Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up!

The Beatles, Let It Be: 50th Anniversary Edition [Various Formats] (Apple/Capitol/UMe)

5CD/Blu-ray: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
5LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
1CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
1LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

The Beatles' final album, Let It Be, arrives in deluxe editions to coincide with Peter Jackson's multi-part documentary Get Back.  The 5CD/BD edition includes Giles Martin and Sam Okell's new remix of the album; two discs of rehearsals, jams, and outtakes; one disc of Glyn Johns' first mix of the abortive Get Back album that became Let It Be; an EP of remixes; and a Blu-ray with Martin and Okell's mixes in high resolution stereo and surround (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Dolby Atmos).  Other editions include a 5LP vinyl version of the deluxe box, a 2CD cut-down, and the standalone remix on CD, LP and picture disc.  Read more here, and watch this space for a full review!

The Beatles, Get Back (Callaway Arts & Entertainment) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

In advance of Peter Jackson's long-awaited, three-part documentary film Get Back premiering November 25, 26, and 27 on Disney+, Callaway Arts & Entertainment and Apple Corps have released this hefty coffee table book that's sure to bring a smile to Beatlefans.  Over 238 pages, Get Back offers a day-by-day account of the creation of the Let It Be album, told primarily in the Beatles' own words.  This is accomplished not by present-day and archival interviews with the Fabs and the other players but rather by dialogue "scenes" taken directly from transcripts of the filmed footage made during the album's recording.  It's a fascinating, sometimes-funny, sometimes-dramatic approach, illustrated by film and photo stills.  (Helpfully, images with rectangular borders are photographs taken by Ethan Russell or Linda McCartney; images with rounded borders are taken directly from the restored 16mm film footage.)  Some might want to devour this book now and others might rather wait until Jackson's film arrives and then get back to relive favorite moments.  Either way, Get Back is a worthy addition to any Beatles library.  Watch this space for more coverage of this title!

David Crosby, If I Could Only Remember My Name: 50th Anniversary Edition (Rhino/Atlantic)

2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Rhino.com
1LP (Remastered Album Only): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Rhino.com

Rhino's deluxe edition of David Crosby's 1971 freak-folk classic boasts a new remaster of the album from the original analog tapes overseen by original engineer Stephen Barncard using the Plangent Process, and a generous 14 bonus demos and session outtakes/alternates (a full 12 of which are previously unreleased).  These include "Kids and Dogs," "Song with No Words (Tree with No Leaves) (Demo)" and "Riff 1" (now streaming and downloadable) as well as "Coast Road," "Dancer," and a version of "Cowboy Movie" with Neil Young taking the solo instead of Jerry Garcia.  Some of the demos date as far back as 1968 when Crosby briefly worked with Doors producer Paul A. Rothchild at Hollywood Recorders.  In addition, journalist and Crosby pal Steve Silberman has penned new liner notes for the package.  Available today on CD and digital/streaming; a 180-gram vinyl edition is coming on October 29.  Read more here.

The Velvet Underground - A Documentary Film by Todd Haynes: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack (Republic/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Today, The Velvet Underground: A Documentary Film by Todd Haynes arrives in theaters and on the Apple TV+ streaming service.  To mark the occasion, Republic Records/UMe issues the film's soundtrack on 2-CD and digital formats.  The movie secured the participation of surviving bandmates John Cale and Maureen "Mo" Tucker in chronicling the story of the groundbreaking group formed by Cale, Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison, and Angus MacLise (replaced in 1965 by Tucker).  Upon its July premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, the documentary was met with acclaim and Oscar buzz.  The album, offering 16 tracks by the Velvets and others, has been curated by Haynes and music supervisor Randall Poster. ​Read more here.

Tony Bennett, Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album (Columbia/Legacy)

Black Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
White Vinyl: Barnes and Noble

Columbia and Legacy are bringing Tony Bennett's classic 1968 Christmas album back to vinyl as newly remixed by the artist's son, Dae Bennett.  Snowfall will be available on black and white vinyl versions as well as digital/streaming formats.  Read more here.

Billy Joe Shaver and Kinky Friedman, Live Down Under (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Texas' own honky tonk heroes and longtime friends Billy Joe Shaver and Kinky Friedman came together in 2002 for a joint concert tour of Australia.  Now, Omnivore has brought that freewheeling experience to CD and download/streaming with this new release featuring "Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in the Bed," "Before All Hell Breaks Loose," "Honky Tonk Heroes," and much more.

Nick Lowe, The Impossible Bird / Dig My Mood (Yep Roc)

The Impossible Bird: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Dig My Mood: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Yep Roc has two Nick Lowe reissues on CD today, with vinyl reissues to follow in February: 1994's The Impossible Bird (featuring "The Beast in Me" and the Paul Carrack co-write "I Live on a Battlefield") and 1998's Dig My Mood (with "You Inspire Me" and a cover of Ivory Joe Hunter's "Cold Grey Light of Day").

Santana, Blessings and Miracles (BMG) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Santana's new album reunites him with "Smooth" vocalist Rob Thomas and also features guest appearances from the late Chick Corea, Gayle Moran Corea, Steve Winwood, Metallica's Kirk Hammett, Living Colour's Corey Glover, Chris Stapleton, Diane Warren, and others.  Available today on CD and download/streaming; a vinyl edition follows in March 2022.

Bellamy Brothers, Covers from the Brothers (Bellamy Brothers Records) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The classic duo tackle a dozen familiar songs on this new release including "The Most Beautiful Girl," "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," "I Can Help," "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," and more.  Available on CD and digitally.

Lucinda Williams, Lu's Jukebox Vol. 3: Bob's Back Pages - A Night of Bob Dylan Songs (Highway 20 Records) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Lucinda Williams continues her planned six-volume Jukebox series with a disc devoted to Dylan tunes including "Queen Jane Approximately," "To Make You Feel My Love," "Idiot Wind," "Blind Willie McTell," and "Not Dark Yet."

The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong All-Stars, A Gift to Pops (Verve) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Wynton Marsalis, Common, and a host of New Orleans' finest musicians have come together to salute Louis Armstrong on this new release which also features a previously unreleased track from the late trumpeter's All-Stars.  Out today on CD while a vinyl version follows on December 17.

Tommy Womack, I Thought I Was Fine (Schoolkids Records) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The Nashville rocker (Government Cheese, The Bis-Quits) and three-time cancer survivor is back with a rip-roaring new studio set co-produced with drummer Jonathan Bright.  Womack played the guitars and bass on the LP featuring a clutch of new songs and Womack-ized covers of "That Lucky Old Sun" and Cole Porter's "Miss Otis Regrets."  Chances are you'll think I Thought is fine, too.

Norah Jones, I Dream of Christmas (Blue Note) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Norah Jones' first Christmas album features both original songs and new interpretations of favorites including "White Christmas," "Winter Wonderland," and "Christmas Time Is Here."  Available today on CD, LP, and digitally as well as Target-exclusive CD and vinyl editions, both of which boast one extra song and a Christmas card.

Kelly Clarkson, When Christmas Comes Around (Atlantic) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Like Norah Jones' release, singer/talk show host Kelly Clarkson's latest yuletide set features both original songs (including the lead single "Christmas Isn't Cancelled (Just You)") and covers ("Jingle Bell Rock," "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "Santa Baby"). Target's exclusive edition includes a Christmas card; the digital edition has three bonus tracks.