Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up!

Jethro Tull, Songs from the Wood: 40th Anniversary Edition - The Country Set (Chrysalis/Parlophone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada / Amazon U.K.)

Jethro Tull's 1977 album returns in a new 3CD/2DVD book-style edition, packed with bonus material. Steven Wilson produced new stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes heard in this set on CD and DVD, featuring not only the album but bonus tracks too.  As per the norm for this series, there's a flat transfer of the original stereo album master on DVD, as well as four of the original quadrophonic mixes, too.  Also included in the set is a healthy offering of live material. Two CDs, culled from shows in Boston and Maryland, showcase the band on its Songs From the Wood tour, with a DVD featuring the Maryland show in full. This unseen video footage, featuring 16/48 stereo LPCM and 5.1 DTS, AC3 Dolby Digital surround sound mixed by King Crimson's Jakko Jakszyk (himself a mixer of bonus material for Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Tull's Minstrel In the Gallery reissue), is sourced from the video feed shown to audiences from The Capital Centre as the concert took place.  It's topped off with a 96-page book!  Read more here!

Peter Cetera, The Very Best of Peter Cetera (Varese Vintage) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada / Amazon U.K.)

Varese Vintage offers up a 14-track retrospective from the onetime Chicago bassist and singer drawing upon his recordings for Full Moon and Warner Bros. such as "Glory of Love," the Amy Grant duet "Next Time I Fall," "One Good Woman" and "Even a Fool Can See," as well as his Cher duet "After All" originally released on Geffen.  Eight rare single edits/remixes appear here, including the Japan-only version of "Daddy's Girl," the Cher and Grant duets as well as "Feels Like Heaven" with Chaka Khan.  It's all been remastered from original tapes by Steve Massie, and includes an eight-page full-color booklet with notes by Larry R. Watts.  Read more here!

Various Artists, Singles: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Deluxe Edition (Epic/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Legacy has teamed with writer-director Cameron Crowe to curate definitive 2-CD and 2-LP versions of the soundtrack to his 1992 film Singles, a cinematic love letter to Seattle at the height of the alternative scene.  The original album is expanded with a full bonus disc featuring 18 rare and previously unreleased tracks from fictional band Citizen Dick, Paul Westerberg, Alice in Chains, Mike McCready, Mudhoney, and most prominently, Chris Cornell and Soundgarden.  As the music world still reels from Cornell's untimely death on May 17, his significant contributions to the pop cultural landscape are reflected on this rich soundtrack.  Watch this space for a full review coming soon.

Various Artists, Stax Classics (Rhino/Concord)

Rhino and Concord have teamed up to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Stax Records with a number of projects, kicking off with today's launch of the 10-title Stax Classics line.  These budget-priced, 12-track compilations offer overviews of the careers of some of the label's biggest artists including Booker T. and the MG's, Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Carla Thomas, William Bell, Albert King, Johnnie Taylor, The Staple Singers, Isaac Hayes, and The Dramatics.  Each title contains new liner notes and is available on CD and digitally.  Read our full rundown here for more information, plus order links for every title!

Blink-182, California: Deluxe Edition (BMG)

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Blink-182's 2016 album California gets a quick reissue - but it amounts to a bonus of a complete new album!  California will be expanded with a 12-track bonus disc, including the new single "Parking Lot," a Japanese bonus track ("Hey I'm Sorry") and an acoustic rendition of "Bored to Death."  It's available on CD and vinyl, and color LP variants are available through the band's official store.  You'll find more details here!

Helium, Ends with And (Matador) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1990s noise-pop group Helium releases Ends With And, a new compilation which collects 19 rare tracks across two LPs, including B-sides, EP and compilation tracks (two of which are by Mary Timony and Ash Bowie's Led Byrd side project) and four unreleased demos, including the unheard song "Golden Bridge."  Available on vinyl and download/streaming.  The compilation will be joined by vinyl reissues of 1995's The Dirt of Luck and 1997's The Magic City (the latter as a 2LP set with the EP No Guitars, released earlier that year).  You'll find more info here!

The Wynton Kelly Trio and Wes Montgomery, Smokin' in Seattle: Live at the Penthouse (Resonance) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

This live release features never-before-issued sets from guitar hero Wes Montgomery with pianist Wynton Kelly and his trio recorded on April 14 and 21, 1966 - less than a year after their classic joint LP, Smokin' at the Half Note.  A 40-page booklet puts in perspective the performance featuring such tunes as "If You Could See Me Now," "What's New," "Oleo," and "There is No Greater Love."

Little Steven, Soulfire (Wicked Cool/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The E Street Band member and Underground Garage maven returns with his first solo album in two decades, featuring leadoff single "St. Valentine's Day" and a revival of Little Steven and Bruce Springsteen's classic for Southside Johnny, "Love on the Wrong Side of Town."  Available on CD, DD and LP.

Chris Price, Stop Talking (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Chris Price, producer of Emmit Rhodes' acclaimed Rainbow Ends, offers up his sophomore solo album.  Stop Talking has fourteen original songs recorded between 2013 and 2016 from haunting acoustic ballads ("Once Was True," the subtly string-enhanced "Pulling Teeth" and pretty, harmony-flecked "You and Me") to electric cuts ("Stop Talking"), power pop ("Algebra in the City"), Beatle-esque bouncers ("One of Them"), bossa nova ("Just in Time"), and baroque-inspired rock ("Man Down").  The album reflects Price's wide-ranging love of pop in all its forms, and has flashes of D.I.Y. Emmit Rhodes and Brian Wilson in its soundscapes.  Melodic, refreshing, and creative, one hopes Price doesn't Stop Talking - or singing and songwriting, for that matter.

Los Straitjackets, What's So Funny About Peace, Love, and Los Straitjackets? (Yep Roc) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Nick Lowe's musical compadres Los Straitjackets pay tribute to their pal with this new album.  What's So Funny, available on CD, DD, and vinyl, features instrumental versions of the Jesus of Cool's classics like "Roller Show," "Cruel to Be Kind," "Heart of the City," and of course, "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding."  Lowe even shows up for a cameo appearance.