Big 95 Music News: Huey Lewis, Eagles

HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS:  Big plans for 2018

Huey Lewis and the News have Broadway plans. The "Power of Love" hit-maker tells the Connecticut Post, "There’s currently in development a musical based on all of our songs. And it’s really, really good."

Much like the upcoming project powered by The Go-Go's songs, this won't be biographical in nature. Lewis explains, "They wrote a completely different book... made up this story and wound it through our disparate songs."

Meanwhile, he and the band are working on a new album. "We’re recording it slowly but surely, and we’re going to have a record out." Calling it "some of our best work, at least as good as our best work," Lewis says, "It’s going to come out next summer."

EAGLES:  Play in Glenn Frey's hometown Detroit

The Eagles landed in Detroit, where their late co-founder Glenn Frey was born and grew up, on Friday. It was their first time there since he passed away in January 2016.

Frey's son Deacon, along with Vince Gill, took his place on stage, while his wife, Cindy and other relatives were in the audience at Little Caesar's Arena.

Billboard reports that Deacon Frey introduced "Peaceful Easy Feeling" by saying, "What a treat for me to be back here in my dad's hometown. It's kinda awesome." After the song, he looked up at the rafters where a portrait of his dad hung and said barely audibly, "That's for you, dad." Henley then said of Deacon, "He's a chip off the old block, folks."

Later, Gill, playing his first Detroit show as a Eagle, added, "What an honor it is to be in the hometown of my dear friend Glenn Frey and singing his songs for you."

The band ended its brief fall tour in Nashville on Sunday. The show was taped for a Thanksgiving weekend airing on the band's Sirius XM channel.

SMOKEY ROBINSON:  Christmas album on the way

Smokey Robinson will always be recognized as a Motown star, but his new Christmas album is being released via Amazon.com.

Due November 10th, Christmas Everyday features such holiday standards as "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)" and "The Christmas Song" as well as three originals. He co-produced the project with Adam Anders, who worked on TV's Glee.

Robinson says, "I love the feeling of Christmas… and these are some of my absolute favorite songs. Folks are going to be surprised by some of the arrangements." (Billboard)

MORE BIG 95 MUSIC NEWS HEADLINES:  October 30th

Tears for Fears, who spent much of this summer touring with Hall and Oates, will headline in Europe next spring. Referencing their breakthrough song, the Rule the World Tour will include eight shows in Britain and Ireland during May 2018.

E Street Band bassist Garry Tallent tweeted about the late Fats Domino Thursday. “My father told me that I sat on his lap when I was three but I don’t remember it. I saw him perform but never got to meet him. RIP Fats Domino.” Tallent turned 68 Friday.

Patti LaBelle will release her first Christmas album in 10 years on November 24th. Patti LaBelle and Friends: Home for the Holidays features Ruben Studdard (on "Let It Snow"), Tamela Mann (on "Jesus King") and Vivian King (on "My Favorite Things"). The voice of "Lady Marmalade" also puts her stamp on such traditional favorites as "Mary, Did You Know?" "The Christmas Song" and "Avé Maria.".

Carrot Top joined Elton John last Tuesday night in Las Vegas, during the part of his show when the Rocket Man invites audience members onstage for “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting.”  

Dave Davies of The Kinks and Foghat have been added to Rock Legends Cruise Seven, which doesn't set sail until February of 2019.

Out this past weekend: The Pretenders' Alone: Deluxe Edition, which adds a bonus live disc and The Who's five-CD box set Maximum A's and B's.

Volkswagen is using Joe Cocker's version of The Beatles' "With a Little Help From My Friends" in its latest commercial, which re-creates the crowd at the Woodstock festival, where Cocker performed the song.

Erich Bergen, who played Bob Gaudio in the movie Jersey Boys and now co-stars in TV's Madame Secretary, has been added to the cast of Rockers on Broadway. The annual fundraiser will be staged November 13th Le Poisson Rouge in New York.