Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up!

Zappa: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Zappa Records/UMe)

3CD/Digital: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
5LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP/Digital Highlights: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

UMe and Zappa Records offer a soundtrack release for director Alex Winter’s documentary film about the iconoclastic artist. The 68-track collection is out today on CD and has been available digitally, while the 5-LP and 2-LP versions will be released May 7.  The deluxe physical and digital editions of Zappa include nearly every song heard in the film including 12 previously unreleased tracks.  These include performances from the Whisky A Go-Go in 1968, the Fillmore West in 1970, and Saturday Night Live in 1978.  Additionally, the album features another 25 recordings spanning the entirety of his career as well as highlights from Zappa’s Straight and Bizarre Records catalogues from Alice Cooper and The GTOs, classical tracks from his compositional heroes Edgard Varese and Igor Stravinsky, Zappa and The Mothers of Invention’s jam session with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and 26 score cues penned by John Frizzell for the documentary.

David Bowie and Morrissey, Cosmic Dancer/That’s Entertainment (Parlophone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Parlophone releases a single pairing David Bowie and Morrissey’s duet on T Rex’s “Cosmic Dancer” as recorded live at the Inglewood Forum in 1991 with Morrissey’s 2020 cover of The Jam’s “That’s Entertainment.”

Nilsson, Gold (Crimson) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Crimson Productions’ Gold series of budget-priced anthologies continues with this volume dedicated to the late Harry Nilsson.  The 3-CD set features 45 favorites including the perennials “Without You,” “Everybody’s Talkin’,” “Coconut,” “Me and My Arrow,” and “I Guess The Lord Must Be in New York City” plus a selection of standards from A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night; rarities such as the Jimmy Webb-penned “Campo de Encino;” covers of numerous Randy Newman tunes from Nilsson Sings Newman and beyond; and more.

Kris Kristofferson, Gold (Crimson) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Another Gold volume arrives today celebrating legendary country maverick Kris Kristofferson.  44 of the singer-songwriter’s finest recordings are here including “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” “Sunday Morning Comin’ Down,” “Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again),” and three duets with Rita Coolidge.

Whitesnake, The Blues Album (Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Whitesnake completes its series of Red, White and Blue(s)-themed compilations with The Blues Album, bringing together 14 tracks from the band and the solo David Coverdale spanning 1984-2011 in 2020 remixes.  Available on 1CD, 2LP blue 180-gram vinyl, and digitally.

Various Artists, Get Up! Stand Up! Highlights from the Human Rights Concerts 1986-1998 (Ear Music/Edel) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

This 2013 compilation of 30 tracks from Amnesty International’s Human Rights Concerts returns to print today.  The set features performances by Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, Sting, Wynton Marsalis, Bob Geldof, Little Steven, Tracy Chapman, Lou Reed, The Police, Peter Gabriel, and others.