Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up!

The Band, Cahoots: 50th Anniversary Edition (Capitol/UMe)

2CD/LP/BD/7-inch single: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2CD (Contents of CDs 1 & @ below): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
1LP (2021 Mix of Original Album): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

The Band and Capitol/UMe are in Cahoots for a deluxe 50th anniversary reissue of the group's fourth studio album.  The remixed and remastered Cahoots arrives in various formats including a Super Deluxe 2CD/BD/LP/7-inch vinyl box set, 2CD, 180-gram half-speed-mastered black vinyl, limited edition vinyl, and digital download/streaming.  All of these formats have been overseen by Robbie Robertson and feature a new mix of the original album by Bob Clearmountain from the original multitrack tapes.  A highlight of the box set, CD, and digital iterations is Live at the Olympia Theatre, Paris, May 1971 featuring 11 songs culled from the Paris concert.  Other bonus tracks include outtakes and alternates, instrumentals, and more.  Get more details here!

Brian Wilson, At My Piano (Decca)

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

Brian Wilson returns with his first solo album since 2015 - and it's a true solo affair.  At My Piano features the Beach Boys' leader at the keys for instrumental renditions from his classic songbook including "God Only Knows," "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "Good Vibrations," "Love and Mercy," and a suite from SMiLE.  It hits stores today on CD and digital formats while the vinyl LP (with alternate cover artwork) is scheduled for next Friday, December 17.  Read more here.

Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Barn (Shakey/Reprise)

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

Neil Young reunites with Crazy Horse for a new 10-song album available on CD, LP, cassette, and digital formats as well as on a deluxe box containing the CD, LP, and Barn film on Blu-ray.  Barn has been produced by Young and Niko Bolas.

Buck Owens and Susan Raye, Together Again (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

This sparkling, new 22-track compendium features duets from prolific troubadour Buck Owens and his frequent singing partner and television co-star Susan Raye plus solo cuts from Raye, all originally issued between 1970 and 1975.  Their collaboration extended beyond just duets; Buck also steered the direction of Susan's career, and she reinvigorated many of his older compositions (many of which can be heard on this collection).  These timeless slices of Bakersfield country have been remastered by Michael Graves.  Together Again is housed in a jewel case and includes a 12-page booklet with new liner notes by Owens historian Randy Poe.  It's available in both CD and digital formats.  Read more here!

The Chieftains, Chronicles: 60 Years of The Chieftains (Verve/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

This double-disc anthology brings together tracks spanning The Chieftains' first album through their most recent, including collaborations with Van Morrison, Diana Krall, The Rolling Stones, and Alison Krauss plus previously unreleased live recordings.

Green Day, BBC Sessions (Reprise, 2021)

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP Black Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP Milky Clear Vinyl: Your Local Record Shop
2LP Blue and Pink Vinyl: Green Day Official Store

The sixteen tracks on BBC Sessions were recorded by Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tre Cool at the BBC's Maida Vale Studios in west London where numerous legends of rock (including The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and David Bowie) had all performed.  The band's 1994 session previously released on limited edition vinyl (comprising the Dookie trio of "She," "When I Come Around," and "Basket Case," plus Kerplunk's "2000 Light Years Away") is joined by sessions from 1996 ("Geek Stink Breath," "Brain Stew/Jaded," "Walking Contradiction," and "Stuck with Me," all off Insomniac), 1998 (Nimrod selections "Hitchin' a Ride," "Nice Guys Finish Last," "Prosthetic Head," and "Redundant"), and 2001 (Warning's "Castaway," "Church on Sunday," "Minority," and "Waiting").  These live-in-the-studio performances captured the unbridled energy of the band at its peak.  Read more here.

Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, First Flight to Tokyo: The Lost 1961 Recordings (Blue Note/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

This new 2-CD or 2-LP set from drummer/leader Art Blakey, tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter, trumpeter Lee Morgan, pianist Bobby Timmons, and bassist Jymie Merritt is drawn from their January 14, 1961 sets at Tokyo's Hibiya Public Hall, originally recorded for a proposed documentary but later shelved.  Bernie Grundman has mastered.  Also available digitally.

West Side Story: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Hollywood Records) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Celebrate Stephen Sondheim's extraordinary career with the soundtrack to director Steven Spielberg's hotly-anticipated, critically-acclaimed remake of Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, and Arthur Laurents' West Side Story.  The album features Rachel Zegler (Maria), Ansel Elgort (Tony), Ariana DeBose (Anita), Mike Faist (Riff), David Alvarez (Bernardo), and original West Side Story Academy Award winner Rita Moreno (Valentina).  Gustavo Dudamel has conducted the score.  Target has an exclusive edition with a poster; the U.S. retailer will also offer a red vinyl edition in February 2022.

Licorice Pizza: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Republic) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson has compiled a starry and eclectic soundtrack for his new coming-of-age film Licorice Pizza.  The release, available on CD and LP, features songs from Nina Simone, David Bowie, Paul McCartney and Wings, Gordon Lightfoot, Chuck Berry, The Doors, Bing Crosby, Seals and Crofts, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and others.

Marie Osmond, Unexpected (BFD) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Marie Osmond is back with an Unexpected new album taking in opera (Puccini's "Nessun Dorma," Handel's "Lascia Ch'io Pianga" and "Ombra Mai Fu") and Broadway (Sondheim's "Children Will Listen," Kander and Ebb's "But the World Goes Round," Bernstein and Sondheim's "Somewhere").  Available on CD, LP, and digitally.

Ron Lytle, Once Upon a Time Step (RonLytle.com)

Composer-lyricist-librettist Ron Lytle has delivered a tuneful collection of songs from his fairy-tale musicals including That's Our Snow White, The Great and Glorious Mr. Toad, and Beasty and the Beaut.  This delightful release makes a perfect stocking stuffer this Christmas season.  Sound samples are available at the above link!