Burning Love: Omnivore Reissues and Expands Alex Chilton, Arthur Alexander Titles

Omnivore Recordings has announced a pair of upcoming releases from two very different yet equally soulful singer-songwriters: Alex Chilton and Arthur Alexander.

In 1995, the late Big Star and Box Tops frontman Alex Chilton returned to Memphis’ Ardent Studios, the site of his classic work with Big Star, to record A Man Called Destruction. Blending original songs with a host of eclectic covers from the likes of Chris Kenner (“Sick and Tired”), Brian Wilson and Jan Berry via Jan & Dean (“The New Girl in School”), and Jimmy Reed (“You Don’t Have to Go”, the album marked Chilton’s return to his signature blue-eyed soul sound with nods to garage rock, R&B, and even jazz (the album boasted a horn section). Omnivore’s CD reissue boasts a full seven previously unreleased tracks from the original sessions – including Chilton’s rendition of the timeless “(I Don’t Know Why) But I Do” – with new liner notes from author Bob Mehr putting it all into perspective. Additionally, the label will release a vinyl edition of the complete edition. This double-LP release will be initially pressed on translucent blue vinyl, and will include a download card, as well. Mehr’s notes will be found in the gatefold sleeve. These reissues follow Omnivore’s recent announcement of a slate of releases from Chris Bell, Chilton’s Big Star partner. The Chilton reissues are due on August 25.

Before then, on July 28, Omnivore will dip into the catalogue of the late Arthur Alexander for another deluxe, expanded reissue. Alexander inspired artists from The Beatles to Bob Dylan with his early sixties recordings for the Dot label including “You Better Move On” and “Anna (Go to Him).” In 1972, the soul man attempted a comeback on the Warner Bros. label. The self-titled Arthur Alexander, produced by Muscle Shoals session veteran Tommy Cogbill, included an exciting array of songs including an early version of “Burning Love,” covered by Elvis Presley shortly after this album’s release. The LP saw an incomplete CD release in 1994 as part of Rainbow Road: The Warner Bros. Recordings. Omnivore’s new CD edition restores the original album to its complete length and adds six bonus tracks – four of which were on the previous release, and two of which are never-before-released. It adds up to a complete celebration of the R&B great’s seventies “comeback.”

Both upcoming releases from Omnivore are available for pre-order now at the links below!

Alex Chilton, A Man Called Destruction (Ardent 7-1507-2, 1995 – reissued Omnivore, 2017)

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Links TBD

2-LP Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Links TBD

Sick and Tired
Devil Girl
Lies
It’s Your Funeral
What’s Your Sign, Girl?
Il Ribelle
You Don’t Have to Go
Boplexity
New Girl in School
You’re Lookin’ Good
Don’t Know Anymore
Don’t Stop
Devil Girl (Double-Tracked Vocal)
Don’t Know Anymore (Rough Mix)
Give It to Me Baby (Take 3)
You’re My Favorite
(I Don’t Know Why) But I Do
Please Pass Me My Walkin’ Shoes
Why Should I Care/It’s Your Funeral

Tracks 13-19 previously unreleased

Arthur Alexander, Arthur Alexander (Warner Bros. LP BS 2592, 1972 – reissued Omnivore, 2017) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Links TBD)

I’m Comin’ Home
It Hurts to Want It So Bad
Go On Home Girl
In the Middle of It All
Burning Love
Rainbow Road
Love’s Where Life Begins
Down the Back Roads
Call Me Honey
Come Along with Me
Call Me in Tahiti
Thank God He Came
John (Warner Bros. single WB 7633, 1972)
You Got Me Knockin’ (Warner Bros. single WB 7633, 1972)
Lover Please (Warner Bros. single WB 7676, 1973)
They’ll Do It Every Time (Warner Bros. single WB 7676, 1973)
I Don’t Want Nobody (previously unreleased)
Simple Song of Love (previously unreleased)

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.