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. A legendary rock vocalist revives one of his deep cuts with a new generation of talent, a '70s pop classic comes to digital for the first time and one of our favorite current bands preps their new album - plus so much more!
The Effect & Steve Perry, "It Could Have Been You" (Core4) (iTunes / Amazon)
Rock band The Effect is full of second-generation talent - guitarist Trevor Lukather follows in the footsteps of his father, Toto guitarist Steve, while drummer Nic Collins sat in for his father Phil on Genesis' final tour. (Trevor is also incidentally married to Madison Cain, daughter of Journey keyboardist Jonathan.) Their newest single, coinciding with an opening slot for Billy Idol on tour, is a cover of a Journey deep cut, "It Could Have Been You" from 1986's Raised on Radio; Perry himself contributes guest vocals to the track.
Kenny Nolan, I Like Dreamin' (StarVista) (iTunes / Amazon)
Having struck gold in the '70s as a songwriter with Bob Crewe on hits like Frankie Valli's "My Eyes Adored You" and Labelle's chart-topping "Lady Marmalade," Kenny Nolan found success singing his own tunes, with the No. 3 single "I Like Dreamin'" and Top 20 follow-up "Love's Grown Deep." For the first time, his self-titled debut (originally released on the 20th Century label) is now available digitally.
Charly Bliss, "Nineteen" (Lucky Number) (iTunes / Amazon)
Not a catalog act, but someone we love at Second Disc HQ: New York City band Charly Bliss delivered sugar-sweet power-pop/rock hooks on the acclaimed albums Guppy (2017) and Young Enough (2019). This August, they'll finally release their third LP, Forever, and the heartbreaking "Nineteen," driven by emotive keyboards and frontwoman Eva Hendricks' distinctive vocals, has got us excited to close the gap.
INXS, "Not Enough Time" (Silky Soul Dub-stru-mental Mix) (Petrol/Atlantic) (iTunes / Amazon)
The latest from All Juiced Up Part 2 is a rare promo-only mix of Welcome to Wherever You Are single "Not Enough Time" mixed by Steve "Silk" Hurley.
Carlos Alomar, Dream Generator (Private Music) (iTunes / Amazon)
Puerto Rican guitarist Alomar is best known for his lengthy tenure with David Bowie, recording 11 albums between 1975's Young Americans (which featured the chart-topping "Fame," co-written by Bowie, Alomar and John Lennon) all the way to 2003's Reality. His only solo album, however, came from the instrumental/New Age label Private Music in 1987; it was developed by Alomar and a small group of musicians (Bowie bassist Carmine Rojas appears on the track "Insomniac") with the help of the "Digitar" guitar-to-synthesizer recording/scoring process.
Chet Atkins, Picks on Jerry Reed (RCA Victor) (iTunes / Amazon)
Two country guitar legends come together for this out-of-print 1974 album: Atkins tackles 10 instrumental compositions from the Guitar Man himself, Jerry Reed - complete with guest appearances by Reed on the last two songs.
Bill and Taffy, Aces (RCA Victor) (iTunes / Amazon)
Singer/songwriter duo Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert started out as Fat City, enjoying a smash co-write with John Denver, the gorgeous "Take Me Home, Country Roads." 1974's Aces was their fourth album together, and second under the simple sobriquet "Bill and Taffy." Though the album's single, a cover of The Chantels' doo-wop favorite "Maybe," didn't garner any heat, the duo would come back in a big way as part of the Starland Vocal Band, whose secretly blush-inducing "Afternoon Delight" topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in the summer of 1976.
Bill Thumma says
80s country artist Sylvia - her long out of print RCA 1981 LP "Drifter" was released to steaming this week. Each week another album will be released. Next week is "Snapshot", then "Surprise", followed by "One Step Closer", finally "Knockin' Around" from 1987 which was shelved and only a few tracks have been released on an RCA Country Legends compilation. Drifter is currently in the top 30 on Itunes Country. Previously only her "Just Sylvia" album from 1982 was released to streaming. It includes the mega-hit, #1 country single of that year "Nobody".
JG says
Dave Matthews Band’s Live Trax Vols. 41 thru 45 are now available (although you’ll have to check Dave’s solo artist page to find Vol. 41)