From the moment she stepped out of the background to sing the commanding leads on such classic songs as "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" and "He's a Rebel," Darlene Love's voice has been recognized as one of the most powerful in rock and R&B. On Record Store Day, April 23, Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music will celebrate Love's extraordinary legacy of song with a new retrospective featuring fifteen of her most criminally overlooked recordings. The Many Sides of Love: The Complete Reprise Recordings Plus! is not only our very first Second Disc Records release for Record Store Day, but it's a long overdue celebration of the enduring artistry of Darlene Love.
The Many Sides of Love brings together - for the first time on long-playing vinyl - all of the rare single sides recorded by Darlene for the label Frank Sinatra founded, Reprise Records, both as a solo artist and with The Blossoms (the most famous line-up of which featured Darlene, Fanita James, and Jean King). The collection also features the sides The Blossoms recorded (with Darlene on lead, of course) for guitarist Barney Kessel and as The Wildcats.
These soulful tunes are every bit as absorbing as Love's more famous recordings for Phil Spector, with songs from David Gates, Lee Hazlewood, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and Van McCoy; productions by Hazlewood and Jack Nitzsche, and Jimmy Bowen; and arrangements by H.B. Barnum, Gene Page, Ernie Freeman, and Bill Justis. In other words, the cream of the crop came together for Love and The Blossoms' Reprise recordings, all of which have been newly remastered for this release by Mike Milchner at SonicVision.
But there's still that Plus! in the title. The Many Sides of Love additionally offers Darlene's volcanic rendition of Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector's "River Deep, Mountain High" from her star turn in Broadway's Leader of the Pack (produced by Ellie and the legendary Bob Crewe) as well as two Andy Paley-written and produced cuts from the Dick Tracy soundtrack/companion album and Darlene's delightful duet with Bette Midler on the Spector-era classic "He's Sure the Boy I Love."
The release includes a four-page insert with rare photos as well as comprehensive liner notes by TSD's Joe Marchese. It's all been designed in the style of a period Reprise LP by John Sellards and pressed onto teal vinyl by Gotta Groove Records. The RSD release of Darlene Love's The Many Sides of Love - The Complete Reprise Recordings Plus! is strictly limited to 3,500 copies. Look for this tribute to one of the greatest vocalists of all time at your local record store on Saturday, April 23 from Real Gone Music and Second Disc Records - and keep it locked here for more RSD reveals from Real Gone and other labels!
Darlene Love, The Many Sides of Love: The Complete Reprise Recordings Plus! (Real Gone Music/Second Disc Records RGM-1375, 2022)
Side One
- TV Commercials - Barney Kessel (Reprise single R-20,152, 1963)
- What Are We Gonna Do In '64? - The Wildcats (Reprise single 0253, 1964)
- 3625 Groovy Street - The Wildcats (Reprise single 0253, 1964)
- That's When the Tears Start - The Blossoms (Reprise single 0436, 1966)
- Good, Good Lovin' - The Blossoms (Reprise single 0436, 1966)
- My Love, Come Home - The Blossoms (Reprise single 0475, 1966)
- Lover Boy - The Blossoms (Reprise single 0475, 1966)
- Let Your Love Shine on Me - The Blossoms (Reprise single 0522, 1966)
- Deep Into My Heart - The Blossoms (Reprise single 0522, 1966)
Side Two
- Too Late to Say You're Sorry - Darlene Love (Reprise single 0534, 1966)
- If - Darlene Love (Reprise single 0534, 1966)
- River Deep, Mountain High - Darlene Love (Elektra single 7-69647, 1985)
- Mr. Fix It - Darlene Love (Sire U.K. single W 9535, 1990)
- He's Sure the Boy I Love - Bette Midler and Darlene Love (Warner Bros. LP 545542-2, 2014)
- Mr. Fix It (1930s Version) - Darlene Love (Sire LP 9 26236-2, 1990) (Bonus Track)
zubb says
sure hope this will see a CD release down the road. Looks great!
Bill Scherer says
I hope so as well. Either that or a digital release
Joe Marchese says
Hi Bill and Zubb, a CD is planned for May. We'll have more details soon. 🙂
Larry Davis says
Maybe a Darlene boxset?? Still no word on a Ronnie one either...
ed says
Looks great, but... no CD, no buy..
Joe Marchese says
I think you'll be very happy with some upcoming news, Ed. 😉 A CD release is planned for May. Watch this space for more details.
ed says
Great news, Joe. Thanks for the heads up.
Joe Mac Pherson says
I was so ready to buy this, NOW, without hesitation. Much to my regret, now I know there's no CD release for this special compilation. I'll pass as I always do on any vinyl recording. Until there's a CD issue, no sale from me.
Joe Marchese says
Mark your calendar for May, Joe...we'll have more info soon. 🙂