Release Round-Up: Week of December 5
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.
Judy Collins, The ’60s Singles (Second Disc/Real Gone)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music
Judy Blue Eyes Vinyl LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music
Judy Collins’ The ’60s Singles brings together, for the first time, the remarkable array of 45s on which the singer’s discography was built. With songs by Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Randy Newman, Sandy Denny, Eric Andersen, and Joni Mitchell – including the international smash “Both Sides Now” – Collins’ early Elektra singles reflected a vast musical imagination, a hunger to explore material from rock to art songs, and a powerful social conscience. Every one of these fourteen single sides is presented in its original single mix – most of which are unique mixes and edits, with the first ten songs in mono and the final four in stereo. These versions have been out of print and unavailable for over five decades and all have been painstakingly restored for this collection. Highlights include Collins’ first foray into folk-rock, the mono non-LP single of Bob Dylan’s “I’ll Keep It with Mine” featuring Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield; the rare promotional stereo mix of Joni Mitchell’s “Chelsea Morning,” different from the commonly-available stereo version; and two versions of the classic “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season).” Mike Milchner has remastered every track, TSD’s Joe Marchese has penned the new liner notes diving into the history of each song, and John Sellards has designed the package in the style of the era. Available on both CD and “Judy Blue Eyes” vinyl (limited to just 1,000 units) from Real Gone Music and TSD! Read more here.
Sting, The Last Ship: Expanded Edition (Cherrytree/A&M)
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Coming to 2CD, 2LP, and digital formats ahead of a new series of worldwide performances, this new edition of Sting’s 2013 concept album The Last Ship offers 20 tracks from the original album release and 2014 cast recording, plus five new recordings, all resequenced to better reflect the current version of the score. Those new tracks are a re-recording of the song “Shipyard” (with new vocals by cast member Joe Caffrey alongside those from Jo Lawry and AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson), duets with operatic soprano Renée Fleming (“Ship of State”) and another principal cast member, Frances McNamee (“If You Ever See Me Talking to a Sailor”); the outtake “O’Brien’s Hymn,” and a new take on “Island of Souls,” which opens not only the show but Sting’s thematically-similar 1991 studio album The Soul Cages. The musical in its current form sails into the Metropolitan Opera House next year. Get more details on this new release here.
The Doors, Immersed (Elektra/Rhino) (TheDoors.com / Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Immersed (1967-1971) gathers the six classic LPs released during frontman Jim Morrison’s lifetime – The Doors (1967), Strange Days (1967), Waiting for the Sun (1968), The Soft Parade (1969), Morrison Hotel (1970) and L.A. Woman (1971) – on Blu-ray Audio discs, each featuring surround mixes in Atmos as well as 5.1 surround by the group’s longtime engineer Bruce Botnick. (Botnick created 5.1 mixes for the 2006 box set Perception; it was not made clear in the press release if these are the same as what’s in that package. He also created an Atmos mix of the 1985 compilation The Best of The Doors last year.) High resolution (24-bit/192 kHz) versions of the original stereo albums are also included, all housed in mini-jacket replicas of the original LP sleeves. Read more here!
Springsteen – Deliver Me from Nowhere: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Columbia) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The acclaimed motion picture starring Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen, chronicling the making of Nebraska, belatedly yields a soundtrack CD with White’s performances of such songs as “Highway Patrolman,” “Born in the USA,” “Atlantic City,” and “I’m on Fire.” Nashville uber-producer Dave Cobb helmed the sessions which also feature Jake Kiszka and Sam F. Kiszka of Greta Van Fleet. Available on CD, “Asbury Gray” double vinyl, and digitally.
Warren Zevon, Epilogue: Live at the Edmonton Folk Festival (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Omnivore premieres the final concert ever performed by the late, great Warren Zevon (1947-2003) on CD following its RSD Black Friday release. Epilogue: Live at the Edmonton Folk Festival preserves for posterity his concert of August 9, 2002 during which he was joined by Matt Carsonis on guitar, dulcimer, fiddle, harmonies, and more. Zevon and Cartsonis ran through his classic songbook (including “Werewolves of London,” “Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me,” and one of only two live performances of “Dirty Life and Times”) as well as a cover of Joni Mitchell’s “A Case of You.” Epilogue: Live at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival has been mastered and restored by Michael Graves and Jordan McLeod of Osiris Studio with Matt Cartsonis (who has also penned the new liner notes).
The Lemon Twigs, Written by Ronnie D’Addario (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
For two decades, Ronnie D’Addario played guitar with Tommy Makem and The Clancy Brothers. He’s performed with Judy Collins and had a song recorded (but sadly left unreleased) by Carpenters. Now, his sons Brian and Michael – a.k.a. The Lemon Twigs – are paying tribute to their dad on this new release which features such guest artists as Todd Rundgren, Mac DeMarco, Sean Ono Lennon, Darian Sahanaja, Probyn Gregory, and Matt Jardine – as well as Ronnie himself.
Various Artists, Rock the Plaza: The Concert to Save the Historic Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
On November 11, 2022, Brian Ray (guitarist in the Paul McCartney band) led a fundraiser to restore Palm Springs’ Plaza Theatre. He enlisted pals Alice Cooper, Paul Rodgers, Joshua Homme (Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures), and Orianthi (a guitarist who has worked with include Michael Jackson and Richie Sambora). Ray and Spike Edney (Queen, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin) were joined in the band by Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses), Eric Singer (KISS, Black Sabbath), Jon Button (Shakira, The Who, Sheryl Crow), and guitarist Pete Thorn fpr an evening of classic hits and spirited covers.
WAR, Why Can’t We Be Friends? [Quadio] (Avenue/Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Rhino.com)
Hot Tuna, America’s Choice [Quadio] (Grunt/Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Rhino.com)
America, Hearts [Quadio] (Warner/Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Rhino.com)
Jefferson Starship, Spitfire [Quadio] (Grunt/Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Rhino.com)
Rhino brings its last batch of Quadio titles to general release today. This time, it’s all classic rock, with three titles celebrating their 50th anniversaries and one just shy of that milestone: America’s Hearts (1975), Hot Tuna’s America’s Choice (1975), WAR’s Why Can’t We Be Friends? (1975), and Jefferson Starship’s Spitfire (1976). The WAR mix is previously unreleased in any format. All Blu-rays also include a high-resolution stereo mix, with both presentations sourced from the original analog tapes. Read more here! Please note that Amazon appears to be having supply-chain issues with these titles. While orders should be open soon, all titles are still available directly from Rhino.com.
Fine Young Cannibals, FYC40 [Multiple Formats] (London)
4CD/DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. (TBD) / Amazon U.K. (TBD) / Amazon Canada (TBD)
1LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
FYC40 will reintroduce audiences to the Birmingham trio behind “Johnny Come Home,” “She Drives Me Crazy” and “Good Thing” on a multi-disc set that’s available on CD or vinyl. The most comprehensive version spans four CDs and a DVD, offering expanded editions of 1985’s Fine Young Cannibals and 1989’s The Raw & The Cooked, B-sides, remixes, music videos and live performances. (These are, of course, different track lists than the 2CD expansions of both albums issued in 2020.) Nine of the tracks, including vintage and new remixes, are previously unreleased. A 2CD edition offers an overview of hits and remixes – some of which are different to what’s on the 4CD/1DVD set, including the unreleased material. A crystal clear vinyl version offers the first dozen tracks from the 2CD version, and a black double vinyl includes all 18 cuts from the first disc of the 2CD set plus a side of remixes – most of which are edited versions of longer cuts on the previous sets, and many of which are previously unreleased and not on the other configurations. Phew! (And that doesn’t even cover the CD single of mostly unreleased “Johnny Come Home” remixes from 1990, available with purchases made from the band’s official store!) The deluxe set includes liner notes by Andrew Harrison and John Earls, while the standard sets seem to only feature notes by Harrison. Read more here.
Letters to Cleo, Aurora Gory Alice (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) / Wholesale Meats and Fish (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Real Gone Music travels back to the ’90s for a pair of albums from the Boston-based alt-rock band Letters to Cleo. 1993’s Aurora Gory Alice was recorded for a small indie label but reissued on Warner imprint Giant Records the next year after the label signed the group. The album broke out when “Here and Now” was heard on the Melrose Place soundtrack and went to the top ten of the U.S. Alternative chart. The band followed the LP up with Wholesale Meats and Fish which featured an Alternative top 20 hit with “Awake.” Both albums have been remastered; Aurora comes on “sea blue” vinyl while Wholesale arrives on “highlighter yellow” vinyl.
The Devil Wears Prada, Dead Throne (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Real Gone continues its Devil Wears Prada reissue campaign with 2011’s Dead Throne, the metalcore band’s most popular album. It hit the top ten of the Billboard Albums Chart but also topped the Christian and Independent Albums chart. The LP’s theme was anti-idolatry and its sound was stripped down from the band’s previous albums to direct more focus to its lyrical content. It’s been remastered and pressed on “yellow glow stick” vinyl. The package includes an insert.
Kylie Minogue, Kylie Christmas: Fully Wrapped (Warner/Parlophone)
Amazon-Exclusive CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
The Australian dance-pop queen’s 2015 Christmas album returns with three new tracks in its standard edition (“Hot in December,” “Office Party,” “This Time of Year’) and four in its Amazon-exclusive edition (adding “XMAS”). Note that some tracks on the original have been jettisoned (“Only You,” “Winter Wonderland,” “I’m Gonna Be Warm This Winter,” “Every Day’s Like Christmas,” “2000 Miles”) while others (“100 Degrees,” “At Christmas”) have been pulled from the Snow Queen Edition of Kylie Christmas. Essentially, this is a new compilation with selected tracks from the previous releases and the four new songs. Available on CD, LP, and digitally.
Bill Evans, Portraits at the Penthouse: Live in Seattle (Resonance) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Resonance delivers the first authorized release of Bill Evans’ concert at the Penthouse jazz club in Seattle, Washington on May 12 and 19, 1966 with bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Joe Hunt. This is Resonance’s eighth official release in cooperation with the Bill Evans Estate and was originally recorded by DJ Jim Wilke for KING-FM radio. The CD includes a deluxe booklet with rare photos, liner notes by Marc Myers, and interviews and testimonials from Bob James, Eddie Gomez and Joe Hunt. Songs include “Who Can I Turn To,” “Autumn Leaves,” “Nardis,” and “‘Round Midnight.”
Sam Fender, People Watching: Deluxe Edition (Capitol) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The British singer-songwriter expands his studio album – a U.K. chart-topper – originally released earlier this year with a handful of bonus tracks including “Talk to You” with Elton John and “Rein Me In” with Olivia Dean.
Celia Cruz, The Queen of Salsa (Craft Recordings) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Craft Recordings celebrates The Queen of Salsa with this 12-song centennial collection drawn from the period of 1966-1993. Guests include Tito Puente, Johnny Pacheco, Willie Colon, and the Fania All Stars. Liner notes are penned by the co-author of Cruz’s autobiography, Ana Cristina Reymundo.
John Powell and Stephen Schwartz, Wicked: For Good [Original Motion Picture Score] (Republic) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
While the original instrumental score to last year’s blockbuster Wicked didn’t receive a physical release, one has been granted for the record-breaking sequel. The Wicked: For Good score album preserves the thrillifying cues by film composer John Powell and the musical’s songwriter, Stephen Schwartz, on 2 CDs or 2 LPs (as well as digitally.)
You Might Also Like
1 thought on “Release Round-Up: Week of December 5”
Leave a Comment
Yuck. Just like LaLaLand’s Wednesday Season 2, the Wicked: For Good release makes no sense without making the first available as well. Physical media people are collectors. Without season / part 1, the collection is incomplete.