Features / Release Round-Up

The fall is almost upon us – which means some of the most exciting release weeks of the year are just around the corner!  We hope you’ve checked out Ted’s farewell to the sounds of summer, because we’re kicking off September right here with a new release from Second Disc Records – as well as goodies from The Doors, Eydie Gorme, Micky Dolenz, Peter Frampton, Pugwash, and many more!  To our U.S. readers, we wish you a safe and happy Labor Day weekend filled with great new (and old) sounds!

Wilson Pickett, Mr. Magic Man: The Complete RCA Studio Recordings (Second Disc/Real Gone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Mr. Magic Man: The Complete RCA Studio Recordings brings all four of The Wicked Pickett’s RCA studio platters to CD for the very first time: Mr. Magic Man (1973), Miz Lena’s Boy (1973), Pickett in the Pocket (1974) and Join Me and Let’s Be Free (1975).  Presented with four rare, never-on-CD bonus single versions, this release paints a full portrait of this exciting era in which Pickett continued to record passionate soul and funk in a classic vein. This 2-CD set, remastered by Vic Anesini, features 42 tracks and a running time of 148 minutes!

The Doors, Full Circle/Other Voices (Elektra/Rhino)

Full Circle/Other Voices CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Other Voices LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Full Circle LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

The Doors’ two post-Jim Morrison studio albums – 1971’s Other Voices (which arrived in stores just six months after L.A. Woman!) and 1972’s Full Circle – are both presented in one 2-CD set and in individual, 180-gram vinyl replica editions.  The 2-CD set features one bonus track, the B-side “Treetrunk,” as well as new liner notes by David Fricke drawing on interviews with surviving Doors John Densmore and Robby Krieger.  You’ll find more information here!

Eydie Gorme, An American Treasure (GL Music/Real Gone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

This 3-CD, 34-song set previously available as a website exclusive comes to general retail.  An American Treasure has been compiled by Steve Lawrence in tribute to his late wife Eydie Gorme.  The first disc, “The Hits,” presents Eydie’s a number of Eydie’s most famous recordings, including “Blame It on the Bossa Nova,” “If He Walked into My Life,” and “What Did I Have That I Don’t Have” while Disc Two, “Steve’s Favorites,” offers the songs he most loved hearing Eydie sing, like “Don’t Go to Strangers, “The Friendliest Thing,” “Softly As I Leave You” and “Hello Young Lovers.” But it’s Disc Three that is the main attraction: a recently discovered, completely unreleased album session that she cut during the ’60s.  Read more here!

Various Artists, The Wrecking Crew: Soundtrack (Rockbeat) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Director Denny Tedesco’s documentary film about the legendary cadre of Los Angeles studio musicians loosely and affectionately referred to as “The Wrecking Crew” receives a 4-CD slipcased soundtrack set from RockBeat Records. Discs 1-3 include favorite tracks by artists including The Beach Boys, The 5th Dimension, The Mamas and the Papas, Glen Campbell, Cher, Herb Alpert, Lee Hazlewood and many more.  The fourth CD turns the spotlight on solo recordings by veteran musicians like Hal Blaine, Tommy Tedesco, Billy Strange, Plas Johnson and Barney Kessel.

Peter Frampton, Now (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Omnivore brings Peter Frampton’s 2003 “comeback” Now, featuring ten original songs and a cover of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” in tribute to George Harrison, back into print in a new edition!  Read more here!

Micky Dolenz, The MGM Singles Collection (7A Records) (Digital: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

The limited edition vinyl release of Micky Dolenz’s The MGM Singles Collection proved one of this year’s happiest and most unexpected treats.  (Read all about it here!)  Now, the collection comes to digital platforms with bonus material: three alternate mixes of the Harry Nilsson production of “Daybreak,” an interview with set producer Iain Lee, and Lee’s interview with Micky himself!

Various Artists, Original Album Classics (Sony U.K.)

Sony U.K. has another host of Original Album Classics mini-boxes, each featuring five albums from a Sony artist.  The Mike Nesmith and Al Kooper collections collect some harder-to-find albums; the Dean Martin and Paul Simon titles were previously issued in the U.S. in different packaging.

Michael Nesmith: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Al Kooper: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Dean Martin: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Paul Simon: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Spooner Oldham, Pot Luck (Light in the Attic) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

The great songwriter and pianist Spooner Oldham takes the solo spotlight on LITA’s reissue of his 1972 Family Productions LP!  Features “Cry Like a Baby,” “Respect,” “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)” and more.  Read more here!

Pugwash, Play This Intimately (As If Among Friends) (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

TSD favorites Pugwash return with a new studio album on Omnivore Recordings to follow up last year’s anthology A Rose in a Garden of Weeds!  If you’re looking for ELO-style pop (and beyond!), look no further than Play This Intimately (As If Among Friends)  – which features guest appearances from some of Pugwash’s famous friends including Ray Davies, Neil Hannon, Andy Partridge, and (lending a shout) Jeff Lynne!  Watch for Joe’s review early next week!