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. The Alan Parsons Project's biggest album gets a second look, plus new music from John Williams, Daryl Hall and the unexpected sort-of return of one of country music's best-known voices.
Alan Parsons Project, Eye in the Sky (Sessions) (Arista/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon)
The latest in Legacy's Alan Parsons Project Sessions series, bringing together era-specific bonus material as discrete titles, is also one of the biggest: beyond blockbuster LP Eye in the Sky getting reissued with the rest of the catalogue in 2007, it was also given a box set edition in 2017 with even more material. All those outtakes, songwriting sketches, rough mixes and single edits now feature in this product.
Daryl Hall & Dave Stewart, "Can't Say No to You" (Untied Artists/Virgin) (iTunes / Amazon)
Until very recently, Daryl Hall was half of the most successful performing duo in rock history, until an acrimonious split over John Oates' attempt to sell his half of Hall & Oates' business ventures. Unsurprisingly, Hall is only looking forward about it, gearing up for a summer tour with Elvis Costello and announcing a new solo album, D, which reunites him with friend and Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine producer Dave Stewart. The debut single, "Can't Say No to You," is out now.
John Williams, John Williams in Tokyo (Deutsche Grammophon) (iTunes / Amazon)
Fans have been confused about the physical availability of Deutsche Grammophon's latest John Williams live release (it seems to be available mostly as a Japanese import). But the standard album is available digitally now - a fitting May the Fourth gift to fans of the composer.
U2, "Last Night on Earth" (Island/UMe) (iTunes / Amazon)
U2's digital backfill comes around to a third single from 1997's Pop, backed with remixes and versions of "Last Night on Earth," "Numb" and covers of The Beatles ("Happiness is a Warm Gun") and M ("Pop Musik").
INXS, "Tight" (Thick Dick Vocal Mix) (Petrol/Atlantic) (iTunes / Amazon)
The latest from All Juiced Up Part 2 is a rare remix of "Tight," an outtake from Welcome to Wherever You Are that was included (as mixed by Dan The Automator) as one of two new tracks on 2002's The Best of INXS.
Garbage, Lie to Me EP (Stunvolume/BMG Rights Management) (iTunes / Amazon)
Fresh off its release for Record Store Day, this EP features four new tracks from the '90s/'00s alt-rock icons, including a cover of This Mortal Coil and a remix commissioned by another '90s alt legend: Nirvana drummer/Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl.
Randy Travis, "Where That Came From" (Warner Music Nashville) (iTunes / Amazon)
One of the stranger, less expected releases of the week is a new single from country legend Randy Travis, who suffered a stroke in 2013 that largely curtailed his ability to speak or sing. It turns out this new song was created with the help of cutting-edge if controversial AI technology that replicated his prime vocal style. As noted in the link in the last sentence, CBS Sunday Morning will have a look at how the track was created this weekend.
Monk Higgins, Dance to the Disco Sax of Monk Higgins (Buddah) (iTunes / Amazon)
An accomplished jazz-funk bandleader who'd notched a few R&B hits in the '60s, Monk Higgins' fifth album as a bandleader (and first for Buddah) offered an eclectic mix of covers: Gamble & Huff's "T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)," Barry White and The Love Unlimited Orchestra's "Love Theme," plus War ("Me and Baby Brother"), Billy Preston ("Space Race") Aretha Franklin (the Stevie Wonder co-write "Until You Come Back to Me") and even Electric Light Orchestra ("Showdown").
Last but not least, we'd like to dedicate this edition of The Weekend Stream to the late Duane Eddy (1938-2024). The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Musicians Hall of Fame inductee was one of America's greatest guitar innovators. By playing lead guitar on his instrument's bass strings, Eddy devised the low, "twangy" sound for which he and legions of imitators would become famous. Working with his friend Lee Hazlewood, Duane released such hit albums as Have Twangy Guitar, Will Travel; The Twang's the Thang; and Dance with the Guitar Man. He recorded prolifically for labels including Jamie, RCA, Colpix, Capitol, and Reprise, with his final album (2011's Road Trip) arriving on the Mad Monkey label. A musician's musician, he collaborated with such titans as Paul McCartney, Jeff Lynne, Ry Cooder, Phil Everly, Waylon Jennings, John Fogerty, and B.J. Thomas. We remember Duane with his indelible rendition of Henry Mancini's unforgettable theme to Peter Gunn (iTunes / Amazon), one of his best-remembered hits. His 1986 remake with Art of Noise (iTunes / Amazon) made the Top 10 around the world, proving once again that great music is truly timeless. "The Titan of Twang" won't soon be forgotten.
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