WIWS Banner

The Second Disc

Expanded and Remastered Music News

  • Home
  • News
    • Classic Rock
    • Rock
    • Pop
    • Jazz
    • Popular Standards/Vocal
    • R&B/Soul
    • Country
    • Folk
    • Cast Recordings
    • Soundtracks
    • Everything Else
      • Classical/Opera
      • Disco/Dance
      • Funk
      • Gospel
      • Rap/Hip-Hop
  • Features
    • Release Round-Up
    • Giveaways!
    • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Classic Rock
    • Rock
    • Pop
    • Jazz
    • Popular Standards/Vocal
    • R&B/Soul
    • Country
    • Folk
    • Cast Recordings
    • Soundtracks
    • Everything Else
      • Classical/Opera
      • Disco/Dance
      • Funk
      • Gospel
      • Rap/Hip-Hop
  • Release Calendar
    • Coming Soon
    • Now Available
  • About
  • Second Disc Records
    • Full Catalog
  • Contact

/ News

Saturday On My Mind: Varese Has Easybeats, Moody Blues, "Dark Shadows" and More For Record Store Day

April 12, 2016 By Joe Marchese 3 Comments

Easybeats  - Good FridayVampires! Dragons! Keanu Reeves! Plus two revered pop-rock classics: Varese Sarabande has a little bit of everything on its five-title Record Store Day slate arriving this Saturday, April 16, in finer independent stores everywhere.

Record Store Day may take place on a Saturday, but thanks to The Easybeats, it's a Good Friday. Varese has the first-ever U.S. release of the Australian band's debut U.K. album originally issued on United Artists Records.  Good Friday was issued in the U.S. as Friday on My Mind after the album's hit single, a Top 20 hit in America, and given a new cover as well as a modified running order, alternate mixes, and different track line-up.  This 180-gram replica edition recreates the original U.K. album produced by Shel Talmy (The Kinks, The Who) as well as its striking cover artwork (and a replica UA-style label, too!).  It features the original songs of the five-piece band's Harry Vanda and George Young as well as choice covers from Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector ("River Deep, Mountain High") and Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller ("Hound Dog," dropped from the U.S. release).  Chances are the original pressings of this rocking classic from Australia's favorite rockers don't sound as crisp as this punchy platter remastered for vinyl from the original tapes at D2 Mastering.

Moody Blues - Go NowThe Easybeats aren't the only band with a rare album getting the deluxe treatment for RSD.  Also new to 180-gram vinyl is The Moody Blues, # 1, also known as Go Now. Future Wings member Denny Laine (guitar, vocals, harmonica), Ray Thomas (vocals, harmonica, flute), Mike Pinder (keyboards, vocals), Clint Warwick (bass, vocals) and Graeme Edge (drums) came together in Birmingham circa spring 1964 as a rocking R&B ensemble.  The Moodies signed with the Ridgepride management company of actor/songwriter/jack-of-all-trades Alex Wharton (a.k.a. Alex Murray) who landed them a deal with Decca.  Though the band's first single didn't make much noise despite a promotional appearance on ITV's Ready Steady Go!, the second one did.  "Go Now," written by Larry Banks and Milton Bennett, and first recorded by Larry's ex-wife Bessie Banks, was recorded by the Moodies with Laine on guitar and lead vocals.  It reached No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart in January 1965, the same month they opened on a U.K. tour for Chuck Berry.  Weeks later, it entered the charts in the U.S., peaking at a still-impressive No. 10.

# 1 was the U.S. edition of the band's U.K. debut The Magnificent Moodies.  # 1 has four different songs and a unique running order.  Among the tracks you'll hear here, in addition to "Go Now," are Bert Berns' "I Don't Want to Go On Without You," James Brown's "I'll Go Crazy," Barry and Greenwich's "I've Got a Dream," the Gershwins and DuBose Heyward's Porgy and Bess standard "It Ain't Necessarily So," and a number of originals penned by Denny Laine and Mike Pinder.  Alex Murray produced "Go Now," "I Don't Want to Go On Without You" and the Sue Sandler/Kay Bennett/Gene Redd song "It's Easy Child," while Denny Cordell helmed the remainder of the album.  Steve Massie has remastered for Varese.  Per usual, there are fantastic London Records-style replica labels to sweeten the pot!

Dark Shadows RSDThe most haunting title of the Varese line-up is undoubtedly The Original Music from ABC-TV's Dark Shadows.  Originally released on Philips Records in 1969, the album reached an impressive Top 20 peak on the Billboard 200 and remains one of the most beloved television soundtracks of all time.  Varese's reissue presents Robert Cobert's musically varied score to Dan Curtis' cherished 1966-1971 daytime gothic horror serial which chronicled the exploits of the mysterious and supernatural denizens of Collinsport, Maine.  Cobert's atmospheric melodies, played by ensembles ranging from a duo to a full orchestra, reflected the many moods of the soap opera, ranging from suspenseful and haunting to delicate and even groovy.  (Dig the mellow surf-guitar sounds of "No. 1 at the Blue Whale" or the bright "Back at the Blue Whale," both referring to the popular Collinsport pub!)  Stars Jonathan Frid and David Selby appear on the LP, as well, via memorable spoken narrations and dramatic recitations over lush musical beds.

How to Train Your Dragon RSDLong available on CD from the label, this 180-gram LP replica reissue (right down to the painstakingly recreated label with Varese subbing for Philips) is presented on colorful splatter vinyl and includes a reproduction of the original album's poster of Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) and Quentin Collins (David Selby).  This release makes a fine companion to Varese's 2014 CD reissue of Cobert's evocative score to Dan Curtis' Dracula.

Joining Dark Shadows are two soundtracks of a more contemporary vintage.  John Powell received an Academy Award nomination for his score to the 2010 animated film How to Train Your Dragon.  Varese's 180-gram edition of this new-to-vinyl release includes a poster, and features 12 tracks pressed on green vinyl that cleverly resembles the dragon's eye with white veins and black labels: eleven cues from Powell's charming, acclaimed score plus "Sticks and Stones" written and performed by Jónsi.

John Wick RSDIt's joined by Tyler Bates and Joel J. Richard's soundtrack to the 2014 action thriller John Wick.  Fourteen tracks from the original album are present on this vinyl release.  One side is dedicated to the instrumental cues while the other presents the film's songs performed by Marilyn Manson, M86 and Susie Q, KALEIDA, and others.  Two tracks are previously unreleased and not on the original CD: Manson's "Killing Strangers" (written and produced by Manson with Tyler Bates) and a significantly extended version of Le Castle Vania's "LED Spirals."  It's pressed on gunmetal (gray)-colored vinyl.

All of these limited edition releases will become available on Record Store Day this Saturday!  You can view a list of participating retail locations here!

Categories: News Formats: Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Pop, Rock, Soundtracks Tags: John Powell, Record Store Day, Robert Cobert, The Easybeats, The Moody Blues

Avatar photo

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, Second Disc Records, in conjunction with Real Gone Music, has released newly-curated collections produced by Joe from iconic artists such as Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Laura Nyro, Melissa Manchester, Chet Atkins, and many others. He has contributed liner notes to reissues from a diverse array of artists, among them Nat "King" Cole, Paul Williams, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, The 5th Dimension, Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and the Papas, Carpenters, Perry Como, Rod McKuen, Doris Day, Jackie DeShannon, and Andy Williams, and has compiled releases for talents including Robert Goulet and Keith Allison of Paul Revere and the Raiders. 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.

Connect With Joe: FacebookTwitter

You Might Also Like

  • Marshall Crenshaw 40Rockin' Around in NYC (and Beyond): Yep Roc to Celebrate 40 Years of Marshall Crenshaw's Debut
  • Harry Chapin Story of a LifeCat's In the Cradle: Real Gone's Black Friday RSD Slate Features Harry Chapin, The Jesus Lizard, Smash Mouth, and Fountains of Wayne
  • Willie Nelson Live at BudokanBurning Desire: Legacy Recordings Announces RSD Black Friday Titles from Jimi Hendrix, Willie Nelson, David Bowie, The Script
  • The Doors Paris BluesHello, It's Me: Rhino Announces Black Friday RSD Slate with Todd Rundgren, Fleetwood Mac, Madonna, More

Comments

  1. Jeff says

    April 12, 2016 at 5:19 pm

    I am so in on The Moodies #1 - it's been the hole in my collection. I have a pretty crappy CD version from '94 by some mystery label (album called "Go Now")... might even be a Frankenstein mix of US/UK - has "Time is On My Side" on it but not "It Ain't Necessarily So" - never heard their take! All great content of course - glad this one is getting the proper master treatment from Varese!

    Reply
  2. Victor Dang says

    April 12, 2016 at 6:09 pm

    If Varese is reissuing the US version of the Moody Blues' Go Now album (#1), then I hope they use the alternate take of "I'll Go Crazy" that was on the US version:

    https://youtu.be/KgWXey-Bbe8

    (I'm nearly certain this video is running fast, but you should get the idea.)

    Reply
  3. Philip Cohen says

    April 12, 2016 at 6:13 pm

    I wonder if this release of "The Moody Blues #1:Go Now" will use the correct (faster tempoed) version of "I'll Go Crazy" as on the original U.S.A. vinyl. That take was notably absent from the "Esoteric" label's recent (otherwise superb) UK 2-CD expanded edition of the album's UK counterpart "Magnificent Moodies"

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Upcoming Releases

  • Crazy Horse All Roads Lead Home
    All Roads Lead Home
    Crazy Horse
    March 31, 2023
  • The Who With Orchestra Live at Wembley
    The Who with Orchestra Live at Wembley
    The Who
    March 31, 2023
  • The Birth of Bop
    The Birth of Bop: The Savoy 10-Inch LP Collection
    Various Artists
    March 31, 2023
See Full Calendar

Connect

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 4,573 other subscribers

Popular

  • Rush Signals 40th
    Chemistry: Rush Revisits "Signals" For 40th Anniversary posted on March 22, 2023 | under News
  • Rick Springfield Springfield
    Call the Fire Brigade: Iconoclassic Premieres Rick Springfield's Lost 1974 Album "Springfield" in Expanded Edition posted on March 20, 2023 | under News
  • Talking Heads Stop Making Sense Deluxe 2LP
    What a Day That Was: Talking Heads' 'Stop Making Sense' Expanded for Vinyl, Film Reissue posted on March 17, 2023 | under News

Comments

  • small faces here come the nice2
    Return To Itchycoo Park: Small Faces' "Here Come The Nice" Deluxe Box Set Arrives In January [UPDATED 12/3] 84 comments | by Joe Marchese | posted on December 3, 2013 | under News
  • the beatles u s albums box2
    British Invasion! The Beatles Unveil "The U.S. Albums" Box Set in January 69 comments | by Joe Marchese | posted on December 12, 2013 | under News
  • Rolling Stones in Mono
    Out of Their Heads: Stones Plan Mono Box Set 47 comments | by Mike Duquette | posted on August 10, 2016 | under News

Music Resources

  • Addicted to Vinyl
  • Crap from the Past
  • Discogs
  • Film Score Monthly
  • IMWAN Forum – From the Vaults
  • MusicTAP
  • Musoscribe
  • Pause & Play
  • Popblerd
  • Popdose
  • Record Racks
  • Slicing Up Eyeballs
  • Steve Hoffman Music Forums
  • Ultimate Classic Rock
  • Vintage Vinyl News
  • Viva La Mainstream
  • Wolfgang's Vault

Labels of Note

  • Ace Records
  • Analog Spark
  • Bear Family
  • BGO Records
  • Big Break Records
  • Blixa Sounds
  • Cherry Red Label Group
  • Craft Recordings
  • Demon Music Group
  • Friday Music
  • Funky Town Grooves
  • Iconoclassic Records
  • Intervention Records
  • Intrada
  • Kritzerland
  • La La Land Records
  • Legacy Recordings
  • Light in the Attic
  • Masterworks Broadway
  • Now Sounds
  • Omnivore Recordings
  • Real Gone Music
  • Resonance Records
  • Rhino Entertainment
  • Rock Candy Records
  • SoulMusic Records
  • Sunset Blvd. Records
  • Supermegabot
  • Varese Sarabande
  • Vinyl Me, Please
  • Wounded Bird
Copyright © 2023 The Second Disc. All rights reserved. · Site by Metaglyphics

The Second Disc is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk.

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy