Features / Release Round-Up

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.

Ben Folds Five, Ben Folds Five (30th Anniversary Edition) (Capitol/UMe, 2026)

2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Piano-pounding alternative trio Ben Folds Five have revisited their first album – both versions of their first album – for a new expanded edition.  The group’s self-titled debut has been remastered and expanded, one year after its 30th anniversary mark. This 2CD or 180-gram 2LP release pairs that original album, featuring seminal tracks like “Underground” and “Philosophy,” with a mostly unreleased “Shelved First Attempt” featuring many of the same tracks (and a few others) recorded in an earlier session. Both sets offer expanded liner notes featuring rare photos and commentary by Folds. Read more here.

Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Buddha and the Chocolate Box (A&M/Cat-o-Log/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

All Formats: Official Store (U.S.)
Exclusive Chocolate Brown Vinyl: Official Store (U.S.)

Cat Stevens’ Buddha and the Chocolate Box, originally released in 1974, is the latest title in the singer-songwriter’s venerable cat-o-log to get the remastered reissue treatment.  One of Yusuf’s four consecutive LPs to reach the top three in both the United States and Great Britain and his sixth A&M release overall, Buddha (featuring “Oh Very Young” and “Ready”) returns on CD, vinyl, and digital formats. Read more here.

John Coltrane, 1960-1964 (Rhino/Atlantic) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The Coltrane centennial celebration yields this new 6CD box from Rhino containing the original mono versions of the late saxophone titan’s 1960-1964 Atlantic albums Giant Steps, Coltrane Jazz, My Favorite Things, Olé Coltrane, Coltrane Plays the Blues, and Coltrane’s Sound.

The Cranberries, Live at the London Astoria II, 1994 (UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The Cranberries’ 1994 London show comes to audio form for the first time on CD, LP, and digitally.  The gig features songs from their then-current album Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? as well as their next album, No Need to Argue.

Pink Floyd, 8-Tracks (Pink Floyd/Legacy)

CD: Amazon U.S. / 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, previously available in the U.S. as a Target-exclusive CD as well as on vinyl and digitally, today hits general retail.  It 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.

Micky Dolenz, Timeless (Friday Music)

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

The Monkees’ Micky Dolenz releases a new EP today on CD, vinyl, and digitally.  Timeless features six new recordings produced by Sam Hollander, John Hughes, Pete Donnelly, and Joe Reagoso of songs by Paul Westerberg, Andy Partridge, Shelby Lynne, Vicki Peterson, Adam Schlesinger, and Jonny Polonsky.

The Gentrys, It’s Been Too Long (Sun) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The Gentrys (of “Keep on Dancing” fame) joined Sun Records when the label moved to Nashville in 1970.  This release – their fourth overall album and first since 1970! – excavates lost tracks from the Sun vaults produced by Sam Phillips’ son, Knox Phillips; the label describes it as blending their garage roots with Laurel Canyon-style harmonies.  It’s out on CD, LP, and digitally.

Dexys Midnight Runners, LOVE (Heavenly) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

LOVE, described as “Dexys Midnight Runners’ latest – possibly last-ever – album,” arrives today on vinyl, with the CD to follow on September 18.  The album features newly-written songs alongside those begun three decades ago.

Bing Crosby, Kraft Music Hall Time Vol. 3 (Sepia) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

This third volume of radio performances brings together nearly 60 performances from 1937-1946, the majority of which have never previously appeared on CD.

Chess (2025 Broadway Cast Recording) (Ghostlight) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

With classic songs by Sir Tim Rice and the ABBA team of Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson including “One Night in Bangkok,” “I Know Him So Well,” “Nobody’s Side,” “Anthem,” and “Pity the Child,” it’s no wonder that the score to Chess is so beloved. Now, Ghostlight unveils the new cast recording of the recent Broadway revival (featuring a new book by Danny Strong) with stars Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele, and Nicholas Christopher.

Our friends at the Kritzerland label have also announced two new releases for pre-order.

Smiling, The Boy Fell Dead: A New Musical (Kritzerland)

Sheldon Harnick and David Baker’s Smiling, The Boy Fell Dead ran 22 performances off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theatre in 1961 before falling into obscurity.  Harnick, of course, already had Broadway shows such as the Pulitzer Prize-winning Fiorello! under his belt and would go on to write lyrics to such classic musicals as Fiddler on the Roof and She Loves Me.  The show was recorded and pressed as a souvenir LP for those involved in the musical; that tuneful recording (featuring Danny Meehan, Claiborne Cary, Phil Leeds, and others, accompanied by two pianos and a drummer/percussionist) has been freshly remastered by James Nelson for its CD appearance here. It’s limited to 500 copies and will ship by the third week of October, if not sooner.

Rodgers & Hart Today! (Kritzerland)

Kritzerland has another limited edition release, this time of the ABC Stage 67 celebration of the team of Rodgers & Hart, featuring many of the top talents of the day including Bobby Darin, Petula Clark, The Mamas and The Papas, The Supremes, and Count Basie, as well as arranger-conductor Quincy Jones.  The soundtrack to that special is joined here by another Sheldon Harnick treat: this time, his score with Jerry Bock to Stage 67’s telecast of The Canterville Ghost, starring Peter Noone, Michael Redgrave, Natalie Schafer (Mrs. Howell in Gilligan’s Island), and Tippy Walker (The World of Henry Orient).  James Nelson has again remastered this limited edition of 500 units; copies will ship by the third week of October or sooner.