Features / Release Round-Up

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.

Paul McCartney, Man on the Run: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack (MPL/Capitol)

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

Morgan Neville’s newest documentary, which received a limited theatrical engagement before landing on Prime Video, details how Paul McCartney found new life after the break-up of The Beatles with his new group Wings. On the documentary’s streaming release date, a companion album will include favorites (and a rarity or two) taken from the Wings albums that have been reissued as part of Paul’s Archive Collection series – plus three previously unreleased tracks, including “Gotta Sing Gotta Dance,” the live Rockshow version of “Live and Let Die,” and a rough mix of “Arrow Through Me.”  Read more here.

Split Enz, Second Thoughts: Expanded Edition (Chrysalis) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

An “appendix” to last year’s Enzyclopedia Volumes One and Two box set, this 2LP set features everything not included on the vinyl version of that box. It pairs a new remaster of sophomore album Second Thoughts by Phil Kinrade with the rarities collection Wide Angle Enz, featuring eight rare and unreleased live tracks and rough mixes (including a version of “Matinee Idyll (129)” that’s exclusive to this set).

The Colourfield, The Sound of the Colourfield (Chrysalis) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Fronted by late singer/songwriter Terry Hall after his tenure in both The Specials and Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield’s short-lived but eclectic tenure stood out among the synthpop and New Wave of the mid-’80s, with winning acoustic arrangements and an appreciation for ’60s and ’70s songcraft. This 5CD/1DVD box offers a full look at the band through their two albums (1985’s Virgins and Philistines and 1987’s Deception), B-sides and single versions, and some 40 unreleased tracks including demos and live cuts – plus a thorough filmography featuring music videos and BBC live TV performances. John Earls’ liner notes combine vintage commentary from Hall (who died in 2022) and new recollections from his bandmates Toby Lyons and Karl Shale.

The Ian Gillan Band, Down the Road: The Complete Ian Gillan Band Story (Demon) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The Deep Purple lead singer and original Jesus Christ Superstar on records has curated this new 8CD box featuring his mid-to-late-’70s group’s three studio albums, three concerts, demos, backing tracks, and more.  It’s housed in a 7-inch package and includes liner notes by Rich Davenport.  Watch this space for full coverage of this set!

Todd Rundgren, Saban Theatre 2016 (Cleopatra) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

This 2016 Los Angeles performance finds the solo Rundgren tackling a wide range of material from his catalogue including both hits and deep cuts.  Tracks include “Hello, It’s Me,” “I Saw the Light,” “Can We Still Be Friends,” “Love of the Common Man,” “Black Maria,” and “Open My Eyes.”

Willie Nelson, Country Music (Craft Recordings) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The legendary troubadour’s acclaimed, Grammy-nominated 2010 album produced by T Bone Burnett returns to CD and LP today from Craft Recordings.

Mountain, Don’t Look Around: The Recordings 1969-1974 (Cherry Red/Esoteric) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

This 7CD box set presents the Long Island heavy rock band’s albums Leslie West – Mountain, Climbing!, Nantucket Sleighride, Flowers of Evil, Twin Peaks, and Avalanche. It also includes audio of Mountain’s performance at Woodstock in 1969 and rounds up tracks released on The Road Goes Ever On.

Pet Shop Boys, Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live (Parlophone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Parlophone offers up a 25-track 2CD + Blu-ray set of PSBs’ concert film, filmed at the Royal Arena Copenhagen in July 2023. Blu-ray audio features a PCM Stereo and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround mix, remixed and produced by David Barnard and Mike Woolley.

Steve Porcaro, The Very Day (Green Hill) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The Toto keyboardist’s first solo album since 2016 welcomes a host of guests including Michael McDonald and ex-Chicago singer Jason Scheff.  Available on CD, LP, and digitally.

Next to Normal (Original London Cast Recording) (Ghostlight) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Following the premiere of its pro-shot film last year on PBS’ Great Performances, the Donmar Warehouse’s London production of Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey’s Next to Normal receives an audio cast album. The album captures the power and drama of director Michael Longhurst’s acclaimed staging which starred Caissie Levy (Disney’s Frozen, the current Ragtime revival) and Jamie Parker (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) and ran in the West End at Wyndham’s Theatre. This Next to Normal makes a fine companion to the still-striking original Broadway album and adds about 15 minutes of additional material.