WIWS Banner

The Second Disc

Expanded and Remastered Music News

  • Home
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • News
    • Classic Rock
    • Rock
    • Pop
    • Jazz
    • Popular Standards/Vocal
    • R&B/Soul
    • Country
    • Folk
    • Cast Recordings
    • Soundtracks
    • Everything Else
      • Classical/Opera
      • Disco/Dance
      • Funk
      • Gospel
      • Rap/Hip-Hop
  • Features
    • Release Round-Up
    • Giveaways!
    • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Classic Rock
    • Rock
    • Pop
    • Jazz
    • Popular Standards/Vocal
    • R&B/Soul
    • Country
    • Folk
    • Cast Recordings
    • Soundtracks
    • Everything Else
      • Classical/Opera
      • Disco/Dance
      • Funk
      • Gospel
      • Rap/Hip-Hop
  • Release Calendar
    • Coming Soon
    • Now Available
  • About
  • Second Disc Records
    • Full Catalog
  • Contact

/ Features

The Weekend Stream: April 30, 2022

April 30, 2022 By Mike Duquette 2 Comments

Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing weekly review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there's plenty of great new/old music to discover! This week's got live favorites from The Boss, a Record Store Day rarity, a '90s tribute album to some rock legends and much more.

Bruce Springsteen, The Live Series: Songs of Location (Columbia/Legacy) (Apple Music / Amazon)

The Thrill Hill Archives have occasionally made some themed Bruce Springsteen playlists available to stream, drawn from various live archival releases issued through Nugs.net. The latest is a great 75-minute mix featuring some of the best-known places in The Boss' discography, from "Atlantic City" and "Thunder Road" to "My Hometown," "Streets of Philadelphia" and "Candy's Room."

Blondie, Sunday Girl EP (Capitol/UMe) (iTunes / Amazon)

Released as a double 7" single just last week for Record Store Day, here's a collection of four versions of the U.K. No. 1 hit off the band's Parallel Lines: the original album version, a French-language B-side, and unreleased demo and live versions - presumably due to release on the band's long-gestating box set project.

Various Artists, Kiss My Ass: Classic KISS Regrooved (Mercury) (iTunes / Amazon)

This quirky 1994 compilation featured a hilarious collection of rockers paying tribute to the music of KISS. The roster included a duet between Lenny Kravitz and Stevie Wonder, Anthrax, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Gin Blossoms, Dinosaur Jr., The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - and even KISS themselves, backing up Garth Brooks on "Hard Luck Woman."

Marina and The Diamonds, Platinum Blonde (Electra Heart Edition) (Atlantic UK/Rhino) (iTunes)

The sophomore album from Welsh singer Marina Diamandis - her second of three in which she altered her surname to look like she was backed up by a band - became a U.K. No. 1 hit thanks to engaging pop production from the likes of Greg Kurstin, Dr. Luke, Diplo and Stargate. (Lead single "Primadonna" just missed the Top 10 across the pond.) This new 10th anniversary edition features seven bonus cuts and non-LP singles; four tracks from this release (including an album track that never made the final cut) will be included on a double-LP reissue of the album this fall.

Hilly Michaels, Calling All Girls (Warner) (iTunes / Amazon)

A onetime drummer with Sparks, Hilly Michael was briefly touted as a next big thing of the burgeoning power pop/new wave scenes in 1980. His Roy Thomas Baker-produced debut (featuring session work from Dan Hartman, Elton John guitarist Davey Johnstone and The Cars' keyboardist Greg Hawkes) was not the commercial juggernaut Warner Bros. Records had hoped for; nonetheless, tracks like the early MTV staple title track and closer "Something on Your Mind" (heard in the frenetic yacht sequence in Caddyshack) offer some buried treasure for the discerning listener.

Nino Rota, Love Theme from "The Godfather" / The Godfather Waltz (Main TItle) (Geffen) (iTunes / Amazon)

With the 50th anniversary celebration of The Godfather in full swing - from a new 4K restoration of Francis Ford Coppola's trilogy to The Offer, a divisive new Paramount+ miniseries based on the making of the original film - Universal has put some skin in the game, offering a digital reissue of a single from Nino Rota's original score (itself in dire need of a remaster or expansion). Includes the instrumentals "Love Theme from The Godfather" - a minor hit that became a slightly bigger one as "Speak Softly, Love," with lyrics by Larry Kusik and vocals by Andy Williams - and the familiar main title melody.

Debbie Gibson, Anything is Possible (Deluxe Edition) (Warner Music/X5) (iTunes / Amazon)

Though Gibson's third album is where her command of the pop charts began to slip, you have to give her credit for shaking things up a bit, releasing half an album of upbeat tracks (several co-written and produced by Motown legend Lamont Dozier) and another half of self-written and produced potpourri. This deluxe edition, just released by Cherry Pop in the U.K., features two non-LP B-sides plus 15 remixes and radio edits.

Poco, Legacy (RCA) (iTunes / Amazon)

Two decades after country rockers Poco released debut album Pickin' Up the Pieces, the original line-up behind that record - longtime vocalist/instrumentalist Rusty Young alongside Jim Messina and Richie Furay of Buffalo Springfield, the Eagles' Randy Meisner and drummer George Grantham - reunited for a one-off album for RCA. Never a major singles band, Legacy still gave Poco a pair of Top 40 hits in "Call It Love" (at No. 18, their second biggest U.S. pop hit) and the Richard Marx-penned "Nothin' to Hide."

Melvin Van Peebles, Brer Soul / Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death (A&M)

Brer: iTunes / Amazon
Ain't Supposed: iTunes / Amazon

Lauded as one of the most significant independent Black filmmakers outside of Hollywood (thanks in large part to the definitive blaxploitation classic Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song), the late Melvin Van Peebles was also an accomplished recording artist. His first two albums, now digitally available, showcase Van Peebles' proto-hip-hop spoken-word over beds of soul and jazz. Some of the material from the latter album inspired portions of not only Sweetback but a 1972 musical also called Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death.

Maria McKee, I'm Gonna Soothe You / I Can't Make It Alone / Absolutely Barking Stars / Life is Sweet (Geffen)

Soothe: iTunes / Amazon
I Can't: iTunes / Amazon
Absolutely: iTunes / Amazon
Sweet: iTunes / Amazon

Depending on the kind of music fan you are, you know Maria McKee as either the co-founder/frontwoman of '80s cowpunk band Lone Justice or the singer of "Show Me Heaven," an unlikely U.K. No. 1 smash heard on the soundtrack to the forgotten Tom Cruise racing movie Days of Thunder. Her third solo album, 1996's Life is Sweet, was her last major label effort and sharply divided critics with its eclectic, raw sounds. (MOJO called it one of the year's best albums, for what it's worth.) These four singles from the album come packed with all sorts of non-LP rarities, from acoustic versions and demos to non-album tracks like "If Love is a Red Dress, Hang Me in Rags," a favorite of filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, who included it in Pulp Fiction.

Categories: Features, The Weekend Stream Formats: Digital Download, Digital Streaming Genre: Classic Rock, Country, Poetry, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock, Soundtracks Tags: Anthrax, Blondie, Bruce Springsteen, Debbie Gibson, Garth Brooks, Hilly Michaels, KISS, Lenny Kravitz, Maria McKee, Marina, Melvin Van Peebles, Nino Rota, Poco, Stevie Wonder

Avatar photo

Mike Duquette

Michael Duquette (Founder) was fascinated with catalog music ever since he discovered there was more than one version of John Williams' soundtrack to E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. A 2009 graduate of Seton Hall University with a B.A. in journalism, Mike paired his profession with his passion through The Second Disc, one of the first sites to focus on all reissue labels great and small. His passion for reissues turned into a career, with bylines on catalog at Discogs, City Pages and Ultimate Prince and credits on titles including the Grammy-winning 'Squeeze Box: The Complete Works of "Weird Al" Yankovic.' Born and raised in New Jersey, Mike lives in Astoria, Queens with an ever-expanding collection of music.

Connect With Mike:

You Might Also Like

  • Stream VoxThe Weekend Stream: January 28, 2023
  • gold cd2The Year In Review: The 2022 Gold Bonus Disc Awards, From A to Z - Part Two
  • gold cd2The Year In Review: The 2022 Gold Bonus Disc Awards, From A to Z - Part One
  • Debbie Gibson Body Mind SoulShock Your Mama: Cherry Pop Reissues, Expands Debbie Gibson's "Body Mind Soul"

Comments

  1. Jimmy Ringland says

    April 30, 2022 at 6:09 pm

    The Maria McKee ones are weird in that they seem to come entirely from the second of two UK singles, missing two of the best outtakes from "You Gotta Sin To Get Saved": "This Thing Don't Lead To Heaven", one of her best rock songs ever and a cover of Mott The Hoople's "I Wish I Was Your Mother". But, in general, it's great they're making what's there available.

    Reply
  2. Kirk Pasich says

    April 30, 2022 at 7:23 pm

    Blue Elan Records reached an agreement for the re-release of “Legacy” on CD and vinyl—special editions will be coming. The DSP release followed.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Upcoming Releases

  • Carole Bayer Sager Sometimes Late at Night
    Sometimes Late at Night: Expanded Edition
    Carole Bayer Sager
    February 03, 2023
  • Carole King Home Again
    Home Again: Live in Central Park
    Carole King
    February 10, 2023
  • Robert Palmer Island Years
    The Island Records Years
    Robert Palmer
    February 17, 2023
See Full Calendar

Connect

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 4,545 other subscribers

Popular

  • headquarters
    Review: The Monkees, "Headquarters: Super Deluxe Edition" posted on January 24, 2023 | under Reviews
  • Bob Dylan Fragments Bootleg 17 Cover
    Release Round-Up: Week of January 27 posted on January 27, 2023 | under Release Round-Up
  • Nancy and Lee Again
    Got It Together: "Nancy and Lee Again" Debuts on CD in March posted on January 27, 2023 | under News

Comments

  • small faces here come the nice2
    Return To Itchycoo Park: Small Faces' "Here Come The Nice" Deluxe Box Set Arrives In January [UPDATED 12/3] 84 comments | by Joe Marchese | posted on December 3, 2013 | under News
  • the beatles u s albums box2
    British Invasion! The Beatles Unveil "The U.S. Albums" Box Set in January 69 comments | by Joe Marchese | posted on December 12, 2013 | under News
  • Rolling Stones in Mono
    Out of Their Heads: Stones Plan Mono Box Set 47 comments | by Mike Duquette | posted on August 10, 2016 | under News

Music Resources

  • Addicted to Vinyl
  • Crap from the Past
  • Discogs
  • Film Score Monthly
  • IMWAN Forum – From the Vaults
  • MusicTAP
  • Musoscribe
  • Pause & Play
  • Popblerd
  • Popdose
  • Record Racks
  • Slicing Up Eyeballs
  • Steve Hoffman Music Forums
  • Ultimate Classic Rock
  • Vintage Vinyl News
  • Viva La Mainstream
  • Wolfgang's Vault

Labels of Note

  • Ace Records
  • Analog Spark
  • Bear Family
  • BGO Records
  • Big Break Records
  • Blixa Sounds
  • Cherry Red Label Group
  • Craft Recordings
  • Demon Music Group
  • Friday Music
  • Funky Town Grooves
  • Iconoclassic Records
  • Intervention Records
  • Intrada
  • Kritzerland
  • La La Land Records
  • Legacy Recordings
  • Light in the Attic
  • Masterworks Broadway
  • Now Sounds
  • Omnivore Recordings
  • Real Gone Music
  • Resonance Records
  • Rhino Entertainment
  • Rock Candy Records
  • SoulMusic Records
  • Sunset Blvd. Records
  • Supermegabot
  • Varese Sarabande
  • Vinyl Me, Please
  • Wounded Bird
Copyright © 2023 The Second Disc. All rights reserved. · Site by Metaglyphics

The Second Disc is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk.

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy