Release Round-Up: Week of December 18

Well, Christmas is almost upon us, and the onslaught of new releases has turned into a trickle as we head right into last-minute shopping territory! Still, selections are choice! Enjoy, and remember – you’ll see our next Release Round-Up in the New Year!

John Williams, Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Walt Disney Records) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada)

Today is all about Star Wars…and we’re just as thrilled as could be about a brand-new score by the legendary John Williams!

Maynard Ferguson, Storm / Live from San Francisco (Omnivore)

Storm: Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada
Live from San Francisco: Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada

Omnivore celebrates the late, great trumpeter Maynard Ferguson with a pair of new releases. Storm was Ferguson’s 1983 return to classic jazz following successful years of pop and fusion, and featured his takes on “As Time Goes By,” “Take the A Train” and even the theme to Sesame Street! The companion reissue of Live from San Francisco captures Ferguson in fine fettle on May 27, 1983 with a wide-ranging set showcasing his stylistic variety.

ELO - Out of the Blue

Electric Light Orchestra, Eldorado / A New World Record / Out of the Blue (Epic/Legacy)

Eldorado: Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada
A New World Record: Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada
Out of the Blue: Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada

A trio of classic ELO albums return to vinyl in deluxe, clear vinyl editions!

Original Television Soundtrack Recording, The Wiz Live (Masterworks/Broadway Records) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada)

The soundtrack to NBC’s hit television event is here, featuring the classic songs from Charlie Smalls’ Broadway score and more! We know that you loved Diana Ross Sings Songs from The Wiz as much as we did…well, here’s a perfect companion to keep the party going! Note that Amazon is currently selling MOD CD-Rs of this title (a pressed CD was originally announced).

Pantera, The Complete Studio Albums 1990-2000 (Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada)

Pantera’s quintet of Cowboys From Hell (1990), Vulgar Display Of Power (1992), Far Beyond Driven(1994), The Great Southern Trendkill (1996), and Reinventing The Steel (2000) are packaged by Rhino in one box set, available on vinyl or CD.

Joe Marchese

JOE MARCHESE (Editor) joined The Second Disc shortly after its launch in early 2010, and has since penned daily news and reviews about classic music of all genres. In 2015, Joe formed the Second Disc Records label. Celebrating the great songwriters, producers and artists who created the sound of American popular song and beyond, Second Disc Records, in conjunction with labels including Real Gone Music and Cherry Red Records, has released newly-curated collections produced and annotated by Joe from iconic artists such as Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, The Spinners, Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Meat Loaf, Laura Nyro, Melissa Manchester, Liza Minnelli, Darlene Love, Al Stewart, Michael Nesmith, and many others.

Joe has written liner notes, produced, or contributed to over 200 reissues from a diverse array of artists, among them America, JD Souther, Nat "King" Cole, Paul Williams, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, BJ Thomas, The 5th Dimension, Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and the Papas, Carpenters, Perry Como, Rod McKuen, Doris Day, Jackie DeShannon, Petula Clark, Robert Goulet, and Andy Williams.

Over the past two decades, Joe has also worked in a variety of capacities on and off Broadway as well as at some of the premier theatres in the U.S., including Lincoln Center Theater, George Street Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, and the York Theatre Company. He has felt privileged to work on productions alongside artists such as the late Jack Klugman, Eli Wallach, Arthur Laurents, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. In 2009, Joe began contributing theatre and music reviews to the print publication The Sondheim Review, and in 2012, he joined the staff of The Digital Bits as a regular contributor writing about film and television on DVD and Blu-ray.

Joe currently resides in the suburbs of New York City.