Features / The Weekend Stream

3 Doors Down, Away from the Sun (Deluxe) (Republic/UMe) (iTunes / Amazon)

Debut album The Better Life (2000) established Mississippi rockers 3 Doors Down as a formidable presence in a then-crowded rock radio scene: lead single “Kryptonite” became a Top 5 pop hit, and “Loser” and “Be Like That” earned significant radio rotation as well. Away from the Sun, issued two years later, avoided the sophomore slump thanks to a pair of Top 5s: “When I’m Gone” and the ballad “Here Without You,” both of which resonated with families of soldiers as America began invading Middle Eastern countries in the wake of 9/11. This deluxe edition features a disc’s worth of extra material – 10 rare and unreleased songs, including the ex-U.S. bonus track “Pop Song,” a demo of “Here Without You,” several early versions of album cuts and even a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “That Smell.”

Real to Reel, Real to Reel (RTR Nation) (iTunes / Amazon)

This little-known soul/funk combo issued two singles for Arista Records in 1983 with production from Leon Sylvers III, who’d overseen hits for Shalamar, Lakeside, Dynasty and many others on the SOLAR Records roster. (One of the four songs they released – “Can You Treat Me Like She Does?” – was an early writing credit for Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.) Despite some heat on Soul Train for the Sylvers co-write “Love Me Like This,” a promised LP never came to fruition…until now. The Real to Reel album includes the four tracks Arista issued plus six more – a must-hear for fans of early ’80s R&B.

Duke Ellington, Ellington in Order, Volume 3 (1930-1931) (Legacy) / The Seattle Concert (RCA Victor)

In Order: iTunes / Amazon
Seattle: iTunes / Amazon

Legacy continues archiving and unearthing gems from their share of Duke Ellington recordings. The third volume in their Ellington in Order series offers nearly three hours of released masters and alternates over a two-year period, while 1954’s Seattle Concert offers a lively gig from two years before, including a stellar medley of favorites as the penultimate track.

John Lodge, Days of Future Passed – My Sojourn (Keeping the Faith) (iTunes / Amazon)

The longtime singer/bassist of The Moody Blues last month issued a new take on the band’s iconic 1967 album Days of Future Passed (the one with “Nights in White Satin”) earlier this year. It features performances from late bandmate Graeme Edge on drums as well as vocals from current Yes frontman Jon Davison. In a nice bit of omnidirectional Weekend Stream activity, we’re pleased to note that this digital set is to be available next month not only in Dolby Atmos but on CD as well, due to fan demand.

Stephen Sondheim, Company / Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street / Into the Woods / Assassins (Masterworks Broadway)

Sony’s Masterworks Broadway imprint has remixed four Stephen Sondheim classics into 360 Reality Audio and Dolby Atmos. The original Broadway cast albums of Company (1970), Sweeney Todd (1979), and Into the Woods (1987), have been joined by the original off-Broadway cast recording of Assassins (1991) as the first four Sondheim titles to be remixed into immersive, or spatial audio. Company was previously released in quadraphonic surround (reissued in 2020 on SACD from Dutton Vocalion) while the other three albums are making their surround debuts. The husband-and-wife team of Ronald Prent and Darcy Proper have remixed and remastered, respectively, under the auspices of co-producers Didier C. Deutsch and Sondheim Foundation archivist Peter E. Jones. These titles are available in 360 Reality Audio via Amazon Music and TIDAL HiFi, and in Dolby Atmos via Apple Music, Amazon Music, and TIDAL.