Release Round-Up: Week of April 18
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.
Neil Young, Coastal: The Soundtrack (Reprise/NYA) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The concert film Coastal, documenting Neil Young’s 2023 solo concert tour, was released to cinemas yesterday; today, its soundtrack album arrives on CD, LP, and digital formats. The 11-track album includes Young favorites such as “I Am a Child,” “Expecting to Fly,” “Comes a Time,” and “Vampire Blues.”
Dame Shirley Bassey, The Singer (Cherry Red/Strawberry) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Cherry Red)
Cherry Red is getting the party started with Dame Shirley Bassey. The label’s Strawberry imprint is releasing The Singer, a 3-CD collection filled with previously unreleased tracks, hits, and rarities primarily drawn from the “Goldfinger” chanteuse’s period with United Artists Records (1966-1980). It’s been fully authorized by Dame Shirley herself, and audio has been restored and remastered by Richard Moore. All told, 28 tracks premiere on this set, including Dame Shirley’s 1973 Royal Albert Hall show. Out today in the U.K. and next Friday in North America. Read more here!
The Rembrandts, L.P.: Expanded Edition (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The jangly L.A. duo of Phil Solem and Danny Wilde – both former members of short-lived power-pop outfit Great Buildings – actually had some measure of chart success in the early ’90s. But sometimes no one tells you life was gonna be this way, and their original material was largely overshadowed by the maddeningly catchy “I’ll Be There for You,” the theme to the blockbuster NBC sitcom Friends for a decade. Its popularity (and status as a hidden-in-plain-sight track on third album L.P.) belies the fact that The Rembrandts were (and are!) quite good; this 30th anniversary remastered and expanded edition of that album, featuring four demos (three of which are unreleased) is a solid reminder. Previously available on vinyl for Record Store Day.
Patsy Cline, Imagine That: The Lost Recordings (Elemental) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Imagine That: The Lost Recordings (1954-1963) gathers two CDs’ worth of previously unreleased performances from the late, great Patsy Cline. While some of these tracks have circulated as bootlegs, this release makes them officially available in optimal sound quality for the first time. Curated by George Hewitt and designed by John Sellards, Imagine That offers both unheard versions of familiar songs and 15 tunes otherwise unreleased by Patsy. A 56-page booklet tells the story in full. Previously available on vinyl for Record Store Day.
Francois Hardy, En Vogue: Best of 1962-1967 (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Omnivore brings another Record Store Day vinyl exclusive to CD with this anthology of French chanteuse Francois Hardy’s classic recordings for the Vogue label. In total, 24 songs are included on this tres chic collection.
Richard Pryor, I Hope I’m Funny: The Warner Albums 1974-1983 (Warner/Rhino) (Rhino.com)
This Rhino.com-exclusive vinyl box brings together the late, great comedian’s six Warner Bros. albums on seven LPs (1978’s Wanted/Richard Pryor: Live in Concert is a double album), all in replica packaging. This box celebrating one of America’s most significant and still-shocking comic voices is limited to just 1,000 copies.
Donna Summer, Cats Without Claws: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Driven by the Music/Crimson) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
This double-disc reissue (housed in a 7-inch sleeve) brings together Donna Summer’s 1984 album with a bonus disc primarily consisting of remixes by Steve Anderson, Ladies on Mars, ShyBoy, and 7th Heaven; the non-album B-side “Face the Music” and original Extended Mix of “Eyes” are also included.
Melanie, Gathered In: The ‘Gather Me’ Sessions (Cleopatra) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Cleopatra has rounded up previously unreleased studio outtakes, demos, and related live tracks from Melanie’s 1971 album Gather Me, the LP that introduced the chart-topping “Brand New Key” as well as the hit “Ring the Living Bell” and fan favorite “Someday I’ll Be a Farmer.” This release includes new liner notes by the late artist’s manager Dave Thompson, and is packaged in a 6-panel digipak.
Bill Evans, Further Ahead: Live in Finland 1964-1969 (Resonance) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The latest release from Bill Evans on the Elemental label, Further Ahead: Live in Finland 1964-1969 collects never-before-released recordings of the late pianist, captured live in Finland during that time frame. A 28-page booklet puts this period of Evans’ career into perspective; songs include “Nardis,” “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “Emily,” “Round Midnight,” and “Autumn Leaves.” Previously available on vinyl for Record Store Day.
Kenny Dorham, Blue Bossa in the Bronx: Live from The Blue Morocco (Resonance) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Resonance has unearthed a live recording of trumpeter Kenny Dorham, recorded in 1967 at The Blue Morocco in the Bronx. Dorham is joined on this set by Sonny Red, Cedar Walton, Paul Chambers, and Dennis Charles. Matthew Lutthans has mastered, and Bob Blumenthal provides new liner notes. Previously available on vinyl for Record Store Day.
Charles Mingus, Mingus in Argentina: The Buenos Aires Concerts (Resonance) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Mingus In Argentina offers highlights from two shows near the end of the late composer-bandleader’s career in 1977, on which he’s joined by Ricky Ford (tenor saxophone), Jack Walrath (trumpet), Robert Neloms (piano), and Dannie Richmond (drums). This set features a 36-page booklet with liner notes by Brian Priestley. Previously available on vinyl for Record Store Day.
Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill, Long After the Fire (Label 51) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The musical married couple Vicki Peterson (The Bangles) and John Cowsill (The Cowsills, The Beach Boys) team up for this set of folk-flavored songs written by John’s late brothers Barry and Bill Cowsill.
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