Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up!

Willie Nelson, First Rose of Spring (Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Willie Nelson’s latest studio album emphasizes love and positivity at a time when we all need it most.  First Rose of Spring features new Nelson originals co-written with producer and longtime associate Buddy Cannon, as well as new songs from Toby Keith and Chris Stapleton and covers such as “Yesterday When I Was Young.”  Available on CD, LP, and digital.

David Bowie, Ouvrez Le Chien: Live Dallas 95 (Parlophone)

This previously unreleased live album includes performances from the October 14, 1995 stop on Bowie’s Outside Tour, which also featured Nine Inch Nails.  While none of the songs that NIN performed with Bowie that night are included here, the track listing features a number of deep cuts and fan favorites from across his career – including “Andy Warhol,” “Breaking Glass,” “Under Pressure,” “Teenage Wildlife” “Joe The Lion,” and “The Man Who Sold the World” — alongside six fresh tracks from 1. Outside, at the time his latest album.  Available as a digital release only.  Read more here!

Alice Cooper, Alice Cooper’s Greatest Hits (Warner/Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The shock rocker’s 1974 compilation featuring “School’s Out,” “I’m Eighteen,” “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” and more returns to vinyl in this 140-gram pressing from Rhino.

Various Artists, NOW That’s What I Call Yacht Rock 2 (NOW/Sony/Universal) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The long-running NOW series released its second volume of NOW That’s What I Call Yacht Rock on CD and in digital/streaming formats May 1, and the 2-LP vinyl set arrives in stores today.  This installment features eighteen songs from a host of favorite artists including Kenny Loggins (joined by Stevie Nicks for “Whenever I Call You Friend,” co-written by Loggins and Melissa Manchester), Michael McDonald (“I Keep Forgettin'”), Toto (“I’ll Be Over You”), and Little River Band (“Reminiscing”). They’re joined by Seals & Crofts (“Summer Breeze”), Chicago (“If You Leave Me Now”), Elvin Bishop (“Fooled Around and Fell in Love”), Paul Davis (“I Go Crazy”), Gerry Rafferty (“Baker Street”), REO Speedwagon (“Keep on Loving You”), Captain and Tennille (“Love Will Keep Us Together”), and many more.  Read the full track listing and more here.

Various Artists, She’s All Right with Me! Girl Group Sounds U.S.A. 1961-1968 (Ace) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Ace has compiled 16 girl group nuggets from such largely unknown names as The Surf Bunnies, The Lovettes, and The Sweethearts.  The Ikettes make an appearance as The Mirettes, and Little Eva is represented under her married name of Little Eva Harris, too.

Rare Earth, Generation: Original Soundtrack (Culture Factory) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Rare Earth’s rarest LP returns to print on hot pink vinyl from Culture Factory.  The 1969 LP, the soundtrack to the film of the same name starring David Janssen, Kim Darby, and Carl Reiner (who left us earlier this week at the age of 98), was quickly pulled from shelves after the movie’s failure; the band reworked many of its tracks on the subsequent Ecology album.  Limited to 2,000 copies.  No CD has been announced.

Isaac Stern, The Complete Columbia Analogue Recordings (Sony Classical) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

This 75-disc box celebrates the great violinist’s legacy at Columbia Records where he recorded the classical repertoire with such titans as Leonard Bernstein, Eugene Ormandy, and Andre Previn.