Release Round-Up: Week of September 18
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today…and it’s one of the biggest weeks in recent memory! As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
David Bowie, The Shel Talmy Recordings (Parlophone)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Official Store (180-gram red vinyl)
The Shel Talmy Recordings collects 21 recordings the then-unknown David Bowie recorded with producer Talmy (The Who, The Kinks) during 1965, when he was a member of bands The Manish Boys and The Lower Third. Only four of these tracks were released at the time as singles, with another seven alternate and outtake versions turning up on compilations over the years; that makes a full 10 tracks debuting on this package, including lead track “I Want Your Love.” Some of the originals from this period were compiled along with other pre-fame material on 1991’s Early On (1964-1966), but this marks the first serious overview of the Talmy sessions, complete with new remastering from John Webber and comprehensive liner notes from music historian Alec Palao. (The abridged 11-track vinyl package will be pressed on 180-gram red or standard black vinyl, with an alternate cover – limited to just 1,965 copies.) Read more here.
Grateful Dead, Summer Magic 1985 / Merriweather 6/30/85 (Grateful Dead/Rhino)
20CD: Dead.net
Merriweather 6/30/85 3CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Merriweather 6/30/85 4LP: Amazon U.S. / Amaazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
The latest heavy-duty box set from the Grateful Dead archive offers seven complete shows – released for the first time – from the group’s 20th anniversary tour. (There’s three “official” anniversary shows from the Greek Theatre at UC-Berkeley, plus a further four from the weeks since in Saratoga Springs, New York; Hershey, Pennsylvania; and Columbia, Maryland.) Additional features in the box include a 96-page book, seven art cards and an ultraviolet flashlight. The first of the two Columbia shows recorded at the Merriweather Post Pavilion gets a standalone, general retail release on CD or vinyl, too! Get more details here.
Phil Collins, Face Value (Full Value) (Atlantic/Rhino)
4LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
BD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
To celebrate the 45th anniversary of Phil Collins’ solo debut – featuring such favorites as “I Missed Again” and the immortal opener “In the Air Tonight” – Rhino will produce a deluxe vinyl box similar to sets they’ve issued for Both Sides and No Jacket Required. The 4LP set features every demo and live track on the 2015 2CD edition, plus a host of additional material, including two unreleased live cuts and two unissued outtakes. A standalone Blu-ray features new stereo, 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos mixes of the full album by Steven Wilson, plus a hi-res presentation of the original stereo album. Read more here.
Bob Seger, Face The Promise: Expanded Edition (Capitol/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Bob Seger is revisiting his 2006 album Face The Promise, including the AC chart-topper “Wait for Me” and the Patty Loveless duet “The Answer’s in the Question,” for its 20th anniversary. It’s available on 1 CD or 2 LPs with remastered audio, four bonus tracks (“Time,” “Little Jane,” “Red Eye to Memphis,” and “Let Me Try”) as well as an expanded booklet containing lyrics and photos.
Vince Guaraldi, It’s a Mystery, Charlie Brown! Original Soundtrack Recording: Extended Edition (Lee Mendelson Film Productions)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Barnes & Noble (teal) / Urban Outfitters (magenta) / RSD Outlets (white)
The 11th animated Peanuts special, first released in 1974, gets a premiere soundtrack release. Longtime composer Vince Guaraldi flirted with a funkier direction than previous releases, performing piano, electric piano, clavinet, and even electric guitar on this set of original cues. (There’s a few classic trio-style covers of jazz standards among the bonus tracks!)
Howard Jones, Like to Get to Know You Well: Recorded Live at High Wycombe Town Hall 1983 (Cherry Red)
CD/DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Recorded to cap the breakthrough year of the British singer/songwriter/keyboardist’s career, when “New Song” became a U.K. chart smash, Like to Get to Know You Well finds Howard Jones at the High Wycombe Town Hall just before Christmas 1983 performing hits from debut Human’s Lib (plus a version of holiday carol “Ding Dong Merrily on High” set to electronic elements of “New Song”). It’s been remastered from the original multitracks and presented in its original sequence on vinyl and CD; the latter set also includes the premiere DVD release of the original, truncated concert video.
Yoko Ono, It’s Alright – I See Rainbows (Secretly Canadian) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Yoko’s 1982 album, inspired by then-current synthpop sounds and a retro ’60s girl group vibe, returns to CD and LP as well as digital formats. The album found Ono still coping with the aftermath of John Lennon’s murder while still finding the hope and uplift in everyday life.
Three Dog Night, Harmony (Primary Wave Music)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
It appears that much of Three Dog Night’s catalogue has quietly moved to Primary Wave Music; now comes a new physical release on CD and vinyl of the band’s fifth album, 1971’s Harmony. It features two top ten hits: Paul Williams’ “An Old Fashioned Love Song” and Hoyt Axton’s “Never Been to Spain.” Harmony has been remastered for this release.
Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts, Second Song (Reprise)
The second studio album from Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts, Second Song is produced by the legendary Lou Adler with Young and Niko Bolas, a.k.a. The Volume Dealers. Young has likened the album to such past efforts as Comes a Time and Prairie Wind; its seven songs encompass five originals and two new renditions (“Casting Me Away from You” and “I Will Love You Forever”). As with Young’s other recent releases, Amazon availability is spotty, so we’ve linked here to Young’s own Greedy Hand Store for both CD and vinyl formats.
Seth MacFarlane, Sings The Muppets (Verve/Republic) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The star of Family Guy and The Orville (and part-time crooner!) Seth MacFarlane has teamed with arranger Andrew Cottee and conductor John Wilson for this most sensational, inspirational, celebrational, Muppetational tribute to Jim Henson’s enduring creations. Available on CD, LP, and digitally.
Martha Reeves, Searching (Deko) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The voice behind “Dancing in the Street” and “Heat Wave,” Motown legend Martha Reeves, returns with her first studio album in over 20 years. Searching, co-produced by Delfeayo Marsalis and Chris Roe, finds Reeves tackling such classics as “To Know You Is to Love You,” “God Bless the Child,” and “Mood Indigo” – all wrapped within a beautiful design by John Sellards. Available in CD, LP, and digital formats.
Chaka Khan, Chakzilla (BMG)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
The legendary Ms. Khan is joined by Lenny Kravitz, Snoop Dogg, Sia, and co-producer Greg Kurstin on this new album with an offbeat title. It’s available on CD (including an autographed edition from Amazon), 180-gram “Eco” Vinyl, and digital formats.
Jeff Larson, Everyday Places (Rancho Pancho Recordings) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
One of our favorite singer-songwriters, Jeff Larson, returns with a new album based around one of his favorite instruments: the ukelele! Expect an album of breezy originals with plenty of California sunshine and spirit!
Susanna Hoffs, The List (Baroque Folk) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The new album from The Bangles’ Susanna Hoffs is her first album of original material in over a decade. She’s joined by guests including Rufus Wainwright, Edie Brickell, Greg Leisz, and Dan Wilson. Available on CD, LP, and digitally.
Roger Taylor, Violence Insane in a Beautiful World (Columbia) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Roger Taylor’s seventh solo album features original material reflecting on the world today alongside a cover of John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy. Out on CD, LP, and digitally, it’s a true solo album on which Taylor wrote, performed, and sang the material himself.
Echo and The Bunnymen, Apples for Isaac (BMG) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Apples for Isaac marks the band’s first album of original material in more than ten years. All but one of its tracks feature late drummer Clem Burke who passed away during the album’s completion. Available on CD, LP, and digitally.
Dragonflies, Dragonflies (Dark Horse) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Singer-songwriter Dhani Harrison and Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich have teamed up as Dragonflies for this new, experimental album on the label Dhani’s dad founded, Dark Horse Records. Available on CD, LP, and digital formats.
Roger Joseph Manning, Jr., Hopium (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The co-founder of Jellyfish and Imperial Drag returns with a new album featuring five new studio tracks and five live tracks; the live cuts were recorded in 2018 at Molly Malone’s in Los Angeles. Hopium is out on multiple formats (CD, LP, digitally).
Branford Marsalis Quartet and Dianne Reeves, Dedicated to You (Blue Note) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Saxophone great Branford Marsalis, his quartet, and vocalist Dianne Reeves pay tribute to another hero of the instrument, John Coltrane, on Dedicated to You. This centennial celebration of Trane’s legacy includes renditions of such standards as “They Say It’s Wonderful,” “Lush Life,” “You Are Too Beautiful,” “My One and Only Love,” and the title track.
You Might Also Like
