Omnivore Recordings has a reputation for being one of the most diverse reissue labels around. What other label could be home to Big Star and Mister Rogers? Well, omnivorous listeners have reason to delight, as Omnivore has announced new reissues from both legendary talents due for release in October!

It’s been more than fifty years since the celebrated children’s show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood first aired, yet Fred Rogers’ name remains in the public eye thanks in no small part to the recent acclaimed documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor? and the news of the upcoming bio-pic A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, featuring Tom Hanks in the starring role. Now, the original jazz-inflected music that graced Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for 33 years will get its turn in the spotlight.

On October 4, Omnivore will invite listeners to mosey through the musical side of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood with two albums celebrating the beloved melodies and lyrics of Fred Rogers. First up, It’s Such A Good Feeling: The Best of Mister Rogers collects 23 songs recorded by the host, with accompaniment from longtime sideman Johnny Costa on piano, Carl McViker on bass, and Bobby Rawsthorne on percussion. Complementing the music is an illustrated booklet with photos, an introduction by the Won’t You Be My Neighbor? documentarian Morgan Neville, and an essay by TV critic Robert Bianco. Among the tracks are the classics “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” “You Are Special,” and “It’s You I Like.” Omnivore has also unearthed five previously unissued tracks for the collection, including “Today is a Very Special Day,” “I’m Looking for a Friend,” and the series’ original closing song, “Tomorrow.”

One of the signatures of those memorable Mister Rogers tunes is beautiful piano work of Johnny Costa, whose flourishes and chord changes no doubt introduced many young people to jazz music. Though TV executives were initially concerned about the sophistication of his stylings, Costa believed that children would be able to not only grasp but enjoy the melodies and harmonies of the light jazz arrangements. In 1986, Costa, Rogers, McViker, and Rawsthorne united to record Johnny Costa Plays Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Jazz . The 13-track collection of instrumental takes on Rogers’ material has been out of print for decades and original copies command triple-digit prices on the secondary market. On October 4, the album will return to stores, making its CD and digital debut.

On November 8, four Mister Rogers albums will also be made available on digital music providers: Bedtime (1992), You Are Special (1992), You’re Growing (1992), and Coming and Going (1997).

October 25 marks the release of the latest in Omnivore’s ongoing Big Star series: an expanded reissue of the band’s 2005 album In Space. In four short years, Big Star created three cult classic albums. Their legend grew over the years, and in 1993 – nearly two decades after disbanding – Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens collaborated with The Posies’ Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow for a one-off performance. This led to a well-received tour, which led to years of concert performances. A decade later, they surprised everybody with a new studio album, 2005’s In Space. The well-received 12-song set included ten new originals and two covers and was recorded in the fabled Ardent Studios, where Big Star began. The album was released on Ryko and received a limited vinyl run on DBK Works. Now, the album will return to vinyl on translucent blue wax and will be expanded on CD to the tune of six bonus tracks. Among them are five unissued demos and alternate mixes, plus the 2003 reunion track “Hot Thing,” previously available on the out-of-print Ryko comp, Big Star Story. The packaging will include notes from Supermegabot’s Jeff Rougvie, formerly of Ryko A&R, plus recollections from Jon Auer, Ken Stringfellow, Jody Stephens, engineer Adam Hill, and co-producer Jeff Powell (who also cut the new vinyl edition).

So, prepare to set off with Omnivore on a stroll through Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and a trip in space with Big Star this October. Though pre-ordes aren’t up yet for Johnny Costa or Big Star, the Mister Rogers links are live. You can find the pre-order links below, along with track listings for all the albums and some new promo videos to whet your appetite!

 

Big Star, In Space (originally released on CD as Rykodisc RCD 10677, 2005; released on LP as DBK Works DBK-115, 2005 — reissued Omnivore CD/LP/digital OV-338, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

LP/CD Track Listing:

* denotes CD-only bonus track

1. Dony
2. Lady Sweet
3. Best Chance
4. Turn My Back on the Sun
5. Love Revolution
6. February’s Quiet
7. Mine Exclusively
8. A Whole New Thing
9. Aria, Largo
10. Hung Up With Summer
11. Do You Wanna Make It
12. Makover
13. Hot Thing *
14. Dony (Rough Mix, April 17, 2004) *
15. February’s Quiet (Jody/Jon demo) *
16. Lady Sweet (John Auer sketch #1)
17. Lady Sweet (John Auer sketch #2)
18. Turn My Back on the Sun (a capella) *

Track 13 previously released on Big Star Story, Rykodisc CD RCD10640, 2003.
Tracks 14-18 previously unreleased.

Mister Rogers, It’s Such A Good Feeling: The Best of Mister Rogers (Omnivore, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD/Digital Track Listing:

* denotes previously unreleased track

1. Today Is a Very Special Day *
2. Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
3. I Think I’m Going to Like Today *
4. Look and Listen
5. Be Brave, Be Strong
6. Then Your Heart is Full of Love
7. Pretending
8. You Can Never Go Down the Drain
9. I Like to Take My Time
10. Sometimes People Are Good
11. You Are Special
12. I’m Looking for a Friend *
13. Some Things I Don’t Understand
14. The Clown in Me
15. It’s the Style to Wear a Smile
16. I’m Taking Care of You
17. It’s You I Like
18. Once Upon Each Lovely Day *
19. Wishes Don’t Make Things Come True
20. You’re Growing
21. Tree, Tree, Tree
22. It’s Such a Good Feeling
23. Tomorrow *

Johnny Costa, Johnny Costa Plays Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Jazz (originally released Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Records/Family Communications Inc. LP MRN-8600, 1986 — reissued Omnivore CD/digital OV-348, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
2. You Are Special
3. It’s You I Like
4. Sometimes People Are Good/Children Can
5. What Do You Do?
6. I Like to Take My Time
7. Everybody’s Fancy
8. Please Don’t Think It’s Funny
9. Something to Do While We’re Waiting
10. Many Ways to Say I Love You
11. Then Your Heart Is Full of Love
12. Did You Know?
13. It’s Such a Good Feeling

Mister Rogers, Bedtime (originally released Family Communications Inc. CD MRN9201D, 1992 — re-released digitally on Omnivore, 2019)

Track Listing:

1. Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
2. I’m Taking Care of You
3. Just For Once
4. Sometimes Isn’t Always
5. I Like to Be Told
6. Then Your Heart is Full of Love
7. When the Day Turns Into Night
8. Many Ways to Say I Love You
9. Nighttime Sounds
10. Tree Tree Tree
11. Peace and Quiet
12. It’s Such a Good Feeling/The Weekend Song

Mister Rogers, You’re Growing (originally released Family Communications Inc. CD MRN9202D, 1992 — re-released digitally on Omnivore, 2019)

Track Listing:

1. Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
2. You Are Growing
3. Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
4. Everything Grows Together
5. Are You Brave?
6. One and One Are Two
7. Days of the Week
8. Please Don’t Think It’s Funny
9. When the Baby Comes
10. What Do You Do?
11. Sometimes People Are Good
12. You’ve Got To Do It
13. Going to Marry Mom
14. You Can Never Go Down the Drain
15. Let’s Think of Something to Do
16. It’s Such a Good Feeling

Mister Rogers, You Are Special (originally released Family Communications Inc. CD MRN9203D, 1992 — re-released digitally on Omnivore, 2019)

Track Listing:

1. Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
2. You Are Special
3. Some Things I Don’t Understand
4. Children Can
5. Goldilocks and the Three Bears
6. I’m a Man Who Manufactures
7. Did You Know?
8. It’s You I Like
9. Everybody’s Fancy
10. Pretending
11. I Can Moo Like a Cow
12. We Are Elephants
13. The Clown in Me
14. The Truth Will Make Me Free
15. It’s Such a Good Feeling

Mister Rogers, Coming and Going (originally released Family Communications Inc. CD MRN9204D, 1997 — re-released digitally on Omnivore, 2019)

Track Listing:

1. Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
2. This is Just the Day
3. I Like Someone Who Looks Like You
4. It’s the Style to Wear a Smile
5. Be Brave, Be Strong
6. Look and Listen
7. I Like to Take My Time
8. Perfectly Beautiful Day
9. Let’s Be Together Today
10. I’m Still Myself Inside > I’m Going Away
11. Propel, Propel, Propel Your Craft
12. Museum Wares
13. You Are Pretty
14. This is My Home
15. Wishes Don’t Make Things Come True
16. I’m Proud of You
17. It’s Such a Good Feeling