Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up!  Packed with over 30 titles including highly-anticipated reissues, a slew of box sets, collections and more, it just may be the mightiest of the year!

 

The Velvet Underground, Loaded: Re-Loaded 45th Anniversary Edition (Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

The Velvet Underground's 1970 album - and Lou Reed's swansong with the band - gets the deluxe expanded treatment from Rhino in this new box set featuring the original stereo and mono albums plus a wealth of bonus material, two live concerts and a DVD featuring high resolution stereo mixes plus the first-ever surround mix of the album!  As a nice treat for collectors, the set has been designed to sit alongside Universal's past deluxe Velvets boxes on your shelf.  The remastered stereo Loaded album will also be available as a stand-alone CD on October 30.

Alanis Morissette, Jagged Little Pill: Various Editions (Maverick/Rhino)

Jagged Little Pill: Collector's Edition (4 CDs): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Jagged Little Pill: Deluxe Edition (2 CDs): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Rhino revisits Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill in a new 4-CD box set as well as a 2-CD highlights edition and a 1-CD standalone remaster. This new four-disc Jagged Little Pill: Collector's Edition includes remastered audio of the original album plus an entire disc of 10 unreleased demos from the era handpicked by Morissette from her archives. Also included is a previously unreleased concert from 1995 as well as 2005's Jagged Little Pill Acoustic.  The 2-CD version has the remastered original album plus the demo disc.  Target also has an exclusive edition of the 2-CD version with additional content TBD.  Watch soon for Randy's review of this set, and in the meantime, read our full rundown here!

Otis Redding, Soul Manifesto: 1964-1970 (Atlantic/Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

This 12-CD box set includes the eight live and studio albums recorded by Stax superstar Otis Redding between 1964 and 1967 as well as four posthumously-released albums.  Read the full list of albums and more here!

Van Morrison, Astral Weeks / His Band and the Street Choir (Warner Bros./Rhino)

Astral Weeks: Amazon U.S. /Amazon U.K.
His Band and the Street Choir: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Two of Van Morrison's finest. most beloved albums for Warner Bros. at long last get the remastered and expanded treatment in these new single-disc editions, beautifully packaged in digipaks with new liner notes and period graphics!  Read our full report here.

Lou Reed, The Sire Years: Complete Albums Box (Sire/Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Rhino has boxed up Lou Reed's eight Sire albums on 10 CDs in one compact package containing New York, Songs for Drella, Magic and Loss, Set the Twilight Reeling, Perfect Night - Live in London, Ecstasy, Animal Serenade and The Raven.

Elvis Presley, If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RCA/Legacy) (Amazon U.S./ Amazon U.K.)

For this new album, Presley performances recorded between 1956 and 1973 have been melded with new tracks recorded at Abbey Road in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for ballads ("Bridge Over Troubled Water," "You've Lost That Loving Feeling," "Can't Help Falling in Love," "If I Can Dream"), gospel ("How Great Thou Art"), and rock and roll ("Burning Love," James Taylor's satirical "Steamroller Blues"). Favorites from songwriters Mac Davis (the hit "In the Ghetto") and Neil Diamond ("And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind") also appear in these new orchestral renditions. Michael Bublé joins Presley, and Italian crossover opera/pop group Il Volo adds vocals to "It's Now or Never," reflecting the song's origins. Duane Eddy adds his trademark guitar licks to "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and Mickey Newbury's epic "An American Trilogy."  Read the full tracklisting and more here.  This set is also available in a CD/LP box set with 3 bonus tracks and more in the United Kingdom!  Check it out at Amazon U.K.!

Various Artists, The Classic Christmas Album (Legacy) (Amazon U.S. Exclusive)

We couldn't be more excited about this new 3-CD yuletide collection, as it's been co-produced by our very own Mike Duquette!  Mike and co-producer Jeff James have assembled a smashing selection of 42 holiday favorites from an eclectic array of artists including Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Luther Vandross, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Wham!, Kenny Loggins and Joe Satriani!  Watch for our full coverage with tracklisting soon!

Various Artists, Hulaland: The Golden Age of Hawaiian Music (RockBeat) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

RockBeat Records has unveiled a lavish, hardcover book-style box set with four discs exploring in depth the remarkable legacy of Hawaiian music throughout the decades.  With artists from Louis Armstrong to Ethel Merman, and The Ventures to Martin Denny, as well as native Hawaiian artists and contemporary practitioners, this fascinating and fun set has something for everybody.  Watch for Joe's full review very soon!

Various Artists, Love and Affection: More Motown Girls (Ace) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Ace follows up its Finders Keepers - Motown Girls CD with a second volume dedicated to the ladies of Hitsville, USA.  This time, the Ace team has excavated a full 25 previously unreleased tracks from artists including Brenda Holloway, Barbara McNair, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, the Lewis Sisters and LaBrenda Ben!  As always, watch for Joe's full report on Ace's new releases coming up soon!

Cilla Black, The Hit Singles (Varese Vintage) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

The late, great Cilla Black OBE is celebrated on this new 18-track collection from Varese Vintage featuring every one of her charting singles (including "Anyone Who Had a Heart," "Alfie," "It's for You" and "Step Inside Love") originally produced by Sir George Martin!

Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas, All-Time Greatest Hits (Varese Vintage) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

All-Time Greatest Hits features 14 tracks from the popular beat group's discography, all recorded between 1963 and 1965 and originally produced by George Martin.  A full seven tracks were written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney including "Do You Want to Know a Secret," "Bad to Me" and "From a Window."

Various Artists, The Bottom Line Archive Series (Bottom Line Records)

Pete Seeger and Roger McGuinn: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Doc Watson: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Tony Orlando: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Three new releases come to the Bottom Line Archive Series, presenting classic concerts from the late, lamented New York club's archives.  You'll find full tracklistings and more here!

Rolling Stones, From the Vault: Live at the Tokyo Dome 1990 (Eagle Rock)

DVD/2-CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Blu-ray: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
DVD/4-LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

The Rolling Stones are continuing their From The Vault series with this release of one of the ten shows from February 14-27, 1990 at The Tokyo Dome; these shows culminated the Steel Wheels World Tour.  The footage has been restored and the sound has been newly mixed by Bob Clearmountain for this first official release of the show.  Available in DVD/2-CD, Standard Definition BD and DVD/4-LP editions.

The Jam, Fire and Skill: The Jam Live (UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Fire and Skill is the new 6-CD box set featuring six previously unreleased concerts by The Jam, one from each year of the band's major-label career.  This set includes a hardback book and individual gatefold wallets for the discs, as well as a new essay, period photos and rare memorabilia. All audio has been newly mastered at Abbey Road.

Frank Zappa, Roxy: The Movie (Zappa Records/Eagle Rock)

CD/BD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
CD/DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Frank Zappa and the Mothers' concerts at the Roxy Theatre in Holywood on December 8, 9 and 10, 1973 formed the basis of the Roxy & Elsewhere album that was released in 1974.  The concerts, however, were also filmed in 16mm.  Now fully restored by the Zappa Family Trust, this live concert film is being made available for the first time.  Available in CD/BD and CD/DVD editions.

XTC, Oranges and Lemons (CD/Blu-ray Audio) (DGM) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Oranges & Lemons is the third in a series of remixed & expanded XTC Classics. The album has been mixed for 5.1 surround from the original multi-tracks by Steven Wilson with input from Andy Partridge & is fully approved by XTC.  The CD in this CD/BD set features a new stereo album mix by Wilson.  The Blu-ray premieres Wilson's 5.1 surround mix in 96/24 resolution available in LPCM and DTS HD-MA as well as the new stereo mix in 96/24 LPCM Stereo, a flat transfer of the original stereo album mix in 96/24 and instrumental versions of all new mixes in 96/24 LPCM audio.

In addition, the packed Blu-ray offers two separate sets of demo and work tape sessions showing the evolution of the album and associated recordings, one set of pre-recording rehearsals, promos & ID links for radio stations and record companies, a collection of single mixes, and XTC's cover of Captain Beefheart's "Ella Guru."  Promo films for "The Mayor Simpleton" (three versions), "King for a Day" and "A Road to Oranges and Lemons" home movie are all also included.

Gentle Giant, Octopus (CD/Blu-ray Audio) (Alucard) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Originally released in 1972, Octopus is Gentle Giant's fourth album, and features Gary Green (guitars, percussion), Kerry Minnear (keyboards, vibraphone, percussion, cello, vocals), Derek Shulman (vocals, alto saxophone), Phil Shulman (saxophones, trumpet, mellophone, vocals), Ray Shulman (bass violin, guitar, percussion, vocals) and John Weathers (drums, percussion, xylophone). Remix engineer extraordinaire Steven Wilson has remixed the original album as well as a bonus mix of 15-minute concert performances of 'Excerpts from Octopus' from the band's 1976 tour. The Blu-ray Audio disc contains Wilson's DTS 5.1 Surround Sound Master Audio mix, instrumental mixes of five of the original eight tracks from the album in 96/24 PCM, as well as a flat transfer of the original mix of the album, taken directly from the original ¼-inch tape.  Arrives next Friday in the U.S.!  (A standard CD edition with Wilson's stereo remix is also available.)

 

Sly and the Family Stone, Greatest Hits (Quadraphonic Hybrid SACD) (Audio Fidelity) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Audio Fidelity brings the original quadraphonic (4.0 surround) version of Sly and the Family Stone'sGreatest Hits to SACD, featuring numerous variations from the songs' familiar hit versions.  The album will play in mono (sourced from the original single mixes) on the standard CD layer (playable on all CD players) on this hybrid SACD.

Joan Osborne, Relish: 20th Anniversary Edition (Mercury) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Joan Osborne's 1995 major label debut arrives in three separate formats, featuring expanded liner notes written by Chris Talbott and a number of bonus tracks. The single-CD version includes the original demo of "One of Us," with songwriter Eric Bazilian accompanying Joan on guitar; a demo version of "Pensacola" in a different, reggae style featuring the entire band, and the previously unreleased outtake "Mighty One," from the Relish sessions.  A 20-track digital album, available in both standard and HD digital formats, includes the three bonus tracks mentioned above as well as the previously unreleased outtake "Here Comes What's Coming" and four live B-sides.  A double-LP Relish without bonus tracks is also available.

The Salsoul Orchestra, The Salsoul Orchestra Story (Groove Line Records) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Over 3 CDs and 37 tracks, Groove Line Records tells the story of The Salsoul Orchestra, originally formed by arranger-conductor Vince Montana and featuring many of Philadelphia's greatest musicians plus a contingent of the best Latin-American session veterans.  Fusing soul and salsa in a heady disco style, The Salsoul Orchestra's grooves remain unequaled!  This collection features album tracks, single versions, extended remixes and more!

Various Artists, Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock and Roll (Yep Roc) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

This companion to Peter Guralnick's forthcoming biography of the same name (due on November 10) surveys the legendary career of Sun Records' Sam Phillips via the music he created with artists including Elvis Presley, Howlin' Wolf, Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie Rich, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and others.  Guralnick provides track-by-track liner notes in the 48-page booklet.  Available on 2 CDs, 3 LPs or DD.

Amy Winehouse, Amy: The Original Soundtrack (Republic) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

This soundtrack to the acclaimed documentary about the late Amy Winehouse features rare Winehouse demos and live versions alongside the original score by Antonio Pinto.

The Who, The Track Singles 1967-1973 (UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Volume Three arrives in this four-volume set collecting The Who's classic singles by label (Brunswick, Reaction, Track and Polydor).  This box set, designed in "lid-and-tray" style, contains fifteen 7-inch singles from the band's Track Records era - each one pressed on heavyweight vinyl with paper sleeves reproducing the front and back period graphics with die-cut center holes.  The Track Singles includes a 7-inch-sized 20-page color booklet with liner notes about each release and period memorabilia.

Bryan Adams, Get Up (UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Bryan Adams teams with producer Jeff Lynne (ELO, Traveling Wilburys, Tom Petty) for his thirteenth studio album, a collection of new songs. Get Up features nine original tracks plus four acoustic versions.