Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up featuring box sets, deluxe editions, rare albums and more!

The Replacements, The Complete Studio Albums 1981-1990 (Sire/Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Rhino boxes up the Minnesota rockers’ complete studio output in one tidy package, utilizing the 2008 remasters but sans all bonus material.

 

Tori Amos, Little Earthquakes and Under the Pink: Deluxe Editions (Rhino)

Little Earthquakes: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Under the Pink: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Rhino has expanded singer-songwriter Tori Amos’ first two albums with a second disc of non-LP bonus material.  The original albums only are also available on vinyl.

Various Artists, Playlist: The Very Best Of… (Legacy)

Ben Folds Five: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
James Brown:  Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Jagged Edge: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince:  Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Santana: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Sony welcomes five more titles to its ongoing Playlist series blending hits and rarities!  See Randy’s full rundown with track listings, discography and more!

Andy Williams, Can’t Help Falling in Love/Home Lovin’ Man (BGO) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

BGO brings together two of Andy Williams’ U.K. albums in one package.  Can’t Help Falling in Love, the U.K. equivalent of Andy’s U.S. Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head LP, remained on the U.K. albums chart for almost a year, and its title track went Top 10.  1971’s Home Lovin’ Man, the Brit answer to Love Story, went to No. 1 on the U.K. albums chart thanks to two major hit singles: the title track and “It’s So Easy.”  Both albums have track listing variations to their U.S. counterparts.  BGO’s slipcased release includes new liner notes.

Sammy Davis, Jr., Sammy Swings/The Sammy Awards (Sepia) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

The U.K.’s Sepia label mines the oft-overlooked Decca catalogue of Sammy Davis, Jr. for this two-fer of the late, great entertainer’s Sammy Swings (1957) and The Sammy Awards (1959). (This title is released in accordance with current U.K. public domain laws.)

Phil Harris, The South Shall Rise Again/You’re Blase (Sepia) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Here are 26 recordings from Phil Harris, the future voice of Baloo the Bear in Disney’s The Jungle Book, recorded between 1949 and 1958 (with many tracks reportedly appearing on CD for the first time.)  This release from Sepia Records is in accordance with current U.K. public domain laws.

Kitty Wells, Heartbreak U.S.A. / Queen of Country Music (Sepia) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Sepia Recordings releases two vintage albums by country legend Kitty Wells on one CD plus bonus tracks, for a total of 28 tracks all in stereo.  These recordings are released in accordance with current U.K. public domain laws.

Bachman, Heavy Blues (Linus) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. )

Guitarist Randy Bachman, of The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive fame, teams with bassist Anna Ruddick and drummer Dale Anne Brendan for the debut of blues-rock trio Bachman.  For Heavy Blues, Bachman has brought along contributions from some heavy friends including Neil Young, Peter Frampton, Joe Bonamassa, Robert Randolph and the late Jeff Healey.