New music: Johnnie Johnson, Cheap Trick, Florence + The Machine, The Flashcubes

In this column I feature a review of a full-length album featuring Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Johnnie Johnson as well as advance singles from Cheap Trick, Florence + the Machine and The Flashcubes.

Artist: Johnnie Johnson

Title: I'm Just Johnnie (Missouri Morning Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Chuck Berry, Bruce Hornsby, Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Rivers
Tell me more: More than two decades after his death at the age of 80, legendary rock 'n' roll pianist Johnnie Johnson's final collection of new recordings will be released by Missouri Morning Records on Aug. 29. The terrific Gene Ackmann-produced collection kicks off with the uptempo blues blaster "I'm Just Johnnie," featuring Johnson on lead vocals and piano. The inspired collection continues with a slew of great tracks including the Chicago-blues flavored "I Get Weary" (featuring St. Louis singer Charles Glenn), a buoyant "Every Day I Have the Blues" with Johnson sharing both lead vocals and masterful piano playing duties with Bruce Hornsby, and a lively take on "Let The Good Times Roll" featuring vocalist Kenny Rice and slide guitar virtuoso Bonnie Raitt. Late disc standouts include the blues-meet-jazz nugget "Three Handed Woman," the nuanced instrumental "Blues In G," and aptly-pegged "Johnnie Johnson Blues." The two-disc set includes a second disc of interviews with Johnson and Radio Hall of Fame and SiriusXM DJ Pat St. John discussing Johnson's career in one of the last interviews he gave before his passing on April 13, 2005. Johnson's signature piano playing is heard on a parade of Chuck Berry's beloved originals including "Maybellene," "Roll Over Beethoven," "Nadine," "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man," "Carol" and Too Much Monkey Business." Berry and Johnson played and toured together on and off, from 1952 until 1973. Information: johnniejohnson.net.

Advance Singles

Artist: Cheap Trick

Single title: "Twelve Gates" from the forthcoming album All Washed Up (BMG)

You might like if you enjoy: Cheap Trick, The Smithereens, The Beatles
Tell me more: Cheap Trick's shimmering new single "Twelve Gates" is the first music off the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band's forthcoming 21st studio album All Washed Up (arriving via BMG on Friday, Nov. 14). The song is a sumptuous listen, with singer Robin Zander's signature tenor vocals draped in a Beatlesque soundscape sure to please fans of the band. The 11-track All Washed Up will be available digitally as well as on standard black vinyl and audio CD. A limited-edition exclusive "Orange Marble" LP variant of the album, limited to 1,000 units, will be available to pre-order via the band's new D2C store. Information: cheaptrick.com.

Artist: Florence + the Machine

Single Title: "Everybody Scream" is the title track off Everybody Scream (Republic Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Florence + the Machine, Lady Gaga, Danny Elfman
Tell me more: "Everybody Scream" is the title track from the sixth album from Florence + the Machine. The album is set for release on Oct. 31. The dramatic single, as well as an accompanying video directed by Autumn de Wilde are available now. Florence Welch wrote and produced the album over the past two years with a close-knit circle of collaborators. Listen to the single via the following link: https://florence.lnk.to/everybodyscream-song. For more information or to pre-order Everybody Scream, visit florenceandthemachine.net.

Artist: The Flashcubes

Single Title: "If These Hands" (Big Stir Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Badfinger, Raspberries
Tell me more: Syracuse, New York-based power pop legends are set to issue the infectious new single "If These Hands," a track set for release on Aug. 29 as part of the highly-anticipated Make Something Happen! A Tribute to the Flashcubes. "If These Hands" and several other Flashcubes recordings will appear alongside 21 covers of their classics by other artists on the set coming courtesy of Big Stir Records. Information: BigStirRecords.com.

Robert Kinsler