Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up!

Frank Sinatra, Nice 'n' Easy: 60th Anniversary Edition (Capitol/UMe)

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP (Remixed Album Only): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Capitol Records, Frank Sinatra Enterprises, and UMe have a 60th anniversary edition of Frank Sinatra's classic 1960 album arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle.  For the occasion, the album has been completely remixed and features three bonus tracks: the outtake "The Nearness of You," plus the previously unreleased session takes for "Nice 'n' Easy" and "I've Got a Crush on You."  While the digital version was issued in May, today's the day for CD and vinyl.  (The vinyl edition has just the remixed album.)  Read more here!

The Choir, Last Call: Live at The Music Box (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Back in 2018, Omnivore Recordings released a never-before-heard recording from Cleveland garage-rock outfit The Choir.  Now, the label follows up Artifact: The Lost Album with the band's first-ever live album, Last Call: Live at the Music Box.  Following the success of Artifact, The Choir - Ken Margolis (keyboards), Phil Giallombardo (organ), Randy Klawon (drums), Denny Carleton (bass), and Jim Bonfanti (drums) - made the decision to regroup in their hometown.  The album was recorded on September 20, 2019 at that favorite Cleveland venue. Over a lengthy and varied 23-song set presented here on 2 CDs, the band revisited original material from Artifact as well as covers of Jimmy Webb, Billy Preston, Procol Harum, and more.  Available on CD and digital platforms.  Watch this space for our full review!

The Staple Singers, Let's Do It Again: Original Soundtrack / Pass It On - Expanded Editions (Omnivore)

Let's Do It Again: Original Soundtrack - Expanded Edition (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Pass It On: Expanded Edition (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Omnivore kicks off its four-title series reissuing and expanding the Staple Singers' catalogue from their post-Stax period at Curtom and Warner Bros. Records. All four albums in this series, though previously available on CD, have never been properly remastered and annotated. Omnivore has tapped a pair of Grammy winners for those duties: Michael Graves handles the mastering, while new liner notes have been provided by Stax and Staples Singers historian Rob Bowman.  Read more here!

Phil Seymour, Archive Series Vol. 6: If You Don't Want My Love (Sunset Blvd.) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Sunset Blvd. Records continues its archive series dedicated to late singer-songwriter and Dwight Twilley Band alumnus Phil Seymour with this sixth volume.  If You Don't Want My Love is named after the song which the late John Prine co-wrote with Phil Spector.  This 15-track anthology premieres 8 previously unreleased tracks including productions by Spector and Denny Cordell recorded prior to Seymour's signing with Neil Bogart's Boardwalk label.  A portion of the proceeds from this CD will be donated to Teen Cancer America.

Dr. John, Ske-Dat-De-Dat: The Spirit of Satch (The Last Music Company) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Dr. John's final studio album, 2014's Ske-Dat-De-Dat: The Spirit of Satch, celebrated the legendary Louis Armstrong as only the Night Tripper and his friends could do. Now, it's returning from The Last Music Company in a new vinyl pressing.  The album features reimaginings of classic Armstrong songs from the good Doctor and guests including Ledisi, Bonnie Raitt, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Shemekia Copeland, Arturo Sandoval The McCrary Sisters, Terence Blanchard, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and trombonist Sara Morrow.  Read more here, and watch this space for our review!

Keith Relf, All the Falling Angels: Solo Recordings and Collaborations 1965-1976 (Repertoire) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Repertoire collects 24 remastered sides from The Yardbirds' Keith Relf including his post-Yardbirds solo recordings and tracks by Together, his duo with Jim McCarty.  Compiled and annotated by Mike Stax of Ugly Things magazine, the set includes a 32-page booklet with contributions from McCarty, producer Paul Samwell-Smith, Bob Lind, Jane Relf, and Keith's widow April Mannino.

Various Artists, NOW That's What I Call Country Classics '90s (NOW Music/Universal) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

This new compilation turns back the clock to the 1990s when country superstars like George Strait, Trisha Yearwood, Brooks & Dunn, Martina McBride, and Alan Jackson ruled the charts. All of those artists are featured along with Reba McEntire ("Fancy"), Billy Ray Cyrus ("Achy Breaky Heart"), Pam Tillis ("Maybe It Was Memphis"), Vince Gill ("I Still Believe in You"), and many more.  18 tracks total.

Dion, Blues with Friends (Keeping the Blues Alive) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

When The Wanderer calls, you answer!  Dion put out the word that he was recording a new album for Joe Bonamassa's new Keeping the Blues Alive label (an offshoot of Bonamassa's non-profit foundation of the same name), and a "Who's Who" lined up to join him.  Duet partners on this all-new album include Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa, Van Morrison, Jeff Beck, Billy Gibbons, Little Steven Van Zandt, and many others.  Bonamassa appears on the lead single, "Blues Comin' On."  Available on CD, LP, and digital download/streaming.

From The Second Disc family to all of you, we wish you health, comfort, and safety during these difficult times. -  Joe, Mike, Sam, and Randy