Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up!

Andre Kostelanetz and His Orchestra, The Complete Christmas Albums (Second Disc/Real Gone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

This comprehensive 2-CD, 43-track set from Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music features all three of the legendary conductor’s classic Columbia Christmas LPs – Joy to the World: The Music of Christmas (1959), Wonderland of Christmas (1963), and Wishing You a Merry Christmas (1965), on which he was joined by vocalist Phyllis Curtin and The St. Killian Boychoir – plus a host of holiday bonuses.  These include Kostelanetz’s rare 1950 single of “White Christmas,” a complete recording of “The Nutcracker Suite” featuring Peter Ustinov, the rare Christmas Seals promotional single of “It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas,” and additional seasonal favorites from the Kostelanetz catalogue.  Wishing You a Merry Christmas makes its CD debut.  TSD’s Joe Marchese has penned the copious new liner notes, and Maria Triana has remastered at Sony’s Battery Studios.

Lorne Greene & The Cast of Bonanza, The Complete Christmas on the Ponderosa (Second Disc/Real Gone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Real Gone Music and Second Disc Records are proud to ring in the holiday season with a true yuletide Bonanza.  The Complete Christmas on The Ponderosa brings together the newly-remastered 1963 album Christmas on The Ponderosa – featuring Lorne Greene (Ben Cartwright), Pernell Roberts (Adam Cartwright), Dan Blocker (Hoss Cartwright), and Michael Landon (Little Joe Cartwright) reprising their television roles for a merry family sing-along – plus the worldwide CD premiere of Lorne Greene’s 1965 seasonal album Have a Happy Holiday, and both sides of Greene’s rare 1966 single “Must Be Santa” b/w “One Solitary Life.”  The Complete Christmas on The Ponderosa has been remastered by Mike Piacentini at Sony’s Battery Studios and features liner notes from Joe Marchese.

The Beatles, The Beatles: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Apple/UMe)

6CD/1BD super deluxe box: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
3CD deluxe: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
4LP deluxe: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP new stereo mix: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

The Beatles are revisiting The White Album in a variety of formats including a 6CD/1BD Super Deluxe box set containing Giles Martin and Sam Okell’s new 2018 stereo remix of the album, the complete Esher Demos, and 50 studio outtakes on CD, and the new stereo remix, new 5.1 surround mix, and original mono mix on Blu-ray.  The 3-CD and 4-LP iterations have the new stereo remix and the Esher Demos, while a 2-LP version has the stereo remix only.  Get the full track listings and more here, and watch for Joe’s review later today!

The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Electric Ladyland: 50th Anniversary Edition (Experience Hendrix/Legacy)

3CD/1BD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
6LP/1BD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Experience Hendrix and Legacy Recordings generously expand Electric Ladyland, the final album from The Jimi Hendrix Experience, for its 50th anniversary in a new edition (available on CD or LP) featuring never-before-released session recordings and a Blu-ray featuring a documentary as well as stereo and surround mixes of the original album.  Read more here!

Jethro Tull, This Was: 50th Anniversary Edition (Parlophone/Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Parlophone/Rhino has a new 3CD/1DVD anniversary edition of Jethro Tull’s debut album in the hardcover book format.  It features a new stereo mix of the album by Steven Wilson, who has also mixed it in 4.1 (yes, 4.1, not 5.1) DTS and AC3 Dolby Digital surround for the DVD.  In addition, CD1 also includes new mixes of two non-LP songs (both remixed into 5.1 surround on the DVD) and four previously unreleased tracks.  CD2 kicks off with nine live performances from the BBC Top Gear Session and continues with more bonus tracks including single mixes and non-LP sides.  The third CD includes the original U.K. stereo mix of the album and its original mono mix (in its 2008 remastering).  The DVD includes the aforementioned surround mixes as well as the new Steven Wilson mix in 96/24 LPCM stereo.  It also features the 1969 U.S. stereo mix in 96/24 LPCM stereo.  Whew!  Read more here!

John Denver, Leaving on a Jet Plane (Varese Vintage)  (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Varese Vintage has collected 12 tracks from John Denver’s early years on the Reprise label with The Mitchell Trio and Denver, Boise & Johnson, including four previously unreleased recordings.  Among the tracks are two different Mitchell Trio versions of “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” plus Denver, Boise & Johnson’s previously unreleased take on Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now,” and a Mitchell Trio cover of “She Loves You.” The album also includes an unreleased live version of “If You Had Me in Shackles,” an outtake recorded for the Trio’s 1967 concert album, Alive.  Mike Ragogna provides the new liner notes.  Read more here!

Fastball, All the Pain Money Can Buy: 20th Anniversary Edition (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Omnivore’s new reissue of Fastball’s 1998 breakthrough expands the album’s original 13 tracks with an additional 9 songs.  Among those are B-sides “Freeloader Freddy,” “Androgynous,” an acoustic version of “The Way,” and a cover of Bacharach and David’s “This Guy’s In Love With You.”  Also included is “Quit Your Job” from an Australian limited-edition version of the album and four unreleased demo versions of “The Way,” “Fire Escape,” “Slow Drag” and “Sweetwater, Texas.”  The package features rare photos and an essay by Scott Schinder featuring a new interview with the band.  The reissue is available as a single CD or a 2-LP vinyl set.  Read all about it here!

Ben Sidran, Ben There, Done That: Live Around the World (1975-2015) (Sunset Blvd.) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

This deluxe package premieres 27 live cuts spanning five decades from jazz pianist-vocalist-producer-songwriter-journalist Ben Sidran including renditions of “On the Sunny Side of the Street,” “Birk’s Works,” “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” and “New York State of Mind.”  A 24-page booklet is filled with liner notes and reflections on Sidran’s singular career.  Watch for in-depth coverage of this title soon!

New Kids on the Block, Merry, Merry Christmas [Vinyl Edition] (Real Gone Music)  (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Real Gone’s new vinyl reissue of NKOTB’s 1989 top ten holiday smash comes in green vinyl and is limited to 1,000 copies.  This is the album’s first appearance on vinyl since its initial release.  The package also features the original inner sleeve.

Hanson, Snowed In [Vinyl Edition] (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Real Gone’s new edition of Snowed In, Hanson’s platinum-selling holiday favorite, marks the album’s first appearance on vinyl.  It comes in “Christmas Tree Green” vinyl and features a new inner sleeve.  It is limited to 1,200 copies.

Jeffrey Foskett and Jeff Larson, Elua Aloha [Vinyl Edition] (Vivid Sound) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

We’re feeling the chill of autumn now, so what better time to revisit one of the year’s quintessential summer records?  Jeffrey Foskett and Jeff Larson’s Elua Aloha arrives on high-quality vinyl today from Vivid Sound in an electric blue pressing!  A download card also includes two special holiday bonus tracks!  Read Joe’s original review here!

Marianne Faithfull, Come and Stay with Me: The U.K. 45s 1964-1969 (Ace/ABKCO) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The A- and B-sides of the chanteuse’s U.K. singles for the Decca label have been collected on one CD along with the Go Away from My World EP.  With tracks including “As Tears Go By,” “Come and Stay with Me,” and “Sister Morphine,” this set includes Marianne’s most beloved early recordings.  It’s packaged with a deluxe 24-page booklet featuring liner notes by Kris Needs.  ABKCO is handling the release in the United States, while it’s on the Ace label in the United Kingdom.

Various Artists, Confessin’ the Blues (BMG)

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Vol. 1 LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Vol. 2 LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
(5) 10-Inch Album Box Set: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

To benefit Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation, The Rolling Stones have come together to curate this new collection of landmark blues classics.  Featuring tracks from pioneers like B.B. King, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Boy Williamson, Robert Johnson, Elmore James, and John Lee Hooker, this 2-CD, 42-song primer on the genre features cover artwork by Ronnie Wood.  Ten percent of BMG’s net receipts from the sale of the album (with a minimum of 0.65 (2CD) / 1.25 (2LP) / 3.00 (Box Set) GBP will be donated to the Foundation.  Confessin’ the Blues is available on vinyl as two separate sets, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, each with 21 songs; and as a box set with five 10-inch vinyl albums and enhanced packaging.

Train, Greatest Hits (Columbia) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

This 17-track album, available on CD and digital platforms, collects tracks from every one of the band’s studio albums and includes their latest single, “Call Me Sir.”  Exclusive to this set is a brand-new cover of one of frontman Pat Monahan’s favorite ’80s classics, George Michael’s “Careless Whisper,” featuring Kenny G on saxophone.  Get the full track listing here!

Various Artists, 100 Christmas Masterworks (Deutsche Grammophon) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Deutsche Grammophon brings together 100 classical Christmas tracks including classic carols, choral works, and songs from some of the label’s brightest lights including Luciano Pavarotti, Renee Fleming, and Bryn Terfel.