Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, highlighted by our newest Second Disc Records release and featuring a selection of the week's other new titles!

Stoney and Meatloaf, Everything Under the Sun: The Motown Recordings (Second Disc Records/Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music)

Stoney and Meatloaf's Everything Under the Sun: The Motown Recordings from Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music is the ultimate celebration of late rock superstar Meat Loaf's singular collaboration with the extraordinary, Grammy-nominated Shaun Murphy (who went on to sing for more than four decades with Bob Seger and spend 16 years as lead singer of Little Feat).  This 2-CD anthology premieres the remastered, original 1971 Stoney and Meatloaf album on CD, bolstered by 18 bonus tracks including rare mono single versions, eight Stoney solo recordings (six of which are previously unreleased), and six brand-new stereo mixes by acclaimed engineer Kevin Reeves (The Supremes, Cream, John Coltrane) from Stoney and Meatloaf including full restorations of the duo's complete vocals to the outtakes which premiered, sans Stoney's leads, on the controversial 1978 reissue Meatloaf Featuring Stoney and Meatloaf.  The 36-page deluxe booklet designed by John Sellards features previously unreleased photos as well as an essay by TSD's Randy Fairman drawing on fresh interviews with Shaun Murphy and original album producer Ralph Terrana.  Produced by Joe Marchese and Andrew Skurow, Everything Under the Sun: The Motown Recordings proves that rock and roll dreams do, indeed, come through.  Read more here!

Prince and The Revolution, Live (NPG/Legacy)

2CD/BD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
3LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

NPG and Legacy Recordings premiere a physical audio release of Prince and The Revolution Live, a 1985 concert feature recorded at The Carrier Dome in Syracuse, NY on March 30, 1985, toward the end of the Purple Rain tour and less than a month before the release of follow-up Around The World In a Day.  He's backed by an expanded version of The Revolution; original members Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman (guitar and keyboards), Dr. Matt Fink (keyboards), Brownmark (bass) and Bobby Z (drums) are joined by guitarist Miko Weaver, saxophonist Eddie Mininfield, percussionists Sheila E. and her brother Juan Escovedo and the members of Apollonia 6 for a hits-packed concert that almost completely draws from Purple Rain and its predecessor 1999 from two years before.  The original concert video was included in the deluxe edition of Purple Rain released by Warner in 2017; during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the concert streamed in full on YouTube to raise money for the World Health Organization and the audio - remastered by Bernie Grundman - was made available digitally. Legacy's reissue, available on two CDs or three colored LPs (purple, red and gold), ups the ante in every way, offering a new mix of the concert done from the original 2" reels by Chris James, the concert's original engineer, and a new master of that mix by Grundman. Included with the CD set is a Blu-ray Disc featuring the concert video in stereo, 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos options and enhanced picture quality.  A deluxe edition in a foil box combines CDs, LPs and Blu-ray alongside a 44-page booklet offering never-before-seen photos from the Purple Rain tour and new liner notes drawing from conversations with Wendy, Lisa, Fink, Mark and Bobby, as well as a 24" x 36" poster.  Whew!  Read more here.

Michael Nesmith, Tantamount to Treason Volume One: 50th Anniversary Edition (7a Records)

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Deep Discount (U.S.)
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Deep Discount (U.S.)

Following its recent 50th anniversary edition of Michael Nesmith's And the Hits Just Keep On Comin', 7a Records reissues Michael Nesmith and The Second National Band's 1972 album Tantamount to Treason Volume One featuring Nez supported by Red Rhodes on pedal steel, Johnny Meeks on bass, Michael Cohen on keyboards, Jose Feliciano on congas, and Jack Ranelli on drums.  It's arriving today on both CD and LP in an expanded edition featuring five session outtakes ("Six Days on the Road," "Circle Sky," "Listen to the Band," and the instrumentals "Tan My Hide" and "You Are My One") on CD and four on LP (the above tracks minus "You Are My One").  7a's remastered 50th anniversary presentation of Tantamount to Treason Volume One is adorned with a new painting by the original album's cover artist Wilson McLean, depicting an older Nesmith surrounded by colorful new imagery. (No worries; open the handsome six-panel digipak and the original artwork is revealed!) The CD comes with a deluxe 32-page booklet, including comprehensive liner notes by Joe Alterio, a selection of period reviews, previously unpublished photos, session information, and full lyrics.  The vinyl version is pressed on 180-gram aqua splatter vinyl.  Get more details here!

Frank Sinatra, Watertown: Expanded Edition (FSE/Capitol/UMe)

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

UMe and Frank Sinatra Enterprises have remixed and remastered Frank Sinatra's stark, spellbinding 1970 concept album Watertown, penned by Bob Gaudio and Jake Holmes, for this new expanded edition featuring eight bonus tracks: the outtake "Lady Day" and subsequent single re-recording from November 1969 arranged by Don Costa; session alternates of four songs; and two period Reprise radio promo spots.  The booklet includes new liner notes, a track-by-track breakdown from Bob Gaudio, quotes from Sinatra, and essays by Jake Holmes, Frankie Valli, and others who were involved in the original album.  The vinyl LP features the original 10-track album sequence in a package with all original lyrics, a printed sleeve with new liner notes, a track-by-track breakdown from Bob Gaudio, and a 12" X 24" poster.  Read more here.

Al Stewart, The Admiralty Lights: Complete Studio, Live, and Rare 1964-2009 (Madfish) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Al Stewart's The Admiralty Lights: Complete Studio, Live, and Rare 1964-2009 spans five decades of the artist behind "Year of the Cat," "Time Passages," "Midnight Rocks," "Bedsitter Images," and "Nostradamus" via his complete released live and studio recordings and over 300 previously unreleased bonus tracks.  The set, limited to 2,000 copies (with the assurance that it will not be subsequently reissued), includes the following treasure trove of Stewart's works (track listing here):

• 21 CDs of studio albums from Bedsitter Images (1967) through Sparks of Ancient Light (2008), Stewart's last studio LP to date, all remastered from original tape transfers and presented in mini-LP-style jackets with original artwork elements preserved;
• 18 CDs of live recordings;
• 3 CDs of BBC Sessions from 1965-1972 (including a handful of cuts featuring Richard Thompson);
• 8 CDs of Demos, Outtakes and Rarities from 1964-2008;
• 160-page hardcover coffee table book featuring comprehensive liner notes by author Neville Judd, an in-depth interview with the artist, and rare memorabilia and ephemera;
• 24-page softcover Collectors' Book detailing all the Rare Recordings in the set;
• Year of the Cat print individually signed by artist Colin Elgie;
• Colin Elgie original art print;
• Last Days of the Century poster; and
• The Early Years poster.  

Note that Amazon is showing a June 17 release date while other outlets may be shipping now.

Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes, Live in Cleveland '77 (Cleveland International) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Live in Cleveland '77 revisits the early days of Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes, preserving the band's second performance in less than a year at Cleveland's famed Agora on East 24th Street.  In addition to performing favorites from their first two albums ("This Time It's for Real," "I Don't Want to Go Home," "Without Love," "Got to Get You Off of My Mind," "Broke Down Piece of Man," and of course, the Bruce Springsteen-penned showstopper "The Fever" and joyous cover of Sam Cooke's "Havin' a Party"), Southside and the Jukes welcomed a special guest.  Ronnie Spector took the stage to reprise her triumphant performance of Billy Joel's Wall of Sound pastiche "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" which she had recorded with Van Zandt and Jukes pals The E Street Band for a 1977 Epic single.  The 14-song set premieres on this release.  You'll find the track listing here!

Grateful Dead, Road Trips Vol.1, No.3: Summer '71 (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music)

Real Gone continues its series bringing Grateful Dead live albums to general retail.  Out today is Road Trips Vol.1, No.3: Summer '71, originally released by the band through their website in 2008.  The 2-CD set presents material from two shows: one from the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut on July 31, 1971 and another from the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on August 23, 1971. (This edition does not contain the third disc of additional performances from other venues only available with first pressings in 2008).

Max Roach, Members, Don't Git Weary (Real Gone Music)

Black Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music
Pink Vinyl: Collectors' Choice Music

Legendary jazz drummer Max Roach's second LP for the Atlantic label, 1968's Members, Don't Get Weary, gets a vinyl reissue today from RGM.  Roach led a quintet with himself on drums, Charles Tolliver on trumpet, Gary Bartz on alto saxophone, Stanley Cowell on piano, and Jymie Merritt on electric bass.  The six-song bop album was written entirely by the group with Cowell penning three numbers, Bartz and Merritt with one each, and Roach composing the title track (featuring vocals by Andy Bey).  This is the first American vinyl reissue of the album and comes on black vinyl, pressed at Gotta Groove Records.  A pink vinyl edition, limited to 500 copies, is available exclusively from Collector's Choice Music.

Alan Vega, Saturn Strip (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music)

Real Gone then moves into the 1980s for Alan Vega's third solo album, Saturn Strip.  Vega's third album and first for a major label (Elektra), 1983's Saturn Strip, was a bid for commercial success.  Produced by The Cars' Rik Ocasek and featuring keyboard work by Al Jourgenson (who had just founded Ministry), Vega catered his writing to a more radio-friendly style, composing shorter songs than his previous efforts.  It still proved a bit too idiosyncratic for mainstream audiences, but was liked by critics.  Vega would record one more album for Elektra before moving on to other labels while also continuing to record with his duo, Suicide.  Suicide's last album was 2002's American Supreme and Vega's last album released in his lifetime was 2010's Sniper.  He passed away in 2016.  Real Gone's new edition is the first-ever vinyl reissue of the album and it comes on "highlighter" yellow vinyl.

Bill Evans, You Must Believe in Spring: Expanded Edition (Craft Recordings)

2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
SACD (due July 15): CraftRecordings.com

Craft Recordings delivers a remastered reissue of one of jazz piano legend Bill Evans' finest studio albums, the posthumous 1981 release You Must Believe in Spring, in 180-gram vinyl, CD, hybrid stereo SACD (playable on all CD players), and digital formats.  Produced by Tommy LiPuma and Evans' longtime manager Helen Keane and engineered by Al Schmitt, You Must Believe in Spring has long been acclaimed as perhaps Evans' best-sounding album.  It was also his final studio recording with bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Eliot Zigmund.  The album features original material as well as new interpretations of classic melodies by Michel Legrand and  Johnny Mandel, among others.   The 180-gram 2-LP vinyl release of You Must Believe in Spring boasts all-analog mastering, cut at 45 RPM from the original tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio.  The CD, hybrid SACD, and high-resolution digital editions feature three bonus tracks, all of which were originally issued on Rhino's 2003 expanded edition.  Audio for the CD, high resolution digital, and SACD versions has been transferred from the original master tapes using the Plangent Processes and newly remastered by Paul Blakemore. The SACD release (coming July 15) is exclusive to the Craft Recordings store while other formats will be available at general retail.  Get more info here!

East Coast, East Coast (Real Gone Music)

Fire Orange with Black Streaks Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music
Grey Vinyl: Real Gone Music

Drummer Bernard "Pretty" Purdie's Encounter Records only released five albums, all in 1973.  Among those was the self-titled debut album of East Coast.  The seven-member band consisted of Larry Blackmon (leader/drums), James Wheeler (alto saxophone), Gregory Johnson (keyboards), Michael Harris (percussion), Melvin Whay (bass), Patrick Grant (trombone), and Gwen Guthrie (vocals).  The soul-funk album, with all songs written by members of the band, features many styles from sunshine soul to psychedelia.  East Coast only recorded this one LP and had disbanded by the next year.  Guthrie would continue her songwriting career, co-writing tunes for Ben E. King and Sister Sledge, among others.  She became an in-demand backup singer and also had a solo career, recording six albums.  Blackmon would take Johnson with him and eventually form Cameo.  One of the biggest funk groups in history, Cameo would record over 20 studio and live albums.  Real Gone's vinyl reissue of this rare soul gem has been remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision and features the original gatefold packaging.  It is the first is the first American vinyl reissue of the album (which has never appeared on CD).  The reissue comes in three versions: fire orange with black streaks vinyl, dark grey vinyl (limited to 150 copies, available directly from Real Gone), and gold vinyl (limited to 310 copies, available from Tandem Vinyl with details TBD).

George Scott, Find Someone to Love (Real Gone Music)

Green Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music
Blue Vinyl: Vinyl Me, Please

Next up from RGM are two more soul-funk vinyl reissues, both originally issued on the small Maple label.  Both were the artists' only albums and both were produced by Johnny Brantley, who worked with Jimi Hendrix, The Ohio Players, and The Isley Brothers, among others.  George Scott's 1971 album, Find Someone to Love, featured the vocalist's "Wilson Pickett-meets-James Brown" stylings and included ten songs, the majority written by the team of Edward Lewis, James Lewis, and Marion Farmer.  One track, "Sweetthang," writing by Brantley and Billy Lamont, features an uncredited Jimi Hendrix on guitar (although this part was probably laid down in 1966 and Scott's vocals added much later).  This new reissue, remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision, is available on green vinyl (the standard edition) or blue vinyl, exclusive to Vinyl Me, Please and limited to 750 copies.

Mabu's Madness, M-Square (Real Gone Music)

Fire Orange with Black Streaks Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music
Clear with Yellow/Red Swirl: Real Gone Music

The other Johnny Brantley-produced LP also comes from 1971 and is a one-off entitled M-Square, credited to Mabu's Madness.  Mabu was Brad "Mabu" Young, a drummer/singer/arranger who lead a 10-person band on this collection of eight songs.  The funky album has several highlights, including the horn section playing The Who's "Sparks" during the song "Do The Best You Can!"  The LP has been remastered by Mike Milchner and is available as a limited 1,400-copy release in "fire orange with black streaks" or as a clear LP with yellow and red pigment swirl, limited to 100 copies and available exclusively from Real Gone's website.

Chuck Armstrong, Shackin' Up (Real Gone Music)

Barbecue Sauce Red Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music
Camo Green Vinyl: Real Gone Music

Chuck Armstrong began his career under the name Little Charles when he recorded a single for the Gemini label in 1966.  He then moved around to various other labels including Nashville's Sound Stage 7, Detroit's Black Rock, and Miami's Drive.  In 1976, he recorded Shackin' Up on the small R & R label.  Produced by George Kerr (Whatnauts, Linda Jones, Manhattans, Phyllis Hyman), the 10-song album includes the single "Give Me All Your Sweet Lovin'" and the 7-minute long, socially-conscious soul number "You've Got To Deal With It (This Superworld)."  This first American vinyl reissue has been remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision and comes in two limited editions: a 1,400-copy "barbecue sauce" red version available at general retail and a 100-copy "camo" green version available exclusively from Real Gone's website.

John Williams and Anne-Sophie Mutter, Violin Concerto No. 2 and Selected Film Themes (Deutsche Grammophon)

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

Legendary maestro John Williams has teamed once again with renowned violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter for this premiere of his latest concert work.  The four-movement piece was recorded by the Boston Symphony Orchestra; it's supplemented on the CD release by new recordings of violin-led arrangements of three classic Williams themes: a piece from Robert Altman's The Long Goodbye, and the romantic themes for "Han Solo and The Princess" (as debuted in The Empire Strikes Back) and "Marion's Theme" (from Raiders of the Lost Ark). Also planned (date TBD) is a stand-alone Blu-ray featuring the album in Pure Audio, surround sound and Dolby Atmos, films of the concerto's world premiere at Tanglewood, a 25-minute interview with the composer/conductor and violinist and more. (A web-exclusive 10" of the film themes from the CD will also be available TBD.)  You'll find the track listing here!