Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up, featuring three new titles from Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music, and much, much more!

Johnny Mathis, Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head: Expanded Edition (Second Disc/Real Gone)  (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Johnny Mathis’ 1970 album – featuring the songs of Bacharach and David, Paul Simon, Jimmy Webb, George Harrison and others – gets its first-ever expanded CD reissue from Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music.  And that’s not all.  We’ve added four bonus non-LP singles from Johnny’s return to Columbia Records circa 1968-1970!  TSD’s Joe Marchese has written the liner notes based on a new interview with Johnny!

Johnny Mathis, Sings the Music of Bacharach & Kaempfert: Expanded Edition (Second Disc/Real Gone)  (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Johnny’s 1970 double-album salute to the music of Burt Bacharach and Bert Kaempfert makes its worldwide CD debut from Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music!  We’ve added five bonus tracks: one more selection from Kaempfert, and four more from Bacharach.  And that’s not all!  Joe’s new liner notes include fresh quotes from Johnny and a brand-new introduction by Burt Bacharach!  Read more about both of these releases right here!

The Oak Ridge Boys, When I Sing for Him: The Complete Columbia Recordings and RCA Singles (Second Disc/Real Gone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

This 2-CD, 49-song collection from Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music premieres on CD The Oak Ridge Boys’ complete, classic 1974-1976 Columbia albums The Oak Ridge Boys, Sky High, and Old Fashioned, Down Home, Hand Clappin’, Foot Stompin’, Southern Style, Gospel Quartet Music, plus all of their period Columbia non-LP singles, and songs that only appeared on compilations.  And that’s not all!  Every one of the Oaks’ 1990-1993 RCA singles are here, too – for a comprehensive look at these lost periods of Oak Ridge Boys history!  Joe has penned the new liner notes, and Vic Anesini has remastered at Sony’s Battery Studios.  Get the full track listing and more here!

Jackie DeShannon, Stone Cold Soul: The Complete Capitol Recordings (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

This exciting set from Real Gone Music gathers all of singer-songwriter Jackie DeShannon’s rootsy, soulful material from her short period on the Capitol label from 1970-1971, encompassing her sessions at Chips Moman’s American Studios and more, and including five previously unreleased tracks.  Joe’s liner notes are based on his brand-new interview with DeShannon.  Read more here!

Axe, Rock ‘N’ Roll Party: The Complete Atco Recordings (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Real Gone’s new compilation from the Florida hard rock band Axe collects both of the group’s Atco albums and adds “Midnight (Drives Me Mad),” which only appeared on cassette editions of Nemesis and on a single.  Scott Schinder has provided new liner notes.  Get the rest of the details here!

Jethro Tull, Heavy Horses: New Shoes Edition (Parlophone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The deluxe series of Jethro Tull hardcover book-style reissues continues with Heavy Horses: New Shoes Edition, a new 3CD/2DVD version of Jethro Tull’s 11th album, originally released in 1978. As with previous releases, Steven Wilson and Jakko Jakszyk have undertaken new remixes in stereo and surround of both the original LP and a host of bonus material. Wilson remixed Heavy Horses and nine associated outtakes (seven of which have never been released in any mix), while Jakszyk remixed a 1978 concert in Bern, Switzerland recorded a month after the album’s release. (At least some of this material is believed to have appeared on that same year’s double live album, Bursting Out.) Two accompanying DVDs feature LPCM stereo (96/24 for the studio material and 48/24 for the live show) and 5.1 surround mixes of what’s on the CD, plus early music videos for “Heavy Horses” and “Moths” and two vintage television spots.  Read more here!

Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, Charlotte’s Web: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Varese Vintage) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The delightful soundtrack to Hanna-Barbera’s 1973 animated classic Charlotte’s Web finally comes to CD from Varese Sarabande, featuring the wonderfully melodic songs of the Sherman Brothers as performed by Debbie Reynolds, Agnes Moorehead, Paul Lynde, Henry Gibson, and others!  Get the full scoop here!

Charles Wright and the 103rd Street Rhythm Band, The Best Of (Varese Vintage) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Varese has a newly-remastered collection from the funk heroes (“Express Yourself,” “Do Your Thing”), including rare singles, deep cuts, and two brand-new tracks!

Pet Shop Boys, Please/Further Listening 1984-1986 / Actually/Further Listening 1987-1988 / Introspective/Further Listening 1988-1989 (Parlophone)

Please/Further Listening 1984-1986 

2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Actually/Further Listening 1987-1988 

2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Introspective/Further Listening 1988-1989 

2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 

The Pet Shop Boys are revisiting their first three albums in these remastered editions on expanded CD and standard LP.  Bonus tracks on the CD versions are identical to the 2001 expansions, but the sound has been spruced up!  Get the full scoop here!

Phyllis Dillon, One Life to Live and Ken Boothe, Freedom Street  limited edition vinyl reissues (Real Gone Music)

Phyllis Dillon, One Life to Live (Violet Limited Vinyl Edition) : Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Ken Boothe, Freedom Street (Grey Asphalt Limited Vinyl Edition) : Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Real Gone is going real rocksteady with this pair of limited edition vinyl reissues from two beloved artists in the genre!  Both colored vinyl LPs are strictly limited to 700 copies.  Read more details on both releases here!

The Body in the Seine: A Musical Tour de Force Through Paris (Stage Door Records) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Stage Door Records brings to CD an ultra-rare 1954 concept album of a musical that never was.  The Body in the Seine: A Musical Tour de Force Through Paris  was the work of songwriter David M. Lippincott, and was recorded in the hopes of attracting a book writer to turn his score into a full-fledged musical.  Musical director Buster Davis had a host of Broadway credits, and he brought along a top-tier cast including Alice Pearce (the first Mrs. Kravitz on Bewitched), George S. Irving, Laurel Shelby, and future U.S. congressman Jim Symington.  Stage Door’s release in its Collectors’ Series is limited to 500 copies and is housed in a paper sleeve.

The King’s Singers, The Complete RCA Recordings (RCA Red Seal) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The famed a cappella group’s complete recording for RCA have been collected on one budget-priced, 11-CD box set.  This set includes both classical and crossover pop albums in mini-LP sleeves.