Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles in stores today!
Various Artists, Dance Masters: Arthur Baker (The Classic Dance Remixes) (Demon)
4CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
4CD with signed print: Amazon U.K.
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
6LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. (includes signed print) / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Dance Masters: Arthur Baker (The Classic Dance Remixes) bring Baker's work behind the mixing boards to life with a spectacular offering of classic 12" mixes. From club hits like Afrika Bambaataa and The SoulSonic Force's "Planet Rock" to mixes of pop classics by Daryl Hall & John Oates, Cyndi Lauper, New Order, Pet Shop Boys, Fleetwood Mac and more, this latest Dance Masters offering will more than live up to its name. It'll be available on four CDs, six LPs, or two LPs of highlights. Produced, compiled, and sequenced by Wayne A. Dickson, it's been newly remastered by Nick Robbins at Sound Mastering and featuring in-depth liner notes by Bill Coleman plus track-by-track commentary by Baker himself (along with rare photos from his archives). A 2LP highlights package will also be available. Of particular worth to collectors is a promotional mix of Pet Shop Boys' "Suburbia" making its CD debut, plus rare-to-CD mixes of songs by Al Jarreau, Robbie Nevil, Neneh Cherry, Carly Simon, and Atlantic Starr. Even a mix of Artists United Against Apartheid's charity single "Sun City" and a track from Baker's collaboration with Bob Dylan (1985's Empire Burlesque) are included here. Out today in the U.K. and on August 11 in North America. Read more here!
Nina Simone, You've Got to Learn (Verve/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Verve has unearthed a previously unreleased live appearance from Nina Simone, recorded July 2, 1966 at the Newport Jazz Festival. The six-song set includes such Simone classics as "I Loves You Porgy" and "Mississippi Goddam." Available on CD, LP, and digitally.
Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite? (7a)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
7a Records returns Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart's delightful pop gem I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite? to print with a new 55th anniversary deluxe edition on CD and limited edition LP. Featuring the title track, "I Wanna Be Free," "Teardrop City," and "I'm Digging You Digging Me," it's one of the '60s most underrated pop platters. The CD reissue features a 28-page booklet with liner notes by Monkees historian Andrew Sandoval as well as full lyrics and previously unpublished photos by Henry Diltz. The vinyl edition is pressed on 180-gram red vinyl and is limited to just 500 units. It's housed in a gatefold sleeve with Diltz's photos and song lyrics. Read more here.
Aerosmith, Wave 2 reissues (Capitol/UMe)
Capitol/UMe reissues another trio of Aerosmith titles on CD (with vinyl editions also available or coming soon); these appear to be cloned from previous CD reissues with no upgrades to art or audio.
Live! Bootleg
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Rock in a Hard Place
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Nine Lives
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Nils Lofgren, Mountains (Cattle Track Road) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The E Street Band/Crazy Horse guitar-slinger is back with a new studio album featuring guest turns from Neil Young, Ringo Starr, Ron Carter, the late David Crosby, and others. Nils and his wife Amy have produced the LP. Available on CD, LP, and digitally.
The Isley Brothers, Make Me Say It Again, Girl (BFD) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Ron and Ernie Isley's 32nd studio album features such special guests as Beyonce, Earth Wind & Fire, Snoop Dogg, El DeBarge, Rick Ross, and others. Available on CD, 2LP, and digitally.
Blur, The Battle of Darren (Parlophone)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Deluxe CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Amazon-Exclusive Red LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Blu-ray Audio: Amazon U.K.
Blur returns with their first album in eight years. Available in a variety of formats including CD (10 tracks), deluxe CD (12 tracks), standard LP, Amazon-exclusive red vinyl LP, and Blu-ray Audio.
Greta Van Fleet, Starcatcher (Lava/Republic) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The over-the-top hard rockers have teamed with Nashville hitmaker Dave Cobb (Brandi Carlile, Oak Ridge Boys) for this new album recorded in the classic RCA Studio in Music City. Available on CD, LP, and digitally.
Harry N Cohen says
I pre ordered You've Got to Learn from the Nina Simone store last month. It has shipped and I cannot wait.
In related news (sort of), I don't remember seeing a mention of Art Work, the glorious new album by Jack Jones featuring the late and supremely talented Joey Defrancesco.
Jack at 85 has a bit of a Mark Murphy feel, but the album is glorious.
I also would like to mention Jose James' On and On...beautiful renderings of Erykah Badu songs.
zally says
here comes another neil young release budokan 76. kaaaaaaaaaa chinggggggggg. more $ again from normal life,
Joel says
would love to see a review of the new dead or alive set from cherry records (7/21/23). i will be listening to it today, but i enjoy your reviews. although i get, a site can only review so many albums, lol.