birthday bonanza

Just like you and me, celebrities have birthdays, too! Here's a quick rundown of the entertainers who are blowing out candles this week.

You oughtta know that Canadian songstress Alanis Morissette turns 36.



Smooth saxophonist Kenny G is blowing out 54 candles this week!



The legendary Pat Boone will croon "Happy Birthday" to himself as he celebrates his 76th spin around the sun.



Country superstar Wynonna Judd will be 46. Here she is singing the Foreigner classic, "I Want To Know What Love Is".



And Mayberry's very own Andy Griffith, the star of such TV shows as The Andy Griffith Show and Matlock, is turning 84 this week. Who remembers "Salvage 1", his short lived series from 1979?

the sound of America

In a couple of weeks, our friends at Time Life will be shooting a brand new infomercial featuring the best of the singer/songwriters of the 70s and 80s. America will be hosting the program. So keep an eye out for more info as we're able to make it available.

We'll be interviewing the band, so send in some questions for them. In the meantime, check out a few soft rock selections from the mighty America.







I wonder if they've ever been through the desert on a horse with no name.

it's a sunshine day

This week marks the 25th anniversary of “Walking On Sunshine” by Katrina And The Waves. It's a bona fide classic if there ever was one. The song has seeped into the public consciousness and has become synonymous with good times much in the same way "Celebration" by Kool And The Gang has. Both are likely to be heard at weddings and graduations around the world.

Not only have lead singer, Katrina Leskanich, and her cohorts remastered the track, four of their albums were reissued recently. The new and improved track, entitled “Walking On Sunshine 25″, was released yesterday on iTunes and other fine download stores.

Check out the new video they put together for the track. It features vintage footage of the band pieced together in a style that brings us back to the days of square televisions, VHS tapes and MTV.



Fun fact... Did you know "Walking On Sunshine" was originally produced by Scott Litt who twiddled the studio knobs for such luminaries as R.E.M and Nirvana?

Before you go calling Katrina And The Waves a one-hit wonder, they had two further top 40 hits in the US after "Walking On Sunshine" hit #9 in 1985. First, there was the follow-up, "Do You Want Crying" which squeaked inside the top 40 at #37.



And, in 1989 they hit #16 with "That's The Way". It was accompanied by a super sexy video which was world away from the Beatle-esque look they adopted for their first couple of albums.



In 1997, they had a #1 hit in the UK with the anthemic "Love Shine A Light" which won the Eurovision Song Contest.



And for old time's sake, here's the original vid for "Walking On Sunshine".



Don't it feel good?

solo Swede

You may not realize it, but you know Jenny Berggren. She has sold more than 30 million albums as one quarter of the 90s, Swedish, pop powerhouse Ace Of Base.

Not much has been heard from Ace Of Base over the last decade. They released a fantastic, greatest hits collection in 2009. Then, after a few false starts at an attempt to return to the charts, they called it a day.

Now, Jenny returns with "Here I Am", the first single from her forthcoming album.


It's a magnificent pop nugget. The chorus is totally uplifting. And the gritty, electronic funk production hides the fact that the song is a giant, towering slab of pop. In fact, it sounds quite a bit like an Ace Of Base song.

Friday music news round up

Bret Michaels has been readmitted to the hospital after a triumphant return to TV with Oprah earlier in the week. (Entertainment Weekly)

Bono turned 50 and celebrated with a bit of back surgery. (Billboard)

peace, love and soul on your cellphone

The "Soul Train" is heading out on a high speed rail line today. How about a little peace, love and soul on your cellphone?

Get your free "Soul Train" ringtone when you purchase the 9 DVD "The Best Of Soul Train" set. How amazing is that?!

Click here for more info.

abducted by the 80s

Wang Chung is back in town. The formidable pop duo of Jack Hues and Nick Feldman have returned to the studio for some new tunes and a tour.

It has been more than 25 years since they graced our radio waves and MTV riddled television sets with "Dance Hall Days".



And who could forget "Everybody Have Fun Tonight"? Arguably, one of the 80s most memorable moments, it is responsible for a quirky phrase that wormed it's way into the English vernacular. We had "Voulez-vous couches avec moi, ce soir?" in the 70s. In the 80s, we commanded "Everybody Wang Chung tonight!"



Well, the Wang Chung renaissance continues with "Abducted By The '80s", a brand new, double EP featuring their biggest hits coupled with five new songs. It will be released on August 2, but will be available on the band's website from June 7.

"Abducted By The 80's" comes as a double CD package. The first disc, also known as "Wang", will consist of some of the band’s biggest hits, including re-recorded versions of "Everybody Have Fun Tonight", "Dance Hall Days", "Let's Go" and an acoustic version of "To Live And Die In LA".

The second CD in this set, otherwise known as "Chung", features four new songs from the duo including "Rent Free", "Stargazing", "London Orbital" and their collaboration with Rob Gee on the title track, "Abducted By The '80s"

The band will also be touring the US during June and July. Just visit Wang Chung at their home on the web for more information and a free download. The Rewind will be interviewing Jack and Nick at one of their upcoming shows. Stay tuned!

birthday divas

Three divas share birthday celebrations this week.

Singer and actress Cher, who releases her 26th studio album this year, turns 64. Let's mark the occasion with one of her classic performances from the 70s.



Michael Jackson's sister, Janet, will be 44 years old. And, she's still got control.



Grace Jones, the ultimate diva's diva, sinks her teeth into her 62nd spin around the sun.

Bo Bice's penmanship

May 18 will see the release of Bo Bice's third album, "3". Right now, Time Life has 100 signed CDs available from the American Idol alumnus. Get yours now. They're selling like hotcakes. Click here to order.

four legends

This week, no less than FOUR legendary artists are celebrating birthdays.

Piano man Billy Joel turns 61.



Motown and R&B superstar Stevie Wonder hits the big six-o!



Steve Winwood, a successful solo artist who has been a member of bands including The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith and Go, will be 62.



And Bono, lead singer of U2 and world humanitarian, celebrates his 50th birthday today. My favorite U2 song is "Mysterious Ways" from their 1991 album, "Achtung Baby".

Gray day

Hard to believe it has been eleven years since Macy Gray graced our radio waves and television sets with her retro ditty, "I Try".

Well, now she's back! After three years, Macy Gray returns with "Beauty In The World", a jaunty little number from her forthcoming, fifth album "The Sellout".



You might remember the song from the final sequence of the series finale of Ugly Betty.

Sade in the spring

The spring weather is in full swing, just in time for Sade to release "Babyfather", the second single from their critically acclaimed album, "Soldier Of Love".

It's a breezy, summery song with a bit of a reggae lilt to it. The video for "Babyfather" looks as if it was filmed in the side streets and alleyways around LA.

Sade makes everyday chores look so glamorous.

birthday extravaganza

It's another bumper crop of celebrity birthdays this week. Let's get to it!

Classic Rock king Bob Seger turns 65. I wonder if he ever thought his biggest hit would forever be associated with dancing around the living room in your underwear.



Country legend Randy Travis celebrates his 51st trip around the sun.



Soul singer Oleta Adams, most famous for her hit, "Get Here", is 48.



Cheryl Burke, dance champion on "Dancing With The Stars" and one of fitness gurus, turns 26.



Cake is the word for the legendary Frankie Valli who lights 76 candles this week.



Lastly, Lesley Gore is having a party! She's 64 this week. Don't forget, Lesley will be performing live on next weekend's Malt Shop Memories Cruise.