Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up!

R.E.M., New Adventures in Hi-Fi: 25th Anniversary Edition (Craft Recordings)

2CD/1BD (now due November 19): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2CD (now due November 12) : Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP (Original album only; out today): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Craft Recordings is continuing its ongoing R.E.M. reissue series with a 25th anniversary edition of the Georgia band's tenth studio album New Adventures in Hi-Fi.  A 2CD/1BD Deluxe Edition will present the newly remastered original album, a disc of B-sides and rarities, and a Blu-ray with numerous features including a 64-minute outdoor projection film (originally shown on buildings across five cities in 1996 to promote the album release), a 30-minute EPK (Electronic Press Kit), five HD-restored music videos, and the album in both high-resolution stereo and 5.1 surround sound.  Those looking for fewer Adventures than on the 2CD/1BD set will find a 2CD or digital collection without the Blu-ray content.  The 2CD iteration boasts an exclusive 24″ x 24″ poster and four postcards as well as a slimmed-down booklet.  The remastered album only is out today as a 2-LP set pressed on 180-gram vinyl with lacquers cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearant Audio.  Read more here.

Pink Floyd, A Momentary Lapse of Reason: Remixed and Updated (Pink Floyd Records)

CD/BD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
CD/DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Sony and Pink Floyd Records are breaking out another title from 2019's mammoth Pink Floyd: The Later Years box set.  A Momentary Lapse of Reason - Remixed and Updated features the David Gilmour-overseen presentation of the band's 1987 studio album.  Remixed by Andy Jackson with Gilmour, assisted by Damon Iddins, this version will be released on CD/DVD, CD/BD, double 180-gram, half-speed mastered 45 RPM vinyl, and digitally with stereo and 5.1 mixes.  Additionally, the album will be made available digitally in 360 Reality Audio (described as "a new immersive music experience that closely mimics the omni-directional soundscape of live musical performance for the listener using Sony's object-based 360 Spatial Sound technologies"), Dolby Audio, and UHD (Ultra HD) Audio.  The press release notes that all of these digital formats "will continue with other Pink Floyd releases."  Read more here.

Johnny Cash, Bear's Sonic Journals: Live at the Carousel Ballroom - April 24, 1968 (OSF/Renew/BMG)  (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The Owsley Stanley Foundation and Renew Records/BMG's new release Bear's Sonic Journals: Johnny Cash at the Carousel Ballroom, April 24, 1968 preserves The Man in Black's concert at the San Francisco venue.  Cash took the stage at the Carousel mere days before the May 6, 1968 release of At Folsom Prison.  The February 1969 release of At San Quentin would give Cash a second era-defining live LP; now, the Carousel Ballroom set (with songs unheard on those other landmark albums) can take its place alongside those two incendiary prison concerts.  BMG will handle the physical 1CD (out today) and 2LP (due December 3) releases while Sony's Legacy Recordings will handle all digital formats (streaming/download available today).  Read more here.

Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers, American Babylon: 25th Anniversary Edition (Cleveland International) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Last year, the recently-reactivated Cleveland International Records label reissued Joe Grushecky and The Iron City Houserockers' Have a Good Time...But Get Out Alive! as a deluxe edition for its 40th anniversary.  Now, the label has returned to the catalogue of the Pittsburgh rocker for a slightly belated 25th anniversary edition of The Houserockers' 1995 album American Babylon which was produced by, and features, Grushecky's friend Bruce Springsteen.  The 2-CD expansion of American Babylon features the original album plus bonus demos and a second disc of performances from Grushecky's concert tour with Springsteen.  A vinyl reissue will follow in early 2022.  Get more details here.

Spice Girls, Spice 25 (Virgin/UMC/EMI)

2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Vinyl and Cassettes: Spice Girls Online Store

Tell me what you want, what you really, really want...If what you want is a 25th anniversary expanded edition of the Spice Girls' 1996 debut Spice, you're in luck.  Virgin/UMC (U.K.) and EMI have reissued Spice on 2 CDs and a digital "eAlbum."  The expanded Spice 25, curated by the Spice Girls, features the original album on the first CD plus a second disc of twelve bonus tracks.  These encompass a sampling of period remixes and single versions plus five previously unreleased tracks: three demos, one outtake, and a never-before-heard Unlimited Groove Mix of "Love Thing."  Various vinyl and cassette editions of the original album only are also available.  Read more here.

Nat "King" Cole, A Sentimental Christmas with Nat "King" Cole and Friends (Capitol/UMe)

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Red Vinyl LP: Walmart.com

Although he's one of the voices most closely associated with Christmas, Nat "King" Cole only recorded one full-length Christmas LP in his lifetime.  Now, Capitol Records and UMe are out to change that with a "new" yuletide album from the legendary vocalist who died in 1965 at just 45 years of age.  A Sentimental Christmas with Nat "King" Cole and Friends: Cole Classics Reimagined arrives on CD, vinyl, and digital platforms.  In addition to reorchestrated solo performances, the album features virtual duets with Johnny Mathis, Gloria Estefan, John Legend, Kristin Chenoweth, and Calum Scott.  Read all about it here.

Buck Owens, In the Palm of Your Hand / Ain't It Amazing, Gracie / (It's A) Monster's Holiday (Omnivore)

In the Palm of Your Hand: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Ain't It Amazing, Gracie: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
(It's A) Monster's Holiday: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Today, Omnivore Recordings releases the final three titles in its current Buck Owens reissue campaign in which nine long out-of-print Capitol albums from the late Bakersfield troubadour are making their debut on standalone CD.  These include 1973's In the Palm of Your Hand and Ain't It Amazing, Gracie as well as 1974's (It's A) Monster's Holiday.  Read all about the three titles here.

Whitesnake, Restless Heart: 25th Anniversary Edition (Rhino)

4CD/DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
1CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

David Coverdale and Whitesnake's 1997 album, originally a U.K. release, gets a slightly early 25th anniversary makeover from Rhino.  The 4CD/DVD box set features a remixed version of the original album as well as a remaster of the original mix, previously unreleased demos and alternates, and a DVD of music videos and behind-the-scenes footage including new interviews with Coverdale.  For those who want just a little less Restless Heart, 1CD and 1LP versions present the 2021 remix of the album.

Emerson Lake & Palmer, Out of This World: Live 1970-1997 (BMG)

7CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
10LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

This new box set chronicles the story of prog legends ELP via a bevy of live concerts: Isle Of Wight Festival 1970, California Jam 1974, Works Live 1977, Royal Albert Hall 1992, and Phoenix 1997, newly remastered by Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham.

The Doobie Brothers, Liberté (Island) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The Doobie Brothers' 15th studio album offers a dozen original songs featuring Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, and John McFee; it's all been produced by John Shanks (Bon Jovi, Melissa Etheridge, Stevie Nicks).  Available on CD and download/streaming.