The Kinks, Anthology 1964-1971 (BMG/InGrooves, 2014) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Producer Andrew Sandoval (the recent The Monkees: Super Deluxe Edition) helms this kink-sized 5-CD kollection of hits, demos, interviews, alternate mixes, session outtakes, 25 previously unavailable tracks, an exclusive 7-inch single and copious, new liner notes!
Dionne Warwick, Finder of Lost Loves: Expanded Edition (Arista/Funky Town Grooves) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
This 2-CD edition of Warwick’s 1985 album features a bonus disc with 12 additional tracks – three rare single versions and nine previously unreleased recordings, including the Barry Gibb-produced Heartbreaker outtake “Broken Bottles” and two alternate versions of the Burt Bacharach/Carole Bayer Sager title track featuring Dionne joined by Luther Vandross!
Aretha Franklin, Aretha: Expanded Edition (Arista/Funky Town Grooves) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
FTG adds a staggering 19 bonus tracks to create a 2-disc edition of The Queen of Soul’s 1986 album featuring “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” – including rare remixes of five songs as well as the Aretha Megamix! It appears that the companion disc – an expanded edition of Through the Storm – won’t be available until next month.
The Manhattans, Black Tie / Forever by Your Side (Columbia/Funky Town Grooves)
Black Tie: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Forever: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
FTG continues its series of reissues from The Manhattans’ catalogue with expanded editions of the legendary vocal group’s 1981 and 1983 albums of silky R&B!
Trip Shakespeare, Applehead Man / Are You Shakespearienced? (Omnivore)
Applehead CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Applehead Translucent Red Vinyl & Download Card: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Are You... CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Are You… Translucent Green Vinyl & Download Card: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Omnivore remasters and expands the first two albums from Minnesota band Trip Shakespeare – the training ground for John Munson and Dan Wilson, two members who would later go on to form Semisonic!
Foreigner, The Best of Foreigner 4 and More (Sony) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Just two months ago, on October 3 and 4, 2014, Foreigner took the stage at Atlantic City’s Borgata. Now, highlights from those concerts are being released on one budget-priced ($5.99 as of this writing!) CD including the hit songs from 1981’s landmark Foreigner 4 and other favorites. Tracks include “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” “Cold as Ice,” “Hot Blooded” and “I Want to Know What Love Is.”
Stephen Sondheim, Into the Woods: 2-CD Deluxe Edition Soundtrack (Walt Disney Records) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Okay, this isn’t a reissue, but we’re looking forward to it all the same. This week, Walt Disney Records releases the original soundtrack to the new film version of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s 1987 Broadway musical Into the Woods, featuring Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Anna Kendrick, Emily Blunt and future Late Late Show host James Corden. The 2-CD edition features all of Sondheim’s songs plus the film’s orchestral underscore.
Original Broadway Cast Recording, The Last Ship (UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Sting recently stepped into his Broadway musical The Last Ship for a limited run through January 24; here’s a chance to experience his songs for the musical as performed by the original cast of Michael Esper, Jimmy Nail, Fred Applegate and others. Sting himself is heard on a bonus track singing “What Say You, Meg?” from the show’s impressive score.
Look at the View: Cherry Red’s New Strawberry Imprint Collects Mod, Pop, Psych, and Freakbeat on “Halcyon Days”
Release Round-Up: Week of January 22
Setting Sail to the Island of Souls: Sting’s ‘The Soul Cages’ Receives Digital Expansion
By the Forces of Nature: Rhino Celebrates Black History Month With Limited Edition Vinyl and New Digital Releases
The Kinksbox is of course a musical treat, a safari through their most classic years. I didn’t thoght it was possible to improve on the remasterings from 2011 but it was obviously. Even more open, detail-revealing and natural sound. Some of the previous unreleased stuff is astounding especially the three in a row try-outs for “Dedicated Follower Of Fashion” with the 22 years old Ray Davies in the singing-booth sounding like he’s standing right in front of me. That leaves one begging for more; please Kinks do a Beatles and let us have three double-CD:s of the same deal, just like the Liverpoolians “Anthologys”. It’s Christmas after all!