Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! It's a much smaller one than usual, owing to the U.S. Fourth of July holiday, but we'll have more new releases in the Weekend Stream! In the meantime, may those celebrating have a safe and happy holiday weekend!
Joni Mitchell, The Reprise Albums (1968-1971) (Reprise/Rhino)
4CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
4LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Joni Mitchell's first four albums, all recorded for the Reprise label, are collected in a new box set available on CD and LP. The Reprise Albums (1968-1971) is the first albums collection to be released under the Joni Mitchell Archives umbrella; it will be followed later this year by Archives Vol. 2 featuring previously unreleased material from this era. In the meantime, this set features Bernie Grundman's new remasters of Song To A Seagull (featuring the essential tracks "Cactus Tree" and "Marcie"), Clouds ("Chelsea Morning" and "Both Sides Now"), Ladies of the Canyon ("Big Yellow Taxi," "The Circle Game," "Woodstock") and the timeless Blue (featuring "River" and "A Case of You"), which recently landed on Rolling Stone's list of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In addition, Song To A Seagull has been newly remixed by Matt Lee and Joni Mitchell. Both the 4CD and 4LP editions are handsomely packaged in a deluxe slipcase and adorned with a newly discovered self-portrait of the artist from the era. You'll also find new liner notes by Brandi Carlile, a friend and admirer of Joni Mitchell and 6-time Grammy winner in her own right. Read more here!
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Angel Dream: Songs and Music from the Motion Picture "She's the One" (Warner Records)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Tom Petty's Wildflowers & All The Rest was one of last year's finest box sets. The long-anticipated collection shone a light on one of Petty's best albums and also officially premiered the two-disc version of Wildflowers. Now, Warner Records is concluding its look at that period of Petty's career with this reimagined version of the soundtrack to the 1996 film She's The One, directed by Edward Burns. The original version of the album contained some songs intended for Wildflowers but which were left off when that record was cut to one disc. Since those songs were on last year's box set, this retooled She's The One soundtrack has had four new songs added and received a new title: Angel Dream. The new material includes two Petty originals ("105 Degrees" and "One of Life's Little Mysteries"), a cover of JJ Cale's "Thirteen Days," and the instrumental "French Disconnection". An extended version of "Supernatural Radio" is also included. The album has also been remixed and remastered and given new artwork to make it look more like a Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers album than a soundtrack release. Available on CD, LP, and download/streaming.
Richard Marx, Stories to Tell: Greatest Hits and More (BMG) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Richard Marx releases a soundtrack to his new autobiography Stories to Tell: A Memoir. This 2-CD companion collection has 27 tracks including demos, live recordings, and (new?) "Richard's Versions" of his hit songs including "Hold on to the Nights," "Satisfied," and "Right Here Waiting." Available on CD and digital/streaming.
Gabe says
I hate for my first comment here to be negative, but the mix on the Tom Petty release, Angel Dream is awful. It is so flat that it manages to make the music sound dull and boring. I A/B'd it against my 2014 digital reissue of the soundtrack (and the original CD) and this new release just can't compare. It's unfortunate that the Petty camp deemed this acceptable and sold it. Unfortunately I can't get a refund. Great music, awful reissue.
Larry Davis says
Yes it is a small release week, but one key title out is the new album by UK collective The Go! Team called "Get Up Sequences Part One"...great fun album with their mixture of samples, cheerleaders, 70s influenced pop, retro dayglo vibe, even a little hip hop thrown into the mix...no one else like em, except maybe the Avalanches...looking forward to Part Two...