Welcome to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc's review of notable catalogue titles (and some new ones, too!) making digital debuts. This week's lineup includes a solo rarity from a beloved songwriter; remixes from a legendary diva; and more! As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Madonna, I'll Remember EP (Warner/Rhino) (iTunes / Amazon)
Madonna's 1994 hit ballad from the film With Honors, co-written with Richard Page and Patrick Leonard, anchors this new-to-digital EP featuring the original version, four period remixes, and "Why's It So Hard (Live from The Girlie Show)."
Allee Willis, Childstar (Epic/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon)
The late, great Allee Willis co-wrote much of the soundtrack of our lives, from Earth, Wind & Fire's "September" and "Boogie Wonderland" to The Rembrandts' Friends theme "I'll Be There for You" and everything in between. The two-time Grammy winner was less well-known, though, as a performer. Her lone solo album, the 1974 Epic release Childstar, returns today with a spiffy alternate cover. A true rarity, it's only been issued once on CD in a limited edition for Japan. Now Childstar, produced and arranged by soul music great Jerry Ragovoy, can be enjoyed by all and take its place within Willis' impressive canon.
Hank Snow, Hello, Love (RCA/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon)
"Hello, Love" was country legend Hank Snow's seventh and final chart-topper - and also his first in a dozen years, making him the oldest singer (59 years, 11 months) to that point to have a No. 1 on the Billboard U.S. Country chart. Hank's record stood until Kenny Rogers broke it in 1999 with "Buy Me a Rose;" Kenny was 61 years and 9 months old. Legacy brings the parent album to digital services today, also including the Canadian-American guitarist-singer-songwriter's renditions of "Today I Started Loving You Again," "The Last Thing on My Mind," and "Why Me, Lord."
Edie Anderson, You Never Knew (Heyday Again) (iTunes / Amazon)
Looking for the next big thing? It just might be this L.A.-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, newly signed to Pat Thomas' reactivated Heyday Again label. 17-year old Anderson's You Never Knew is a kickass, play-it-loud, real rock record from an artist with confidence beyond her years, and the talent to back it up.
Jeff Larson, Something of a Dream (Melody Place) (iTunes / Amazon)
Singer-songwriter Jeff Larson's new single is, well, Something of a Dream! It's an instant California anthem with a breezy melody, crisp guitars, and beautiful harmonies courtesy of Larson and co-producer Gerry Beckley of America. (Beckley also plays electric lead guitar, bass, and organ on the track.) The single is the first from Larson's upcoming 13-song original album Adobe Home, due April 26 from Melody Place.
Indigo Girls, What We Wanna Be (PS Classics) (iTunes / Amazon) / Galileo (Glitter & Doom Remix) (Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon)
The Indigo Girls provide the vividly evocative soundtrack to the new film Glitter & Doom, described by The New York Times as a "gay musical love-dramedy [which] calls attention to the emotional mountain range of Emily Saliers and Amy Ray's songwriting." The PS Classics label has "What We Wanna Be," the duo's first new song in four years written expressly for the end credits of the new musical film. The Ruby Rose remix of "Galileo" as heard in the movie is also out today from Legacy, both as a single and as part of the full soundtrack from PS Classics (iTunes Link TBD / Amazon).
Jake Shears and Self Esteem, Cabaret: The Maida Vale Session (Decca) (iTunes / Amazon)
The West End's long-running revival of Cabaret (coming to Broadway on April 1) recently welcomed a pair of new stars, Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears as The Emcee and singer-songwriter Self Esteem, a.k.a. Rebecca Lucy Taylor, as Sally Bowles. This EP preserves four of their big showstoppers including Shears' "Willkommen" and "I Don't Care Much" and Self Esteem's "Don't Tell Mama" and "Cabaret."
Ken says
Thanks for the info about the new Hank Snow RCA/Legacy re-release of Hello Love. Vintage country download albums are usually released with no fanfare so it's much appreciated whenever they are spotlighted.
While checking out this new release I was surprised to discover that at least 20 other RCA Victor Hank Snow albums are now available as downloads.
Stuart Munro says
Ken, FYI, there is a ton of Columbia/Epic/RCA country stuff available for download. This list goes up to mid-2019, and there's been a lot more since then:
https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/the-sony-legacy-country-music-digital-reissues-thread.790379/