Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there's plenty of great new/old music to float you into the weekend. Adam Ant's first single, Taylor Swift's latest single and Tom Petty's 2010 studio album are all in the mix, plus an unexpected Prince production and a most unusual tribute to The B-52's.
Adam & The Ants, Young Parisians/Lady (Decca) (iTunes / Amazon)
Yesterday marked 45 years since the debut release by Adam and The Ants, soon to be one of the most exhilarating post-punk bands on the U.K. scene but here pursuing edgy pop in earnest courtesy of Ant's original line-up, who'd all get nicked to join Bow Wow Wow in due course. "Young Parisians" is exceptionally rare on Ant collections (being controlled not by Sony Music, which oversees most of Ant's music, but Decca) - and this is the first release of B-side "Lady" outside of the original vinyl single.
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Mojo (Extra Mojo Version) (Reprise) (iTunes / Amazon)
On what would have been Petty's 73rd birthday (October 20) came an expanded edition of his studio album from 2010, featuring two previously unreleased tracks, including a cover of Sonny Boy Williamson II's "Help Me."
Taylor Swift, The Cruelest Summer (Republic) (iTunes / Amazon)
The fact is Taylor Swift is omnipresent for a reason: her ability to craft a good pop song is deeply impressive. Take "Cruel Summer," a dreamy, synth-laden fan favorite co-written and produced by frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff; released on 2019's Lover, it was given a belated single release between her latest album of new material (last year's Midnights) and her next project (a re-recording of blockbuster 1989 that she will own herself, in stores next week). It launched effortlessly into the Top 10 in America - and with one last blockbuster run of her concert film The Eras Tour this weekend, she's pulling triple duty on the song, pairing the original with a forgettable remix and the live version from The Eras Tour. (Wanna bet we get a soundtrack release before too long?)
Deborah Allen, Let Me Be the First (Expanded Edition) / Telepathy (Expanded Edition) / Telepathy EP (RCA/Legacy)
First: iTunes / Amazon
Telepathy: iTunes / Amazon
Telepathy EP: iTunes / Amazon
Country singer Deborah Allen garnered crossover success in 1983 with the multi-format hit "Baby I Lied," and continued her work on the RCA label with 1984's sleek Let Me Be the First and 1987's Telepathy, the title track of which was written and produced by Joey Coco, one of the many pseudonyms for Prince. Both these albums have been remastered and expanded with bonus tracks, plus a suite of vintage remixes for "Telepathy" have been delivered.
The B-69's, Cosmic Sex Number / Weird Alien Print / Non Funkable Tokin' / Fredaissance / Inside Out (self-released)
Cosmic: iTunes / Bandcamp
Alien: iTunes / Bandcamp
Funkable: iTunes / Bandcamp
Fredaissance: iTunes / Bandcamp
Inside: iTunes / Bandcamp
Alt-rocker Dalton Deschain has carved out a fascinating viral niche with his lighthearted project "The B-69's," an ongoing series of covers of pop songs in the style of The B-52's, with Deschain uncannily channeling Fred Schneider's vocals. Having kept the covers to Bandcamp, he's now unleashed them on other streaming services to make you laugh.
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Thanks for spotlighting the new Deborah Allen releases. While checking them out I discovered that her first RCA 6-song mini-album "Cheat The Night" from 1983 was already issued as a download as well as her two Giant albums from 1993 & 1994.
The 1998 Anthology release from the Renaissance label was a comprehensive collection of Deborah's country chart singles for Capitol, RCA and Giant including the Jim Reeves duets and her Rockin' Little Christmas single. That was a cross-licensed collection so I would not expect a download of that one.
Yes, very pleased with the Deborah Allen news, as well! While not CD releases, I'll take the remastered sound & additional material gladly over straight issues of these albums on disc. I have the original RCA CD issue of Let Me Be The First & can say that this digital reissue improves perfectly upon this album's sound. Extra terrific to have the "Telepathy" 12" available (on it's own EP) & its 7" b-side "You Better Come Back To Me" (added to the end of the Telepathy album), an ace track that should have never been cut from the album. On Allen's FB page she posted original proposed album artwork, original slated for an '86 release, with a different track order, and initially titled You Can't Say No. This was before the involvement of Prince & the addition of the eventual title track. I really do think this album could have the start of a new chapter in Deborah Allen's career had RCA not lost sight of how to promote it during a label shake up just before its release. I think "You Can't Say No" as lead single in '86 would fared well & a follow up of "Telepathy" would have bettered that. RCA really squandered a potential hit with this album & the future pop success of Deborah Allen.
Thank you, Ken and Dana, for your comments! I am Deborah's official friend but unofficial archivist (ha!) who has helped get some of her releases back into the marketplace - this time with the help of our new friends at Legacy Recordings. We're very proud of how these sound thanks to the remastering of Sean Brennan at Battery Studios, and we are thankful that Legacy Recordings saw the value in getting these projects out there to a new generation of fans.
I think that "You Better Come Back To Me" is one of my favorites from the TELEPATHY project and I'm glad it's getting a wider release! A few weeks ago I was over at Deborah's and we went through TONS of things and I was thrilled to find that original artwork mockup from before Prince got involved with the project.
We're hoping to figure out a way to get "Cheat The Night" out there too which is controlled by Universal Music Group. I think there is a lot of potential for bonus tracks there, too. And we've got Vinyl reissues at the top of our wish list - you just never know what could happen these days! Thank you again for your comments.
Dustin, so cool that someone close to Deborah actually read our comments! Whatever she has in the works I'm on board for, especially if it's from her 80s era. Deborah's music is quintessential to my growing up in 80s, still included on my playlists. Those songs have matured with me & throughout the years have invoked a specific time in time life without sounding dated at all. "Baby I Lied" is indeed one of the definitive ballads of the decade, with her "Babay, babay..." being an iconic snippet of 80s popular music. Again, looking very forward to whatever Deborah might have in the works!