The issue of new music from old guys – or "Current Classics" has been floating around the Classic Rock format for 20 years. On the one hand, the audience always seems to have an interest in hearing how their music legends sound today. It’s sort of like that fascination that surrounds Roger Clemens as he defies Father Time, season after season.
Yet, the sad fact about many of the new releases from classic artists over the years is that they simply don’t stand up to their original material. At best, some Classic Rock stations give the released singles a few of what I call "FYI spins," and after a few weeks, they fade away. For every "The Rising," there are scores of stiffs, misfires, and songs that simply shouldn’t have seen the light of day.
On top of that, the record labels often miss the mark by promoting these projects to Active Rock stations, who generally could care less about new music from Eric Clapton or Foghat. Too often, the Classic Rock station – the logical place for much of this material – gets stiffed or not even serviced.
So, the release of "A Bigger Bang" is notable because it breaks a lot of the above mentioned conventions. For one thing, it’s really good. And not just the single. This is the best album the Stones have produced since perhaps "Tattoo You" – nearly 20 years ago.
This is an album that actually merits airplay, and not just because the Stones are touring. If you want to feel good that a bunch of guys in their sixties can still get the job done, give this one a good listen.
But the problem is that other media may end up with more of the spotlight for "A Bigger Bang" than Classic Rock stations. There I was driving home from the airport and NPR’s "All Things Considered" is doing a feature on the album. They actually sounded more passionate about a new Stones album than many radio stations that have played the band for decades. Aside from the typical syndicated programming that always accompanies these releases, isn’t it time Classic Rock radio took the lead on this kind of release? Whether we have to buy a few CDs or not.
The other potentially good news is that interestingly enough, while the Stones are basking in a tour and strong album, the Beatles – or at least, Paul McCartney – is enjoying the same type of year. And he has a new album out, too – "Chaos & Creation in the Backyard." This could be a very interesting year.
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One word on why Roger Clemens defies father time – steroids.
Another sign of the critical acclaim that the new Rolling Stones CD is receiving:
FM 94/9 in San Diego — an Alternative station — has chosen it as one of this month’s “Recommended” CDs, a regular feature on their website and on-air.
(https://www.fm949sd.com/music/recommend.cfm)
And that’s different from having one’s blood completely transfused?