Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up!
The dB's and Friends, Christmas Time Again! (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Omnivore revisits and revises the classic alt-rock Christmas compilation. Producer Chris Stamey has added new performances by Yo La Tengo & Jeff Tweedy, Marshall Crenshaw, Robyn Hitchcock, and Big Star's Third (featuring Mike Mills of R.E.M. taking lead vocals on Big Star's "Jesus Christ") to selected tracks from past editions of the album for a total of 22 tracks!
King Crimson, Thrak (CD/DVD-A) (DGM) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
1995's Thrak arrives as the tenth release in the King Crimson 40th Anniversary series. The first full album to feature the 'Double Trio' incarnation of the group, Thrak will feature a new "21st century stereo reimagining" of the album by Jakko Jakszyk and Robert Fripp, while the DVD-Audio disc has high-resolution 5.1 Surround Sound and stereo mixes by Jakszyk and Fripp, alongside a high-resolution presentation of the original album stereo mix. Like all release in this series, the CD and DVD are housed in a slipcased digipak also containing a booklet with sleeve notes, rare photos and archive material.
Original Soundtrack Recording, At Long Last Love (Varese Vintage) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
At long last - the soundtrack to Peter Bogdanovich's cult classic At Long Last Love comes to CD! Cybill Shepherd, Burt Reynolds, Madeline Kahn and Eileen Brennan are among those singing such Cole Porter standards as "Just One of Those Things," "I Get a Kick Out of You" and "You're the Top" on this homage to 1930s musical comedy films! Watch this space on Monday for details as to how YOU CAN WIN one!
Glen Campbell, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour - Christmas Specials (Shout! Factory) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. TBD)
Shout! Factory's 90-minute DVD release is culled from Glen Campbell's classic variety show, and features guests including George Gobel, Jerry Reed, Anne Murray and Shecky Greene.
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, The Wizard of Oz (Vinyl) (WaterTower Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
WaterTower Music brings the deluxe, expanded soundtrack to the MGM classic The Wizard of Oz (originally released on CD via Rhino) to this 125-gram black vinyl 2-LP set.
Herbie Hancock, Feets Don't Fail Me Now: Expanded Edition (Funky Town Grooves) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Funky Town Grooves adds seven bonus tracks - single edits and extended disco mixes - to its newly-remastered edition of Herbie Hancock's 1979 album.
Earth Wind and Fire, Electric Universe (Funky Town Grooves) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
FTG also has an expanded and remastered edition - with eight bonus tracks including previously unreleased demos - of Earth Wind and Fire's 1983 Electric Universe!
Raydio, Raydio: Expanded Edition and Rock On: Expanded Edition (Funky Town Grooves)
Raydio: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Rock On: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio's 1978 self-titled album with the hit "Jack and Jill" is remastered and expanded with two bonus tracks including the 1982 remake of "Jack and Jill." 1979's Rock On, featuring "You Can't Change That," gets the same treatment with two bonuses.
Pat Boone, R&B Duet Hits (Goldenlane) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Pat Boone reissues his 2006 We Are Family, featuring duets with Smokey Robinson, The Four Tops, Ray Parker Jr., Earth, Wind and Fire, and others, under a new title. This follows Boone's recent CD of previously unreleased duets with Andy Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat "King" Cole and more!
KC and the Sunshine Band, A Sunshine Christmas (BFD) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Disco greats KC and the Sunshine Band celebrate Christmas with this new release!
Original Broadway Cast Recording, Hamilton (Atlantic) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
This one isn't a reissue - but it is the new cast recording of the most acclaimed musical in decades. Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson and Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter of The Roots have executive-produced this 2-CD document of the musical fusing rap, hip-hop, pop and classic musical theatre written and composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda and starring Miranda, Leslie Odom, Jonathan Groff, Renée Elise Goldsberry and more!
Zubb says
I see that the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour Christmas DVD is only 90 minutes. Were there only 2 Christmas Specials during that series run? Figuring the 1 hour show was only about 45 minutes when you factor in the commercial breaks. Regardless, I will be picking up this DVD. Can't wait.