Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up!

The Who, Maximum As and Bs: The Complete Singles (Polydor/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The Who’s complete singles from 1964-2015 are collected on a new 5-CD box set, which also contains a 48-page booklet featuring track-by-track annotations on each single.  Read more here!

 

Willie Nelson, Teatro: The Complete Sessions (Modern Classics Recordings) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Willie Nelson’s 1998 album, produced by Daniel Lanois (Bob Dylan, U2) and featuring Emmylou Harris on rich harmonies, is expanded as a CD/DVD edition.  The CD adds seven previously unreleased session outtakes, while the DVD features an entire performance of the album directed by filmmaker Wim Wenders.

Andy Williams, The Wonderful World of Andy Williams / Call Me Irresponsible / My Fair Lady / Almost There (BGO) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

BGO continues its reissue series for Andy Williams, turning its attention to another group of four classic titles – this time from 1964-1965.  Including “Canadian Sunset,” “Wives and Lovers,” “Charade,” “Hello, Dolly!,” “Emily,” and “Dear Heart.”  Available today in the U.K. and later in November in the U.S.!

The Meters, Message from The Meters: The Complete, Josie, Reprise & Warner Bros. Singles 1968-1977 (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

A Message from The Meters-The Complete Josie, Reprise & Warner Bros. Singles 1968-1977 collects the legendary New Orleans group’s smoking-hot singles for all three labels, now for the first time on vinyl outside of a limited edition Record Store Day release.  Featuring productions from the late, great Allen Toussaint, funky R&B doesn’t get much better than this.

Carly Simon, Coming Around Again: 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Hot Shot/Cherry Red) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Cherry Red’s Hot Shot imprint has a 2-CD anniversary reissue of Carly Simon’s 1987 classic, boasting the original, remastered album plus various bonus tracks and entire bonus album, Greatest Hits Live.  Read more here!  Available today in the U.K. and next Friday in the U.S.!

Various Artists, Stranger Things: Music From The Netflix Original Series (Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Staying home to binge-watch the latest season of the sci-fi television sensation? Treat yourself to this collection of ’80s pop and rock songs from both seasons (including tracks by The Clash, the Bangles, New Order, Toto, The Police and more), augmented with dialogue from the series–the perfect audio companion for all trips to The Upside-Down.

Gary Wright, Greatest Hits (Varese Vintage) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Varese has rounded up 14 classic sides from the Dream Weaver, Gary Wright, at Warner Bros. Records.  This new collection includes that seminal 1976 hit in both its original version and Wayne’s World re-recording, as well as the smash “Love is Alive” and other chart entries like “Made to Love You,” “Phantom Writer,” “Touch and Gone,” “Really Wanna Know You,” and “Heartbeat.”  (The latter is presented in its original single version.)  Steve Massie has newly remastered, and Ed Osborne has written the liner notes.

Jeannie C. Riley and Nelson Riddle, Harper Valley P.T.A.: Original Soundtrack (Varese Vintage) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Varese has another surprise treat: the CD premiere of the soundtrack to the 1978 film based on Tom T. Hall’s “Harper Valley, P.T.A.,” the memorable hit for Jeannie C. Riley.  Starring Barbara Eden, Nanette Fabray, Louis Nye, Ronny Cox, and Pat Paulsen, the comedy became a cult favorite.  The score was penned by Nelson Riddle, while Riley reprised her title song in a new performance.  The soundtrack features Riley and Riddle’s contributions, as well as songs performed by Barbara Eden, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and even Carol Channing!

Norah Jones, Day Breaks: Deluxe Edition (Blue Note) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Norah Jones’ 2016 Blue Note album is expanded to two CDs with the addition of a nine-song concert recorded in October ’16 in New York City.  Available on CD and vinyl.

Various Artists, Blind Pig 40th Anniversary Collection (Blind Pig) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Otis Rush, Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musselwhite, Muddy Waters, Commander Cody, Luther Allison, and Otis Clay are just a few of the blues luminaries appearing on this 2-CD, 34-song compendium celebrating the rich legacy of Blind Pig Records!  Watch for full coverage soon!

Various Artists, All Day Thumbsucker Revisited: The History of Blue Thumb Records (Verve/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Another label gets the retrospective treatment.  This 2-CD anthology from the Blue Thumb Records label was first issued in 1995, showcasing its rich line-up of blues, soul, rock, and pop artists including Leon Russell, Love, Captain Beefheart, The Crusaders, and more.  This new edition retains 32 tracks, but drops two to make room for new additions by The Pointer Sisters and Buddy Guy.

Various Artists, The Life and Songs of Kris Kristofferson (Blackbird Presents)

2CD/1DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
1CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

The renowned singer-songwriter-“New Country” outlaw was celebrated on March 16, 2016 at Bridgestone Arena with an all-star concert.  That performance is captured as a 2-CD/1-DVD set and a single-CD highlights edition.  The complete show features such artists as Reba McEntire, Rosanne Cash, Rodney Crowell, Allison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, and more, plus Kristofferson himself.

Matt Bianco: Deluxe Edition (Cherry Pop) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Cherry Pop unveils a 2-CD Deluxe Edition of British jazz-pop group Matt Bianco’s 1986 sophomore album, featuring a whopping 31 tracks including rare single mixes, previously unreleased tracks, B-sides, and more!  Read all about it right here!

Leonard Bernstein, The Remastered Edition (Sony Classical) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Sony Classical releases yet another massive Leonard Bernstein box set – this one presenting 100 (!) discs from the maestro’s Columbia Records career, and encompassing his works as composer and conductor.  Each album is presented in a mini-LP replica jacket, while the box itself appears to be the same sturdy, lift-off box format as past releases by Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Miles Davis, and Tony Bennett, with an accompanying hardcover book.  Note that some of these albums have been included in Sony’s past Bernstein boxes, and at 100 discs, this still represents about half of the prolific Bernstein’s Columbia output.

Bread, The Elektra Years: The Complete Albums Box (Rhino U.K.) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

All six original Elektra albums from David Gates, James Griffin, and Robb Royer’s soft-rock group are collected in remastered versions in this compact, no-frills box set.  Read more here!