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.

John Lennon, Mind Games: The Ultimate Collection (Capitol/UMe)

6CD/2BD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
9LP/6CD/2BD Super Deluxe Box: Official Store
2CD (includes contents of CD 1 and 6, below): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP (includes contents of CD 1 and 6, below): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada (TBD)

John Lennon's fourth solo album Mind Games will receive a deluxe box set this summer packed with new mixes of the album's contents as well as a dozen unreleased outtakes.  The 6CD/2BD box will take a new, immersive look at Lennon's sessions at New York's Record Plant in the summer of 1973, a turbulent time that resulted in a somewhat divisive effort in his post-Beatles discography. Included in the set are many assemblies of the original 12-track album, produced by Lennon and Yoko Ono's son Sean in collaboration with an engineering/mixing team that includes Paul Hicks, Sam Gannon and Rob Stevens - all of whom worked on similar deluxe versions of Lennon's first two studio albums, Plastic Ono Band (1970) and Imagine (1971). The original album will be presented in "ultimate," "elemental," and "elements" mixes with varying degrees of influence on Lennon's vocals and instrumental backing; then, the "evolution documentary" will trace each song on the album from demo to finished product and every phase in between. A set of original rough mixes of the album will follow, along with a selection of alternate outtake versions of each track on Mind Games. All of this audio will also be available on two Blu-ray Discs in high-resolution stereo, 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos mixes, along with two music videos.  Read more here, and watch this space for our full review!

Van Halen, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge: Expanded Edition (Warner/Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Rhino.com (bundle with 7" singles)

For the first time ever, Rhino expands a Van Halen studio album.  A 2CD/2LP/Blu-ray edition revisits For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, the group's ninth album and penultimate with lead singer Sammy Hagar, who'd taken over from David Lee Roth in 1985. As a major upstart rock act of the late '70s and one of the biggest of the '80s, Van Halen had something to prove on their first disc of the '90s - and this set delivers some intriguing bonus material from the era. Paired with the original album (recently remastered by Donn Landee for the Hagar-era The Collection II box) is a bonus disc featuring the rare single mix of "Right Now," an unreleased alternate mix of the same track, an unissued instrumental of "The Dream is Over" and a 10-track live set recorded in Dallas, Texas at the end of 1991. Footage of that set is also featured on an accompanying Blu-ray Disc, which also features four music videos. The remastered album is also included on vinyl for the set, pressed across three sides with an etching on the fourth.  Read more here!

Dusty Springfield, Faithful (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music)

Almost a decade ago, in 2015, Real Gone Music premiered Dusty Springfield's Faithful, a complete, "lost" album recorded in New York with producer-songwriter Jeff Barry.  The 2015 CD release was followed in 2016 by its vinyl debut.  Today, the label returns Faithful to print on a new, metallic gold and purple gatefold vinyl edition.  From his home base at New York's Century Sound, Barry produced thirteen songs for Dusty - twelve intended for album release and one for a non-LP single.  Four songs were initially released on two 45s ("Haunted" b/w "Nothing Is Forever," and "I Believe in You" b/w "Someone Who Cares"), but when Dusty departed Atlantic Records, the remaining tracks were left on the shelf, and thought lost until the CD era when they began to trickle out on various releases.  Faithful presents the 12-song album as originally envisioned by the producer.  All tracks are in stereo as mastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision, while the liner notes, penned by The Second Disc's Joe Marchese, draw on his extensive 2015 interview with Jeff Barry.  They're included in the new gatefold which also boasts photos of Dusty and associated memorabilia images.  Read more here!  Barnes & Noble also will have an exclusive color variant as part of its Vinyl Day tomorrow!

John Williams, Live in Tokyo (Deutsche Grammophon)

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Deutsche Grammophon (Gold Vinyl)
2SACD/Blu-ray: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

John Williams' latest overseas trip forms another new album from the celebrated composer-conductor. John Williams in Tokyo, recorded in 2023 with the Saito Kinen Orchestra and featuring a very special tribute to one of the country's most beloved conductors, has arrived from Deutsche Grammophon in multiple formats including the domestic standard single CD and 2LP vinyl and a deluxe 2SACD (hybrid, playable on all CD players)/Blu-ray set only available as an import.  Read more about this beautiful evening of some of the most stirring film music ever here.

Louis Armstrong, Louis in London (Verve/UMe)

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP (Black Vinyl): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Verve Online Store (Blue Vinyl)

This previously unreleased performance from the late, great Louis Armstrong was recorded live on the BBC on July 2, 1968 while the legendary musician and singer was riding high thanks to the chart-topping success in Great Britain of "What a Wonderful World." The 13-song set naturally includes that evergreen anthem penned by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss, along with W.C. Handy's "Ole Miss" - the very first composition he's known to have played in public - as well as his landmark reading of "Mack the Knife" (an inspiration for Bobby Darin's equally definitive interpretation), his Grammy-winning, chart-topping take on Jerry Herman's "Hello, Dolly!" (which he would reprise opposite Barbra Streisand in the 1969 film adaptation of the musical), Herman's follow-up "Mame," and Terry Gilkyson's Jungle Book showstopper "The Bare Necessities" from Armstrong's then-recent album Disney Songs the Satchmo Way. Available on CD, LP, and digitally. Get more details here!

Dr. John, Frankie and Johnny (Sundazed) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) B0D3GQM288

Sundazed has unearthed this previously unreleased piano-only session from the good Doctor recorded c. 1982-1983 for the Clean Cuts label.  He sings on two tracks while the rest are communicated solely via his instrument; his singular blend of jazz, R&B, boogie-woogie, and N'awlins soul shines through in any setting.  Available on CD and LP.

Crazy Town, The Gift of Game (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada  / Real Gone Music)

This 1999 album from the alternative metal rappers contains the song "Butterfly" which climbed to the top of the U.S. charts in 2001.  It's finally on vinyl in the "very explicit" version and includes the one bonus track from the CD edition.  An inner sleeve reprints the lyrics.  RGM has pressed this on two different colors: Red Devil Velvet and Yellow Butterfly.

Tony Rice, Native American (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Guitarist Tony Rice's 1988 album Native American blends bluegrass, jazz, and folk.  This album includes his renditions of songs from Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Phil Ochs, and Ian Tyson.  Mary Chapin Carpenter contributes vocals and the song "John Wilkes Booth."  It also features Vassar Clements on fiddle and Jerry Douglas on dobro.  Real Gone's LP comes on "Root Beer" vinyl and is limited to 750 copies.  Also look at Barnes & Noble this weekend for an exclusive Vinyl Day color pressing!

Listening, Listening (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music)

Unlike many of the other bands associated with producer Alan Lorber's "Bosstown Sound," Listening signed with Vanguard Records.  Listening had a harder edge than many of the groups in the psychedelic style, with keyboardist-singer-songwriter Michael Tschudin's lyrics openly embracing the counterculture.  Other members of Listening included future post-Lou Reed Velvet Underground member Walter Powers and blues guitarist Peter Malick.  This LP comes in two variations: a "Coke Clear with Yellow Swirl" pressing limited to 700 copies and available everywhere, and a "Clear with Yellow and Red Swirl" version hand-numbered and limited to around 100 copies, exclusive to RGM's website.

John Lee Hooker, The Best of Friends (BMG) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

BMG reissues the blues legend's 1988 collection featuring such starry pals as Eric Clapton, Ry Cooder, Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Los Lobos, and Jimmie Vaughan.  Available on CD and 2-LP.

Nick Mason, Fictitious Sports / Profiles / White of the Eye (Parlophone/Rhino)

Fictitious Sports: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Profiles: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
White of the Eye: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Rhino reissues three 1980s albums from Pink Floyd co-founder/drummer Nick Mason on CD and LP.

Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers, Can't Outrun a Memory (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Can't Outrun a Memory is Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers' first studio set since 2017's More Yesterdays Than Tomorrows.  Grushecky states in the press release of this new LP, "This one was a long time coming, but we worked through, never losing sight that we were creating one of our best records. I believe we captured the band at its peak."  Omnivore's release, available on CD, 2 LPs, and digital formats, includes a quartet of bonus tracks illuminating the songs' development.  Read more here!

Allyson Briggs, Promises, Prayers, and Raindrops: Allyson Briggs Sings Burt Bacharach (Fleurseule.com) (Stream: Amazon U.S.)

What the world needs now - and always - is the music of Burt Bacharach.  Today, the late composer's sophisticated yet accessible, fizzy yet moving, soulful yet graceful melodies receive a tribute from jazz vocalist Allyson Briggs.  Joined by music director Andy Warren on trumpet, James Navan and Jason Yeager on piano, Michael O'Brien on bass, Shareef Taher and Peter Traunmueller on drums, and Broadway's Harmony and Funny Girl star Julie Benko as guest vocalist, Briggs revisits a host of remarkable songs - from standards ("Do You Know the Way to San Jose," "I'll Never Fall in Love Again," "Walk on By," "What the World Needs Now Is Love") to rarities (including a pair of songs introduced by Peggy Lee, "Uninvited Dream" and "My Rock and Foundation" and a Friedrich Hollander tune, "Wenn Ich Mir Was Wünschen Dürfte," as arranged by Burt for Marlene Dietrich).  Briggs' sensibility is playful - she and Benko even cover "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" in Yiddish! - but faithful to the heart of Bacharach's songs.  She's also a vibrant lyric interpreter of Hal David's words, as well as those by Sammy Gallop ("Uninvited Dream") and Carole Bayer Sager ("Arthur's Theme" and "That's What Friends Are For").  Bacharach fans (and who isn't?): don't hesitate to add this beautiful album to your collections.  It's streaming everywhere now, and available on physical CD via Fleur Seule's store.

Marc Almond, I'm Not Anyone (BMG) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) B0CYFBFFWP

The title of Marc Almond's new album comes from Paul Anka's song, written for his friend Sammy Davis, Jr.; Almond covers that anthem as well as other classic songs from Jacques Brel ("Jacky"), Northern Irish singer-songwriter David McWilliams ("The Days of Pearly Spencer"), Bob Lind ("Elusive Butterfly"), Neil Diamond ("Lonely Looking Sky"), Don McLean ("Chain Lightning"), and others.  Available on CD, LP, and digitally; copies arrive in North America next week.

Eric Clapton, To Save a Child (Surfdog) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The guitar hero's intimate 2023 London concert comes to a CD/Blu-ray edition.  Eleven live tracks (including "Layla," "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out," and a cover of George Harrison's "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" with Dhani Harrison) are joined by the new studio track "Prayer of a Child."  Proceeds from this track will be donated to aid in Gaza.  Album audio is also available digitally.