Features / Release Round-Up

Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles in stores today.

Various Artists, Love Is the Message: The Sound of Philadelphia Volume 3 (Snapper/United Souls)  (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

After well over a year since the release of Satisfaction Guaranteed, United Souls’ series of box sets collecting the Philadelphia International label’s complete studio albums resumes with Love Is the Message: The Sound of Philadelphia Vol. 3.  The third installment of the series promised to eventually encompass 15 volumes contains the following eight studio albums:

• The Ebonys, The Ebonys (Philadelphia International KZ 32419, 1973);
• MFSB, Love Is the Message (Philadelphia International KZ 32707, 1973);
• Bunny Sigler, That’s How Long I’ll Be Loving You (Philadelphia International KZ 32859, 1974);
• Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, To Be True (Philadelphia International KZ 33148, 1975);
• The O’Jays, Survival (Philadelphia International KZ 33150, 1975);
• Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, Potpourri (Philadelphia International KZ 33152, 1974);
• Monk Montgomery, Reality (Philadelphia International KZ 33153, 1974); and
• Billy Paul, Got My Head on Straight (Philadelphia International KZ 33157, 1975).

Like previous boxes in this series, a 12-inch single is included.  This time, it features MFSB’s “T.S.O.P.” featuring The Three Degrees, backed with The Trammps’ “Stop and Think.”  The latter would appear on an album in 1975 when PIR imprint Golden Fleece released the eponymous The Trammps.  Tony Cummings supplies liner notes for this collection, and all audio has been remastered from the original tapes. Read more here.

Darlene Love, Live 1982 (Liberation Hall)

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

Liberation Hall has rescued one of Darlene Love’s “comeback” performances recorded at Hop Singh’s in Marina Del Rey, California, on April 21, 1982 for release on both CD and DVD.  This concert was originally issued in 1985 on the fledgling Rhino label as Darlene Love Live! with a CD arriving in Japan in 1992.  Liberation Hall’s new edition drops one song from the program issued on Rhino (The Blossoms’ cover of Ike Turner’s “Goodbye, So Long” which was not from the concert but had been recorded years earlier) and adds two songs not included on that earlier release: The Beatles’ “We Can Work It Out” and, in a nod to Van Zandt’s longtime friendship and support, Darlene’s sizzling cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Hungry Heart.”  Love was joined by her sister Edna Wright and The Blossoms’ Gloria Jones as well as by a band organized for the show, The Monte Carlos.  Other songs include “Da Doo Ron Ron,” “He’s a Rebel,” “He’s Sure the Boy I Love,” and an uplifting gospel medley. Read more here!

KISS, Off the Soundboard: Live in Poughkeepsie NY 1984 (UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The fifth volume of KISS’ live soundboard series dates back to November 28, 1984 at Poughkeepsie’s Mid-Hudson Civic Arena and the Animalize tour.  It’s the only known board recording to feature guitarist Mark St. John, who joined Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Eric Carr on the album and tour.  Note that “Young and Wasted” and “Rock and Roll All Nite” are incomplete but the band feels the historical significance of the concerts outweighs their absence.

Various Artists, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (15th Anniversary Yellow Vinyl Edition) (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

RGM brings the soundtrack to the 2008 romantic comedy to vinyl in this deluxe 2-LP presentation.  The titular playlist includes selections from such NYC indie bands as The Dead 60s, Band of Horses, The Submarines, We Are Scientists, Chris Bell, Bishop Allen, Takka Takka, and Vampire Weekend.  DEVO’s Mark Mothersbaugh wrote the score and his theme for the movie concludes the soundtrack. Read more here.

Voivod, Nothingface [Metallic Red Vinyl Edition] / Angel Rat [Metallic Blue Vinyl Edition] (Real Gone Music)

Nothingface: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Angel Rat: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Real Gone reissues two titles from Canadian heavy metal rockers Voivod on colored vinyl; both titles were previously released by the label in Record Store Day editions in different colored pressings.  Read more here.

Mary Mundy, Mother Nature (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1980’s Mother Nature was the only full-length LP from singer Mary Mundy.  Released on the tiny Image label, the album features seven tracks of bass-heavy disco.  The album came and went quickly and has become a collector’s item over the years.  Mundy moved to the Laurie label and released a couple of singles in 1982 and has since become a university professor.  Real Gone’s new vinyl reissue has been remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision.  Two versions are available: a pink vinyl version, limited to 1,000 copies and a “purple rain” vinyl edition, limited to 100 copies and only available from Real Gone’s website.

Roslyn & Charles, Everything Must Change (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The gospel duo of Charles McCloud and Roslyn Charles only made two albums during their brief career.  Both were released on the obscure Cheri label, which only had about thirteen releases.  1981’s Everything Must Change, produced by Julius Brockington (who played with Larry Young), finds Roslyn & Charles performing gospel classics and originals with a soul and disco vibe.  It had a short shelf life upon its release and has become sought after by collectors.  Real Gone’s reissue marks the first time the album has been reissued and comes in two varieties: a black vinyl version limited to 1,000 copies and a pink vinyl version, limited to just 50 copies and available only from Real Gone’s website.  The album has been remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision.  Read more about this week’s RGM titles here.

Linkin Park, Meteora: 20th Anniversary Edition (Warner Records)

3CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
4LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
5LP/4CD/3DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Linkin Park’s 2003 chart-topping sophomore album Meteora returns in a variety of formats including a Limited Edition 5LP/4CD/3DVD Super Deluxe Box Set, 4LP Deluxe Vinyl Box, 3-disc Deluxe CD set, and on digital platforms.  All feature previously unreleased tracks and rarities including demos and live versions.

Back in the Neighborhood: The Best of Mister Rogers Vol. 2 (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Omnivore Recordings follows up 2019’s It’s Such a Good Feeling: The Best of Mister Rogers with this new 20-track anthology.  It features 15 tracks from the albums You Are Special, Coming and Going, Bedtime, and You’re Growing including seven unique edits. The set also premieres five previously unissued tracks.  Available on CD and digital formats.

Allan Clarke, I’ll Never Forget (BMG) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Hollies co-founder and lead singer Allan Clarke has teamed with his old friend Graham Nash for this nostalgic yet very much of-the-present album featuring the lead single “Buddy’s Back.”  Available on CD, LP, and digitally.

Susanna Hoffs, The Deep End (Baroque Folk) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The Bangles’ Susanna Hoffs has teamed with legendary producer Peter Asher for this set of covers – both contemporary and classic.  Hoffs tackles songs by The Rolling Stones (“Under My Thumb”), Squeeze (“Black Coffee in Bed”), and Lesley Gore (“You Don’t Own Me”) as well as Billie Eilish (“When the Party’s Over”), Brandy Clark (“Pawn Shop”), and Ed Sheeran (“Afterglow”).  Available on CD and digitally.​

NXTOFKIN, Where Did We Go Wrong? (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Real Gone Music co-founder Gordon Anderson released his solo debut Moon Man on the label in 2020.  During the pandemic, Anderson found that his teenaged daughter Edie had a talent for playing the drums.  The pair decided to record a father-daughter project and laid down 15 tracks during spring break of 2022.  They then chose a name for their band, NXTOFKIN, and compiled the songs they had composed and recorded onto a debut album: Where Did We Go Wrong?  Happily, everything went right for the Andersons.  Opening with the ballsy and biting “(I’m Still Waiting For) The Punchline,” Where Did We Go Wrong? is a timely, in-your-face record that begs you to PLAY IT LOUD.  There’s a crackling punk energy and dark, mordant humor to such tunes as “Back to Business,” “Block Party,” and “Energy Star,” as well as dashes of psychedelia (“Couch Surfer”) and sobering emotion (“Last Gasp”) as NXTOFKIN sharply reflect on pandemic life.  The production by the band and Will Kast is clean but not too clean, with crisp vocals supported by jangly guitars and ferocious drums.  If gutsy rock-and-roll and driving power pop are your thing, you’ll find a lot to like in the textured and quirky musical musings of this talented father/daughter duo.  The album is available on CD and digital/streaming.