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 usher you into the weekend from a Sly and the Family Stone rarity to the latest expanded edition from Taylor Swift!
Sly and the Family Stone, Ten Years Too Soon (The Remix Album) (Epic/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon)
Perhaps the most bizarre item in the Sly and the Family Stone catalogue has hit download and streaming services this weekend. Ten Years Too Soon enlisted remix engineer John Luongo to target the disco market with remixes of favorite Sly and the Family Stone and Sly Stone solo tracks. For most listeners, the result - a blend of Sly's forward-thinking '60s funk and soul sensibilities with '70s dance rhythms - was neither fish nor fowl, but now you can once again hear Luongo's reworkings of "Dance to the Music," "Everyday People," and "Stand!" and make up your own mind whether Sly (no slouch, after all!) invented disco...Ten Years Too Soon hasn't been available in any digital format since a lone CD release in Japan way back in 1995. Dance to the music!
Taylor Swift, Midnights: The 'Til Dawn Edition (Republic) (iTunes / Amazon Link TBD)
Taylor Swift has expanded her 2022 smash Midnights once again. The new 'Til Dawn Edition adds the "3 a.m." tracks previously available digitally with three new bonus tracks. A physical CD version with the unique bonus track "You're Losing Me," The Late Night Edition, is on sale only at Swift's MetLife Stadium shows this weekend in New Jersey (at least for now) and as a limited download today only from Taylor's store.
All Saints 1.9.7.5., "Silver Shadow" (ZTT) (iTunes / Amazon)
From the ZTT archive comes this EP of "Silver Shadow" remixes from the first incarnation of All Saints, formed by Shaznay Lewis, Melanie Blatt, and Simone Rainford. When Rainford left the group, they were dropped by ZTT. Blatt and Lewis regrouped and moved onto London Records with two new members, Natalie and Nicole Appleton.
Jesus and Mary Chain, Barbed Wire Kisses (Artificial Plastic) (iTunes / Amazon)
This 1988 collection from The Jesus and Mary Chain rounds up "B-Sides & More" from the Scottish alt-rockers who blazed a path in the shoegaze and noise-pop arenas. With the band regaining control of its catalogue, one can expect more titles in the future.
Josh Groban, "My Friends" from Sweeney Todd: 2023 Broadway Cast Recording (Warner/Reprise/Arts Music) (iTunes / Amazon)
The second track from the upcoming cast album of the current, sold-out Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Sweeney Todd is now streaming: Josh Groban's chilling rendition of "My Friends," sung by the titular barber as he's reunited, at long last, with the razors that will figure so prominently in his future. His co-star, Annaleigh Ashford as Mrs. Lovett, is also heard on the track.
Edgar Winter, Standing on Rock: Expanded Edition (Blue Sky/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon)
Singer-songwriter-saxophonist-multi-instrumentalist Edgar Winter's 1981 Blue Sky album is expanded with one bonus track on this new digital reissue, the single edit of "Love Is Everywhere."
Various artists, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Season 5 (Music from the Prime Original Series) (iTunes / Amazon)
Before its release on CD (June 9) and LP (September 22), the soundtrack to the fifth and final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel arrives digitally today - and marvelous it is! The album features both classics (Tony Bennett's "I Wanna Be Around," Barbra Streisand's "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf" and "I Stayed Too Long at the Fair," Richard Burton's Camelot ballad "How to Handle a Woman," Doris Day's "I Love the Way You Say Goodnight," and Bobby Short's "I Happen to Like New York") and some unexpected surprises (Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer as Carol Burnett doing Once Upon a Mattress' "Shy," Hank Azaria's "Nancy (With the Laughing Face)," and Mrs. Maisel herself - Rachel Brosnahan - performing her final standup routine).
Miles Davis, Turn Around: Rare Miles from The Complete 'On the Corner' Sessions (Columbia/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon)
Legacy's Record Store Day release comes to digital formats. Turnaround features four spacey, funky cuts from 2007's The Complete On the Corner Sessions. Joining Davis on these influential, hip-hop-anticipating cuts are Michael Henderson on bass, Al Foster on drums, and Mtume on percussion plus appearances by Herbie Hancock, Dave Liebman, and Bennie Maupin.
We'd like to take a moment to remember the late Ed Ames (1927-2023):
There'll Always Be a Christmas: Expanded Edition (RCA/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon)
On Broadway: Opening Night / More I Cannot Wish You (RCA/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon)
Christmas with Ed Ames / Christmas Is the Warmest Time of the Year (RCA/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon)
My Cup Runneth Over (RCA/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon)
Sings the Songs of Bacharach and David (RCA/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon)
Remembers Jim Reeves (RCA/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon)
Songs from "Lost Horizon" and Other Movie Themes (RCA/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon)
It was announced on Thursday evening that versatile singer-actor Ed Ames had passed away at the age of 95. It was a thrill for Team TSD to speak with Ed for our 2017 CD expanded edition of The Ames Brothers' 1957 RCA Victor album There'll Always Be a Christmas. Ed was as kind as he was talented, and regaled us with stories of his incredible showbiz career that saw him star on television's Daniel Boone and score No. 1 AC hits including "My Cup Runneth Over," "Time, Time," and "When the Snow Is on the Roses" as well as other crossover hits including "Try to Remember" and "Who Will Answer?" In addition to his impressive discography with The Ames Brothers (Ed, Joe, Gene, and Vic) for Decca, Coral, and RCA, Ed recorded almost two dozen solo albums for RCA, all of which showcased his burnished baritone. At RCA, Ed recorded the hits of Broadway and Hollywood as well as contemporary pop fare, country, and more. While most of his RCA albums haven't made it to CD, most are available now digitally. We've selected a few of our favorites, above, for your enjoyment. Rest well, Ed.
Harry Cohen says
Thanks for the shout out to Ed Ames. He had such a warm, rich voice. I have his Christmas cds and a hits compilation. I definitely plan on listening to the Jim Reeves and Bacharach.
Who Will Answer resonated with me as a teen, during 9/11 and now...almost daily.
Joe Marchese says
I'll always cherish the memory of speaking with Ed...he was warm, genuine, and a terrific storyteller who was eager to share memories of his beloved brothers and his lifetime in music. Indeed, his recordings still retain their beauty and relevance today.
Robert says
Saw Sweeney Todd last night when visiting the city. Spectacular!
Harry Cohen says
I am seeing Sweeney on June 21. I am PSYCHED!
Joe Marchese says
Agreed, Robert. Harry, I'm sure you'll love it, too!