Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles in stores today!
Olivia Newton-John, Just the Two of Us: The Duets Collection Vol. 1 (Primary Wave/Green Hill)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
17 favorite duets with Olivia Newton-John are featured on this new collection. The late artist's duet partners include Dolly Parton ("Jolene"), Michael McDonald ("Act of Faith"), Barry Gibb ("Face to Face"), pianist Jim Brickman ("I Honestly Love You"), Mariah Carey ("Hopelessly Devoted to You"), and her Grease co-star John Travolta ("Take a Chance"). Available on CD, LP, and digitally.
Various Artists, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: Awesome Mix Vol. 3 (Hollywood Records)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
The massive Guardians franchise has gone a little more rock-oriented for its third Awesome Mix, coinciding with the film in cinemas today. Tracks include Heart's "Crazy on You," Radiohead's "Creep," The Replacements' "I Will Dare," X's "Poor Girl," Spacehog's "In the Meantime," and Bruce Springsteen's "Badlands." Available on CD, 2 LPs, and digitally.
The Donnas, Early Singles 1995-1999 (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Early Singles 1995-1999 collects fourteen single sides from The Donnas' first two labels during that five-year period. Real Gone first released Early Singles 1995-1999 a couple of weeks ago on Record Store Day as a limited edition vinyl LP. Now it is coming to CD. The booklet contains rare photos and memorabilia plus track-by-track commentary and liner notes by all four band members. It has been remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision. This is just the start of Real Gone's reissues for the band as the label will be reissuing their four Lookout albums later this year.
Unruly Child, Unruly Child (Limited Red Vinyl Edition) (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music)
Real Gone reissues the debut album from Los Angeles-based metal group Unruly Child. Upon its initial release, the album came out on CD everywhere but the only vinyl edition was released in Europe where the nearly 55-minute album was put on one LP. Real Gone is now giving the album its U.S. vinyl debut and spreading it out to 2 LPs for increased audio fidelity. Housed in a gatefold jacket, it comes on red vinyl and is limited to 1,500 copies.
The Reverend Horton Heat, Spend A Night in the Box (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music)
2000's Spend a Night in the Box returned The Reverend Horton Heat to their rockabilly roots. Frontman James Heath performs on his 1954 Gibson ES-175 guitar and is joined by longtime group bassist Jimbo Wallace and drummer Scott Churilla for the fourteen original songs. Real Gone's debut vinyl reissue comes on gold vinyl.
Henry Franklin, Tribal Dance (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music)
Having reissued bassist Henry Franklin's first two solo albums on CD and vinyl during its Black Jazz reissue series, Real Gone continues with his catalogue, giving 1977's Tribal Dance its first vinyl reissue. It has been pressed at Gotta Groove Records, the same plant used for the Black Jazz reissues. It is available as a standard LP at all retailers or on orange and black swirl vinyl, limited to 200 copies and available only on Real Gone's website. Head here for the track listings and more information on RGM's releases this week.
Rodney Crowell, The Chicago Sessions (New West) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Americana/country singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell has teamed with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy for this new cross-generational collaboration. Available on CD, LP, and digitally.
Paul Young, Behind the Lens (Crosscut Saw Records) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Paul Young ("What Becomes of the Brokenhearted," "Everytime You Go Away," "Love of the Common People") returns with his 10th studio album and first since 2016. Available on CD, LP, and digitally. Behind the Lens is out today in the U.K. and next Friday, May 12, in North America.
Various Artists, NOW That's What I Call Music! Disco (NOW Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Target.com)
The long-running NOW series brings together 16 disco classics including Diana Ross' "Love Hangover," CHIC's "Le Freak," Sister Sledge's "We Are Family," Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive," and Donna Summer's "Last Dance." Available on CD and as a Target-exclusive 2-LP set pressed on pink and blue vinyl.
Various Artists, NOW That's What I Call Proud (NOW Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Target.com)
In advance of June's annual Pride Month festivities, NOW releases a new collection of 16 anthems from Elton John ("I'm Still Standing"), Queen ("Don't Stop Me Now"), Adam Lambert ("Whaddaya Want from Me"), Sam Smith ("Stay with Me"), Scissor Sisters ("Let's Have a Kiki"), and others. Available on CD and as a Target-exclusive 2-LP set pressed on emerald and light blue vinyl.
Parade: 2023 Broadway Cast Recording (Interscope) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Ben Platt and Michaela Diamond star in the acclaimed, Tony-nominated Broadway revival of Jason Robert Brown and Alfred Uhry's Parade, currently packing houses at Broadway's Jacobs Theatre. Jeffrey Lesser and Brown produce the cast recording that vividly captures the beauty and drama of this remarkable musical chronicling the story of Leo Frank, the factory superintendent convicted of the 1913 murder of worker Mary Phagan but long believed to be innocent. The recording is out today on CD and arrives on vinyl June 16 as a Barnes and Noble exclusive. The album is also out digitally.
Six: Live on Opening Night - Original Broadway Cast Recording (Absolute) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The 2021 live cast recording of Broadway's Six finally makes its way to CD today featuring Adrianna Hicks (now on Broadway in Some Like It Hot), Andrea Macasaet, Abby Mueller, Brittney Mack, Samantha Pauly, and Anna Uzele (now starring in New York, New York), plus a bonus track by alternates Keirsten Nicole Hodgens, Nicole Kyoung-Mi Lambert, Courtney Mack, and Mallory Maedke. UPDATE: Amazon is now showing Friday, June 23 as the release date for this title.
Harry N Cohen says
I am on my second listen to Paul Young's Behind the Lens. This is a gorgeous album, not one bad song, good production and Paul sounds wonderful. The album sounds modern with just a touch of throwback to the sound of Paul's heyday.
If the price goes down a bit from $24.99 with next week's US release date, I will buy a physical copy.
I also plan on listening to Olivia, Rodney and Parade; but so far Paul is the winner!