Release Round-Up: Week of August 2
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.
Van Morrison, Live at Orangefield (Orangefield Records) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Christmas 1959 saw Van Morrison take the stage of Orangefield Secondary School in Belfast for his very first live performance. Van, on guitar and vocals, joined his fellow students John McCullough on tea-chest bass, Cyril Downey on guitar, Billy Ruth on guitar, and Walter Blakely on washboard for a skiffle show. In August 2014, Van returned to perform three concerts at the school as it prepared to close its doors for the final time. Live at Orangefield has been culled from Morrison’s archives, featuring songs from those three shows including “Moondance,” “Cleaning Windows,” “That’s Life,” and “Enlightenment.” It’s out on 1CD, 2LP, and digital formats today in the U.K. and next Friday in North America.
Melanie, Silver Anniversary (Cleopatra) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Melanie’s 1993 double album, originally released only in Europe, celebrated 25 years in music with an all-acoustic set of her favorite hits and rarities. It now sports new artwork and an additional 11 tracks for this U.S. debut from Cleopatra Records.
Warren Smith, Rock ‘N’ Roll Ruby (Sun) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
With a title track penned by Johnny Cash, this collection features two dozen Sun Records sides from the rockabilly artist.
Howard Jones, Live at the O2 (Cherry Red) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Howard Jones’ March 2024 appearance at London’s O2 Arena makes a quick appearance on CD from Cherry Red with his entire 12-song set including “Things Can Only Get Better,” “What Is Love,” and more. A poster is also part of the package.
Ween, Chocolate and Cheese (Deluxe Edition) (Elektra/Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Chocolate and Cheese, arguably the most famous album from irreverent, eclectic rockers Ween, has been revisited its 30th anniversary as a triple vinyl or digital set. This new deluxe edition features the original remastered album from 1994 and a collection of 15 unreleased demos and outtakes, sourced by Mickey Melchiondo from cassettes and DATs in the band’s archive and selected by himself and Aaron Freeman (who also contributes to the package’s liner notes). All the audio material has been newly remastered for vinyl by Bernie Grundman, who utilized the original flat master tapes of the original album for this new set. Read more here!
Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour: 10th Anniversary Edition (Capitol/UMe)
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
4LP: Official Store
More than a decade after becoming a sensation in both the U.K. and the U.S., Sam Smith’s debut album is getting reissued for its 10th anniversary. In the Lonely Hour arrives on 2 CDs, with a bonus disc of a dozen rare tracks, including guest collaborations and other singles. (A 4LP equivalent, pressed on silver vinyl with signed art card is available through the singer’s official store.) For general retailers, a new 13-track pressing of the album will be issued on black vinyl, offering a re-arrangement of tracks featured on the original U.K. and U.S. pressings plus the previously unreleased “Little Sailor.” All formats include a newly redesigned cover, featuring Smith recreating the original album sleeve. Read more here.
Drive-by Truckers, Southern Rock Opera: 20th Anniversary (Lost Highway) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The 20th anniversary edition of Drive-By Truckers’ Southern Rock Opera comes to 3 CDs featuring a new mix by original album producer Dave Barbe and bonus tracks including the previously unreleased “Mystery Song” and live performances from the era. A vinyl version is also available licensed from Lost Highway to New West Records.
The Great Gatsby: Original Broadway Cast Recording (Masterworks Broadway) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Masterworks Broadway delivers the original cast album of the new musical currently playing eight times a week at The Broadway Theatre. This new adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel stars Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, television’s Supergirl) and Eva Noblezada (Hadestown, Miss Saigon) and features a book by Kait Kerrigan and pop-meets-jazz score by the Paradise Square team of Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen.
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The Van Morrison album is superb. Best live release from him in years.