As The Second Disc enters its fifth year as your go-to destination for classic music news and reviews, we’re excited to share our biggest news yet: a partnership with one of our favorite labels, Real Gone Music, to create Second Disc Records!
Since its founding in 2011, Real Gone has rescued music that might otherwise have languished in a dusty vault or relegated to digital download – music that lives up to the label’s name – in splendidly remastered and generously expanded editions. Real Gone embodies the same “something for everyone” spirit that we’ve always strived to represent here at The Second Disc; indeed, artists from Doris Day to Vanilla Fudge (and everybody in between!) have gotten the Real Gone treatment. One of our earliest features here was Reissue Theory, in which we would imagine how we might bring a vintage title back to life. Now, thanks to our amazing friends at Real Gone, we’re in a position to bring those reissue theories to life on compact disc. With our imprint, we intend to celebrate the artists, songwriters and producers who have shaped the sound of music and the soundtrack of our lives, in every genre and over every decade.
Our initial release slate in March 2015, co-produced by Real Gone Music’s Gordon Anderson and The Second Disc’s Joe Marchese, features a 2-CD complete compendium of the one and only Johnny Mathis’ musical collaborations with songwriter-producer-arranger-conductor and Philadelphia soul legend Thom Bell (The Spinners, The Stylistics, The Delfonics). The Complete Thom Bell Sessions boasts their 1973 classic I’m Coming Home, the 1977 “sequel” Mathis Is… in its worldwide CD debut, and a host of bonus tracks including Mathis and Bell’s 1991 reunion, other Mathis renditions of Bell classics, rare single versions, and previously unreleased instrumental mixes spotlighting Bell’s lush orchestrations!
The Complete Thom Bell Sessions is joined by complete collection of “Fifth Season” Bob Crewe’s recordings for the Elektra label. The Complete Elektra Recordings marks the U.S. CD debuts for two albums, The Bob Crewe Generation’s disco extravaganza Street Talk (1976) and Crewe’s singer-songwriter gem Motivation (1977). We’ve expanded both albums with numerous rare, never-on-CD bonus singles. We promise that these two titles will be just the beginning.
We hope you’ll join us for the ride as we take The Second Disc into the next five years. We want your suggestions as to what albums you’d like to see get the Second Disc Records treatment, and thanks for your support of The Second Disc. Please click on the Second Disc Records tab above for full track listings and more details on both titles coming on March 10 plus a link to send us your suggestions and/or comments!
The Weekend Stream: November 18, 2023
Release Round-Up: Week of October 13
OUT TOMORROW: Johnny Mathis' All-New Christmas Album and Rod McKuen's Electronic Freakout!
Relight My Fire: Edsel's 'Dance Masters' Series Continues with John Luongo Box
Congrats. This is fantastic news Joe!! And I'm really enjoying the new page layout. Here's to a wonderful new partnership with Real Gone Music!
Thank you, Spencer!
Sincere congrats on the record label, which should be fun to watch!
Thank you, Mark!
Since you asked...
Argent - Counterpoints (never on CD)
Buckingham Nicks (ditto)
Tranquility - Silver (ditto)
Glencoe - Glencoe (on CD, but never the British release)
I wouldn't hold my breath on Buckingham Nicks, but that would be really cool to see.
This is great news. I am so thrilled about the Johnny Mathins "Thom Bell" collection. Thom Bell is one of my favorite producers / song writers off all time. You can count on my support Joe! I am looking forward to what you and The Second Disc label have in store for all of us reissue fans.
Great new look and much continued success! I'd love to see an official "Buckingham Nicks" release with lotsa bonus tracks for making us wait all these years. I've never seen the Mac live, but very excited for Feb. 12th at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, can't wait!
OK Second Disc. I officially love you now. Can't wait to get the Johnny CD's. YES !!!
Love the site, but can't say I'm a fan of the new logo at all, and (sorry) the cover art for your first two releases would make a graphic artist cry. I do hope they are not the final versions.
I agree. They do have some very kitschy elements that distract from the quality within. But Real Gone has never really done much quality work on that end (see the horrendous work on The Best of Stories cover and back cover). They should talk to Phil Smee for some tips...
So now we have a channel to request releases, then? Such as most of the Doug Sahm albums from the 70s which were never re-releaesd on CD (Texas Tornados I believe never was) or John Fogerty first solo albuns (long out-of-print and excruciatingly expensive)...
It would be wonderful to get the extended "Baby It's Me" album by Diana Ross on CD, as well as "Funny Girl" by The Supremes. Both were "released" last year as digital downloads but not on CD...
Congratulations to all at Second Disc. Just a note to say that your new logo is brilliant. Great design!!! Good luck with all your future endeavors.
Lawrence Schulman
Many thanks, Lawrence. Your kind words are very much appreciated!