Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up!

Various Artists, Andrew Lloyd Webber: Unmasked – The Platinum Collection (Polydor/UMC)

4CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 

Let the memory live again!  Andrew Lloyd Webber celebrates his 70th birthday and provocative new memoir Unmasked with this 4-CD, 71-track box set of the same name.  The career-spanning anthology features many of the composer’s most famed songs from Phantom of the Opera, Evita, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar, School of Rock, and more, performed by artists including Barbra Streisand, Madonna, Elvis Presley, Alice Cooper, Tom Jones, The Everly Brothers, and the stars of his hit shows onstage such as Glenn Close, Donny Osmond, Elaine Paige, Sarah Brightman, and Michael Crawford.  Previously unissued tracks from Beyoncé, Nicole Scherzinger, Gregory Porter, and Lana Del Rey round out the set.  A 2-CD highlights version is also available.  Get the track listing and more here!

Muddy Waters, Can’t Be Satisfied: The Very Best of Muddy Waters 1948-1975 (Chess/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Can’t Be Satisfied: The Very Best of Muddy Waters 1948-1975 presents 40 classic tracks from across the singer/guitarist’s tenure on the Chess label. Featuring both studio highlights and excerpts from live performances including the bluesman’s seminal set at the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival, Can’t Be Satisfied also promises new liner notes and never-before-published photos from the Chess Records archive. Available today in Europe and next week in North America.  Read more here!

NRBQ, NRBQ (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The 1969 Columbia Records debut of the New Rhythm and Blues Quartet (NRBQ) finally makes it way to complete CD in this newly remastered edition from Omnivore Recordings.  Featuring an eclectic array of songs by Eddie Cochran, Bruce Channel, Sun Ra, Carla Bley, and others, this reissue of NRBQ has been authorized by the band.  It features new liner notes by Jay Berman as well as rare photos.  Available on CD, DD, and LP.  Read all about it right here!

Spirit, It Shall Be: The Ode and Epic Recordings 1968-1972 (Esoteric/Cherry Red) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Esoteric has the complete Ode and Epic recordings from California psych-rockers Spirit between 1968-1972, including the CD debut of the mono mix of debut LP Spirit; the complete soundtrack to The Model Shop; the 1968 stereo mix of The Family That Plays Together; and the assorted outtakes and alternates that have appeared on compilations.  Everything has been newly remastered, and the booklet contains archival interviews with Randy California and Ed Cassidy.

Cocteau Twins, Head Over Heels / Treasure vinyl reissues (4AD)

Head Over Heels: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Treasure: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

The second and third albums from the Scottish band arrive on heavyweight 180-gram vinyl, newly remastered from high definition sources transferred from the original analog tapes.  Featuring ethereal tracks including “Musette and Drums” and “Sugar Hiccup,” Head Over Heels (1983) arrived from the duo of Elizabeth Fraser and Robin Guthrie, who weathered the departure of original bassist Will Heggie.  By the time of Treasure (1984), the band gained guitarist Simon Raymonde, returning to its original format as a trio for such songs as “Persephone” and “Lorelei.”  Both of these reissues come with MP3 download cards, and the tracks are also available on HD digital services!

The Oak Ridge Boys, 17th Avenue Revival (Lightning Rod) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The Oak Ridge Boys return to their roots – with a twist! – on this new album produced by superstar producer Dave Cobb at Nashville’s legendary RCA Studio A on 17th Avenue South.  17th Avenue Revival is the group’s blazing tribute to southern gospel and rock ‘n’ roll – and a perfect companion to Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music’s collection of the Oaks’ venerable line-up’s first recordings, When I Sing for Him, also available now at Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada!