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. There's a lot of killer stuff on the list today, including two new singles from rock icons, a digital expansion of one of Sting's best-loved albums, live David Bowie coming from the vaults, a Stevie Wonder syllabus and much more!

The Cure, "Alone" (Polydor) (iTunes / Amazon)

For the first time in 16 years, The Cure are set to release a new album. Songs of a Lost World is out November 1, and the lead single "Alone" dropped this week. It's hard to argue the goth-rock legends sound anything other than themselves on this - quite exciting!

Stevie Nicks, "The Lighthouse" (Warner) (iTunes / Amazon)

Another rock legend with ethereal vibes also released new music this week: Stevie Nicks wrote "The Lighthouse" after the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, throwing women's reproductive rights into legal danger. "I have often said to myself, 'This may be the most important thing I ever do,'" she said of the song in a statement. "To stand up for the women of the United States and their daughters and granddaughters ~ and the men that love them.'" The track was co-produced by Sheryl Crow, who also plays guitar and bass on the track; Nicks may well premiere the track when she returns to Saturday Night Live on October 12 as a musical guest - her first appearance on the variety show since 1983.

Sting, Brand New Day (Expanded Edition) (A&M/UMe) (iTunes / Amazon)

Exactly 25 years ago yesterday, Sting issued his sixth solo album, a venture into sleeker dance-pop (like the international hit "Desert Rose") and shinier adult-contemporary (as on the loping title track, featuring a harmonica solo by Stevie Wonder). It's his latest to be expanded digitally with a host of rare B-sides, remixes and live tracks - 23 extra cuts in all. It's not complete - whither my beloved video mix of third single "After the Rain Has Fallen"? - but it's a must-listen for fans.

David Bowie, Live from the Manhattan Center, '99 E.P. (Parlophone/Rhino) (iTunes / Amazon)

Released last week but impossible to find on DSPs at press time, this unreleased live David Bowie EP is one of two digital titles due this month and next to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his album hours... The tracks on this EP were recorded for an ultimately unaired Top of the Pops performance; two days later, in the same venue, Bowie would record an episode of VH1 Storytellers that was later released as an album.

Stevie Wonder, The Wonder of Stevie (Motown/UMG) (iTunes / Amazon)

One of the more essential podcast listens of the season is the new Audible series The Wonder of Stevie, an in-depth look into the creation of Wonder's "classic albums," spanning 1972's Music of My Mind to 1976's Songs in the Key of Life. Hosted by critic Wesley Morris, the seven-episode series features interviews with Questlove of The Roots, Barack Obama (both of whom produced the program), Smokey Robinson, Robert Margouleff, Greg Phillinganes, Ray Parker Jr., Suzanne De Passe, Babyface, Jimmy Jam - oh, and Wonder himself. In turn, Motown has curated this digital playlist product featuring 34 songs tied to the series.

Madonna, True Blue EP (Warner/Rhino) (iTunes / Amazon)

Though available with a digital expansion of the album of the same name, these remixes of Madonna's "True Blue" - a No. 3 U.S. hit single which celebrates its original release on this day in 1986 - are now also available as they originally appeared on the format, complete with the original single art, featuring a photo of the Queen of Pop by photographer Herb Ritts.

Ciara, 1, 2 Step EP (LaFace) (iTunes / Amazon)

After dominating the charts with the crunk'n'b No. 1 "Goodies," Texan singer/dancer Ciara followed it up with another smash: "1, 2 Step," a club anthem produced by Jazze Pha and co-written by Missy Elliott, who provides a scene-stealing guest verse. A No. 2 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, it's now brilliantly expanded on this EP, offering a baker's dozen of remixes and instrumentals.

Daryl Hall, Love Revelation EP (Epic) (iTunes / Amazon)

Boy, there were a lot of singles from Hall's Soul Alone! This one - released only in Europe - is backed by two live covers of Philly classics "Love T.K.O." and "Me and Mrs. Jones," both making their streaming debuts.

Tove Lo, Queen of the Clouds: X (Universal Music AB) (iTunes / Amazon)

Swedish singer Tove Lo celebrates 10 years since her debut album with a new expansion that features all the tracks from various editions and reissues of the album (including the hits "Habits (Stay High)" and "Talking Body"), plus three unreleased tracks from the vault, including the outtake "Jealousy," the demo "Write Me Off" and an alternate mix of "Talking Body."

Ben Folds, "We Could Have This" (feat. Lindsey Kraft) / "The Christmas Song" (New West) (iTunes / Amazon)

There's not much piano-pop tunesmith Ben Folds hasn't done in the near 30 years since Ben Folds Five burst onto the scene...but next month's Sleigher takes him into slightly uncharted territory: an LP of mostly original Christmas songs in his inimitable style. This week saw the release of the project's first two singles: a new song called "We Could Have This" - a hopeful, romantic tune with Folds' recent opening act, actor/singer Lindsey Kraft - and a take on the immortal standard "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on An Open Fire)." (The other covers in the set are delightfully offbeat: the Burt Bacharach/Herb Alpert tune "The Bell That Couldn't Jingle" and The Mills Brothers' do-good-all-year yarn "You Don't Have to Be a Santa Claus.")

Wild About You: World Premiere Recording - Deluxe Edition (Center Stage Records) (iTunes / Amazon)

Chilllina Kennedy (Broadway's The Great Gatsby, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) penned music and lyrics for this new musical with a book by Eric Holmes.  Wild About You, a moving look at a woman at the crossroads of life and love, has been seen in concert in both New York and London, and later this fall, will be workshopped under the aegis of director Lili-Anne Brown.  Kennedy was joined on the World Premiere Recording by stars including Lea Salonga, Eric McCormack, Alex Newell, Jen Colella, Joaquina Kalukango, Katherine McPhee, Paul Alexander Nolan, and others.  Now, that album is getting a digital expanded edition with two newly-recorded bonus tracks written for the show but not included on the original release: "On The Line," featuring vocals by Will & Grace star Eric McCormack and Ashley Loren (Moulin Rouge: The Musical on Broadway, This Is Us), and "Who's Olivia," featuring vocals by Troy Iwata (Broadway's Be More Chill, Apple TV+'s WeCrashed).  The original album is still available on CD from most retailers including Amazon.

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