As usual, Real Gone's first releases in November are an eclectic bunch.  The label is releasing the 30th anniversary edition of a contemporary country classic album, a psychedelic exploitation record from the 1960s, and a 20th anniversary edition of a metalcore album.  Read on for more details for these releases all hitting store shelves tomorrow, November 15.

In 1994, Mary Chapin Carpenter was at the pinnacle of country music.  The singer-songwriter's fourth album for Columbia, Come On Come On, was the biggest seller of her career.  Singles were still being released from that album in early 1994 and later in the year she released her next endeavor: Stones in the Road.  While it ultimately would not sell as many copies as Come On Come On, it would have higher chart success and garner prestigious awards.

Carpenter was backed by an A-list band on the self-penned album: keyboardist Benmont Tench, guitarists Lee Roy Parnell and Steuart Smith, and backing vocalists Trisha Yearwood, Shawn Colvin, and Linda Williams.  The lead single off the album, "Shut Up and Kiss Me" became Carpenter's first No. 1 Country song (it hit No. 90 on the Pop chart). Other Country-charting singles were "Tender When I Want to Be" (No. 6), "House of Cards" (No. 21), and "Why Walk When You Can Fly?" (No. 45).  Another notable song was the title track which Joan Baez first covered in 1992.  Carpenter's version would be featured in the film Bye Bye Love. The album itself would give Carpenter two other firsts: her first album to top the Country survey and the first to reach the top 10 of the Billboard 200 when it hit No. 10.  Stones in the Road would then earn a Grammy for Best Country Album, and "Shut Up and Kiss Me" earned Carpenter her fourth consecutive Best Female Country Vocal Performance Grammy.  Country Universe named Stones "the Best Contemporary Country Music Album of All-Time" in 2006.

This reissue is the first time Stones has been released on vinyl.  For its 30th anniversary, Real Gone is expanding the album by adding the four tracks from the 1995 UK EP Live at Her Majesty's Theatre.  This EP was recorded on December 4, 1994 in London (at the home of Phantom of the Opera, no less) and first aired on BBC Radio 2.  The four tracks include 3 songs from Stones and "This Shirt" from State of the Heart.  The songs are featured on Side 4 of Real Gone's reissue.  Released with the full consent of support of Carpenter, Real Gone's 2-LP vinyl edition comes on yellow highlighter vinyl.

Next up is an oddity from 1967: How To Blow Your Mind and Have A Freak-Out Party by The Unfolding.  Released on the Audio Fidelity label, which was not really known for delving into the popular music of the day (other releases in 1967 included albums from such acts at Lester Lanin and The Dukes of Dixieland and an audio biography of Eleanor Roosevelt!), not much is known about the making of this album or its band members.  "Ken" and Peter" are the guitarists and "Gary" is on drums.  Narration is provided by Steven Kapovitch and the "Nymphs" are voiced by Victoria Sackville (soprano).  Andrea Ross provides vocals as does David Dalton, who wrote all of the songs.  Whether this is the same David Dalton who wrote for Rolling Stone is unknown.  A psychedelic exploitation album, it included an insert to send away for "psychedelic ornaments" so you, too, could throw an acid party.  And the back cover offered "instructions" referencing everybody from Emmett Grogan of the Diggers to Albert Hofmann, the discoverer of LSD.  Suffice it to say, this was the only album from The Unfolding.

Real Gone's release is the first ever vinyl reissue of the album in America.  It comes in a variety of versions.  The "Orange Sunshine" vinyl is the standard edition and is limited to 500 copies.  The blue with purple swirl vinyl version is limited to 75 copies and is only available at Real Gone's website.  Wax Mage has a "pulsar" vinyl edition and Vinyl Me Please has offered a pink pressing.

Metalcore band Misery Signals was formed in 2002 and was made up of members of the bands 7 Angels 7 Plagues and Comprise.  Members included lead vocalist Jesse Zaraska, Ryan Morgan (lead guitar) and Kyle Johnson (bass guitar).  They released an eponymous EP and were soon signed to New Jersey's Ferret Records.  In June 2004, the band released their first full-length album: Of Malice and the Magnum Heart.  The album is noted for its melody and emotion, especially on the song "They Year the Summer Ended in June" which commemorates the deaths of Compromise band members Jordan Wodehouse and Daniel Langlois, who were killed by a drunk driver.  Also of note is the instrumental "Worlds & Dreams."  Zaraska left the group after Misery Signals and Karl Schubach was brought on lead vocalist.  The group would record three more albums before 2020's Ultraviolet, when Zaraska rejoined the group.  Misery Signals announced in April they were breaking up and just concluded their farewell tour in October.

Real Gone's 20th anniversary edition of Of Malice and the Magnum Heart comes on Orange Crush vinyl.  It includes an insert and is the first release on vinyl for American retail.

If you would like to give any of these titles a try, we've got the full tracklistings and ordering links below.  They are all coming out tomorrow, November 15.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Mary Chapin Carpenter, Stones In The Road (30th Anniversary Expanded Vinyl Edition) (Originally released on Columbia CK 64327, 1994 - reissued Real Gone Music, 2024) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music)

Side 1

1. Why Walk When You Can Fly
2. House of Cards
3. Stones in the Road
4. A Keeper for Every Flame
5. Tender When I Want to Be

Side 2

1. Shut Up and Kiss Me
2. The Last Word
3. The End of My Pirate Days
4. John Doe No. 24

Side 3

1. Jubilee
2. Outside Looking In
3. Where Time Stands Still
4. This Is Love

Side 4 - Live At Her Majesty's Theatre, London, December 4, 1994 (Originally released on Columbia UK 6611367, 1994)

1. Shut Up and Kiss Me
2. This Shirt
3. The Last Word
4. Stones in the Road

The Unfolding, How To Blow Your Mind And Have a Freak-Out Party (Limited Orange Sunshine Vinyl Edition) (Originally released on Audio Fidelity AFSD 6184, 1967 - reissued Real Gone Music, 2024) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music)

Side 1

1. I've Got a Zebra--She Can Fly
2. Play Your Game
3. Girl from Nowhere
4. Flora's Holiday
5. Love Supreme Deal

Side 2

1. Prana
2. Electric Buddha
3. Hare Krishna
4. Parable

Misery Signals, Of Malice and the Magnum Heart (Originally released on Ferret Music F045-2, 2004 - reissued Real Gone Music, 2024) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music)

Side 1

1. A Victim, a Target
2. In Response to Stars
3. The Year Summer Ended in June
4. In Summary of What I Am
5. The Stinging Rain
6. Worlds & Dreams

Side 2

1. Murder
2. On Account of an Absence
3. Five Years
4. Difference of Vengeance and Wrongs