Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up!

Eric Clapton, Eric Clapton: Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Polydor/UMe)

4CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
1LP (Original Album Only): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Eric Clapton's eponymous 1970 solo debut is reissued today in 4CD and 1LP iterations.  The 4CD Deluxe Edition presents Eric Clapton in three separate mixes, with one mix on each of the first three CDs in the box: The Tom Dowd Mix, The Eric Clapton Mix, and The Delaney Bramlett Mix.  The mix by Dowd (Dusty Springfield, The Allman Brothers Band) was originally released in 1970; the earlier mix by Delaney Bramlett was first issued in full on the 2006 Deluxe Edition.  Clapton's own mix officially premieres in full on this set.  (This mix crept out on early pressings of the LP in 1970 before being quickly recalled; his mixes of "After Midnight" and "Let It Rain" then appeared again on the 2018 soundtrack Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars.)  The fourth and final CD offers eight additional bonus tracks.  All seven of the bonus cuts from the 2006 edition are featured plus a previously unreleased mix of "Comin' Home."  The original album only is remastered on vinyl.  Read more here.

John Coltrane, Another Side of John Coltrane (Craft Recordings)

CD/Digital: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Barnes and Noble Exclusive 2LP: Barnesandnoble.com
Craft Recordings Exclusive 2LP: CraftRecordings.com

Before recording his first solo session as a leader in May 1957, John Coltrane had already established his mastery of the saxophone as an in-demand sideman.  Even after attaining success as a leader, he continued to share his gifts with other artists.  Now, Craft Recordings is collecting the best of Coltrane the sideman on a new collection.  Another Side of John Coltrane, coming in 1CD, 2LP (standard and retail-exclusive variants), and digital formats, features his appearances on sessions from Davis, Rollins, Thelonious Monk, Red Garland, Tadd Dameron, and Art Taylor.  The 2LP version features two bonus tracks.  Read more here.

Lee Morgan, The Complete Live at the Lighthouse (Blue Note/UMe)

8CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
12LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

The discography of trumpeter Lee Morgan is a relatively short one, his life having been cut short when he was murdered at the hands of his companion/common-law wife.  But in his 33 years, Morgan played with John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Wayne Shorter, and Quincy Jones; scored a pop crossover hit with "The Sidewinder;" and released over 20 albums as a leader.  Now, an expanded 50th anniversary reissue of Morgan's final album released in his lifetime, 1971's 2-LP set Live at the Lighthouse, features all 12 sets performed by Morgan and his quintet at The Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, California from July 10-12, 1970.  It's arriving today on 8 CDs or 12 all-analog, 180-gram LPs.  All told, The Complete version has 33 performances and more than four hours of previously unreleased music from the hard bop pioneer.  Read more here.

Various Artists, Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap (Smithsonian Folkways) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Smithsonian Folkways offers an impressive 9-CD, 129-song compendium chronicling the evolution of hip-hop and rap from early tracks by the Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Flash, Herbie Hancock, and Blondie, to latter-day cuts from Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and Drake.  It's all packaged within a 300-page book featuring extensive liner notes, photos, and memorabilia.

Aaliyah, One in a Million (Blackground) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The late R&B superstar's 1996 sophomore album returns to CD and hits streaming today.  Read more about the return of the Blackground Records catalogue here.

The Vince Guaraldi Trio, A Boy Named Charlie Brown (Craft Recordings) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

This baseball-themed reissue of the classic 1964 album arrives today after a short delay.  Unlike the 50th anniversary reissue which restored the original artwork, the new LP uses the 1972 reissue cover.  But it's been newly remastered from the original analog tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, and adds eight baseball cards to the package - one for each member of Charlie Brown's Peanuts "team" (Snoopy, Woodstock, Peppermint Patty, Linus, Lucy, Franklin, Schroeder, and Charlie himself).  Each card has "stats" for the player including field position and favorite sandwich (!).  Read more about this title here.

The Sound of Music: Original Soundtrack Recording (Craft Recordings) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Does today's vinyl reissue of The Sound of Music look a little different?  That's because this LP marks the classic Rodgers & Hammerstein soundtrack's first appearance on the Craft Recordings label which has acquired it from its longtime home of RCA Victor.  An eight-page booklet is included.  Barnes & Noble has an exclusive yellow "golden sun" pressing.

Girl from the North Country: Original Broadway Cast Recording (Masterworks Broadway) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Conor McPherson's Girl from the North Country, featuring the music and lyrics of Bob Dylan, returns to Broadway on October 13.  In advance of its reopening night, Legacy Recordings releases the Original Broadway Cast Recording.  Todd Almond, Marc Kudisch, Luba Mason, Jay O. Sanders, and Mare Winningham are among the cast; the musical boasts reinterpretations of such Dylan classics as the title song, "Hurricane," "Went to See the Gypsy," "Idiot Wind," "My Back Pages," and "Forever Young."

Chrissie Hynde, Standing in the Doorway: Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan (BMG) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Still looking for more new Dylan interpretations?  The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde delivers with this new set featuring many of his lesser-known compositions including "In the Summertime," "Don't Fall Apart on Me Tonight," and the title track "Standing in the Doorway."  Available on CD, LP, and digitally.

Kool and the Gang, Perfect Union (Omnivore/Ru-Jac) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The legendary feel-good, party-time soul and funk band behind "Ladies Night," "Too Hot," "Celebration," "Cherish," "Joanna," and more is back with an all-new album (their 25th studio set) that inaugurates Omnivore's relaunched Ru-Jac label!  Perfect Union was produced by Ronald Khalis Bell and features Dennis Thomas; Bell died in 2020 and Thomas earlier this year.  Founding members Robert "Kool" Bell and George "Funky" Brown remain with the group.

Connie Smith, The Cry of the Heart (Fat Possum) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Country music great Connie Smith returns with her first studio album in a decade.  The Cry of the Heart was produced by Connie's husband Marty Stuart and features a pair of Smith/Stuart originals alongside songs by Merle Haggard, Carl Jackson, and Dallas Frazier.  Smith has been a longtime Frazier interpreter; "I Don't Believe Me Anymore" is the 72nd of his songs she's recorded.  Available on CD, LP, and digitally.

Wanda Jackson, Encore (Blackheart/Big Machine) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The rockabilly and country legend is saying farewell with this final studio set produced by and featuring Joan Jett.

James McMurtry, The Horses and The Hounds (New West) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The singer-songwriter returns with his first studio album in seven years.  He's supported by guitarist David Grissom and producer Ross Hogarth, and the sessions took place at Jackson Browne's California studio.  The result is a rootsy, keenly-observed collection from a tunesmith who has a lot to say.  Available on CD, vinyl, and digitally.