In the rich tapestry of 1970s soft rock, few songs captured the era’s romantic vulnerability quite like “Do You Wanna Make Love” by Peter McCann. Released in 1977, the gentle, heartfelt ballad became an unexpected smash, giving McCann his biggest — and only — hit, and solidifying its place as one of the decade’s most memorable one-hit wonders.
When you think of 1970s summer vibes — easygoing, romantic, and just a little whimsical — few songs fit the mood better than “Moonlight Feels Right” by Starbuck. Released in 1976, this dreamy soft-rock hit became an enduring staple of the decade’s lighter, yacht rock–adjacent sound and remains one of the most recognizable one-hit wonders of the era.
In the summer of 1978, a breezy, hypnotic soft-rock tune floated onto radio waves and became one of the most memorable love songs of the decade. Walter Egan’s “Magnet and Steel” was a breakout hit, capturing the spirit of the late ’70s California sound — melodic, romantic, and effortlessly cool.
In the summer of 1978, a driving disco-rock hybrid called "Hot Child In The City" exploded onto radio waves across North America, becoming one of the year's most distinctive hits. The song, performed by British-Canadian singer Nick Gilder, would prove to be his biggest commercial success and a defining track of the late 1970s rock scene.
In the summer of 1974, when the world was caught between the fading optimism of the '60s and the uncertainty of the mid-'70s, a British band called First Class delivered the perfect escapist anthem. "Beach Baby" became an instant classic, capturing the carefree spirit of summer romance with its infectious melody and sun-soaked harmonies.
It was the kind of song that seemed to roll out of a dusty highway dream — a smooth voice, a simple guitar, and a van full of freedom. In 1973, singer-songwriter Sammy Johns recorded a track that would take two years to find its moment, but when it did, it became an unexpected anthem for a generation chasing open roads and fleeting romance.
Roger Daltrey of The Who has concerns about the band's farewell tour due to his various health issues. In an interview with The Times, the 81-year-old icon opened up about his struggles, including hearing loss, complications from contracting meningitis 9 years ago, and incurable macular degeneration affecting his sight. He acknowledged his "potential to get really ill" and admitted he is "nervous about making it to the end of the tour." Daltrey says the meningitis has disrupted his internal thermometer, causing him to sweat profusely when singing in warm climates. Regarding his hearing loss, Daltrey believes it likely originated from his time working at a sheet metal factory at the age of 16, prior to joining The Who. He also can't use Autocue onstage for help with lyrics due to his bad eyesight. Despite these challenges, Daltrey is determined to “give the songs the same amount of passion” as he did in his younger days. (COS)
Veteran rock musician Dave Edmunds, 81, has been hospitalized after suffering a "major" cardiac arrest in late July, according to a Facebook post from his wife of 40 years, Cici Edmunds. She described the harrowing incident, stating that Dave "died in my arms" until a nurse was able to revive him with "heavy CPR." Dave was subsequently taken to an intensive care unit, where he was intubated. Cici revealed that Dave is now experiencing "brain damage and severe memory loss," among other medical complications. Cici expressed the immense difficulty of the situation, but noted that the support from kind-hearted people has made the journey a bit easier. Edmunds found breakthrough success with the blues rock band Love Sculpture in the 1960s. He later embarked on a solo career, releasing his debut album "Rockpile" in 1972, which included the hit cover of "I Hear You Knocking." (People)
Bad Company’s first official tribute album, Can't Get Enough: A Tribute to Bad Company, is slated to arrive on October 24. The 10-track collection features star-studded covers of their classic hits by artists including Slash with Myles Kennedy, Halestorm with Paul Rodgers, the Struts (whose cover of "Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" is the first single shared from the project), Charley Crockett, and Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott and Phil Collen alongside Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke. “Bad Company was the background music of an important period in my youth,” said Slash in a press release. “They were such a great band, and a huge influence on me then and still are today.” The tribute album includes additional contributions from diverse artists like HARDY, Blackberry Smoke, Mastodon’s Brann Dailor, Dirty Honey, Black Stone Cherry, and The Pretty Reckless. The announcement of the tribute album comes one month after the death of the band’s co-founder/guitarist Mick Ralphs, and precedes Bad Company’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November as part of the 2025 class . (Consequence of Sound)
Representatives for Phil Collins confirmed that he is currently hospitalized while recovering from a recent knee surgery, while dispelling online rumors that the 74-year-old music legend was in hospice care. While the onetime Genesis member has faced significant health challenges over the years – including suffering significant nerve damage from a 2007 spinal surgery that has limited his mobility and drumming ability – he remains stable following the medical procedure, but his team shared that his hospital stay is not related to any terminal condition. Earlier this year, Collins expressed a waning desire to create music, while revealing, “The thing is, I’ve been sick. I mean very sick,” though he didn’t elaborate on what specifically was ailing him. During Genesis’ 2020 farewell shows, Collins focused on vocals while his son Nic took over for him on the drums, allowing fans to celebrate Phil and his music despite his ongoing physical struggles. (Rolling Stone)
Jazz musician Chuck Mangione, famous for his 1978 crossover hit, "Feels So Good," died on Tuesday (July 22) at the age of 84 in his Rochester, New York home. A flugelhorn and trumpet player, Mangione won two Grammys during a career that spanned 30 albums. The musician later became known to a new generation of fans for his recurring role as himself on the hit animated series, King of the Hill. His Grammy-nominated single, "Feels So Good," reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while his album of the same name reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200. That widespread commercial success led to commissions such as writing the 1980 Winter Olympics theme, "Give it All You Got." Born in 1940, Mangione studied at the Eastman School of Music, performed with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, and gained acclaim with albums like the Grammy-nominated Friends & Love. Mangione’s 1976 album, Bellavia, earned him his first Grammy win, and his second came from 1978’s Children of Sanchez soundtrack, while his influential work helped keep jazz relevant across decades. (Variety)
Led Zeppelin have announced a new Live EP and a 50th anniversary deluxe edition of their iconic double-album, Physical Graffiti, which are both set to be released on September 12 via Rhino. The Live EP, available on 12-inch vinyl, CD, and digital formats, features four concert tracks lifted from the 2003 Led Zeppelin DVD – “In My Time of Dying” and “Trampled Under Foot” from Earl’s Court 1975, and “Sick Again” and “Kashmir” from Knebworth 1979 – marking their first release outside the DVD. The Physical Graffiti deluxe edition is a 3-LP set that includes a bonus album featuring rough mixes and early versions, as well as a replica promotional poster and a 1975 tour programme. These releases celebrate the band’s seminal 1975 album, which served as their first on the Swan Song label. To promote the reissue, the band have shared a live video for “Trampled Under Foot (Live From Earl’s Court, 1975)” as a preview of the new EP. (Consequence of Sound)
George Kooymans, guitarist and co-founder of Dutch rock band Golden Earring, has died at the age of 77. The musician’s family confirmed that he passed away due to complications from ALS, which he was diagnosed with in 2020. “We say goodbye to a great musician and composer whose work reached far beyond Golden Earring,” his family shared. “George was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, but above all, a friend.” Kooymans and his friend Rinus Gerritsen co-founded Golden Earring in the early Sixties while teenagers in The Hague, Netherlands, releasing their debut album, Just Ear-rings, in 1965. The band was best known for hits like "Radar Love,” which peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973, and their 1982 Top 10 smash, "Twilight Zone," and they went on to enjoy over five decades of success. Kooymans' ALS diagnosis put an end to the band’s plans for a proper farewell tour in 2020, but the surviving members will perform one final show in January 2026, with proceeds supporting ALS research. (Rolling Stone)
During his concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles on Wednesday (July 16), Paul Simon initially dismissed a fan who shouted out for “Kodachrome” during his encore. “I don’t take requests, but I’ll do some of it for $20,” Simon replied. In a fan-captured video of the interaction, the two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee can be seen taking the cash from the fan, and happily performing about 90 seconds of the song, which he hadn't played live since 2019. “Kodachrome” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1973, and was the lead single from Simon’s Grammy-nominated album, There Goes Rhymin' Simon. Despite a series of health challenges, including severe hearing loss and a recent back surgery that caused him to cancel a series of shows, the 83-year-old music legend continues his A Quiet Celebration Tour with a three-night stand in San Francisco through Tuesday (July 22), followed by three shows in Vancouver, before finishing the run with five dates in Seattle from July 31-August 6. (Consequence of Sound)
Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham have sparked possible reunion rumors with a couple of cryptic Instagram posts shared on Thursday (July 17). Nicks posted the handwritten words, "And if you go forward…," and Buckingham completed the line with, "I'll meet you there," a lyric from the 1973 Buckingham Nicks' song, "Frozen Love." The speculation intensified when Mick Fleetwood posted a video of himself listening to the same song, adding the caption, "Magic then, magic now." Despite their tumultuous history, Nicks and Buckingham's posts have fueled speculation about a potential reunion, either as a duo or with Fleetwood Mac, although Nicks previously stated “there’s no chance” of a Mac reunion after the death of Christine McVie in 2022. This interaction follows the 50th anniversary on July 11 of the release of their celebrated 1975 album, Fleetwood Mac, which marked the formation of the core group of the band, featuring Fleetwood, Nicks, Buckingham, McVie, and her then-husband John McVie. (Consequence of Sound)
On Wednesday (July 16), legendary Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant announced that he is releasing a new album, Saving Grace, on September 26th via Nonesuch Records. The record will be supported by a 14-date U.S. tour featuring Plant’s band of the same name, which includes vocalist Suzi Dian, drummer Oli Jefferson, guitarist Tony Kelsey, banjo player Matt Worley, and cellist Barney Morse-Brown. The 10-track album has been in the works for over six years, and it features the lead single, a cover of Low’s “Everybody’s Song.” Saving Grace was produced by the 76-year-old Plant and the band, and it showcases reinterpretations of songs by Memphis Minnie, Bob Mosley (Moby Grape), Blind Willie Johnson, The Low Anthem, Martha Scanlan, and Sarah Siskind. The tour marks Saving Grace's debut performances in the U.S., and kicks off on October 30 in Wheeling, West Virginia, with stops including Brooklyn, Chicago, and Seattle, before finishing on November 22 in Los Angeles. Ticket pre-sales start on Thursday (July 17), with general on-sale following on Friday (July 18). (Consequence of Sound)
The HBO documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes, is set to premiere in two parts, airing on the network and streaming service on July 18 and 25. The first trailer for the rock doc was shared on Friday (July 11), and it features appearances from Paul McCartney, P!nk, and Bruce Springsteen, among others. In the trailer, the 76-year-old Joel reflects on his long musical journey, detailing how his classical music roots, his unsettled family life, and high-profile relationships – like dating supermodel Christie Brinkley – all influenced his songwriting. McCartney says in the clip, “When I first heard Billy Joel, it was like, wait a minute. ‘Who’s this?'” While Springsteen admits, “Billy’s melodies are better than mine,” and P!nk praises Joel by saying “he cares about the human experience” and “he wrote songs that mattered.” And So It Goes is directed by Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin, and premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June. Joel was unable to attend the event due to his recent brain disorder diagnosis. (Rolling Stone)
London’s BST Hyde Park summer concert series was forced to cancel its final show scheduled for Sunday (July 13), after Jeff Lynne’s ELO pulled out due to Lynne’s health issues. The organizers announced on July 12 that the 77-year-old musician would not be able to perform as planned, writing in a statement: “Jeff Lynne is heartbroken to report that he will not be able to perform at tomorrow’s BST Hyde Park show. Jeff has been battling a systemic infection and is currently in the care of a team of doctors who have advised him that performing is simply not possible at this time.” The entire Sunday program was ultimately cancelled, which was to include opening sets by the Doobie Brothers, Steve Winwood, and Dhani Harrison, with full refunds offered to ticket holders. The Hyde Park show was scheduled to be the final live performance by Jeff Lynne’s ELO, following their successful Over and Out farewell tour in North America. The group also canceled their Manchester show on July 10 at the last minute, with audience members already filling the venue. (Billboard)
