Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the week's most notable new titles! As next week will see very few releases, this will be our final Release Round-Up of 2022...regular daily coverage will continue, though! See you in the new year!
Frank Zappa, Waka/Wazoo (Zappa/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / uDiscoverMusic.com / Zappa Online Store)
UMe and Zappa Records are chronicling Frank Zappa's 1972 in a new 4CD/1BD box set. The original Waka/Jawaka and Grand Wazoo albums, on which Zappa debuted his "electric orchestra" concept, are presented on the Blu-ray disc in three high-resolution formats: 48kHz/24-bit Dolby Atmos, 48kHz/24-bit Dolby TrueHD 5.1, and 96kHz/24-bit PCM Stereo. The first two CDs present unreleased takes of almost every track recorded during the albums' original sessions at Paramount Studios. The third disc premieres a set of previously unreleased demos for George Duke's solo material recorded at Paramount, with Zappa serving as producer and guitarist. This disc is rounded out by the "Grand Wazoo" live performance of "Approximate" from the Boston show of September 24, 1972, as originally mixed by Zappa at The Record Plant. (The full show was issued in 2007 as Wazoo and is not repeated here.) The fourth CD has the final full show of the "Petite Wazoo," from San Francisco's Winterland on December 15, 1972. If you're interested in the original albums only, Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo are also returning to vinyl in both 180-gram black vinyl and color vinyl editions. Zappa.com and uDiscovermusic.com will exclusively offer Waka/Jawaka on translucent green vinyl and The Grand Wazoo on brown marble vinyl, both with tip-on jackets and lithographs. They've been mastered from the analog tapes by Bernie Grundman and pressed at Optimal Media in Germany. Read more here!
Cheap Trick, Live at The Whisky 1977 (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
This limited edition 4CD set compiles a quartet of Cheap Trick's complete, uncut shows recorded at the Whisky-a-Go-Go in Los Angeles in the summer of 1977. It's limited to just 2,000 copies and chronicles when Robin Zander, guitarist/songwriter Rick Nielsen, bassist Tom Petersson and drummer Bun E. Carlos spontaneously booked some nights at the historic Sunset Strip nightclub. KROQ-FM DJ Rodney Bingenheimer served as their master of ceremonies, and the Record Plant's Mobile One truck rolled tape on the songs, heard by a few hundred lucky folks in early and late shows on June 3 and 4. By year's end they were opening for KISS and amassing a following which remains to this day. Ken Sharp has provided new liner notes for the package. Read more here. This release was originally scheduled for release last week.
Spice Girls, Spiceworld 25 (UMC (U.K.) / UMe (U.S.))
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Clear vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Picture Disc: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
UMC celebrates Spice Girls' second album with a variety of releases. The Spiceworld reissue will be built around a 2CD edition curated by the group, featuring the remastered album and a disc of 15 bonus cuts. Highlights include non-album tracks like promo single "Step to Me" (along with an unheard demo of the same), live performances, and remixes including a newly-constructed megamix. It'll be packaged in an A5-size hardback package with rare images and a new introduction from the Girls. This 2CD set is out today. A clear vinyl and picture disc version of the original album are already available, as well as the deluxe edition on black vinyl and even double cassette through the group's official store. Read more here!
Grateful Dead, Dick's Picks Vol. 33: 10/9 & 10/10/76 Oakland Coliseum Stadium, Oakland, CA (Real Gone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Real Gone brings this Dick's Picks volume to 180-gram vinyl on this 8-LP box set. This "Betty Board" recording has been newly mastered for vinyl by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering. Lacquers were cut by Clint Holley and Dave Polster at Well Made Music, and it was pressed at Gotta Groove Records. A 4-page color insert has been enclosed, and the set is limited to 6,000 hand-numbered copies.
The Allman Brothers Band, Syria Mosque: Pittsburgh, PA - January 17, 1971 (Allman Brothers Band Recording Company) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
This latest "official bootleg" CD features The Allman Brothers Band performing such classics as "Whipping Post," "Statesboro Blues," "Midnight Rider," and "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed."
Oingo Boingo, So-Lo / Boi-Ngo / Dark at the End of the Tunnel (Rubellan Remasters)
So-Lo (Amazon U.S.) / Boi-Ngo (Amazon U.S.) / Dark at the End of The Tunnel (Amazon U.S.)
These three Oingo Boingo favorites are available now directly from Rubellan Remasters individually or as a bundle, or next Friday, December 16, individually through Amazon. Get all of the details on this trio here, and read all about the Rubellan label here in our in-depth interview with label founder Scott Davies.
Robbert says
new Whitney Houston movie soundtrack released today: I Wanna Dance With Somebody
Joe Marchese says
Look for coverage on Whitney in our Weekend Stream feature which focuses on digital/streaming releases.
David B says
Tried for the Zappa set, but Amazon UK dont have it in. I can import from America but with the strikes over here, it may not arrive for some time. I'll have to wait, shame as it should be a great surround set.
Benjamin D Adler says
I really hope Scott at Rubellan completes the OB fiscography (with the live albums and the 93 Boingo) with the same care he has treated the rest of the catalogue
bob says
Limiting that Cheap Trick CD to 2,000 copies is shameful; the pre-order sold out almost instantly. I know of 2,000 people in Illinois (my/their home state) alone that would buy it.
Larry Davis says
Unfortunately I had to cancel my preorder cuz of expenses earlier this week...and usually the price drops on release day...nope not this...I ordered it proper on Amazon yesterday for a little more, but I did see it on eBay for over $100, one was selling it for $250!! I shelled out the extra $17...but I do want this...wonder if more live Trick is in Bun E's archive??
Tod H. says
Hey Joe…Happy Holidays to you. Kansas just released a 50th Anniversary 3-CD compilation called Another Fork In The Road. Not sure if there has been any remastering/remixing.