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This Friday, November 15, Iconoclassic Records will release its two latest titles – the third album in its ongoing Dwight Twilley reissue series and a long-lost gem from Kayak drummer-singer Max Werner.

Twilley, the power pop hero’s first solo album following two acclaimed albums with The Dwight Twilley Band, originally arrived in 1979 on Arista Records in the United States.  The late singer-songwriter (1951-2023) was joined by a core band including Bill Pitcock IV on lead guitar, Jim Lewis on bass and drums, and Noah Shark on percussion, with Greg Block joining on violin for “Runaway,” Jerry Naifeh playing drums on “Runaway” and “It Takes a Lot of Love,” and DTB’s Phil Seymour guesting on vocals for “Darlin’.”  Veteran arranger Jimmie Haskell was brought on to handle the string arrangements.

Twilley was very much in the vein of the DTB while emphasizing the breadth of the artist’s songwriting from crunchy pop-rockers to reflective ballads.  Iconoclassic’s reissue – fully authorized by the Twilley estate – is the album’s domestic CD debut.  A generous seven bonus tracks have been added to the release including five previously unreleased alternate takes, demos, and monitor mixes; and two new-to-CD single sides: the 7-inch version of “Out of My Hands” and the non-LP side of “Runaway,” “Burnin’ Sand,” which features Susan Cowsill on background vocals. Maria Triana has beautifully remastered Twilley from the original tapes, while the booklet includes both previously unpublished photos and a new essay by Howie Edelson.

Joining Twilley on the Iconoclassic roster is the worldwide CD debut of 1981’s Seasons from Max Werner.  The Dutch musician-singer (1953-2024) was lead singer, drummer, and percussionist for Kayak, but earned his biggest hit with “Rain in May” from Seasons.  A No. 6 hit in his native Netherlands and a No. 2 in Germany, it scored across Europe and in the U.S., where it reached No. 74 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Seasons, co-produced by Werner and Chris Pilgram, was a concept album reflecting on the four seasons.  Werner’s drums drive the record, influenced by his contemporary Phil Collins’ work on Peter Gabriel 3 and Collins’ solo debut single, “In the Air Tonight.”  Spare synths, big drums, and powerful vocals brought the adventurous but melodic compositions (penned by Werner, Pilgram, and others) to life.  Iconoclassic’s reissue adds the Dutch non-LP side “Stop and Start,” with the CD’s audio newly remastered by Wouter Bessels.  Ralph Chapman has written the liner notes, exploring the album via new interviews with Kayak’s Ton Scherpenzeel and Edward Reekers, among others.  Fans of Genesis, Peter Gabriel, and, of course, Kayak are encouraged to check this hidden gem out.

Both Twilley and Seasons are available this Friday from Iconoclassic Records at the links below.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Dwight Twilley, Twilley: Expanded Edition (Arista LP AB 4214 – reissued Iconoclassic ICON 1076, 2024) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. Out of My Hands
2. Nothing’s Ever Gonna Change So Fast
3. Runaway
4. Standin’ in The Shadow of Love
5. Alone In My Room
6. Betsy Sue
7. Darlin’
8. I Wanna Make Love to You
9. Got You Where I Want You
10. It Takes Alot of Love
11. Out of My Hands (7″ version) (Arista single AS 0415, 1979)
12. Burnin’ Sand (7″ version) (Arista single AS 0433, 1979)
13. Betsy Sue (monitor mix)
14. Alone In My Room (monitor mix)
15. I Wanna Make Love to You (alternate version)
16. Runaway (alternate version)
17. Out of My Hands (demo)

Max Werner, Seasons (Radio Records RR 16050, 1981 – reissued Iconoclassic ICON 1081, 2024) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. Rain In May
2. Under the Spell of Spring
3. Thunderstorm
4. Summer In the City
5. Like An Autumn-Leaf
6. Raincloud
7. Indian Summer
8. In The Winter
9. Crystals (So Cold)
10. Cosmic Winter (We’ll Make It to Mars)
11. Seasons
12. Stop and Start (CNR (Netherlands) single 141.934, 1982)