Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up!

Ann-Margret, The Definitive Collection (Real Gone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Real Gone has a new compilation from the one and only Ann-Margret.  The Definitive Collection features 30 of the flame-haired singer/actress’s songs from her 1961-1966 tenure on RCA Records and includes standards, pop, soundtrack recordings and collaborations with Al Hirt and Elvis Presley!  This title was previously issued as a digital-only entry in Sony’s Essential series.  The Second Disc’s Joe Marchese provides the new liner notes!

The Rascals, The Complete Singles – As and Bs (Real Gone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The Complete Singles A’s and B’s from The Rascals is just what the title promises:  every single side released by the band on Atlantic and Columbia between 1965 and 1972 in their original mixes.  The 47-track, 2-CD compilation has been newly remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision and features liner notes by Ed Osborne containing new quotes from the band members.

Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes, The Fever: The Remastered Epic Recordings (Real Gone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The Fever – The Complete Epic Recordings by Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes collects the New Jersey-based band’s four albums for Epic (including the promo-only Jukes Live At the Bottom Line which makes its official CD debut here).  These recordings have a strong Bruce Springsteen/E Street Band connection with Springsteen penning several of the songs and all of the albums being produced by Steve Van Zandt.  Other guests here include The Coasters, The Drifters, The Five Satins and Ronnie Spector.  All 40 tracks have been newly remastered by Mark Wilder at Battery Studios and feature liner notes by Chris Morris with new quotes from Southside Johnny.

Artful Dodger, The Complete Columbia Recordings (Real Gone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The power-pop precursor band Artful Dodger hailed from Virginia.  Influenced by The Beatles and Rolling Stones, the group cut three albums on Columbia between 1975 and 1977.  The Complete Columbia Recordings contains these three albums, often compared to The Raspberries’ finest work, plus the band’s single sides.  It has been remastered by Maria Triana at Battery Studios.  Jeremy Cargill’s notes features new quotes from the band.

George Jones, Birth of a Legend: The Truly Complete Starday and Mercury Recordings 1954-1961 (Bear Family) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Over the course of six CDs, 200 tracks, and a 174-page book, Bear Family revisits George Jones’ early years on a new box set.  More than 20 previously unreleased tracks make this the “truly” complete collection for which fans of The Possum have been waiting!

Guy Clark, The Best of the Dualtone Years (Dualtone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Late singer-songwriter Guy Clark (1941-2016) is celebrated on this new 2-CD anthology.  The Best of the Dualtone Years chronicles the progressive country hero’s 2006-2013 period at the Dualtone label during which time he recorded four well-received albums including the Grammy-winning My Favorite Picture of You.  This release premieres three previously unreleased demos, and features new liner notes by Holly Gleason.  Also available on vinyl.

The Muffs, Happy Birthday to Me (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Omnivore celebrates the 20th anniversary of the favorite Muffs album on LP for the first time in those two decades (with the first pressing on white vinyl, and standard black to follow), as well as on CD (expanded with a U.K. B-side and a generous six previously unissued demos).  Both the CD and LP releases feature photos, liner notes from the band, track-by-track commentary from The Muffs’ Kim Shattuck, and a new remastering from Gavin Lurssen and Reuben Cohen.

Donald Byrd, Love Has Come Around: The Elektra Records Anthology 1978-1982 (Big Break/Cherry Red) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Watch for a full review soon of this latest anthology from the team at Big Break Records!  Love Has Come Around features, on two CDs, 31 recordings from the great jazz trumpeter – every one of Byrd’s tracks for Elektra Records in which he embraced the sounds of jazz, funk and soul.  Syreeta Wright and Isaac Hayes are among the guests on these two discs of sizzling fusion.

Brenton Wood, The Very Best of Brenton Wood (Concord Bicycle) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

In the Better-Late-Than-Never Department, we missed this title from last week: a new 16-track anthology from the soul man behind such oldies staples as “The Oogum Boogum Song” and “Gimme Little Sign.”

Clint Walker, Inspiration: Expanded Edition (Real Gone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Real Gone Music dips back to the golden age of television for this reissue.  The western Cheyenne ran from 1955-1963 and starred Clint Walker.   He was also signed to Warner Bros. for a recording contract and, in 1959, released Inspiration, a country-gospel album.  RGM’s new edition is expanded by one track and features notes from Todd Everett.

Judy Collins, A Love Letter to Stephen Sondheim (Wildflower) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

After a well-received concert, Judy Collins has recorded her new arrangements of Stephen Sondheim classics on a studio album.  The repertoire is a bit different than that of the concert; here, she tackles songs from Follies (“I’m Still Here”), Sunday in the Park with George (“Finishing the Hat”), Into the Woods (“No One is Alone”) and more in her inimitable style, including a new interpretation of her Sondheim-penned signature song, “Send in the Clowns.”

Livingston Taylor, Safe Home (Chesky) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The troubadour, Berklee College of Music professor and brother of James returns with a new set of both original songs and classic standards of the rock and pre-rock era including “Anything You Can Do,” “My Romance,” “Never Never Land,” “People Will Say We’re in Love,” “Penny Lane,” and “Bye Bye Love.”  This release is part of the Chesky label’s Binaural+ series, and was recorded with just one microphone.