Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles out today.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Laura Nyro, Hear My Song: The Collection 1966-1995 (Madfish) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Madfish)

Over three years after the release of its 8LP vinyl box set American Dreamer 1967-1978, the Madfish label is returning to the discography of late singer-songwriter Laura Nyro for the 19CD box set Hear My Song: The Collection 1966-1995.  This collection includes every one of Nyro's original studio albums, six live albums (two of which are previously unreleased), and a disc of (previously issued) bonus tracks. All albums have been remastered especially for this collection, and all discs (housed in replica jackets) are stored in a lift-off-lid box.  A 90-page hardcover "coffee table"-style book is included, featuring liner notes by Vivien Goldman and forewords from Elton John, Laura's brother Jan Nigro, and her son Gil Bianchini.  Commentary is provided by friends, fans, and collaborators such as Charlie Calello, Will Lee, John Sebastian, Jackson Browne, Clive Davis, Lou Adler, Randy Brecker, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, Scott Billington, and Gary Burden.  The book also contains previously unpublished family photographs.  It adds up to the most comprehensive Nyro collection to date.  Read more here.

Nancy Wilson, You're as Right as Rain: The Capitol Albums 1970-1980 (SoulMusic) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Cherry Red)

TSD has teamed with our friends at Cherry Red and SoulMusic Records to commemorate a special decade for late chanteuse Nancy Wilson.  The new 7CD box set You're as Right as Rain has 12 albums originally released between 1970 and 1980 - many of which are now hard-to-find on CD - for a total of 124 tracks including four long out-of-print bonus tracks.  The set features Nancy's collaborations with such talents as Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, Thom Bell, Eugene McDaniels, Clarence McDonald, and Gene Page, while her friends Johnny Mathis and Kenny Lattimore have shared their tributes to her.  Nick Robbins has newly remastered all of the audio, and TSD's Joe Marchese has joined compilation producer David Nathan to pen new liner notes; essays have also been provided by Kevin Goins and A. Scott Galloway.​​ Read more here.

The Rolling Stones, Welcome to Shepherd's Bush (Mercury Studios)

2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
4K UHD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Blu-ray+2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

The Rolling Stones have long been famed for their "secret shows."  One of those intimate gigs took place on June 8, 1999 when Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Charlie Watts, and company took the stage at the Shepherd's Bush Empire, a 1903 music hall in the West London suburb.  In front of an 1,800-capacity crowd including such luminaries as Anita Pallenberg, Pete Townshend, Jerry Hall, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and Bob Geldof, the World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band strutted their stuff just days before two sold-out shows at the 70,000-seat Wembley Stadium.  Mercury Studios releases the Empire show on Welcome to Shepherd's Bush in a variety of formats:  4KUHD (a first for the Stones); Blu-ray + two-CD set; a 2-CD limited edition package of 15,000 worldwide; a 2-LP black vinyl package, and a direct-to-consumer 2-LP set pressed on 180-gram white vinyl.  Get more details here.

Christopher Cross, A Christopher Cross Christmas (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

This Christmas album by "Sailing" and "Arthur's Theme" vocalist Christopher Cross was originally released in 2007.  It contains the yacht rock pioneer's versions of 10 yuletide classics ("Silent Night," "I'll Be Home For Christmas," and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, among others) along with two original songs written with longtime collaborator Rob Meurer: "Does It Feel Like Christmas" and "A Dream of Peace at Christmastime."  Cross produced the album himself but has guests on the album including several instruments played by Michael Omartian (who produced Cross' debut album in 1979).  Other guests include Kenny Edwards and Chris Walden, founder of the Pacific Jazz Orchestra.  A vinyl edition was released as part of Record Store Day Black Friday.

Dexter: Music from the Showtime Original Series (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music)

Just in time for the new prequel series debuting on December 15 on Showtime, Real Gone Music is reissuing the soundtrack to the first season of the original Dexter.  The drama starring Michael C. Hall as the titular serial killer who kills other serial killers ran from 2006-2013, with a revival series Dexter: New Blood running in 2022.  (The upcoming prequel is Dexter: Original Sin.)  This release was originally issued by Milan on CD and truncated on LP in 2007; Real Gone's new LP reissue is presented in full. It includes several Latin-tinged songs owing to the series' Miami setting from artists including The Mambo All-Stars and Beny More as well as "Born Free" from Andy Williams and spoken-word interludes from Michael C. Hall.  The main title theme by Rolfe Kent is also featured as well as instrumental cues composed by Daniel Licht.  This 2LP set comes on "blood with white swirl" vinyl and is limited to 1,500 copies.

 

Flamin' Groovies, Let It Rock: Live from the San Francisco Civic Center 1980 (Liberation Hall) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Two RSD Black Friday titles from Liberation Hall are also receiving CD releases today!  Let It Rock: Live from the San Francisco Civic Center 1980 captures the San Francisco band - guitarist Cyril Jordan, vocalist/guitarists Chris Wilson and Mike Wilhelm, bassist George Alexander, and drummer David Wright - near the end of their tenure with Sire Records.  The 15-song album - which also includes their signature song "Shake Some Action" and two more performances from an October 1980 show at the Old Waldorf - showcases the Groovies' energetic renditions of tunes from The Beatles ("A Hard Day's Night," "Back in the USSR"), The Byrds ("Feel a Whole Lot Better"), The Rolling Stones ("Paint It Black"), and more.  Randy Perry has remastered and Michael Snyder has penned the liner notes.  The RSD version comes on "orange crush" vinyl and the CD is housed in a jewel case.

The Blasters, Live at The Venue, London: The Complete Concert (Liberation Hall) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Also from Liberation Hall: The Blasters' May 21, 1982 debut as headliners in London!  Over There was first rushed out that October by Slash/Warner as a six-song EP; three more songs from the concert emerged on a 2002 CD anthology.  Now, the complete show - 23 tracks - arrives with even more unvarnished rock-and-roll from the California band comprising Dave Alvin (lead guitar), Phil Alvin (vocals/guitar), John Bazz (bass), Bill Bateman (drums), Gene Taylor (piano), Steve Berlin (baritone saxophone), and Lee Allen (tenor saxophone).  The CD edition, housed in a digipak, includes a 12-page insert with new liner notes by reissue co-producer Chris Morris as well as the original notes by Claude Bessy.  Randy Perry has mastered.

V and Bing Crosby, White Christmas (Geffen/HLC/Primary Wave) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Here's perhaps the oddest Christmas release of the year: a virtual duet between BTS' V and the late Bing Crosby on the crooner's immortal "White Christmas."  Available as a hot pink picture disc and various other formats (including CD) directly from Crosby's online store.

Melanie, Take Me Home: Live at The Troubadour, 1969 (Cleopatra) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

This recording captures Melanie on the cusp of fame at the storied Troubadour.  This release, featuring liner notes by Dave Thompson, adds audience recordings from 1971 as bonus tracks.  Available on CD and LP.

Al Jarreau, Wow! Live at The Childe Harold (Resonance) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

After a RSD Black Friday vinyl release, Resonance brings this previously unreleased concert from the late Al Jarreau to CD. Wow! Live at The Childe Harold preserves Jarreau at his first appearance in Washington, DC in August 1976. The show was originally broadcast in DC on WHFS radio, and this release has been sourced from the radio station tape which had been stored for the past five decades.

The Bill Evans Trio, In Norway: The Konigsberg Concert (Resonance) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Another Resonance RSD Black Friday release comes to CD today: a previously unreleased 1970 show featuring Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez, and Marty Morell, with such classic standards as "Come Rain or Come Shine," "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life," "Who Can I Turn To," and "Some Other Time" in the inimitable Evans Trio style.

Roxette, Crash! Boom! Bang! (30th Anniversary Edition) (Parlophone, 2024)

2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Swedish duo Roxette commemorate the 30th anniversary of their fifth album, 1994's Crash! Boom! Bang!, with a demos-packed 2CD reissue.  The album, which represented a slight change-up in style for the duo, featured fan favorite singles "Sleeping in My Car," "Fireworks," "Vulnerable" and the title track. This expanded edition offers 26 bonus tracks: three non-album tracks included on a 2009 expansion of the album, including the underrated 1993 single "Almost Unreal" (heard by American fans on the soundtrack to the ill-received Super Mario Bros. live-action film) and two B-sides. The set's second disc dives into the group's voluminous T&A Studios demo archives, offering a score of early versions recorded between 1990 and 1992. Five of the demos are heard here for the first time, while 10 of them were previously only available on a rare collection of demos released by Per Gessle, one half of the Roxette creative team.  Read more here!

Various Artists, Glad Tidings from Sun Records (Org Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Org Music brings together a dozen seasonal tracks from the Sun catalogue including songs from Leroy Van Dyke ("Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"), The Ad Libs ("Santa's on His Way"), Patti Page ("Holidays"), and Elvis soundalike Orion ("Please Come Home for Christmas").  Available on CD, LP, and digitally.

Henry Mancini, The Henry Mancini 100th Sessions: Henry Has Company (Primary Wave) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

This seven-track salute (already available digitally) to the late, great Henry Mancini features appearances by John Williams, the late Quincy Jones, Michael Bublé, Arturo Sandoval, Stevie Wonder, Lizzo, Herbie Hancock, and others.  Out today on CD.

Lucinda Williams Sings The Beatles from Abbey Road (Highway 20) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Lucinda Williams continues her songbook series with an album comprising 12 Beatles songs, all recorded at Abbey Road.  Tracks include "Can't Buy Me Love," "Something," "The Long and Winding Road," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," and "Let It Be."  Available on CD, LP, and digitally.

Silver Patron Saints: The Songs of Jesse Malin (Jesse Malin Benefit) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

New York rocker Jesse Malin sustained a spinal stroke in May of last year, effectively severing his spine and paralyzing him from the waist down.  His friends have come out to raise funds for his Sweet Relief artist fund which provides financial assistance to musicians and music industry workers; a special fund for Malin has also been set up.  This 2-CD benefit album (a companion to recently-staged live benefit shows) features such friends of Malin as Bruce Springsteen, Jack Antonoff and Bleachers, Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Graham Parker, Billie Joe Armstrong, Jakob Dylan and The Wallflowers, Ian Hunter, and Susanna Hoffs.  Available on 2 CDs, 3 LPs, or digitally.