Supremes Funny Girl Banner Ad Now Available

The Second Disc

Expanded and Remastered Music News

  • Home
  • News
    • Classic Rock
    • Rock
    • Pop
    • Jazz
    • Popular Standards/Vocal
    • R&B/Soul
    • Country
    • Folk
    • Cast Recordings
    • Soundtracks
    • Everything Else
      • Classical/Opera
      • Disco/Dance
      • Funk
      • Gospel
      • Rap/Hip-Hop
  • Features
    • Release Round-Up
    • Giveaways!
    • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Classic Rock
    • Rock
    • Pop
    • Jazz
    • Popular Standards/Vocal
    • R&B/Soul
    • Country
    • Folk
    • Cast Recordings
    • Soundtracks
    • Everything Else
      • Classical/Opera
      • Disco/Dance
      • Funk
      • Gospel
      • Rap/Hip-Hop
  • Release Calendar
    • Coming Soon
    • Now Available
  • About
  • Second Disc Records
    • Full Catalog
  • Contact

/ News

Take a Giant Step: 7a Reissues and Expands Peter Tork’s Solo Album on CD, Vinyl

October 13, 2020 By Joe Marchese 8 Comments

Peter Tork Stranger Things Have Happened

BUY NOW FROM AMAZON.COM

7a Records has already delivered a treasure trove of releases from Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, and Michael Nesmith on CD and vinyl.  Is anyone missing from that list?  Now, 7a has just announced its first release from the late Peter Tork: the first-time reissue of his only solo album, 1994’s Stranger Things Have Happened, in a deluxe, expanded edition.  It’s due on December 4 in the U.K. and December 11 in the U.S., and will feature a generous nine bonus tracks on CD – including several seeing their first release in the digital domain – and six on vinyl.  (This is the album’s first appearance on vinyl.)

The path to Stranger Things Have Happened was a long one.  Tork was, by and large, musically inactive during the 1970s as he came to terms with the ups and downs of fame and struggled with sobriety.  (He did help produce a single for Dolenz and record some material for Nesmith’s label.)  In 1980, he achieved a hard-won sobriety, and the following year he entered the studio to record a new single.  Peter Tork and The New Monks released a new version of The Monkees’ Boyce and Hart-penned “(I’m Not Your) Stepping Stone” b/w a revival of Jackie Wilson’s timeless “Higher and Higher,” but the small release on an independent label didn’t make much noise – in the U.S., at least.  Peter took the New Monks to Japan where he embarked on a successful concert tour, much as Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz did.  (Their sojourns to Japan have been chronicled by 7a on a pair of recent releases.)  That rare single makes its first CD/digital appearance on this reissue.

Peter then reconnected with his folk roots in New York City, re-establishing himself in small Greenwich Village clubs without the shadow of The Monkees following him.  Everything changed for him, though, in 1986 when the second wave of Monkeemania hit the States.  He recommitted to the group and toured with them through 1989.  When it was time to go solo again, he formed the band The Dashboard Saints with whom he played around L.A. and once again in Japan.  Crucially, he hooked up with old friend James Lee Stanley of Beachwood Recordings.  Stanley would shepherd Tork’s new music and the album that became Stranger Things Have Happened.

The LP featured six songs penned by Tork including two remakes from his recent days back with The Monkees: “MGBGT” (a live version of which was on the flipside of the group’s “Heart and Soul” single) and “Gettin’ In” which had appeared on the Pool It! album.  An acoustic version of “Take a Giant Step” was another echo of The Monkees filtered through Tork’s own sensibility.  His live band joined him for the album as did some special guests including Mackenzie Phillips and Owen Elliot-Kugell (daughters of The Mamas & The Papas’ John Phillips and Cass Elliot, respectively), Eagles’ Timothy B. Schmit, Wings’ Laurence Juber, Micky Dolenz, and Michael Nesmith.

While Peter never recorded another solo LP, his collaboration with James Lee Stanley blossomed into a number of studio and live releases from the twosome; he also cut five albums, including a live set, with his group Shoe Suede Blues.  He also reunited with The Monkees for several reunion tours in various configurations through 2016.  Peter died in 2019 after a battle with cancer at the age of 77.

7a’s CD reissue of Stranger Things Have Happened boasts new cover artwork.  It’s housed in a digipak and is accompanied by a 32-page full-color booklet featuring a comprehensive new essay by Mark Kleiner.  The limited LP version is pressed on 180-gram neon magenta splatter vinyl.  The bonus tracks (nine on CD, six on vinyl) fill out the story with demos, live versions, acoustic duo performances with James Lee Stanley reflecting how the songs were originally conceived, both sides of the New Monks single, and a folk song recorded for a magazine.

Look for Stranger Things Have Happened on December 4 in the U.K. and December 11 in the U.S. from 7a Records.  You’ll find pre-order links for both Amazon and 7a’s preferred retailer Deep Discount and the complete track listing below!  (Do note that Amazon links are not all yet active though placeholders are up.)

Peter Tork, Stranger Things Have Happened (Beachwood Records BR 2522, 1994 – reissued 7a Records, 2020)

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Deep Discount
180-gram Neon Magenta Splatter Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Deep Discount

  1. Stranger Things Have Happened
  2. Get What You Pay For
  3. Sea Change
  4. Giant Step
  5. Milkshake
  6. MG-BGT
  7. Miracles
  8. Pirates
  9. Gettin’ In
  10. Tender Is
  11. Higher and Higher

Bonus Tracks

  1. Milkshake – with James Lee Stanley
  2. MG-BGT – with James Lee Stanley
  3. Miracle – with James Lee Stanley
  4. Pirates – with James Lee Stanley (*)
  5. Get What You Pay For (Live) (*)
  6. Easy Rockin’ (Demo) (*)
  7. I Truly Understand (from The CooP: The Fast Folk Musical Magazine SE 105, 1982)
  8. (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone – with The New Monks (Claude’s Music Works single MW 1001, 1981)
  9. Higher and Higher – with The New Monks (Claude’s Music Works single MW 1002, 1981)

(*) CD-only bonus tracks

Categories: News Formats: CD, Vinyl Genre: Pop Tags: Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, The Monkees

Joe Marchese

JOE MARCHESE (Editor) joined The Second Disc shortly after its launch in early 2010, and has since penned daily news and reviews about classic music of all genres. In 2015, Joe formed the Second Disc Records label. Celebrating the great songwriters, producers and artists who created the sound of American popular song, Second Disc Records, in conjunction with Real Gone Music, has released newly-curated collections produced by Joe from iconic artists such as Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Laura Nyro, Melissa Manchester, Chet Atkins, and many others. He has contributed liner notes to reissues from a diverse array of artists, among them Nat "King" Cole, Paul Williams, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, The 5th Dimension, Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and the Papas, Carpenters, Perry Como, Rod McKuen, Doris Day, Jackie DeShannon, and Andy Williams, and has compiled releases for talents including Robert Goulet and Keith Allison of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Over the past two decades, Joe has also worked in a variety of capacities on and off Broadway as well as at some of the premier theatres in the U.S., including Lincoln Center Theater, George Street Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, and the York Theatre Company. He has felt privileged to work on productions alongside artists such as the late Jack Klugman, Eli Wallach, Arthur Laurents, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. In 2009, Joe began contributing theatre and music reviews to the print publication The Sondheim Review, and in 2012, he joined the staff of The Digital Bits as a regular contributor writing about film and television on DVD and Blu-ray. Joe currently resides in the suburbs of New York City.

Connect With Joe: FacebookTwitter

You Might Also Like

  • Peter Tork Stranger Things Have HappenedHoliday Gift Guide Review: Peter Tork, “Stranger Things Have Happened”
  • CatStevensYusuf TeaForTheTillerman 50thBox plRelease Round-Up: Week of December 4
  • The Monkees The MonkeesHere They Come: Run Out Groove Reissues, Remasters, and Expands The Monkees’ Debut on Limited Edition Vinyl
  • Warren Zevon Stand in the FireExcitable Boy: Warren Zevon’s “Stand in the Fire” Is Expanded by Run Out Groove; The Monkees and Lenny Kravitz Among Next Titles in Fan Vote

Comments

  1. Jim says

    October 13, 2020 at 10:50 am

    7a continues its great work!

    Reply
  2. Georgina Grant says

    October 13, 2020 at 4:18 pm

    This will be on my wish list!

    Reply
  3. Lin says

    October 14, 2020 at 5:42 pm

    Hello Joe,

    Hope you are doing well.

    I wanted to write and ask you if there are any updates regarding issues some people were having with the box set of Richard & Linda Thompson CD’s?
    From reading through various people’s comments, quite a few people were having problems with some of the discs.

    I know from your responses that the company was aware of the disc issues problems.

    Of course, I know that other people leaving comments had no issues with the disc’s at all.

    I haven’t purchased the box set yet. Do you think it matters where you purchase from? I have never bought any music CD’S online before, accept occasionally on Ebay (but not recently) Never bought on Amazon, etc.
    I usually (if possible) prefer to buy at a brick & mortar store.
    One near me is a Barnes & Noble where I live in California.

    So just wanted to ask you Joe, if you know if the problem with the discs have been resolved yet or still being worked on?

    Thank you,
    Lin

    Reply
    • Joe Marchese says

      October 14, 2020 at 7:13 pm

      Hi Lin! Universal is offering replacement discs as well as download codes. All information can be found here:

      https://theseconddisc.com/2020/09/24/update-thompson/

      Let us know if you have any other questions!

      Reply
  4. Sarah Windisch says

    October 14, 2020 at 6:03 pm

    Has “pool it” been released on CD or are there any plans to do so? Last I looked I didn’t find it aside from original vinyl which I already own. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Joe Marchese says

      October 14, 2020 at 7:11 pm

      Hi Sarah, “Pool It!” was last reissued on CD in 2012, but that edition (see below) is now out of print. Used copies may still be available on Discogs, eBay, etc. Perhaps a new reissue will arrive soon.

      https://theseconddisc.com/2012/05/16/singin-to-the-music-davy-jones-bell-recordings-joins-monkees-deluxe-pool-it-in-april/

      Reply
  5. Renato says

    October 18, 2020 at 11:46 am

    Hi, please register me in your newsletter. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Joe Marchese says

      October 19, 2020 at 1:32 pm

      Hi Renato, please enter your email address in the “Connect” box on the right side of the website to subscribe to our newsletter. Thank you!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Upcoming Releases

  • BrianEno FilmMusic 1976 2020 pl
    Film Music 1976-2020
    Brian Eno
    January 22, 2021
  • BobDylan RollingThunderRevueABobDylanSotryByMartinScorsese Criterion
    Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese
    Bob Dylan
    January 22, 2021
  • kinks lola
    Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One [Various Formats]
    The Kinks
    January 22, 2021
See Full Calendar

Connect

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 4,060 other subscribers

Popular

  • NeilYoung WayDownInTheDustBucket dlx pl
    Love and Only Love: Neil Young Announces Long-Awaited “Way Down in the Rust Bucket” Concert Album and Film posted on January 15, 2021 | under News
  • Soul Cages expanded
    Setting Sail to the Island of Souls: Sting’s ‘The Soul Cages’ Receives Digital Expansion posted on January 16, 2021 | under News
  • Phil Spector and Darlene Love
    A Few Words on Phil Spector (1939-2021) posted on January 18, 2021 | under News

Comments

  • small faces here come the nice2
    Return To Itchycoo Park: Small Faces’ “Here Come The Nice” Deluxe Box Set Arrives In January [UPDATED 12/3] 77 comments | by Joe Marchese | posted on December 3, 2013 | under News
  • the beatles u s albums box2
    British Invasion! The Beatles Unveil “The U.S. Albums” Box Set in January 69 comments | by Joe Marchese | posted on December 12, 2013 | under News
  • Rolling Stones in Mono
    Out of Their Heads: Stones Plan Mono Box Set 47 comments | by Mike Duquette | posted on August 10, 2016 | under News

Music Resources

  • Addicted to Vinyl
  • Crap from the Past
  • Discogs
  • Film Score Monthly
  • IMWAN Forum – From the Vaults
  • MusicTAP
  • Musoscribe
  • Pause & Play
  • Popblerd
  • Popdose
  • Record Racks
  • Slicing Up Eyeballs
  • Steve Hoffman Music Forums
  • Ultimate Classic Rock
  • Vintage Vinyl News
  • Viva La Mainstream
  • Wolfgang’s Vault

Labels of Note

  • Ace Records
  • Analog Spark
  • Bear Family
  • BGO Records
  • Big Break Records
  • Blixa Sounds
  • Cherry Red Label Group
  • Demon Music Group
  • Friday Music
  • Funky Town Grooves
  • Iconoclassic Records
  • Intervention Records
  • Intrada
  • Kritzerland
  • La La Land Records
  • Legacy Recordings
  • Masterworks Broadway
  • Now Sounds
  • Omnivore Recordings
  • Raven Records
  • Real Gone Music
  • Resonance Records
  • Rhino Entertainment
  • Rock Candy Records
  • Sunset Blvd. Records
  • Supermegabot
  • Varese Sarabande
  • Wounded Bird
Copyright © 2021 The Second Disc. All rights reserved. · Site by Metaglyphics

The Second Disc is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk.

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy