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.
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Dwight Twilley, Scuba Divers: Blueprint Edition (Iconoclassic) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The road to Dwight Twilley's second album, 1982's Scuba Divers, was a long one. Now, Iconoclassic Records is expanding that 10-track album with a whopping 15 bonus tracks (11 of which are previously unreleased) chronicling the arduous journey to Scuba Divers that began as the sessions for an album called Blueprint. Vic Anesini has remastered all audio from the master tapes, Howie Edelson and reissue compiler/producer Jeremy Holiday provide the new liner notes, and Zox has supplied previously unpublished photos from the sessions for both Scuba Divers and Blueprint. Read more here.
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Steely Dan, Katy Lied (Geffen/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Steely Dan's fourth album, 1975's Katy Lied, returns to vinyl for the first time in decades as part of UMe's ongoing reissue series. Produced by Gary Katz, Katy Lied features Walter Becker and Donald Fagen joined by such guests as Hal Blaine (who played on "Any World (That I'm Welcome To)"), Jeff Porcaro, Larry Carlton, David Paich, Michael Omartian, Victor Feldman, Rick Derringer, and Michael McDonald (who made his first appearance here on a Dan record). With "Any World," "Bad Sneakers," "Chain Lightning," "Black Friday," and "Doctor Wu" among its highlights, Katy Lied remains a key album in the small but potent Steely Dan catalogue as Becker and Fagen's first album after leaving the road to concentrate on studio projects. It's been remastered by Bernie Grundman and is pressed on 180-gram vinyl. Analogue Productions is also offering the album on UHQR audiophile vinyl and (eventually) on hybrid stereo SACD.
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The English Beat, Special Beat Service (Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The (English) Beat's third album, Special Beat Service, gets a fresh remaster in this expanded edition. Nine studio and live bonus tracks have been appended here, echoing the 2-LP edition released for Record Store Day Black Friday 2024.
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Loudon Wainwright III, Loudon Live in London (Last Music Company) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The troubadour's 2024 residency at Nell's Jazz and Blues in London has been preserved with this new live album featuring original material, Wainwright classics, and covers (including Burt Bacharach and Bob Hilliard's "(Don't Go) Please Stay" and Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright"). Loudon introduces his son Rufus with "Rufus Is a Tit Man" and the two Wainwrights then duet on "Out of This World." Available on CD and digitally.
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Rumer, In Session (Rumer) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Singer-songwriter Rumer has returned to her own back catalogue for this album of re-recordings featuring Redtenbacher's Funkestra, a London-based jazz-funk group. Recorded at James Welch's Masterlink Studios, In Session features new arrangements of "Am I Forgiven," "Aretha," "Slow," and more. Out on CD, LP, and digitally today in Europe and next Friday in North America.
Sign In Stranger: Steely Dan's "The Royal Scam" Returns in June
Rhino's 2025 Start Your Ear Off Right Campaign Features Fleetwood Mac, Ramones, Rush, More
Touchin' The Wind: Iconoclassic Expands Dwight Twilley's "Scuba Divers" with Long-Lost "Blueprint" Sessions
Release Round-Up: Week of November 15
Also out today is Kim Wilde's excellent new album "Closer".
Yep in the UK & Europe, next Friday Feb 7 in North America...so looking forward to that...im all (mostly) caught up with her brilliant catalogue in time for KW15...the sorta sequel to 1988's masterwork "Close"...hope she adds US dates to her tour...she never plays here but has a cult fanbase here...
Received my copy of the CD and vinyl from Cherry Red. The album is great - you are going to love it.
Rob66 yes i know i will...dug the first single muchly "Trail of Destruction", Kim & Ricky in synthpop mode...ever since she came back in 2006 with "Never Say Never", she & Ricky have been on an amazing artistic roll...plus the brilliant Midge Ure is on it...whats not to love?? Now we need US dates...even if just 1 or 2...she never plays here!! Since i got really hardcore into her catalogue over the past few years, i got into her whole family, even Roxanne's band from 25 years ago, her dad is brilliant still...her brother is a genius...
Great to know there are fans like you who appreciate this talented family. I've been a fan of Kim's since her first LP (I was already aware of her father, Marty.) You are so right, her comeback albums after her break in the late 90s are all amazing. Her "Winter Songbook" is one of my favorite Christmas albums of all time. Sadly, I don't think she will ever tour in the US. I can't see her performing as part of an 80s tour package with other artists, since she does so well playing to huge crowds in Europe, on her own, where she has a much larger following. Can't wait to check out her new tour this March on YouTube (although it would be great to see her live, in concert here !!)