DATE: APRIL 6, 2004
FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/LATHUM NELSON/LYNSIE CAMPBELL
ROGER DALTREY JOINS TIME-LIFE IN THE RELEASE OF ‘LEGENDS,’
THE ULTIMATE CLASSIC ROCK CD COLLECTION;
FEATURING SONGS BY THE WHO, LED ZEPPELIN, QUEEN, DAVID BOWIE, JIMI HENDRIX, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, LYNYRD SKYNYRD,
THE DOORS, SANTANA, AEROSMITH, JANIS JOPLIN, BILLY JOEL, JACKSON BROWNE, ELTON JOHN, THE EAGLES
The Who’s ROGER DALTREY has joined forces with TIME-LIFE for the release of LEGENDS, an eight-CD collection that offers an essential look at the diverse mid-60s to late-70s classic rock period, including songs from many high-profile acts who rarely appear on multi-artist collections. Not available at retail, the LEGENDS set comprising 144 songs is being offered exclusively through a 30-minute national TV music show hosted by DALTREY. According to the singer: "This is the best collection of classic rock I've ever seen, and I'm proud to be a part of it. If you like to rock, if you like guitars, if you like bands like Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bad Company and Queen, you're going to love Time-Life's Legends collection.”
To truly make LEGENDS the ultimate classic rock collection, TIME-LIFE’s executive producer Gene Zacharewicz set out “to license the pivotal classic rock songs that normally don't appear on compilations. Through the tremendous efforts of the RIAA and each of the labels, and the cooperation of the artists, I think Time-Life accomplished this.” Zacharewicz, the creative force behind the project, continues: “Whether you lived through this era or are just being introduced to it for the first time, Time-Life’s Legends collection will help you experience an amazing period in music history.” DALTREY adds: “Time-Life made it easy to get an amazing compilation of the very best of classic rock.”
Co-executive producer Mitch Peyser spoke with the Los Angeles Times (2/29/04) about the significant contribution DALTREY made to the 30-minute music show: "Roger wanted to make sure what we were saying in the show was something he felt he could stand up for. We worked with him on scripting. He has a reputation and wanted to feel good about what he was saying."
The era-defining songs found in the LEGENDS collection cover a wide range of hit sounds: the mid-60s folk rock of Bob Dylan’s “Just Like A Woman”; the jangly pop of The Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Do You Believe In Magic”; the psychedelic sounds of Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody To Love”; the world rock of Santana’s “Black Magic Woman”; the Southern rock of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Freebird”; the stadium rock of Queen’s “We Will Rock You”; the progressive rock of Yes’ “Roundabout”; the glam rock of Gary Glitter’s “Rock and Roll Part 2”; and the rhythm and blues inflected rock of David Bowie’s “Fame” and Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.”
Here’s a sample of the LEGENDS CDs:
MY GENERATION: 20 tracks including The Who’s title track “My Generation,” Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” and Rod Stewart’s “Every Picture Tells A Story”
WE WILL ROCK YOU: 20 tracks including Queen’s title track “We Will Rock You,” David Bowie’s “Fame” and Bruce Springsteen’s “Born To Run”
PLUGGIN’ IN: 20 tracks including Jimi Hendrix’s “Foxey Lady,” Simon and Garfunkel’s “Sounds of Silence” and Sonny and Cher’s “I’ve Got You Babe” and The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations”
GET IT ON: 18 tracks including T. Rex’s “Bang A Gong (Get It On),” The Doors’ “Light My Fire” and Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way”
DO IT AGAIN: 18 tracks including Steely Dan’s title track “Do It Again,” Led Zeppelin’s “Misty Mountain Hop,” The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and The Allman Brothers Band’s “Revival (Love Is Everywhere)”
GIMME SOME LOVIN’: 18 tracks including The Spencer Davis Group’s title track “Gimme Some Lovin’,” Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and Electric Light Orchestra’s “Don’t Bring Me Down”
CRANK IT UP: 18 tracks including Foreigner’s “Feels Like The First Time,” Jackson Browne’s “Running On Empty,” The Pretenders’ “Back On The Chain Gang” and David Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel”
FOR YOUR LOVE: 18 tracks including The Yardbirds’ title track “For Your Love,” Cheap Trick’s “I Want You To Want Me” and Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear The Reaper”
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