards presentation. With only ten statues presented during the show's entire three and a half hour run, (the first hour yielded only one, which went to Train for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group), the show's format has morphed into what some would call a televised concert of live performances and tributes, with an award or two thrown in for posterity. Truth be told, only a handful of top honors were announced on air, with the vast majority of winners revealed prior to the show's live broadcast. The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards (TV) opened with a tribute to Aretha Franklin, who watched from home due to recent health issues. The homage to the Queen of Soul featured Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Florence Welch, Yolanda Adams, and Martina McBride performing...

Sunday night's (February 13) 53rd Grammy Awards were full of surprises, from Esperanza Spalding's Best New Artist victory to Mick Jagger's alarmingly sharp performance during his tribute to the late Solomon Burke. But the show saved the biggest shocker for last, as Arcade Fire's The Suburbs took home the hardware for Album of the Year. The Canadian band, who had the smallest profile of any artist nominated in the category, scored the victory in between their two electric performances — including one that ended the show.

It's been something of a long time coming for Arcade Fire, who have been nominated for several Grammys in the past but have never won. Their 2004 debut Funeral was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album in 2006 (it lost to the White Stripes' Get Behind Me Satan) and their sophomore release Neon Bible got a nod for the same award in 2008 (they were bested...