William “Mickey” Stevenson, Ivy Jo Hunter and Marvin Gaye’s song “Dancing in the Street” became more than just a hit single; in the ensuing years, it’s become a cultural touchstone, forever associated with the civil rights movement.  Yet, as revealed in the liner notes, Gaye originally pitched the song to Martha Reeves as a sensual ballad: “Marvin was singing it as if he was singing it to a girl,” Reeves recalled, “so romantic and in a mellow tone.”  Reeves’ instincts were to take the song to a more urgent, forceful place, and her final vocal was informed by an undercurrent of anger when she found that her original recording wasn’t captured on tape.  Yet such is the stuff that legends are made of.

“Calling out around the world, are you ready for a brand new beat?  Summer’s here and the time is right for dancing in the street!”  Thunderous drums and iconic, exultant horns set the stage for Reeves’ performance of a lyric that’s direct as can be, yet imbued with a subtext that may or may not have been known to its authors.  The song could have been just another party-time ode – “All we need is music/Sweet music/There’ll be music everywhere/There’ll be swingin’, swayin’, and records playin’, dancing in the street!” et cetera.  But – much as Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff’s “Love Train” would years later – “Dancing in the Street” played up its universality.  This dance craze wasn’t just limited to Detroit.  Philadelphia, New York, New Orleans – all were name-checked in the song.  “It doesn’t matter what you wear, just as long as you are there/So come on, every guy grab a girl, everywhere around the world/There’ll be dancin’ in the street!”  At a time when divisiveness at the forefront of the news, Reeves was extending an invitation to all, no strings attached, and with a casual air: “It’s just an invitation across the nation/A chance for folks to meet.”  It’s “just” an invitation – black/white, male/female, young/old – such was the ethos at Motown, being shared by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in a peaceful, exuberant way on the world’s stage.  A Top 10 hit on both the Pop and R&B surveys, “Dancing in the Street” was a message of empowerment being delivered by a young African-American woman (and future Detroit councilwoman) as a message of pride and joy to all in just 2-1/2 minutes, contained on a little slab of black vinyl.

Of course, that’s just one of the songs here.  Hit the jump to dig deep into many more!

The Vandellas’ Singles Collection, like its companion volume for The Four Tops and previous volumes for The Temptations and Diana Ross and the Supremes, is a mini-history of Motown in Detroit, from the company’s early days to the cusp of the crucial move to Los Angeles.  The immediacy and grit in Martha Reeves’ voice – deployed to such mighty effect on “Dancing in the Street” – was at the forefront of the group’s very first single as Martha and the Vandellas, 1962’s very girl group-esque “I’ll Have to Let Him Go” (the first track on the first CD here).  (This doo-wop-goes-Latin number was spiffed up for a 1966 LP with a new vocal, new arrangement and handclaps.)  It didn’t take the Vandellas long to grow from that embryonic sound to something more recognizable and altogether more distinct.  The third track on the first disc here, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland’s “Come and Get These Memories,” was the track that Berry Gordy felt crystallized the Motown sound, as recalled by Dozier in the notes here.  But even the sassy blend of “gospel music, pop, country and western and jazz” was eclipsed by another H-D-H production.  “Heat Wave,” from 1963, pointed in the sizzling direction of “Dancing in the Streets.”  It was positively lustful: “Whenever I’m with him, something inside starts to burning/And I’m filled with desire/Could it be a devil in me or is this the way love’s supposed to be?  It’s like a heat wave, burning in my heart…”  Reeves and Vandellas Rosalind Ashford and Annette Beard were young, in love, and unafraid to tell about it.  And Mike Terry’s familiar, honking baritone sax seemed to be expressing the same sentiments musically as Reeves was lyrically.   The sexy “Heat Wave” established their spot at Motown’s top girl group, toppling the primacy of The Marvelettes…until H-D-H set their sights on another group called The Supremes.

For a while, The Vandellas’ streak was indeed a hot one.  The hits kept on comin’: “Quicksand” (a sound-alike follow-up to “Heat Wave,” but one with enough originality to stand on its own), “Nowhere to Run” (another exciting track sung to the hilt by Reeves and the girls – with more than a hint of danger as the singer admitted, “I know you’re no good for me…”), and “My Baby Loves Me” (a subtle, sophisticated song later recorded by Barry Manilow, among others) among them.  The group even withstood the departure of Beard in June 1964.  She was replaced by Betty Kelley of the Velvelettes, who remained a Vandella for over three years.

The Vandellas’ singles output wasn’t quite prolific, though.  Only two singles (four sides) were issued in 1965 and three (six sides) in 1966, including the Top 10 H-D-H hit “I’m Ready for Love.”  Signifying the embarrassment of riches being crafted at Motown as well as – in Reeves’ opinion, one shared by many others – the emphasis being placed on Miss Diana Ross and the Supremes, one smash hit single sat collecting dust for three years.  H-D-H’s catchy “Jimmy Mack” was recorded in 1964 but not released until 1967, as the group’s first single of the year.  As Stevenson, Hunter and Gaye had on “Dancing,” “Jimmy Mack” worked on two levels.  The song, sung by a woman torn between her absent boyfriend (“Jimmy Mack, when are you coming back?”) and a new pursuer (“But this boy keeps comin’ around/Tryin’ to wear my resistance down”), took on added resonance for Americans serving overseas in Vietnam and their girlfriends back home.  Named after H-D-H’s late friend Ronnie Mack, the songwriter of “He’s So Fine,” the poignant and yearning “Jimmy Mack” would be Martha and the Vandellas’ final Top 10 single.

Though the hits dried up in the latter portion of the 1960s, it wasn’t due to a lack of quality material, as Disc Two in the new set (1967-1972) reveals.  There were also more personnel shifts; in 1967, Martha’s sister Lois Reeves replaced an unhappy Betty Kelley, and the following year, Rosalind Ashford departed to be replaced by another ex-Velvelette, Sandra Tilley.  “Honey Chile,” which just missed the Pop Top 10, is still a fan favorite today.  The B-side of “Love Bug, Leave My Heart Alone,” “One Way Out,” was a recycled album track, but with its patented H-D-H stomp, it should have been the A-side.

There’s a funky, raw sound on 1967’s “I Promise to Wait My Love,” produced by Henry Cosby and Billie Jean Brown.  Its flipside, writer-producers Richard Morris and Sylvia Moy’s “Forget Me Not,” had a more traditional Motown sound, but explicitly referenced the Vietnam War, hitting close to home for Reeves.  Her brother, Melvin, never returned home from the war.  The times at Motown, and in the country, were a-changin’.  Various producers were tasked with delivering hits to the Vandellas; among them was Deke Richards, who supplied “I Can’t Dance to That Music You’re Playin’.”  Only one problem existed: it wasn’t Martha Reeves singing on the song!  Instead, Syreeta Wright took the lead on the song’s chorus, supported by Motown’s omnipresent Andantes on background vocals.  For the first time, the song’s evolution can be traced; two previously unreleased versions are added in the bonus section on the box set’s third disc of never-before-heard material, including the version with Martha Reeves’ vocals.

Par for the course with Motown, many tracks had long gestation periods.  “I’m in Love (And I Know It)” was released in 1969 as the flipside of “(We’ve Got) Honey Love,” but it began life in 1966.  “Heartless,” the flip of the group’s very next single in ’69, also dated back to ’66.  Even psychedelic soul trailblazer Norman Whitfield dipped back into the vaults with Reeves; his 1970 Vandellas single, “I Gotta Let You Go,” originated in 1964!  Listening to these, it’s easy to think that Martha and the Vandellas were trapped in a Motor City time warp.  Other songs, though, were not only current, but pushed the envelope even beyond “Forget Me Not.”    The February 1970 single “I Should Be Proud” was so controversial that Reeves believes radio was pressured not to play the Henry Cosby/Pam Sawyer/Joe Hinton song about one Private John C. Miller, shot down in Vietnam.  The singer was at her best, though, confessing from his widow’s POV that “I don’t want no silver star/Just the good man they took from me…My Johnny didn’t have to die for me/He’s a victim of the evils of society.”  The red-hot collective The Corporation also did its best to update Martha in a subtle fashion with 1971’s “Bless You” (a virtual Holland-Dozier-Holland tribute with its hints of The Supremes’ “My World is Empty Without You”) and 1972’s “I Want You Back,” a reworking of their own Jackson 5 smash.  With “Bless You,” the Vandellas were rewarded with their final Hot 100 hit.

The Motown singles ended with 1972’s “Tear It On Down” b/w “I Want You Back,” and Martha and her Vandellas played a farewell concert in Detroit on December 21 of that year.  Reeves went on to pursue solo stardom and eventually a career in politics; she also occasionally participated in reunions with various group members.  But the Vandellas’ story wasn’t over in 1972.  Various unreleased tracks have trickled out over the years.  2005’s 2-CD Spellbound: Motown Lost and Found offered up two full discs of lost material, and the Lost and Found series continues on the third disc of this box set.

Disc 3, or Sweeter Than Ever: Motown Lost and Found, amazingly proffers 27 more unreleased tracks.  (And this still isn’t everything; yet another unreleased song from the group recently surfaced on Ace’s Finders Keepers: Motown Girls compilation!)  As this disc is sequenced chronologically, it plays like an alternate history of the group with contributions from such key Motown figures as Clarence Paul, Mickey Stevenson, Stevie Wonder, Ivy Jo Hunter, Deke Richards and Ashford and Simpson.  Some choice renditions of familiar songs appear, too, drawn from standards (“I Remember You”), pop (“Memories Are Made of This,” the Sly Stone-penned “C’mon and Swim,” an urgent version of Roy Hamilton hit “You Can Have Her” as “You Can Have Him”), rock (a big, horns-and-strings-enhanced “Light My Fire”) and, naturally, Motown (a tasty “Loving You is Sweeter Than Ever”).

There are quite a few songs that should have made it past Motown’s Quality Control such as Stevenson’s sassy “Better Think It Over” and Berry Gordy’s “Hard to Walk Away” (both 1962); the latter could also have scored for Mary Wells in her coquettish mode.  Of the later recordings, Raynard Miner and Janie Bradford’s “We Will” is deliciously energetic, and Pam Sawyer’s funky “I’ve Got Nothing Left to Cling To” had hit potential.  “I Can’t Wait Till Summer Comes,” co-written by Gladys Knight, sounds like a Supremes song, which isn’t unintentional.  It was originally assigned to the post-Diana Ross group.  Ashford and Simpson’s “Hooked Good on a Bad Thing” and The Corporation’s “He’s Good” are also impressive, with the latter boasting a seductive, “My Baby Loves Me”-esque vibe.

This well-designed, hardbound book-style box set produced by Harry Weinger and George Solomon features Bill Dahl and Keith Hughes’ extensive track-by-track notes adapted and updated from those written for the Complete Motown Singles series, with additional editorial content from Weinger and Solomon.  These copious annotations are only missing for the recently-unearthed songs on Disc 3 (though recording information is indeed present for all of those tracks).  Seth Foster is responsible for the fine remastering of all tracks.  The box’s design makes it a perfect companion on the shelf to the indispensable volumes of the Complete Motown Singles series, and the unreleased tracks make it the most invaluable of the 50th Anniversary singles sets.  Reviewing its three CDs and ten years of Martha and the Vandellas, one thing is clear: you’ll want to come and get these memories.

You can order Martha & The Vandellas’  50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection here!

And don’t miss Part 1 of our 50th Anniversary Singles Collection review for Mike’s look at The Four Tops’ set!

Happy Friday! We’ve got a special double dose of Detroit for you today: reviews of two of Motown Select’s latest releases – singles box sets devoted to The Four Tops and Martha & The Vandellas, respectively. First, Mike can’t help himself when it comes to the Tops…

Is it right to call one of Motown’s most beloved vocal groups – with over a dozen Top 20 hits and production credits from three of the greatest names not only on the Detroit label, but in all of pop-soul music – underrated?

For reasons I’ve never been able to identify, The Four Tops seem like they’re always gunning for the second tier of male-led vocal groups in the Motown legacy, far behind the gritty diversity of The Temptations and the angelic beauty of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. A dive into Motown Select’s brand-new package honoring the Tops – 50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection 1964-1972 (Motown Select/UMe, catalogue no. TBD) makes it hard to understand how you can undervalue a group like this.

The Four Tops are perhaps most noteworthy for their consistency, both in terms of musical prowess and band aesthetics; Levi Stubbs, Duke Fakir, Obie Benson and Lawrence Payton were the classic lineup that remained unchanged until Payton’s passing in the 1990s. (Today, only Fakir is still alive, and is still active with the group.) Any tension the band felt had less to do with internal affairs and more to conflicts with their label, leading them away from Motown for a spell in the 1970s. There’s plenty of musical consistency on this triple-disc set, thanks largely in part to the production and songwriting efforts of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland. From “Baby I Need Your Loving” and “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” to the impressive Top 5 run of “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” “Standing in the Shadows of Love” and “Bernadette,” there’s something like two dozen H-D-H compositions to enjoy here.

And there are surprises for those who know those songs like the back of their hand, from the extra mixes of “I Can’t Help Myself” and “It’s the Same Old Song” to much of the material on the second and third discs of the set. You might have heard “Walk Away Renee,” “It’s All in the Game” or “Still Water (Love),” but these last two discs let fans really dive into the Tops in their post-H-D-H career. (Key finds: the Tops’ collaborations with The Supremes, including rousing takes on “River Deep-Mountain High” and “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand),” or rousing deep cuts like “Just Seven Numbers (Can Straighten Out My Life)” and “A Simple Game.”) The three Italian versions of key Tops hits that close the package are a trip, too.

If you’re leery of buying another Tops compilation, 50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection 1964-1972 may be the one to get, not only for its comprehension but its look. The 7″ x 7″ package is stuffed with track-by-track liner notes (adapted from The Complete Motown Singles series) as well as beautiful scans of rare photos and picture sleeves from all over the world – a definite reward for the eyes as well as the ears (which will love the mono mixes in action here).

I don’t know if you’ve ever thought or felt that The Four Tops were second bananas during the golden years of Motown. But with this set, it’s definitely not the same old song.

You can order The Four Tops’ 50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection here!

Click here for Part 2 of our 50th Anniversary Singles Collection review for Joe’s look at Martha & The Vandellas’ set!

Jones Country/You’ve Still Got a Place in My Heart rewinds The Possum’s story from Morello’s last two-fer, which joined Bartender’s Blues, from 1978 with 1983’s Shine On.  Jones Country arrived mere months after Shine On, in October 1983, while You’ve Still Got a Place in My Heart followed in May 1984.  Both of these Epic albums, like Shine On and so many before it, were produced by Billy Sherrill and recorded in Nashville.  Jones Country took its name from an outdoor music park owned by Jones in his home state of Texas; Jones and wife Nancy operated the park for a six-year period, through 1988.  Despite the tie-in, Epic released no singles from Jones Country, though it managed a respectable No. 27 Country placement nonetheless.  Jones remained fond of the material on the LP; “Radio Lover” and “Burning Bridges” would reappear on his 1989 album One Woman Man, and “You Must Have Walked Across My Mind Again” was re-recorded for 1992’s Walls Can Fall.  The album featured plenty of quality material.  “Hello, Trouble” had been a hit for Buck Owens, and John Anderson charted with his own “The Girl at the End of the Bar.”  Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter’s “Dream On” had been successfully recorded by both The Righteous Brothers and The Oak Ridge Boys prior to Jones’ rendition.

You’ve Still Got a Place in My Heart fared better than its predecessors on the country chart, hitting No. 17.  It features a bona fide Jones classic in the title track, written and first recorded by Leon Payne.  A No. 14 country hit for Con Hunley in 1978, Jones’ version went all the way to No. 3 Country.  Kris Kristofferson’s “Come Sundown” was another highlight, and Jones also recorded his own “I’m Ragged But I’m Right,” written in 1956.  But Jones’ music was always timeless.  The original album liner notes called him “The Master of the Sad Song,” but in truth, Jones was the Master of the Song.  The title to You’ve Still Got a Place in My Heart still rings true.

Jones’ two-for-one CD is available now.  After the jump, we have the scoop on Morello’s two releases from Marty Robbins!

Morello’s last Marty Robbins two-fer focused on two sixties pop-oriented efforts from the “El Paso” and “Story of My Life” man, 1962’s Marty After Midnight and 1970’s My Woman, My Woman, My Wife.  The latest two Robbins offerings jump ahead to the seventies and eighties. El Paso City (1976) and Adios Amigo (1977); and The Legend (1981) and Come Back to Me (1982).

El Paso City returned Robbins to the top reaches of the Country Albums chart, actually becoming his first Country No. 1 LP.  It also returned the singer to familiar territory with its title track, and solidified his place once again at Columbia Records.  The C&W crooner had left Columbia for a three-year sojourn at MCA, a tenure which left him creatively and commercially unfulfilled.  When Robbins wrote “El Paso City” as a sequel to his most famous hit, he was filled with inspiration.  Like the album, the single of “El Paso City” hit pole position on the country singles chart.  So did “All My Souvenirs” from the LP.  El Paso City has been paired by Morello with its follow-up, Adios Amigo.  Robbins scored two more Top 10 hits with Adios via Bobby Vinton’s title song and the 1931 standard “I Don’t Know Why (I Just Do).”  This eclectic set also featured Robbins’ take on another classic, “My Blue Heaven,” his version of Bobby Darin’s “18 Yellow Roses,” and Mike Nesmith and Lynn Hargrove’s “I’ve Never Loved Anyone More.”  Billy Sherrill produced both albums in Nashville, with Robbins also contributing production to Adios.

Morello jumps over a few albums and lands in 1981 for The Legend, pairing it with Come Back to Me from 1982.  The Legend, produced by Robbins and Eddy Fox, was another eclectic blend of country, pop and rock-and-roll.  He contributed a number of his own songs in addition to tackling Albert Hammond and Mike Hazelwood’s Hollies hit “The Air That I Breathe,” Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson’s “Good Hearted Woman,” Vaughn Horton’s “Teardrops in My Heart” (best known in the recording by the Sons of the Pioneers from 1947) and Bob (Funny Girl, Carnival) Merrill’s “Honeycomb,” a No. 1 hit for Jimmie Rodgers in 1957.  What makes a legend, or The Legend, most?  For Robbins, it was the ability to record in all genres with ease.

Come Back to Me would prove to be Marty Robbins’ final release before his death in December 1982.  Produced in Nashville by Bob Montgomery, it was largely a mellow, romantic affair.  The title of the album derived from the album’s own Robbins original, “Lover, Lover.”  “Lover” was surrounded by the Top 10 Country single “Some Memories Just Won’t Die” on a pure country set also featuring tracks like Jerry Fuller’s “That’s All She Wrote” and Bob McDill’s ”The American Dream.”

All three of the Morello releases have been remastered by Alan Wilson and include brief liner notes from Michael Heatley.  (Alas, discographical information is absent.)  These rare classics from George Jones and Marty Robbins are available for order below.

George Jones, Jones Country/You’ve Still Got a Place in My Heart (Morello MRLL 13, 2013) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

1. Radio Lover
2. Dream On
3. Hello Trouble
4. Burning Bridges
5. Wino the Clown
6. You Must Have Walked Across My Mind Again
7. I’d Rather Die Young (Than Grow Old Without You)
8. The Girl at the End of the Bar
9. One of These Days (But Not Tonight)
10. Famous Last Words
11. You’ve Still Got a Place in My Heart
12. From Strangers to Lovers to Friends
13. The Second Time Around
14. Come Sundown
15. Even the Bad Times Are Good
16. I’m Ragged But I’m Right
17. Courtin’ in the Rain
18. Loveshine
19. Your Lying Blue Eyes
20. Learning to Do Without Me

Tracks 1-10 from Jones Country, Epic FE 38978, 1983
Tracks 11-20 from You’ve Still Got a Place in My Heart, Epic FE 39002, 1984

Marty Robbins, El Paso City/Adios Amigo (Morello MRLL 11, 2013) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

1. El Paso City
2. Ava Maria Morales
3. I’m Gonna Miss You When You Go
4. Kin to the Wind
5. Way Out There
6. The Ballad of Bill Thaxton
7. Trail Dreamin’
8. I Did What I Did For Maria
9. She’s Just a Drifter
10. Among My Souvenirs
11. Adios Amigo
12. 18 Yellow Roses
13. Falling Out of Love
14. I’ve Never Loved Anyone More
15. Helen
16. I Don’t Know Why (I Just Do)
17. My Happiness
18. My Blue Heaven
19. Inspiration for a Song
20. After the Storm

Tracks 1-10 from El Paso City, Columbia KC 34303, 1976
Tracks 11-20 from Adios Amigo, Columbia KC 34448, 1977

Marty Robbins, The Legend/Come Back to Me (Morello MRLL 12, 2013) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

1. Jumper Cable Man
2. Lady, I Love You
3. It’s Not Too Hard
4. Good Hearted Woman
5. The Air That I Breathe
6. My All Time High
7. Honeycomb
8. Simple Little Love Song
9. I’m Here to Get My Baby Out of Jail
10. Teardrops in My Heart
11. Some Memories Just Won’t Die
12. It’s Not All Over
13. The American Dream
14. Here Your Memory Comes Again
15. The First Song That Wasn’t The Blues
16. Prayin’ for Rain
17. That’s All She Wrote
18. Tie Your Dreams to Mine
19. If Her Blue Eyes Don’t Get You
20. Lover, Lover

Tracks 1-10 from The Legend, Columbia FC 37541, 1981
Tracks 11-20 from Come Back to Me, Columbia FC 37995, 1982

The Tabu catalogue isn’t the only major acquisition of late for the Demon Music Group.  Back in March, Demon – home to labels including Edsel, Harmless and Music Club Deluxe – announced that a deal had been struck for much of the solo catalogue of onetime Go-Go Belinda Carlisle.  Ooh, baby, do you know what that’s worth?  Demon picked up rights to four of Carlisle’s studio albums, the rights to which had previously resided with Virgin (part of the former EMI).  Demon’s agreement covers the world, except for the U.S. and Canada, and includes physical and digital catalogue rights as well as third party and neighboring rights.  On August 26, the label will reissue Heaven on Earth (1987), Runaway Horses (1989), Live Your Life Be Free (1991) and Real (1993) in deluxe, hardbound 2-CD/1-DVD editions.

The California-born Carlisle rose to fame as the lead singer of the iconic New Wave girl group The Go-Go’s, whose 1981 debut Beauty and the Beat, on the IRS label, spent six weeks atop the Billboard 200.  The album was produced by Richard Gotteher who knew a thing or two about girl groups, having written The Angels’ immortal 1963 hit “My Boyfriend’s Back.”  The Go-Go’s retained the sass but updated the sound of the classic sixties girl groups, and further distinguished themselves by writing and performing all of the music on Beauty and the Beat including the smash single “We Got the Beat.”

Two more albums followed, but not long after 1984’s Talk Show, the Go-Go’s called it a day, torn apart by personal turmoil and tension between bandmates.  When The Go-Go’s disbanded in the spring of 1985, Carlisle seized the opportunity to go solo, scoring a No. 3 U.S. hit with “Mad About You,” again on the IRS label.  Carlisle turned to a number of talented collaborators to select the material for her first solo effort, simply titled Belinda.  Some songs were written by Charlotte Caffey of the Go-Go’s, and Susanna Hoffs of another groundbreaking group of eighties girls, The Bangles, co-wrote “I Need a Disguise.”  Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham was one of the writers behind “Since You’ve Gone,” and Carlisle herself shared writing credits on “Gotta Get to You.”  Covers of Split Enz (“Stuff and Nonsense”) and Freda Payne (“Band of Gold”) rounded out the album which peaked at No. 13 in the United States.

After the jump: Belinda jumps to Virgin for the four albums that will see expanded reissue this August!

1987 was Heaven on Earth for Belinda Carlisle when the album of that name – also a No. 13 U.S. chart hit – yielded the international chart-topping song that’s still the artist’s signature: “Heaven is a Place on Earth.”  The bubbly, effervescent power pop nugget written by Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley was joined on the LP by songs from Diane Warren (U.S. No. 2 hit “I Get Weak”), Jack Bruce (a cover of “I Feel Free” that sounds incongruous on paper) and the returning Charlotte Caffey.  Another Nowels and Shipley song, “Circle in the Sand,” provided Carlisle with a No. 7 U.S./No. 4 U.K. pop success.  Released in the U.S. on MCA and in the U.K. via Virgin, Heaven on Earth was the first of Carlisle’s four essential Virgin albums that are covered by the new Demon agreement.

1989’s Runaway Horses was the belated follow-up, an album graced by the presence of not just Canadian rocker Bryan Adams, but bona fide legend and Carlisle fan George Harrison.  It was rewarded with a Top 5 placement in the U.K. but without a hit single success domestically, the album didn’t score in America.  Nowels and Shipley’s “Leave a Light On,” with its indelible Harrison slide guitar solo, peaked at No. 11, and the second single “Summer Rain” from the team of Robbie Seidman and Maria Vidal got no higher than No. 30.  A Go-Go’s reunion in 1990 was a well-received diversion for Carlisle, and was a predecessor to 1991’s Live Your Life Be Free, a return to the sixties-inspired sound from both the Go-Go’s and her IRS album.  Though it didn’t chart in the U.S., Live Your Life earned Carlisle her final U.S. hit single to date (Nowels and Shipley’s “Do You Feel Like I Feel”) and hit the Top 10 overseas.

The Best of Belinda Volume One was issued to tremendous European success in 1992, and renamed Her Greatest Hits stateside.  The next year, Carlisle issued her final Virgin LP.  Real again was met with great success in Europe.  It was her fifth consecutive album to go Top 10 in the U.K., and preceded another Go-Go’s go-round.  Carlisle soon moved to Europe and in the years since, she has performed as she has seen fit, in addition to raising a family.  Carlisle recorded for the Chrysalis and Rykodisc labels, reunited several more times with the Go-Go’s, starred in the West End production of Hairspray and on television in Dancing with the Stars, and in 2010, wrote an acclaimed, frank memoir that relived those heady Los Angeles days of her early fame.  She even added one new song to the 2013 compilation Icon.  The well-received “Sun” was her first recording to hit U.S. stores in 15 years.

“We are proud to have secured this deal,” said Demon Music Group’s commercial director Adrian Sear of the Carlisle catalogue acquisition. “It will add to our strong artist roster.”  Indeed, Demon’s upcoming reissues hope to make heaven a place on earth once again.  Watch this space for the tracklistings to the new 2-CD/1-DVD reissues as soon as they are confirmed!

Playlist

Playlist: The Very Best of Diana Ross kicks off with three seminal tracks from Miss Ross’ late period at Motown: “Love Hangover” from her second eponymous album in 1976, and “Upside Down” and “I’m Coming Out” from 1980’s CHIC-helmed smash diana.  (Don’t miss a loving and truly comprehensive tribute to diana from one of our favorite scribes, Christian John Wikane, over at Popmatters.)  Following that Motor City appetizer, the set kicks into high gear with eleven tracks from the legendary singer’s oft-overlooked tenure at RCA, released between 1981 and 1985.  Highlights such as “Chain Reaction” and “Eaten Alive” are derived from the Barry Gibb production Eaten Alive, with the latter track providing a reunion between Ross and Michael Jackson.  Four songs have been taken from 1981’s Why Do Fools Fall in Love, including Ross’ solo version of “Endless Love.”  Silk Electric, Ross and Swept Away are also represented, with every track in pristinely remastered sound from Mark Wilder.  The No. 2 AC hit “All of You” with Julio Iglesias is among the Swept Away tracks you’ll find in this tasty survey of Ross at RCA.

The late Donna Summer gets feted with Playlist: The Very Best of Donna Summer.  Unlike most entries in Legacy’s series, this Playlist volume isn’t derived from the superstar diva’s original recordings but rather from a concert performance.  Summer’s blazing 1999 show at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom was previously captured on disc as VH1 Presents Donna Summer Live and More Encore, but Playlist premieres four previously unissued tracks from that concert (“Is There Music There,” “Riding Through the Storm,” “Don’t Wanna Work” and “Nobody”).  It adds up to a live summary of the legendary vocalist’s hit-filled career, with “MacArthur Park,” “On the Radio,” “No More Tears (Enough is Enough)” (with Tina Arena filling in for Barbra Streisand), “She Works Hard for the Money,” “Bad Girls,” “Hot Stuff” and the inevitable “Last Dance” all making appearances.  Vlado Mellor has remastered at Sony Studios New York.  Those who already own Live and More will likely wish to grab this for the four newly-released songs and the remastered sound, but both discs are essential for the full program.  “My Life,” “Love is the Healer” and “I Will Go with You (Con te partirò)” are absent from the new Playlist.  The latter two songs were studio recordings added to the Live and More CD; Grammy nominee “I Will Go with You” was a No. 79 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and fared even better in the U.K., with a No. 44 chart berth.  In addition, both of the studio tracks reached the top spot on the U.S. dance chart.

Though he’d been charting hits in the U.K. for nearly a decade prior, the Trinidad-born singer made his first major splash on the U.S. Hot 100 when “Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)” shot to No. 1, the same berth it occupied on the R&B chart.  The song began a hot streak for Ocean, the results of which are captured on Playlist: The Very Best of Billy Ocean.    The non-chronologically-sequenced 14-track set kicks off with “Caribbean Queen,” and also finds room for “When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going” (No. 2 Pop/No. 6 R&B), “Loverboy” (No. 2 Pop/No. 20 R&B), “Suddenly” (No. 4 Pop/No. 5 R&B) and “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car” (No. 1 Pop/No. 1 R&B).  In all, six albums are represented, and every track has been remastered by Tom Ruff.

After the jump: details on Jeff Buckley, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Chet Atkins, Iggy Pop and the rest – plus full track listings with discography and order links for each and every title!

Though Jeff Buckley tragically followed in the footsteps of his folk hero father Tim Buckley in perishing at a far too young age, his small body of work has never ceased resonating to new audiences.  Playlist: The Very Best of Jeff Buckley features twelve tracks, six of which hail from Grace, his sole finished album at the time of his death.  Yet these songs are presented in various versions that have been released over the years; Buckley’s towering rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallejulah,” for one, is heard in an alternate take previously only available as a digital single.  It makes its CD debut here, and “Lover, You Should Have Come Over” is presented in an acoustic version previously unreleased in the U.S.  (It appeared on a U.K. CD single).  Buckley’s best-loved songs are here, including “Last Goodbye,” as are a choice sampling of his singular cover versions.  Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released” and Van Morrison’s “The Way Young Lovers Do,” both from Live at Sin-e, take their place in the Buckley canon alongside “Hallejulah.”    Vic Anesini has remastered, and Alan Light – author of the acclaimed The Holy or the Broken: Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley and the Unlikely Ascent of ‘Hallejulah’ – sums up the young troubadour’s career in his new liner notes.

It’s no exaggeration to say that Chet Atkins helped shape the sound of country music itself.  At RCA Victor between 1947 and 1982, as a performer, producer and executive, he was a key player in the creation of the “Nashville Sound” which made country palatable to crossover audiences.  Indeed, though the style has changed, the pop influence on the country genre certainly hasn’t, and fans of Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Blake Shelton and Carrie Underwood all owe something to Chet Atkins.  His work as one of Nashville’s most pioneering and virtuosic guitarists, though, is the focus of Playlist: The Very Best of Chet Atkins.  Atkins (1924-2001) notched a number of hit singles while at RCA, many of which are included on the new compilation.  In addition to “Mister Sandman” and reinventions of Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer” (best known in Marvin Hamlisch’s adaptation), Paul Desmond’s “Take Five” and John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s “Yesterday,” Playlist also showcases highlights from his Columbia years such as “Poor Boy Blues” with Mark Knopfler and a guitar reading of Don McLean’s “Vincent.”  Chester and Lester, Atkins’ first collaborative album with fellow legend Les Paul, is also represented.  Vic Anesini has handled the remastering.

Also hailing from Nashville is Playlist: The Very Best of Mindy McCready.  This 12-track title is a repackaging of 2003′s Platinum and Gold Collection, with highlights from the late country chanteuse’s three BNA Records albums released between 1996 and 1999. and one track from 1997′s Country Cares for Kids: A Holiday Album.  Kentucky native and Grand Ole Opry member Patty Loveless, acclaimed for her blend of country-rock and traditional honky-tonk, gets a deeper look with Playlist: The Very Best of Patty Loveless.  This entry primarily concentrates on Loveless’ Epic years, with every track dating between 1993 and 2005.  Travis Tritt, Dwight Yoakam and The Chieftains all make appearances.  Restless Heart signed to RCA in 1984, notching success on both the Country and Adult Contemporary charts.  Playlist: The Very Best of Restless Heart includes a sampling of the band’s RCA work from 1986-1992 as well as two brand new tracks, “Memphis Rain” and “Home.”

Southside Johnny Lyon and his Asbury Jukes have been bringing the sound of the Jersey shore to international audiences since 1976’s Epic debut I Don’t Want to Go Home.  Produced by Steven Van Zandt and bearing the name of his title track, the album set the template of soulful rock-and-roll to which the band still adheres today.  Playlist: The Very Best of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, with new track-by-track notes by Johnny himself, chronicles his tenure at Epic Records (10 tracks) along with three songs licensed from Universal and a recent live performance.  Six songs were written or co-written by Bruce Springsteen and brought to life by The Jukes (“The Fever,” “I Don’t Want to Go Home,”  “Love on the Wrong Side of Town,” “Trapped Again,” “Talk to Me” and “Hearts of Stone”) and a full eleven songs were produced by Van Zandt, a.k.a. Miami Steve and later, Little Steven.  Southside Johnny’s Jukes still throw quite a party onstage today, and Playlist is a reminder of their real “glory days.”  These tracks have been remastered from the original master tapes for the very first time.

Iggy Pop’s latest album with The Stooges, released just weeks ago, is entitled Ready to Die.  But thankfully that doesn’t seem to be the case with the restless rocker.  Playlist: The Very Best of Iggy Pop doesn’t reach as far back as the first two Stooges albums but begins its story of the man born James Newell Osterberg, Jr. with 1973’s Raw Power.  (That would have been a fitting moniker for any of the Stooges’ primal and powerful proto-punk explosions.)  It then ticks off many of the boxes in a career filled with outrageous highs – in every sense of the word – including songs from Iggy’s stints at Columbia, RCA, Arista and Virgin.  All told, Playlist covers the period between 1973 and 1980, and as such, contains a sampling of his landmark collaborations with David Bowie on Raw Power, The Idiot and Lust for Life alongside other strong solo efforts.  Its fourteen tracks of wild, biting, aggressive, energetic and utterly influential rock have been remastered by Vic Anesini.

Playlist: The Very Best of Warrant are drawn solely from the Hollywood hard rockers’ first three albums for Columbia Records: Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich (1989, No. 10 on the Billboard 200), Cherry Pie (1990, No. 7), and Dog Eat Dog (1992, No. 25).  San Diego’s Switchfoot also had a successful tenure at Columbia reflected on Playlist: The Very Best of Switchfoot.  Its 14 tracks come from an eclectic group of three albums, one EP, one digital EP (Walmart Soundcheck) and one single.

On the other end of spectrum is Playlist: The Very Best of Tito Puente and His Orchestra.  The New York-born legend of Latin music and true-life mambo king made his first big splash as a leader at the RCA Victor label.  The 14-track volume draws on those classic RCA platters released between 1949 and 1957 when Puente helped introduce authentic Latin, Afro-Cuban and Caribbean sounds into the popular music vernacular.  Three tracks hail from 1956′s Dance Mania and two more from the same year’s Cuban Carnival, with the remaining tracks derived from singles and other LPs for the RCA label.

All Playlist titles are available in stores today and can be ordered at the links below!

Billy Ocean, Playlist: The Very Best of Billy Ocean (Jive/Legacy 88883 71916 2, 2013)

1. Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)
2. Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car
3. When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going
4. There’ll Be Sad Songs (to Make You Cry)
5. Loverboy
6. Suddenly
7. Love Really Hurts Without You
8. Love is Forever
9. Love Zone
10. The Color of Love
11. Mystery Lady
12. Tear Down These Walls
13. Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)
14. I Sleep Much Better (in Someone Else’s Bed)

Tracks 1, 5-6 and 11 from Suddenly (Jive, 1984)
Tracks 2, 10 and 12 from Tear Down These Walls (Jive, 1988)
Tracks 3-4 and 8-9 fro Love Zone (Jive, 1986)
Track 7 from Billy Ocean (GTO, 1976)
Track 13 from Nights (Feel Like Getting Down) (Epic, 1982)
Track 14 from Greatest Hits (Jive, 1989)

Mindy McCready, Playlist: The Very Best of Mindy McCready (originally released as The Platinum & Gold Collection (RCA Nashville 82876 54210 2, 2003) - reissued RCA Nashville/Legacy 88883 71896 2, 2013)

1. Guys Do It All the Time
2. A Girl’s Gotta Do (What a Girl’s Gotta Do)
3. Ten Thousand Angels
4. Maybe He’ll Notice Her Now (feat. Richie McDonald)
5. You’ll Never Know
6. All I Want is Everything
7. Let’s Talk About Love
8. If I Don’t Stay the Night
9. For a Good Time Call
10. This is Me
11. Tumble and Roll
12. It Ain’t a Party

Tracks 1-4 and 12 from Ten Thousand Angels (BNA, 1996)
Tracks 5 and 8-10 from If I Don’t Stay the Night (BNA, 1998)
Tracks 6 and 11 from I’m Not So Tough (BNA, 1999)
Track 7 from Country Cares for Kids: A Holiday Album (BNA, 1997)

Diana Ross, Playlist: The Very Best of Diana Ross (RCA/Legacy 88883 71891 2, 2013)

1. Love Hangover
2. Upside Down
3. I’m Coming Out
4. Endless Love
5. Why Do Fools Fall in Love
6. Mirror, Mirror
7. Work That Body
8. Muscles
9. Pieces of Ice
10. All of You (with Julio Iglesias)
11. Swept Away
12. Missing You
13. Chain Reaction
14. Eaten Alive

Track 1 from Diana Ross (Motown, 1976)
Tracks 2-3 from diana (Motown, 1980)
Tracks 4-7 from Why Do Fools Fall in Love (RCA, 1981)
Track 8 from Silk Electric (RCA, 1982)
Track 9 from Ross (RCA, 1983)
Track 10 from 1100 Bel Air Place (Columbia, 1984)/Swept Away (RCA, 1984)
Tracks 11-12 from Swept Away (RCA, 1984)
Tracks 13-14 from Eaten Alive (RCA, 1985)

Donna Summer, Playlist: The Very Best of Donna Summer (Epic/Legacy 88883 71084 2, 2013)

1. MacArthur Park
2. This Time I Know It’s for Real
3. I Feel Love
4. On the Radio
5. No More Tears (Enough is Enough) (Duet with Tina Arena)
6. If There is Music There *
7. Riding Through the Storm *
8. Don’t Wanna Work *
9. Nobody *
10. Dim All the Lights
11. She Works Hard for the Money
12. Bad Girls
13. Hot Stuff
14. Last Dance

All tracks recorded live at the Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City – 2/28/1999
Tracks 1-5 and 10-14 released on VH-1 Presents Donna Summer Live and More Encore (Epic, 1999). All other tracks previously unreleased.

Jeff Buckley, Playlist: The Very Best of Jeff Buckley (Columbia/Legacy 88883 71896 2, 2013)

1. Last Goodbye
2. Grace
3. I Shall Be Released (Live @ Sin-é, New York City – August 1993)
4. So Real
5. Everybody Here Wants You
6. I Want Someone Badly (with Shudder to Think)
7. What Will You Say (Live @ Theatre de Fourviere, Lyons, France – 7/4/1995)
8. The Way Young Lovers Do (Live @ Sin-é, New York City – August 1993)
9. Hallelujah (Live at Bearsville)
10. The Sky is a Landfill
11. Lover, You Should Have Come Over (Live Acoustic in Japan)
12. Dream Brother (Live @ Club Logo, Hamburg – 2/22/1995)

Tracks 1-2 and 4 from Grace (Columbia, 1994)
Track 3 from Live At Sin-é: Legacy Edition (Columbia/Legacy, 2003)
Tracks 5 and 10 from Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk (Columbia, 1998)
Track 6 from First Love, Last Rites: Music from the Motion Picture (Epic/Sony Music Soundtrax, 1998)
Tracks 7 and 12 from Mystery White Boy: Live ’95-’96 (Columbia, 2000)
Track 8 from Live At Sin-é (Columbia, 1993)
Track 9 from digital single (Columbia/Legacy, 2007)
Track 11 from ”Last Goodbye” U.K. CD single (Columbia, 1995)

Chet Atkins, Playlist: The Very Best of Chet Atkins (RCA Nashville/Legacy 88883 71869 2, 2013)

1. The World is Waiting for the Sunrise (with Les Paul)
2. Mister Sandman
3. Freight Train
4. Rocky Top
5. Yakety Axe
6. The Entertainer
7. Take Five
8. Walk, Don’t Run
9. One Mint Julep
10. Yesterday
11. Why Worry
12. Poor Boy Blues (with Mark Knopfler)
13. Vincent
14. Ave Maria

Track 1 from Chester & Lester: Expanded Edition (RCA/Legacy, 2007)
Track 2 from RCA Victor single, 1954
Track 3 from Guitar Country (RCA Victor, 1964)
Track 4 from Yestergroovin’ (RCA Victor, 1970)
Track 5 from More of That Guitar Country (RCA Victor, 1965)
Track 6 from Chet Atkins Goes to the Movies (RCA Victor, 1975)
Track 7 from Alone (RCA Victor, 1973)
Track 8 from Hi-Fi in Focus (RCA Victor, 1957)
Track 9 from Chet Atkins’ Teensville (RCA Victor, 1960)
Track 10 from Chet Atkins Picks on The Beatles (RCA Victor, 1966)
Track 11 from Sails (Columbia, 1987)
Track 12 from Neck and Neck (Columbia, 1990)
Track 13 from Read My Licks (Columbia, 1994)
Track 14 from Almost Alone (Columbia, 1996)

Patty Loveless, Playlist: The Very Best of Patty Loveless (Epic Nashville/Legacy 88883 71867 2, 2013)

1. Blame It on Your Heart
2. Nothin’ But the Wheel
3. I Try to Think About Elvis
4. You Can Feel Bad
5. Lonely Too Long
6. Like Water Into Wine
7. Wine, Women and Song
8. Can’t Get Enough
9. I Know You’re Married (But I Love You Still) (with Travis Tritt)
10. Lovin’ All Night
11. Draggin’ My Heart Around
12. Never Ending Song of Love (with Dwight Yoakam)
13. Keep Your Distance
14. Three Little Babes (with The Chieftains)

Tracks 1-2 from Only What I Feel (Epic, 1993)
Track 3 from When Fallen Angels Fly (Epic, 1994)
Tracks 4-5 from The Trouble with the Truth (Epic, 1996)
Track 6 from Long Stretch of Lonesome (Epic, 1997)
Track 7 from Tribute to Tradition (Epic, 1998)
Track 8 from Classics (Epic, 1999)
Track 9 from Mountain Soul (Epic, 2001)
Tracks 10-11 from On Your Way Home (Epic, 2003)
Tracks 12-13 from Dreamin’ My Dreams (Epic, 2005)
Track 14 from Further Down the Old Plank Road (Victor, 2003)

Tito Puente and His Orchestra, Playlist: The Very Best of Tito Puente and His Orchestra (RCA/Legacy 88883 71095 2, 2013)

1. Ran Kan Kan
2. Four Beat Cha Cha
3. Cuando Te Vea
4. Mambo Gozon
5. Picadillo
6. Oye Como Va
7. Mambo Beat
8. Lotus Land
9. Pa’ Los Rumberos
10. Hong Kong Mambo
11. Oye Mi Guanguanco
12. Dance Mania
13. Cao Cao Mani Picao
14. Havana After Dark

Track 1 from RCA Victor single, 1949
Track 2 from RCA Victor single, 1956
Tracks 3, 10 and 12 from Dance Mania (RCA Victor, 1956)
Track 4 from RCA Victor single, 1951
Tracks 5 and 7 from Night Beat (RCA Victor, 1957)
Track 6 from El Rey Bravo (Tico, 1962)
Track 8 from Puente Goes Jazz (RCA Victor, 1958)
Tracks 9 and 11 from Cuban Carnival (RCA Victor, 1956)
Track 13 from RCA Victor single, 1951
Track 14 from The Wide Wide World of Jazz (RCA Victor, 1957)

Restless Heart, Playlist: The Very Best of Restless Heart (RCA Nashville/Legacy 88883 70071 2, 2013)

1. Memphis Rain
2. Fast Movin’ Train
3. A Tender Lie
4. When She Cries
5. Home
6. Big Dreams in a Small Town
7. The Bluest Eyes in Texas
8. Big Iron Horses
9. Why Does It Have to Be (Wrong or Right)
10. I’ll Still Be Loving You
11. That Rock Won’t Roll
12. Wheels
13. Say What’s in Your Heart
14. Long Lost Friend

Tracks 1 and 5 are new tracks
Tracks 2 and 14 from Fast Movin’ Train (RCA, 1990)
Tracks 3, 6-7 and 13 from Big Dreams in a Small Town (RCA, 1988)
Track 4 from The Best of Restless Heart (RCA, 1991)
Track 8 from Big Iron Horses (RCA, 1992)
Tracks 9-12 from Wheels (RCA, 1986)

Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, Playlist: The Very Best of Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes (Epic/Legacy 88765 48611 2, 2013)

1. The Fever
2. I Don’t Want to Go Home
3. This Time It’s for Real
4. Got to Get You Off My Mind (Live @ The Bottom Line)
5. Broke Down Piece of Man
6. Without Love
7. Love on the Wrong Side of Town (Live @ The Roxy)
8. Trapped Again
9. I’m So Anxious (Live)
10. Talk to Me
11. All I Want is Everything
12. Why is Love Such a Sacrifice
13. Hearts of Stone
14. Havin’ a Party (Live @ The Bottom Line)

Tracks 1-2 and 5 from I Don’t Want to Go Home (Epic, 1976)
Tracks 3 and 6 from This Time It’s for Real (Epic, 1977)
Tracks 4 and 14 from Jukes Live (promo – Epic, 1976)
Track 7 from Jukebox (Leroy, 2007)
Tracks 8, 10 and 13 from Hearts of Stone (Epic, 1978)
Track 9 from Reach Up and Touch the Sky – Live (Mercury, 1981)
Track 11 from The Jukes (Mercury, 1979)
Track 12 from Love is a Sacrifice (Mercury, 1980)

Iggy Pop, Playlist: The Very Best of Iggy Pop (Columbia/Legacy 88697 60055 2, 2013)

1. Gimme Danger (with The Stooges)
2. Lust for Life
3. Raw Power (with The Stooges)
4. Five Foot One
5. Knocking ‘Em Down (in the City)
6. Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell (with The Stooges)
7. Dog Food
8. I’m Bored
9. Loco Mosquito
10. The Passenger
11. Nightclubbing
12. Girls
13. Search & Destroy (with The Stooges)
14. Play It Safe

Tracks 1, 3, 6 and 13 from Raw Power (Columbia, 1973)
Tracks 2 and 10 from Lust for Life (RCA, 1977)
Tracks 4, 8 and 12 from New Values (Arista, 1979)
Tracks 5, 7, 9 and 14 from Soldier (Arista, 1980)
Track 11 from The Idiot (RCA, 1977)

Warrant, Playlist: The Very Best of Warrant (Columbia/Legacy 88697 56713 2, 2013)

1. Cherry Pie
2. Heaven
3. 32 Pennies
4. Down Boys
5. Big Talk
6. Sometimes She Cries
7. Uncle Tom’s Cabin
8. I Saw Hell
9. You’re the Only Hell Your Mama Ever Raised
10. Blind Faith
11. Machine Gun
12. The Bitter Pill
13. The Hole in My Wall
14. Train, Train

Tracks 1, 7-10 and 14 from Cherry Pie (Columbia, 1990)
Tracks 2-6 from Dirty Rotten Stinking Filthy Rich (Columbia, 1988)
Tracks 11-13 from Dog Eat Dog (Columbia, 1992)

Switchfoot, Playlist: The Very Best of Switchfoot (Columbia/Legacy 88697 30258 2, 2013)

1. Oh! Gravity.
2. Meant to Live
3. Stars
4. Dare You to Move
5. Dirty Second Hands
6. More Than Fine
7. Awakening
8. Gone
9. Head Over Heels (In This Life)
10. We Are One Tonight
11. This is Your Life
12. American Dream (Soundcheck Version)
13. Revenge
14. Stars (Acoustic)

Tracks 1, 5, 7 and 9 from Oh! Gravity. (Columbia, 2007)
Tracks 2, 4, 6, 8 and 11 from The Beautiful Letdown (Red Ink/Columbia, 2003)
Tracks 3 and 10 from Nothing is Sound (Columbia, 2005)
Track 12 from Walmart Soundcheck digital EP (Columbia, 2007)
Track 13 from American Dreams EP (Columbia, 2007)
Track 14 from “Stars” CD single (Columbia, 2005)

Last week, Intrada debuted an expanded edition of the score to Brian DePalma’s modern suspense picture, Dressed to Kill (1980). Nancy Allen plays a call girl who witnesses a murder, and Michael Caine is the victim’s psychologist, who might have more of a connection to the murder than meets the eye. DePalma’s controversial film owed more than a little to Alfred Hitchcock and Psycho in tone and subject matter, but Pino Donaggio’s score was worlds apart from Bernard Hermann’s fearsome soundtrack to that film. Donaggio commands a full orchestra with an almost romantic main theme contrasted throughout by rhythmic passages representing the suspense and murder throughout.

For this release, Intrada greatly expands upon the original Varese Sarabande LP, featuring nearly an hour of music, nearly all of it newly mixed from the original multitrack session masters, which turned up after years of vault searching. Fans of Donaggio’s work for DePalma will not be disappointed by this one.

And La-La Land delivers a special treat for fans of John Williams: an expanded edition of his score to 1997′s Rosewood. Comparably obscure to his works for Steven Spielberg, big-budget fantasies or even the dramas of auteurs like Oliver Stone, this John Singleton film dramatized a racially-motivated violent event in Florida in 1923, bringing together Ving Rhames and Jon Voight as an unlikely team who sets out to fight against the racists who are attacking the titular black community. Williams, of course, handled things with typical grace and gravitas, utilizing a choir for the haunting “Look Down, Lord” and infusing passages with period color, including light blues and gospel shadings.

Rosewood‘s expanded presentation, limited to 3,500 units, includes two discs – one featuring the original mix and edit of the score as heard in the film, the other featuring the original Sony Classical soundtrack album. Mike Matessino, who co-produced with Sony Music’s Didier C. Deutsch, masters the disc, and Jeff Bond writes a powerful set of liner notes. Also exciting: Rosewood is first in a planned series of scores from LLL celebrating the 90th anniversary of Warner Bros. Pictures – and it’s one of many titles you can get through the label’s current dads-and-grads/Memorial Day sale, where everything is 20% off with a coupon code featured on La-La Land’s website.

After the jump, you can order your copies of both titles and check out the track lists!

Pino Donaggio, Dressed to Kill: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack – Expanded Edition (originally released as Varese Sarabande STV-81148, 1980 – expanded Intrada Special Collection Vol. 246, 2013)

1. Theme from Dressed to Kill (Main Title) *
2. Kate’s Confession *
3. Bad Night
4. The Museum *
5. The Cab *
6. The Note *
7. The Forgotten Ring *
8. Death in the Elevator *
9. Telephone Message from Bobbi
10. Marino and Elliot
11. Peter Builds Camera
12. Peter Sets Camera
13. Flight from Bobbi *
14. Liz Chased by Hoods
15. Liz and Peter – A Romantic Interlude *
16. Liz and Peter Watch Film
17. Dressed to Kill
18. The Erotic Story *
19. The Transformation *
20. Liz At Police Station
21. The Asylum *
22. Bobbi Outside House
23. The Nightmare *
24. Theme from Dressed to Kill (End Title)

* indicates portion with previously-released material

John Williams, Rosewood: Music from the Motion Picture – Limited Edition (La-La Land Records LLLCD 1244, 2013)

Disc 1: Original film score (previously unreleased)

1. Rosewood
2. The Town of Sumner
3. The Arrival of Mann
4. Mann Goes Shopping/Mann Meets Scrappie
5. Prayers at Dinner/The Wrights/War Drums
6. Scrappie and Mann Bond/The Beating
7. False Accusation
8. The Lie/Arresting Aaron
9. Roughing Up Aaron/Aaron in Jail
10. Sam’s Murder
11. Discovering Sam’s Body/Mann’s First Exit
12. Exchanging Gifts/Cracker Mob
13. Sarah is Shot/Attack on the House
14. Kids to the Woods/The House Burns
15. The Fire/Fanny’s Guilt
16. The Klan Gathers/Wright’s Decision/The Crackers Gather
17. Mann Rescues the Kids
18. Hide the Man, John/Wright’s Dilemma/We Meet at Eight
19. Mann Leads the Group
20. Crossing the Road
21. The Capture of Mann/Mann’s Great Escape
22. Burning Town/Sylvester Joins the Group
23. After the Fire
24. End Titles

Disc 2: Original soundtrack album (released as Sony Classical SK 63031, 1997)

1. Rosewood
2. Look Down, Lord
3. The Hounds of Sumner
4. Healing
5. Light My Way
6. Trouble in Town
7. Aunt Sarah’s Death
8. After the Fire
9. The Town of Sumner
10. The Town Burns
11. Scrappie and Mann Bond
12. The Freedom Train
13. False Accusation
14. Mann at Rosewood
15. Look Down, Lord (Reprise and Finale)

UPDATE (5/22): This post now has confirmed track lists for the FIRST THREE WAVES of reissues.

The long-gestating reissue campaign for Tabu Records by Demon Music Group looks to be taking shape – not only for the first wave of titles in the spring, but for a slew of content ambitiously planned through 2014.

Founded in 1976 by Clarence Avant (who’d previously started the Venture and Sussex labels), Tabu scraped by for six years until a chance meeting and an inconvenient snowstorm gave the label two of its greatest staff producers. An early key act, The S.O.S. Band, had a late disco hit with debut single “Take Your Time (Do It Right),” a Top 5 hit in 1980. Three years later, their fourth album On the Rise was being produced in their native Atlanta by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the keyboardist and bassist for Minneapolis funk outfit The Time.

When a freak blizzard caused the duo to miss a gig, Jam and Lewis were summarily fired by The Time’s creator, producer and songwriter, Prince. Their loss became Tabu’s gain, however, as Jam and Lewis, through their Flyte Tyme Productions partnership, produced a flurry of hits for not only Tabu artists but others, including Janet Jackson.

The Flyte Tyme sound – a more brazen variation on Prince’s “Minneapolis sound” – was well-formulated at Tabu. Alexander O’Neal, a vocalist with whom the pair had worked with in an early lineup of The Time, scored several big R&B hits with Jam and Lewis in the late ’80s, including “Fake,” “Criticize” and “If You Were Here Tonight.” Likewise, the duo did wonders for Cherrelle, a female vocalist who had her biggest successes duetting with O’Neal (“Saturday Love,” “Never Knew Love Like This”) but also had her own measure of solo success. (Hers was the first version of Jam and Lewis’ “I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On,” later a Top 10 hit for Robert Palmer on both sides of the Atlantic.)

A recent Facebook post from the label indicates plans to “re-issue the entire Tabu catalogue on expanded re-mastered CDs, digital, a selection of 180GM vinyls, and some amazing boxsets.” Find out just what that covers after the jump!

Several waves of CD reissues will commence starting April 8, with expansions of Detroit-based Brainstorm’s Stormin’ (1977 – thanks to super-reader DC for this tip!), The S.O.S. Band’s debut S.O.S. (1980), Cherrelle’s first LP, Fragile (1984) and Alexander O’Neal’s self-titled 1985 debut. Based on sticker copy seen on the product images, all titles will be newly remastered with bonus tracks; Alexander O’Neal will be a double-disc set.

From there, nine additional waves will be released monthly (save for December 2013), featuring between two and four titles in each wave. These batches will include all the albums by O’Neal (including remix disc All Mixed Up and holiday album My Gift to You), Cherrelle, The S.O.S. Band, Brainstorm and even obscure artists like Rhonda Clark, General Caine and jazz artist Manfredo Fest. Interestingly, one album was not released by Tabu proper (Brainstorm frontman Lamont Johnson’s This Must Be Heaven was released independently in 2004) and one was not released at all (the final wave looks to have an album based around S.O.S. frontwoman Mary Davis’ debut solo single, “Steppin’ Out,” released three years before her debut LP).

And that’s not everything, either: in between those waves, a dozen of these titles will be repressed on vinyl; a slew of digital singles are being released next week to European outlets and, at the end of the year and start of the next, CD box sets from the Tabu catalogue will be issued. This includes Tabu Anthology sets for Alexander O’Neal (a seven-disc set, implying that at least one other title alongside his self-titled debut will be a 2-CD set) and The S.O.S. Band (a 10-disc set, indicating two double-disc packages somewhere) and a 10-disc box providing a definitive overview of the label in general, featuring CD and DVD content.

Keep it here at The Second Disc for additional track lists and U.S. pre-order links as they’re live, and enjoy Amazon U.K. links below!

WAVE 1 (4/8/2013):

Brainstorm, Stormin’: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (originally released as Tabu BQL1-2048, 1977 – reissued Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013)

1. Lovin’ is Really My Game
2. Waiting for Someone
3. This Must Be Heaven
4. Easy Thangs
5. Prelude
6. Wake Up and Be Somebody
7. Stormin’
8. We Know a Place
9. Hangin’ On
10. Wake Up and Be Somebody (Short Version) (single A-side – Tabu QB-10811, 1976)
11. Wake Up and Be Somebody (Long Version) (promo single B-side – Tabu JB-10811, 1976)
12. Lovin’ is Really My Game (12″ Version) (12″ A-side – Tabu QD-10963, 1977)
13. Lovin’ is Really My Game (Part 1) (single A-side – Tabu QB-10961, 1977)
14. Lovin’ is Really My Game (Part 2) (single B-side – Tabu QB-10961, 1977)

The S.O.S. Band, III: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (originally released as Tabu Records FZ 38352, 1982 – reissued Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013) (see also vinyl reissue)

1. Can’t Get Enough
2. High Hopes
3. Have It Your Way
4. Your Love (It’s the One for Me)
5. Good & Plenty
6. Looking for You
7. These Are the Things
8. You Shake Me Up
9. Groovin’ (That’s What We’re Doin’) (Edit) (U.K. promo single A-side – Tabu A3120, 1982)
10. High Hopes (Edit) (single A-side – Tabu ZS4 03248, 1982)
11. Good & Plenty (7″ Version) (B-side to “High Hopes” – Tabu ZS4 03248, 1982)
12. Good & Plenty (12″ Version) (12″ B-side to “High Hopes” – Tabu 4Z9 03249, 1982)
13. Groovin’ (That’s What We’re Doin’) (Special Version) (12″ A-side – Tabu 4Z9 03528, 1982)
14. Your Love (It’s the One for Me) (U.S. 12″ Version) (12″ B-side – Tabu 4Z9 03528, 1982)

Cherrelle, Fragile: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (originally released as Tabu BFZ 39144, 1984 – reissued Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013) (see also vinyl reissue)

1. Fragile…Handle with Care
2. I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On
3. Like I Will
4. I Will Wait for You
5. Who’s It Gonna Be
6. Stay with Me
7. When You Look in My Eyes
8. I Need You Now
9. Like I Will (Tokyo Mix) (12″ A-side – Tabu 4Z9 05165, 1984)
10. Fragile…Handle with Care (12″ Version) (12″ A-side – Tabu 4Z9 05069, 1984)
11. I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On (Edit) (single A-side – Tabu ZS4 04406, 1984)
12. I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On (Special Remix) (U.K. 12″ A-side – Tabu TABA 12.4545, 1984)
13. When You Look in My Eyes (Special Version) (12″ A-side – Tabu 4Z9 05133, 1984)

Alexander O’Neal, Alexander O’Neal: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013) (see also vinyl reissue)

Disc 1: Original LP (originally released as Tabu FZ 39331, 1985)

1. A Broken Heart Can Mend
2. If You Were Here Tonight
3. Do You Wanna Like I Do
4. Look At Us Now
5. Medley: Innocent/Alex 9000/Innocent II
6. What’s Missing
7. You Were Meant to Be My Lady (Not My Girl)

Disc 2: Bonus material

1. If You Were Here Tonight (Soft Version) (single B-side – Tabu ZS4-05418, 1985)
2. Innocent (single A-side – Tabu ZS4-04718, 1985)
3. Innocent (Extended Dance Remix) (12″ A-side – Tabu 4Z9-05140, 1985)
4. You Were Meant to Be My Lady (Not My Girl) (Extended Dance Remix)
5. What’s Missing (Remix) (12″ A-side – Tabu 4Z9-05361, 1985) (12″ A-side – Tabu 4Z9-05937, 1985)
6. Are You the One (single B-side – Tabu ZS4-04718, 1985)

WAVE 2 (5/6/2013):

The S.O.S. Band, S.O.S.: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (originally released as Tabu JZ 36332, 1980 – Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013) (see also vinyl reissue)

1. S.O.S. (Dit Dit Dit Dash Dash Dash Dit Dit Dit) 
2. What’s Wrong with Our Love Affair 
3. Open Letter 
4. Love Won’t Wait for Love 
5. Take Your Time (Do It Right) 
6. I’m in Love 
7. Take Love Where You Find It 
8. S.O.S. (Reprise) 
9. S.O.S. (Dit Dit Dit Dash Dash Dash Dit Dit Dit) (single A-side – Tabu ZS9 5526, 1980)
10. S.O.S. (Dit Dit Dit Dash Dash Dash Dit Dit Dit) (Special Disco Mix) (12″ promo A-side – Tabu AS 848, 1980)
11. Take Your Time (Do It Right) (Pt. 1) (single A-side – Tabu ZS9 5522, 1980)
12. Take Your Time (Do It Right) (Pt. 2) (single B-side – Tabu ZS9 5522, 1980)
13. Take Your Time (Do It Right) (Long Version) (12″ A-side – Tabu 4Z8 5523, 1980)
14. What’s Wrong With Our Love Affair? (single A-side – Tabu ZS6 5527, 1980)

Cherrelle, High Priority: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013) (see also vinyl reissue)

Disc 1: Original LP (released as Tabu BFZ 40094, 1985)

1. The Opening 
2. You Look Good to Me 
3. Artificial Heart 
4. New Love 
5. Oh No It’s U Again 
6. Saturday Love (Duet with Alexander O’Neal) 
7. Will You Satisfy? 
8. Where Do I Run To 
9. High Priority 
10. New Love (Reprise)

Disc 2: Bonus material

1. Artificial Heart (Dance Remix) (12″ A-side – Tabu 4Z9 05386, 1985)
2. Oh No It’s U Again (Extended Version) (12″ B-side – Tabu 4Z9 05386, 1985)
3. Artificial Heart (single A-side – Tabu ZS4 05901, 1985)
4. Oh No It’s U Again (single B-side – Tabu ZS4 05901, 1985)
5. Saturday Love (single A-side – Tabu ZS4 05767, 1985)
6. Saturday Love (Extended Version) (12″ A-side – Tabu 4Z9 05332, 1985)
7. Saturday Love (Instrumental)  (12″ B-side – Tabu 4Z9 05332, 1985)
8. Saturday Love (Feelin’ Luv Extended Mix) (12″ A-side – Tabu 655800 6 (U.K.), 1990)
9. Saturday Love (Steve Anderson Remix) (12″ A-side – Tabu 655800 8 (U.K.), 1990)
10. You Look Good to Me (single A-side – Tabu ZS4 05608, 1985)
11. You Look Good to Me (Extended Remix) (12″ A-side – Tabu 4Z9 05279, 1985)

Alexander O’Neal, Hearsay: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013) (see also vinyl reissue)

Disc 1: Original LP (released as Tabu FZ 40320, 1987)

1. Intro 
2. (What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me 
3. Segue 
4. Hearsay 
5. Segue 
6. The Lovers 
7. Segue 
8. Fake 
9. Segue 
10. Criticize 
11. Segue 
12. Never Knew Love Like This (Duet with Cherrelle)
13. Interlude 
14. Sunshine 
15. Interlude 
16. Crying Overtime 
17. Interlude 
18. When the Party’s Over 

Disc 2: Bonus material

1. Criticize (Single Edit) (single A-side – Tabu ZS4 07600, 1987)
2. Criticize (Critical Mix) (12″ B-side – Tabu 4Z9 07480, 1987)
3. Criticize (Critical Dub) (12″ B-side – Tabu 4Z9 07480, 1987)
4. Criticize (Critical Edit) (12″ B-side – Tabu 4Z9 07469, 1987)
5. Criticize (Nag Mix) (12″ B-side – Tabu 4Z9 07469, 1987)
6. Fake (Edit) (single A-side – Tabu ZS4 07100, 1987)
7. Fake (Patty Mix) (12″ A-side – Tabu 4Z9 06788, 1987)
8. Fake (Instrumental) (12″ B-side – Tabu 4Z9 06788, 1987)
9. Never Knew Love Like This (single A-side – Tabu ZS4 07646, 1987)
10. Sunshine (Edit) (U.K. single A-side – Tabu 655191 7, 1987)
11. Hearsay ’89 (U.K. single A-side – Tabu 654667 7, 1989)
12. The Lovers (Bonus Beats) (12″ B-side – Tabu 651595 6 (U.K.), 1987)

Kathy Mathis, Katt Walk: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (originally released as Tabu FZ 40539, 1987 - reissued Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013)

1. Automatic Stop and Go 
2. Late Night Hour 
3. Straight from the Heart 
4. Crunch
5. Katt Walk 
6. Baby I’m Hooked 
7. All to Yourself 
8. Now That You’re Gone 
9. The Olive Branch (Instrumental)/Love Festival 
10. Baby I’m Hooked (Special Extended 12” Remix) (12″ A-side – Tabu 4Z9 07460, 1987)
11. Baby I’m Hooked (Instrumental) (12″ B-side – Tabu 4Z9 07460, 1987)
12. Late Night Hour (Special 12” Mix) (12″ A-side – Tabu 4Z9 06763, 1987)\
13. Late Night Hour (Instrumental) (12″ A-side – Tabu 4Z9 06763, 1987)

WAVE 3 (6/3/2013):

The S.O.S. Band, Too: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (originally released as Tabu FZ 37449, 1981 – reissued Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013)

1. It’s a Long Way to the Top
2. Do It Now
3. There is No Limit
4. You
5. Stay
6. Are You Ready?
7. Do You Know Where Your Children Are?
8. For the Brothers That Ain’t Here
9. Unborn Child
10. Do It Now (Long Version) (12″ A-side – Tabu 4Z8 02126, 1981)
11. Do It Now (Part 1) (single A-side – Tabu ZS6 02125, 1981)
12. Do It Now (Special Mix) (Short Version) (promo single B-side - Tabu ZS6 02125, 1981)
13. Do It Now (Part 2) (single B-side – Tabu ZS6 02125, 1981)
14. You (Long Version) (12″ promo A-side – Tabu AS 1310, 1981)
15. There is No Limit (Long Version) (12″ promo B-side – Tabu AS 1310, 1981)

Cherrelle, Affair: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013) (see also vinyl reissue)

Disc 1: Original LP (released as Tabu Z 44148, 1989)

1. Looks Aren’t Everything
2. Pick Me Up
3. Discreet
4. Happy That You’re with Me
5. Affair
6. What More Can I Do for You
7. Foolin’ Around
8. Everything I Miss At Home
9. Keep It Inside (featuring Alexander O’Neal)
10. My Friend
11. Crazy (for Loving You)
12. Lucky
13. Home

Disc 2: Bonus material

1. Affair (Steamy Affair Mix)
2. Affair (Street Dub)
3. Affair (Club Dub)
4. Affair (The Storm Mix)
5. Affair (Liaison Dangereuse Dub)
6. What More Can I Do for You (Radio Edit)
7. What More Can I Do for You (12″ Edit)
8. What More Can I Do for You (Dub 1)
9. What More Can I Do for You (Dub 2)

Disc 1, Tracks 1-3 released as Tabu 12″ single 4Z9 68199, 1988
Disc 1, Tracks 4-5 released as Tabu 12″ single 656202 6 (U.K.), 1990
Disc 1, Tracks 6-9 released as Tabu 12″ single 4Z9 68797, 1988

Alexander O’Neal, Hearsay – All Mixed Up: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (released as Tabu Z 44492, 1989 – reissued Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013) (see also vinyl reissue)

1. Fake ’88 (House Mix)
2. (What Can I Say) to Make You Love Me (Hateful Club Mix)
3. Never Knew Love Like This (Extended Version)
4. Criticize (Ben Liebrand Remix)
5. The Lovers (Extended Version)
6. Criticize (Remix)
7. (What Can I Say) to Make You Love Me (Ben Liebrand Remix)
8. Fake (Extended Remix)
9. You Were Meant to Be My Lady (Not My Girl) (88 Keith Cohen Extended Remix)
10. Innocent (88 Keith Cohen House Mix)
11. Hitmix (The Official Bootleg Megamix) (12″ Version) (12″ A-side – Tabu 655504 6 (U.K.), 1989) (bonus track)

Rhonda Clark, Between Friends: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (released as Tabu FZ 40882, 1989 – reissued Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013)

1. Does That Make a Man
2. State of Attraction
3. I Love Your Body
4. Instant Attitude
5. The Way You Are
6. Sugar
7. Stay Here, Stay Now
8. Between Friends
9. You’re My Everything (Duet with Chuck Howard)
10. No Matter How
11. Stay (Reprise)
12. State of Attraction (12″ Club Mix)
13. State of Attraction (Radio Mix)
14. State of Attraction (Alternate Radio Mix)
15. State of Attraction (12″ Dub Mix)
16. State of Attraction (Alternate Dub Mix)
17. State of Attraction (Jazz Version)

Bonus tracks 12-17 released as Tabu 12″ 4Z9 68842, 1989

WAVE 4 (7/8/2013):

Brainstorm, Journey Into the Light: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013)

The S.O.S. Band, On the Rise: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013) (see also vinyl reissue)

Alexander O’Neal, All True Man: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013)

Cherrelle, The Woman I Am: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013)

WAVE 5 (8/5/2013):

The S.O.S. Band, Just the Way You Like It: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013) (see also vinyl reissue)

Kathy Mathis, A Woman’s Touch: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013)

Alexander O’Neal, Love Makes No Sense: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013)

WAVE 6 (9/9/2013):

General Caine, Girls: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013)

The S.O.S. Band, Sands of Time: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013)

Rhonda Clark, Rhonda Clark: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013)

WAVE (10/7/2013):

Brainstorm, Funky Entertainment: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013) (see also vinyl reissue)

Alexander O’Neal, My Gift to You: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013)

The S.O.S. Band, Diamonds in the Raw: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013)

Lamont Johnson, This Must Be Heaven: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013)

WAVE 8 (11/4/2013):

Ms. Sharon Ridley, Full Moon: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013) (see also vinyl reissue)

General Caine, Dangerous: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013)

Demetrius Perry, Another World: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013)

The S.O.S. Band, One of Many Nights: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013)

WAVE 9 (1/14/2014):

Manfredo Fest, Manifestations: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2014)

Woods Empire, Universal Love: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2014)

Mary Wilson, Separate Ways: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2014)

WAVE 10 (2/10/2014):

Mary Davis, Steppin’ Out: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2014)

The Wailers Band, Majestic Warriors: “Tabu Reborn” Expanded Edition (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2014)

BOX SETS:

10/21/2013: Alexander O’Neal, The Tabu Anthology (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013)

11/25/2013: Various Artists, The Tabu Records Box (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2013)

3/10/2014: The S.O.S. Band, The Tabu Anthology (Tabu/Edsel (U.K.), 2014)

Even the name of The Clash was aggressive.  With their 1977 debut album, Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Terry Chimes (soon to depart the band) made a fast and furious attack on rock complacency.  Punk, after all, was the music heard ‘round the world when it re-lit a fire in the belly of rock-and-roll that had lain dormant in an era of increasingly complex, often progressive rock (sans the roll) in the 1970s.  And at the vanguard of that initial wave of English punk was, inevitably, The Clash.  Yet the punk band’s sound was musically diverse, incorporating reggae, ska, funk, rap and even “traditional” rock-and-roll and rockabilly into its heady stylistic brew.  Though the band broke up in 1986 after suffering a series of personnel changes, the music of The Clash reverberates, and come September 10, its small catalogue and significant legacy will be celebrated by Sony with a variety of releases.  The crown jewel is Sound System, a boom box-shaped box set collecting remastered editions of The Clash’s studio albums on eight CDs plus three CDs of demos, non-LP singles, B -sides and rarities and a DVD with music videos and previously unseen footage.  Joining Sound System will be a new 2-CD or 3-LP compilation The Clash Hits Back, and an 8-CD or 8-LP box set with only the studio albums, simply titled The Clash 5-Studio Album Set.

Sound System contains the following studio albums, all in remastered editions overseen by The Clash with engineer Tim Young:

1. The Clash (1977)
2. Give ‘Em Enough Rope (1978)
3. London Calling (1979, 2 CDs)
4. Sandinista! (1980, 3 CDs)
5. Combat Rock (1982)

These eight discs are joined by:

• Three more CDs featuring rare tracks, demos, non-album singles, B-sides and previously unreleased music;
• DVD including unseen Julien Temple footage, early Super 8 film shot by Don Letts, all the band’s promotional videos and previously unseen live footage;
• “Owner’s Manual” booklet;
• Folder containing reprints of Armagideon Times 1 & 2 and Armagideon Times 3 (new edition of fanzine compiled and designed by Paul Simonon);
• Merchandise including dog tags, badges, stickers, a replica cigarette (!) and a Future Is Unwritten note book designed by Harland Miller; and
• An exclusive photo poster.

After the jump, we have more on Sound System, plus details on the other two Clash releases and full track listings for all titles!

The bonus discs in Sound System offer 14 never-before-released tracks out of 52 total on the three CDs from Strummer, Jones, Simonon and Nicky “Topper” Headon. (Headon joined the band in time for the reshuffled U.S. release of The Clash and remained a member until just prior to the release of Combat Rock).  The first bonus disc concentrates on non-LP material from various singles and EPs.  The second disc includes more non-LP singles as well as unreleased material like Bob Clearmountain’s 12-inch mix of “Rock the Casbah,” extended versions of “Sean Flynn” and “Ghetto Defendant,” and outtakes “The Beautiful People Are Ugly Too” and “Idle in Kangaroo Court.”  The third disc offers the largest bounty of previously unissued material, boasting never-before-released Polydor demos of “London’s Burning,” “1977” and “White Riot,” and live tracks from London’s Lyceum Theatre recorded in December 1978.  The DVD showcases more rare material such as a Sussex University performance from 1977, Don Letts’ Super 8 Medley, and a number of promo videos and Clash on Broadway footage.  (Unsurprisingly absent from the box set is 1985’s studio album Cut the Crap, which only featured Strummer and Simonon from the classic line-up.  This LP has been excised from the official Clash story as documented via numerous compilations, books and films by request of the band.)

Joining the Sound System box is The Clash Hits Back, a new 2-CD or 3-LP anthology with a most intriguing conceit: it’s been sequenced by surviving members Simonon, Jones and Headon to reflect the band’s Brixton Fairdeal performance from July 10, 1982.  The Clash writes, “Every show was different.  Joe would spend a lot of time composing the running order, considering dynamics, emotional impact and the key the songs were in.”  And so the first disc begins with “London Calling,” and the second disc concludes the set list with “Garageland.”  Eight additional tracks selected by the band round out the package.

Lastly, Sony is releasing an optimal Clash primer.   The Clash 5-Studio Album Set will be available as both 8-vinyl LP and 8-CD sets, containing just the core remastered studio albums from Sound System: The Clash, Give ‘Em Enough Rope, London Calling, Sandinista!, Combat Rock.

When Joe Strummer died on December 22, 2002, any chance for a true reunion of The Clash came to an end.  In March, 2003, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and since then, further reunions between Headon, Simonon and Jones have been rare.  Jones and Headon recorded together with Billy Bragg in 2009, and Simonon and Jones joined with Gorillaz in 2010 in the studio and on tour.  Sound System and its accompanying releases afford another chance to celebrate Strummer’s legacy and that of The Clash.

You can pre-order the various collections at the links below!  All titles are due in stores on September 10.

The Clash, Sound System (Columbia/Epic/Legacy/Sony Music (U.K.), 2013) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Disc 1: The Clash (released as CBS Records LP S-CBS 82000, 1977)

1. Janie Jones
2. Remote Control
3. I’m So Bored with the U.S.A.
4. White Riot
5. Hate & War
6. What’s My Name?
7. Deny
8. London’s Burning
9. Career Opportunities
10. Cheat
11. Protex Blue
12. Police & Thieves
13. 48 Hours
14. Garageland

Disc 2: Give ‘Em Enough Rope (released as CBS Records LP S-CBS 82431, 1978)

1. Safe European Home
2. English Civil War (Johnny Comes Marching Home)
3. Tommy Gun
4. Julie’s Been Working for the Drug Squad
5. Last Gang in Town
6. Guns on the Roof
7. Drug-Stabbing Time
8. Stay Free
9. Cheapskates
10. All the Young Punks (New Boots and Contracts)

Discs 3-4: London Calling (released as CBS Records LP S-CBS 88478, 1979)

1. London Calling
2. Brand New Cadillac
3. Jimmy Jazz
4. Hateful
5. Rudie Can’t Fail
6. Spanish Bombs
7. The Right Profile
8. Lost in the Supermarket
9. Clampdown
10. The Guns of Brixton

1. Wrong ‘Em Boyo
2. Death or Glory
3. Koka Kola
4. The Card Cheat
5. Lover’s Rock
6. Four Horsemen
7. I’m Not Down
8. Revolution Rock
9. Train in Vain

Discs 5-7: Sandinista! (released as CBS Records LP FSLN-1, 1980)

1. The Magnificent Seven
2. Hitsville UK
3. Junco Partner
4. Ivan Meets G.I. Joe
5. The Leader
6. Something About England
7. Rebel Waltz
8. Look Here
9. The Crooked Beat
10. Somebody Got Murdered
11. One More Time
12. One More Dub

1. Lightning Strikes (Not Once But Twice)
2. Up in Heaven (Not Only Here)
3. Corner Soul
4. Let’s Go Crazy
5. If Music Could Talk
6. The Sound of Sinners
7. Police on My Back
8. Midnight Log
9. The Equaliser
10. The Call Up
11. Washington Bullets
12. Broadway

1. Lose This Skin
2. Charlie Don’t Surf
3. Mensforth Hill
4. Junkie Slip
5. Kingston Advice
6. The Street Parade
7. Version City
8. Living in Fame
9. Silicon on Sapphire
10. Version Pardner
11. Career Opportunities
12. Shepherd’s Delight

Disc 8: Combat Rock (released as CBS Records LP FMLN-2, 1982)

1. Know Your Rights
2. Car Jamming
3. Should I Stay or Should I Go
4. Rock the Casbah
5. Red Angel Dragnet
6. Straight to Hell
7. Overpowered by Funk
8. Atom Tan
9. Sean Flynn
10. Ghetto Defendant
11. Inoculated City
12. Death is a Star

Disc 9: Non-LP material

1. White Riot (Single Version) (single A-side – CBS 5058, 1977)
2. 1977 (single B-side – CBS 5058, 1977)
3. Listen/Interview with The Clash on the Circle Line (from Capital Radio EP – CBS CL-1, 1977)
4. Capital Radio One (from Capital Radio EP – CBS CL-1, 1977)
5. London’s Burning (Live) (B-side to “Remote Control” – CBS 5293, 1977)
6. Complete Control (single A-side – CBS 5664, 1977)
7. City of the Dead (single B-side – CBS 5664, 1977)
8. Clash City Rockers (single A-side – CBS 5834, 1978)
9. Jail Guitar Doors (single B-side – CBS 5834, 1978)
10. (White Man in) Hammersmith Palais (single A-side – CBS 6383, 1978)
11. The Prisoner (single B-side – CBS 6383, 1978)
12. 1-2 Crush on You (B-side to “Tommy Gun” – CBS 6788, 1978)
13. Time is Tight (from Black Market Clash - Epic/Nu-Disk 4E 36846 (U.S.), 1980)
14. Pressure Drop (B-side to “English Civil War” – CBS 7082, 1979)
15. I Fought the Law (from The Cost of Living EP – CBS 7324, 1979)
16. Groovy Times (from The Cost of Living EP – CBS 7324, 1979)
17. Gates of the West (from The Cost of Living EP – CBS 7324, 1979)
18. Capital Radio Two (from The Cost of Living EP – CBS 7324, 1979)
19. Armagideon Time (B-side to “London Calling” – CBS 8087, 1979)
20. Bankrobber (single A-side – CBS 8323, 1980)
21. Rockers Galore…U.K. Tour (single B-side – CBS 8323, 1980)

Disc 10: More non-LP material and outtakes

1. The Magnificent Dance (12″ B-side to “The Call Up” – Epic 48-02036 (U.S.), 1981)
2. Midnight to Stevens (from Clash on Broadway box set – Epic/Legacy E3K 46991, 1991)
3. Radio One (B-side to “Hitsville UK” – CBS 9480, 1980)
4. Stop the World (B-side to “The Call Up” – CBS 9339, 1980)
5. The Cool Out (12″ B-side to “The Call Up” – Epic 48-02036 (U.S.), 1981)
6. This is Radio Clash (single A-side – CBS A-1797, 1981)
7. Radio Clash (single B-side – CBS A-1797, 1981)
8. First Night Back in London (B-side to “Know Your Rights” – CBS A-2309, 1982)
9. Rock the Casbah (Bob Clearmountain 12″ Mix) *
10. Long Time Jerk (B-side to “Rock the Casbah” – CBS A-2749, 1982)
11. The Beautiful People Are Ugly Too *
12. Idle in Kangaroo Court *
13. Ghetto Defendant (Unedited/Extended Version) *
14. Cool Confusion (B-side to “Should I Stay or Should I Go” – CBS A-3186, 1982)
15. Sean Flynn (Extended “Marcus Music” Version) *
16. Straight to Hell (Unedited) (from Clash on Broadway box set – Epic/Legacy E3K 46991, 1991)

Disc 11: Demos and live cuts

1. I’m So Bored with the U.S.A. (Beaconsfield Film School Demo, 1976)
2. London’s Burning (Beaconsfield Film School Demo, 1976) (from Selections from “Revolution Rock” promo CD – Epic/Legacy 88697 28275 2, 2008)
3. White Riot (Beaconsfield Film School Demo, 1976) (from Selections from “Revolution Rock” promo CD – Epic/Legacy 88697 28275 2, 2008)
4. 1977 (Beaconsfield Film School Demo, 1976) (from Selections from “Revolution Rock” promo CD – Epic/Legacy 88697 28275 2, 2008)
5. Janie Jones (Polydor Demo) (from Clash on Broadway box set – Epic/Legacy E3K 46991, 1991)
6. Career Opportunites (Polydor Demo) (from Clash on Broadway box set – Epic/Legacy E3K 46991, 1991)
7. London’s Burning (Polydor Demo) *
8. 1977 (Polydor Demo) *
9. White Riot (Polydor Demo) *
10. City of the Dead (Live @ The Lyceum, London – 12/28/1978) (from From Here to Eternity: Live - Columbia 496183 2, 1999)
11. Jail Guitar Doors (Live @ The Lyceum, London – 12/28/1978) *
12. English Civil War (Live @ The Lyceum, London – 12/28/1978) (from Clash on Broadway box set – Epic/Legacy E3K 46991, 1991)
13. Stay Free (Live @ The Lyceum, London – 12/28/1978) *
14. Cheapskates (Live @ The Lyceum, London – 12/28/1978) *
15. I Fought the Law (Live @ The Lyceum, London – 12/28/1978) (from Clash on Broadway box set – Epic/Legacy E3K 46991, 1991)

Disc 12: DVD

-Julien Temple Archive
-White Riot Interview
-Promo and interviews with Tony Parsons

• 1977
• White Riot
• London’s Burning

-Sussex University 1977 *

• I’m So Bored with the USA
• Hate & War
• Career Opportunities
• Remote Control

- Don Letts Super 8 Medley

• White Riot
• Janie Jones
• City of the Dead
• Clash City Rockers
• White Man in Hammersmith Palais
• 1977

Clash 0n Broadway

• London Calling
• This is Radio Clash
• The Magnificent Seven
• Guns of Brixton
• Safe European Home

Promo videos

• Tommy Gun
• London Calling
• Bankrobber
• Clampdown (Live)
• Train in Vain (Live)
• The Call Up
• Rock the Casbah
• Should I Stay or Should I Go (Live at Shea Stadium)
• Career Opportunities (Live at Shea Stadium)

(*) denotes previously unreleased tracks

The Clash, The Clash Hits Back (Columbia/Epic/Legacy/Sony Music (U.K.), 2013)

Available on CD (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) and Vinyl

Disc 1

1. London Calling
2. Safe European Home
3. Know Your Rights
4. (White Man) in Hammersmith Palais
5. Janie Jones
6. The Guns of Brixton
7. Train in Vain
8. Bankrobber
9. Wrong ‘Em Boyo
10. The Magnificent Seven
11. Police on My Back
12. Rock the Casbah
13. Career Opportunities
14. Police & Thieves
15. Somebody Got Murdered
16. Brand New Cadillac
17. Clampdown

Disc 2

1. Ghetto Defendant
2. Armagideon Time
3. Stay Free
4. I Fought the Law
5. Straight to Hell
6. Should I Stay or Should I Go
7. Garageland
8. White Riot
9. Complete Control
10. Clash City Rockers
11. Tommy Gun
12. English Civil War
13. The Call Up
14. Hitsville UK
15. This is Radio Clash

The Clash, 5 Studio Album Set (Columbia/Epic/Legacy/Sony Music (U.K.), 2013) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Available on CD (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. not yet available) and Vinyl

Disc 1: The Clash (released as CBS Records LP S-CBS 82000, 1977)

1. Janie Jones
2. Remote Control
3. I’m So Bored with the U.S.A.
4. White Riot
5. Hate & War
6. What’s My Name?
7. Deny
8. London’s Burning
9. Career Opportunities
10. Cheat
11. Protex Blue
12. Police & Thieves
13. 48 Hours
14. Garageland

Disc 2: Give ‘Em Enough Rope (released as CBS Records LP S-CBS 82431, 1978)

1. Safe European Home
2. English Civil War (Johnny Comes Marching Home)
3. Tommy Gun
4. Julie’s Been Working for the Drug Squad
5. Last Gang in Town
6. Guns on the Roof
7. Drug-Stabbing Time
8. Stay Free
9. Cheapskates
10. All the Young Punks (New Boots and Contracts)

Discs 3-4: London Calling (released as CBS Records LP S-CBS 88478, 1979)

1. London Calling
2. Brand New Cadillac
3. Jimmy Jazz
4. Hateful
5. Rudie Can’t Fail
6. Spanish Bombs
7. The Right Profile
8. Lost in the Supermarket
9. Clampdown
10. The Guns of Brixton

1. Wrong ‘Em Boyo
2. Death or Glory
3. Koka Kola
4. The Card Cheat
5. Lover’s Rock
6. Four Horsemen
7. I’m Not Down
8. Revolution Rock
9. Train in Vain

Discs 5-7: Sandinista! (released as CBS Records LP FSLN-1, 1980)

1. The Magnificent Seven
2. Hitsville UK
3. Junco Partner
4. Ivan Meets G.I. Joe
5. The Leader
6. Something About England
7. Rebel Waltz
8. Look Here
9. The Crooked Beat
10. Somebody Got Murdered
11. One More Time
12. One More Dub

1. Lightning Strikes (Not Once But Twice)
2. Up in Heaven (Not Only Here)
3. Corner Soul
4. Let’s Go Crazy
5. If Music Could Talk
6. The Sound of Sinners
7. Police on My Back
8. Midnight Log
9. The Equaliser
10. The Call Up
11. Washington Bullets
12. Broadway

1. Lose This Skin
2. Charlie Don’t Surf
3. Mensforth Hill
4. Junkie Slip
5. Kingston Advice
6. The Street Parade
7. Version City
8. Living in Fame
9. Silicon on Sapphire
10. Version Pardner
11. Career Opportunities
12. Shepherd’s Delight

Disc 8: Combat Rock (released as CBS Records LP FMLN-2, 1982)

1. Know Your Rights
2. Car Jamming
3. Should I Stay or Should I Go
4. Rock the Casbah
5. Red Angel Dragnet
6. Straight to Hell
7. Overpowered by Funk
8. Atom Tan
9. Sean Flynn
10. Ghetto Defendant
11. Inoculated City
12. Death is a Star

Brian, Mike, Al, Bruce and David may not be touring again anytime soon, but at least we now have two discs of live memories to play. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Townes Van Zandt, The Late Great Townes Van Zandt / High, Low and In Between (Omnivore)

You heard the demos, now rediscover these great country albums, on CD or vinyl!

Late Great CD (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.), LP (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
High, Low CD (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.), LP (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Various Artists, FM: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Culture Factory USA)

The hit-filled soundtrack, featuring the Steely Dan single of the same name, is the latest to get the Culture Factory LP replica treatment. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Jeff Buckley, Chet Atkins et al., Playlist: The Very Best of (Legacy)

A dozen or so new entries in the Playlist series are coming your way this week. Watch this space tomorrow for a full breakdown on them all!

Like Do Me Baby, 1987’s Good Love counted Paul Laurence among its producers.  Morgan and her frequent co-writer Lesette Wilson handled production on five tracks themselves, and multi-hyphenate talent Kashif also brought his expertise to a handful of tracks.  His magic touch worked.  Kashif produced, played and duetted with Morgan on soul man Skip Scarborough’s “Love Changes,” originally a 1978 hit for Mother’s Finest.  Whereas the Mother’s Finest recording made it to a not-too-shabby No. 26 R&B, the Morgan/Kashif version reached No. 2 on the chart.  It wasn’t the only success from Good Love, though.  Paul Laurence’s uptempo dancer “If You Can Do It: I Can Too!!” escalated the R&B chart almost simultaneously with the duet, also hitting the No. 2 spot.  “Here Comes the Night,” produced by Kashif with its writers Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers, also went Top 20 R&B.

SoulMusic’s reissue returns Good Love to CD, and adds six bonus tracks, all various remixes.  These include club and dub mixes of “If You Can Do It: I Can Too!!,”  an extended remix and remix edit of the album’s title track, and an 8+-minute Special Club Opus mix of “Here Comes The Night,” along with its edited version.  Justin Kantor has written new liner notes drawing on interviews with Morgan and Kashif, and Alan Wilson has remastered.

The expanded edition of Good Love is available now and can be ordered after the jump, where you’ll also find a track listing with discography.  Plus: what’s the latest reissue from the legendary Nancy Wilson?

SoulMusic Records is also continuing its ongoing reissue series dedicated to the albums of Miss Nancy Wilson.  The longtime Capitol Records artist, reportedly second in the label’s sales only to The Beatles at one point, had seen much of her catalogue languish on vinyl only.  SoulMusic has changed all that, though, with its two-for-one CD packages.  The most recent such offering paired Can’t Take My Eyes Off You (1970) and Now I’m a Woman (1971), a pop cover-oriented collection and a lost Philadelphia soul masterwork produced by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff.  Two more rare Wilson titles are finally arriving on CD with Music on My Mind (1978) and Life, Love and Harmony (1979) just issued as one 2-CD set.

Like most of Wilson’s ouevre, these albums deftly blur genre lines; unlike many of her albums, virtually all of the material on both albums was penned specifically for the vocalist.  Music on My Mind celebrated 25 years in show business and nearly 20 years at Capitol Records, where Wilson’s first long-player was 1959’s Billy May-arranged Like in Love.  For Music on My Mind, she turned to producer-composer Clarence McDonald (The Emotions, Deniece Williams), lyricists Fritz Baskett and Lani Groves, and arranger Wade Marcus.  Recorded as per Wilson’s custom live in the studio with musicians and vocalist both present, Music on My Mind is in a sophisticated R&B vein.  Deniece Williams co-wrote the title track, a statement of purpose; the great sax man Ernie Watts played on “Let It Flow.”  Yet the album’s most recognizable track comes via “I’m in Love,” which was sampled in 2007 by Erykah Badu for her song “Honey.”  Unfortunately, the single – “I’m Gonna Let Ya” b/w “Light”- didn’t make much noise on the charts, peaking at No. 94 R&B – and the album got lost in the shuffle.

Wilson turned to Larry Farrow, another producer-composer-arranger, for follow-up LP Life, Love and Harmony.  As McDonald, Baskett and Groves had done on the previous album, Farrow and partner (in life and music) Carolyn Johns crafted what amounts to an original song cycle for Wilson.  The collaborators flirted with disco on the title track, “You’re the One” and “Heaven,” and also supplied Wilson with ballads and love songs like “This Is Our Song” and “Open Up Your Heart and Take Me In.”  One composition from other writers was brought in, the song with the unwieldy title of “You Bring Out the Best of the Woman in Me.”  It was the work of English songwriters Roger Greenaway and Les Reed.  Greenaway had been responsible for songs like “You’ve Got Your Troubles” and “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing,” while Reed was a writer of “It’s Not Unusual” and “There’s a Kind of Hush.”  The most enduring song on Life, Love and Harmony, though, was Farrow and Johns’ “Sunshine,” one of the album’s jazzier compositions.  This funky fusion track especially caught on in the U.K., attracting soul, R&B and acid jazz collectors.  John Klemmer’s indelible saxophone stood out on “Sunshine,” as he joined both studio players such as Paulinho DaCosta and touring musicians on the track.  Bill Champlin, Ernie Watts and Lee Ritenour all appeared on the album, as well.  Alas, the single of “Life, Love and Harmony” only made it to No. 83 R&B, and “Sunshine” didn’t chart at all.  In 1980, Wilson would depart Capitol following the album Take My Love.

Music on My Mind/Life, Love and Harmony has been remastered by Alan Wilson and features lengthy and detailed new liner notes from A. Scott Galloway.  The single versions of “Life, Love and Harmony” and “Sunshine” have been appended as bonus tracks.  It’s available now and can be ordered below.  SoulMusic has much more from Wilson on tap, including reissues of The Sound of Nancy Wilson (1968) with Nancy (1969); and Kaleidoscope (1971) and I Know I Love Him (1973) .

Meli’sa Morgan, Good Love: Expanded Edition (Capitol 7 46943 1, 1987 – reissued SoulMusic Records SMCR 5091, 2013)

1. If You Can Do It: I Can Too!!
2. Here Comes the Night
3. Just for Your Touch
4. Good Love
5. Love Changes (Duet with Kashif)
6. Think It Over
7. I’ll Love No More
8. I Still Think About You
9. You’re All I Got
10. If You Can Do It: I Can Too!! (Club House Mix – Capitol V-15345 12” single, 1987)
11. If You Can Do It: I Can Too!! (Dub Version – Capitol V-15345 12” single, 1987)
12. Good Love (Extended Remix – Capitol V-15361 12” single, 1987)
13. Good Love (Remix Edit – Capitol V-15361 12” single, 1987)
14. Here Comes the Night (Special Club Opus – Capitol V-15361 12” single, 1987)
15. Here Comes the Night (Special Club Opus – Edit – Capitol V-15356 12” single, 1987)

Nancy Wilson, Music on My Mind/Life, Love and Harmony: Expanded Edition (SoulMusic Records SMCR 5090D, 2013)

CD 1: Music on My Mind (Capitol SMAS-11786, 1978)

1. I’m Gonna Let Ya
2. Music on My Mind
3. I’m a Balloon
4. Let It Flow
5. Easy
6. He Makes Me Feel Good ‘Bout Myself
7. I’m in Love
8. I  Really Need Him
9. Light
10. Music on My Mind (Reprise)

CD 2: Life, Love and Harmony (Capitol ST-11943, 1979)

1. Life, Love and Harmony
2. Here’s to Us
3. This is Our Song
4. Sunshine
5. You’re the One
6. Open Up Your Heart and Take Me In
7. Wrapped Up in the Comfort of Your Love
8. You Bring Out the Best of the Woman in Me
9. Heaven
10. Life, Love and Harmony (Bonus Track) (Single) (Capitol 45-4741-A, 1979)
11. Sunshine (Bonus Track) (Single) (Capitol 45-4801-A, 1979)