Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
The Rolling Stones, Live at The Wiltern (Mercury Studios)
2CD/DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2CD/Blu-ray: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
3LP (Amazon Exclusive Black and Bronze Swirl): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
3LP Black Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
The Rolling Stones' 2002-2003 Licks World Tour was one of The World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band's most innovative. To celebrate the band's 40th anniversary (and the release of the career-spanning compilation 40 Licks), venues would come in three different sizes: small theatres, arenas, and stadiums. Setlists would be scaled to the size of each venue, with the theatre settings giving the band the most freedom to perform lesser-known gems in addition to their major hits. Mercury Studios releases one of those intimate shows when Live at The Wiltern comes to various formats including 2CD/DVD; 2CD/Blu-ray; 2CD; and 3LP (including standard black and Amazon-exclusive Black & Bronze Swirl). The DVD & Blu-ray have the same tracklisting as both the 3LP and 2CD releases. The rarities-oriented show also features a guest appearance from opening act Solomon Burke, The King of Rock and Soul. Read more here.
Alice Cooper, Billion Dollar Babies: 50th "Trillion Dollar" Deluxe Edition (Warner/Rhino)
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
3LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Rhino's new Billion Dollar Babies expansion builds upon the 2001 double-disc edition issued back in 2001. Alongside the remastered album, fans will find a bonus disc (two in the vinyl set) featuring a 1973 live show (previously issued in part on that 2001 reissue and in full on vinyl as the 2019 Record Store Day exclusive Billion Dollar Babies Live), two previously released outtakes, a quartet of single versions not present on the previous repackage, and the fan favorite "Slick Black Limousine," released on a flexidisc with copies of England's New Musical Express. Liner notes in both sets include an oral history of the record with Alice Cooper's surviving members - singer Alice Cooper, rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Michael Bruce, bassist Dennis Dunaway and drummer Neal Smith (lead guitarist Glen Buxton died in 1997) - as well as producer Bob Ezrin. The gatefold LP packaging reproduces the original textured snakeskin wallet design of the original vinyl jacket, complete with a facsimile of the original "$1 Billion Bill" poster. Read more here.
Bananarama, Glorious: The Ultimate Collection (London Records) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
This new 2-CD or digital compilation brings together 40 sides selected by Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward spanning every decade of the group's career up to the present day, including the new singles "Feel the Love" and "Supernova."
The Stylistics, Love Is Back in Style (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The 1996 album Love Is Back in Style teamed Russell Thompkins, Jr., Airrion Love, and Herb Murrell with producer-songwriter Preston Glass, a protégé of Thom Bell's whose own credits include work with Earth Wind & Fire, Whitney Houston, Johnny Gill, Stacy Lattisaw, Margie Joseph, Anita Pointer, George Benson, Jennifer Holliday, and countless others. The album was originally issued on Glass' own Marathon Records label and became the final LP recorded by the three founding members. (Russell Thompkins, Jr. left the group in 2000; Love and Murrell carry on today while Thompkins leads his own New Stylistics.) Omnivore's reissue boasts a new mastering by Michael Graves and liner notes from Kevin L. Goins. One bonus track, "She's All That" featuring rapper Biggy Smallz (not to be confused with Biggie Smalls!), has been reprised from the original CD and cassette release.
Carmen McRae, Great Women of Song (Verve) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Verve has two more additions today to its Great Women of Song lineup. The Carmen McRae volume has fourteen classic songs including "Whatever Lola Wants," "My Romance," "Blue Moon," and a duet of "Cheek to Cheek" with Sammy Davis, Jr. Available on CD, LP, and digitally.
Ella Fitzgerald, Great Women of Song (Verve) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Ella's volume has a baker's dozen of favorites from the late jazz songstress including "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Blue Skies," "All The Things You Are," and duets of "Dream a Little Dream of Me" and "Cheek to Cheek" with Louis Armstrong.
Dion, Girl Friends (Ingrooves) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The legendary Dion DiMucci teams with a number of his favorite ladies - including Carlene Carter, Susan Tedeschi, and Shemekia Copeland - for this new album filled with blues, country, and rock-and-roll. Available on CD, LP, and digitally.
Norah Jones, Visions (Blue Note) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Norah Jones is back with a new post-pandemic album featuring twelve original songs. Available on CD, LP, and digitally. Target's exclusive CD adds one bonus track, "Until My Heart Is Found," while the Japan-exclusive edition offers a different bonus, "Can You Believe." A Japan-only CD/DVD set adds "Can You Believe" plus a DVD with live performances and the music video for "Running."
Judas Priest, Invincible Shield (Epic) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The heavy metal rockers - Rob Halford, Ian Hill, Glenn Tipton, Scott Travis, and Richie Faulkner - re back with their 19th studio album and first in six years. Available on CD, LP, and digitally. An Amazon-exclusive Collectible Edition has alternate artwork, a sustainable gatefold cardboard sleeve, and a glossy 12-page booklet.
Galley says
The Judas Priest Target-exclusive CD offers the same three bonus tracks from the digital download, but it is a hard cover book with 24-page booklet.
Galley says
While the album artwork for the first five entries in the Great Women of Song series were excellent, these are a bit of a letdown.