Release Round-Up: Week of June 5
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.
Barry Manilow, What a Time (Stiletto)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / ShopManilow.com
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / ShopManilow.com
Arriving today as Manilow prepares to embark on his first tour after recovering from lung cancer treatment, Barry Manilow’s What a Time is the singer-songwriter’s first album of primarily original music since 2011’s 15 Minutes. The album takes on a reflective tone characterized by its first single, a cover of Peter Allen and Dean Pitchford’s “Once Before I Go” overseen by Manilow’s longtime collaborator, Clive Davis. Barry’s collaborators on the album include songwriters Gary Barlow, Adrienne Anderson, Enoch Anderson, and John Bettis; and producers Babyface, Dave Cobb, and Michael Lloyd. Manilow pal and veteran background vocalist Muffy Hendrix (with whom he memorably duetted on “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” on 1985’s Manilow) joins him on “When Somebody Says Goodbye.” At least three bonus tracks will appear on various editions of the album including “Reunited” with Melanie Taylor on the CD from Manilow’s official shop; “Party to the Top” on the official shop vinyl and Amazon-exclusive vinyl; and “Cry for Coney Island” on the Amazon-exclusive CD.
Jackie DeShannon, Girl of Yesterday: Acoustic Folk Demos (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Our friends at Real Gone Music have unveiled another collection from legendary singer-songwriter Jackie DeShannon. This follows last year’s Love Forever as a new collection of previously unreleased demos from the Metric Music archives, featuring the solo Jackie accompanying herself on guitar. Among the abundant treasures are Jackie’s demos of “Don’t Doubt Yourself, Babe” (recorded here as “It’s Gonna Be All Right”) later recorded by The Byrds; “Splendor in the Grass” (later recorded by Jackie with The Byrds!); and “With You in Mind,” memorably recorded by Marianne Faithfull. Jackie contributes to the new liner notes by Richie Unterberger, while John Sellards has designed the package. Available on CD and LP.
The Beau Brummels, The Beau Brummels (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Real Gone also dusts off The Beau Brummels’ 1975 LP produced by Lenny Waronker and Ted Templeman in a newly expanded edition on both CD and double orange vinyl. In addition to a new remaster of the original album, this edition includes 13 previously unissued bonus tracks including demos, alternate takes, and outtakes from the album sessions. Alec Palao contributes the liner notes based on interviews with the surviving Brummels.
Jeff Goldblum
Pink Floyd, 8-Tracks (Pink Floyd/Legacy)
CD: Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Target.com
LP (Blue Vinyl): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP (Black Vinyl): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Pink Floyd celebrates the era of the 8-track with a new compilation entitled (what else?) 8-Tracks. The collection, available in the U.S. as a Target-exclusive CD as well as on vinyl and digitally, brings together eight (yup, eight!) tracks from the band’s seventies heyday including “Money,” “Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2,” “Wish You Were Here,” and “Comfortably Numb.” Steven Wilson has edited the tracks in an exclusive sequence, utilizing sound effects from the songs’ original multitrack tapes to create a continuous listening experience unique to this title. Also exclusive is the concluding song, the full version of “Pigs on the Wing” from the original Animals eight-track cartridge. This version contains a guitar solo from “Snowy” White which isn’t present on the standard Animals LP. Get the track listing here.
Harpo Marx, Harpo Speaks! The Riverside Symphony Concert Featuring “Peter and the Wolf” (Ramseur) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Indeed…Harpo Speaks! The legendarily silent Marx Brother is heard on this surprising new release from Ramseur Records. On March 20, 1964, the semi-retired Harpo joined Southern California’s Riverside Symphony for a benefit performance. But this time, Harpo wasn’t mute. Instead, he narrated Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. The enchanting performance took place just six months before his death at the age of 75. The evening was recorded but the tapes disappeared…until now. Marx Brothers archivist John Tefteller and biographer Robert Bader have spearheaded this restored release. Bader explains, “The fact that we have a recording is a miracle. It was not the most professionally recorded thing. It was very haphazard. The work that was done to rehabilitate it is stunning. It’s as if you’ve found something covered with layers of mold and dirt, got it all cleaned off, and now are able to see something brand new underneath it.” In addition to Peter and the Wolf, the recording includes the spirited “Toy Symphony,” romantic “Moon Medley” (including Harpo’s own “Moon Tune”) and Harpo’s “Guardian Angels.” Harpo’s son Bill shares, “To have this recording be released and let people hear it is an honor. Dad didn’t really want people to know what he sounded like because it would have destroyed the character of Harpo that he created. But I think, now, he would accept this graciously and gratefully because it goes beyond just seeing a guy being funny. It goes to the heart of what life is about: Doing what you love and doing it the best you can.” Available on CD and LP.
Jeff Goldblum and The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, Night Blooms (Decca) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The actor-pianist-occasional singer tackles another set of classic standards with verve, including “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered,” “Misty,” “As Time Goes By,” and (befitting the Wonderful Wizard of Oz himself) “If I Only Had a Brain” and “Over the Rainbow.” Available on CD, LP, and digitally.
