Hotcakes: Rhino’s Latest Quadio Batch Includes Carly Simon, Gordon Lightfoot, Souther-Furay-Hillman, Hot Tuna
Rhino’s Quadio series has announced its latest batch in a busy year. Following recent releases by James Taylor, Herbie Mann, David Gates, and The James Gang, the series of four-channel Blu-ray Audio releases has just grown with the new addition of titles by three returning favorites – Carly Simon (Hotcakes/Playing Possum), Gordon Lightfoot (Cold on the Shoulder), and Hot Tuna (Yellow Fever) – and one new recruit, The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band (their self-titled debut and Trouble in Paradise). Each disc includes the original quad mix (all sourced from the four-track analog tapes) plus a 192/24 stereo presentation. These are currently available as Rhino.com exclusives, either individually or in a bundle.
The two-fer pairing Carly Simon’s Hotcakes and Playing Possum brings together the singer-songwriter’s fourth and fifth albums, from 1974 and 1975, respectively. Hotcakes reteamed Simon with No Secrets producer Richard Perry, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard 200 on the strength of two top 20 singles: the playful duet cover of Inez and Charlie Foxx’s “Mockingbird” with then-husband James Taylor and the moving “Haven’t Got Time for the Pain.” Playing Possum, helmed again by Perry, explored a more rock-oriented, erotic side of the artist, spinning off the successful single “Attitude Dancing” (with Carole King on background vocals); “Waterfall,” with prominent vocals by Taylor, fared less well. Its third single, “More and More,” was co-written by Dr. John and boasted Ringo Starr on drums. Playing Possum, adorned with a provocative cover image, reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200.
1975’s Cold on the Shoulder (1975) found Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot following the phenomenal success of the previous year’s Sundown (his only Pop No. 1 LP). Produced by Lenny Waronker and featuring arrangements by Nick DeCaro, the No. 10 success – Lightfoot’s tenth overall studio LP – included the AC chart-topper “Rainy Day People” and found him again blending folk, pop, and rock into a seamless whole.
Hot Tuna’s Yellow Fever, from the same year, showcased the group founded by Jefferson Airplane’s Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady in edgy power-trio mode, with drummer Bob Steeler rounding out the lineup. Their sixth album, Yellow Fever primarily consisted of original songs, bolstered by torrid covers of bluesmen Jimmy Reed (“Baby What You Want Me to Do”) and George Carter (“Hot Jelly Roll Blues”).
The Souther-Furay-Hillman Band, uniting country-rock heroes JD Souther, Richie Furay, and Chris Hillman, released just two albums in 1974-1975. Now, both of their quad presentations have been united on one Blu-ray Disc. Accomplished singers, songwriters, and musicians alike, all three artists contributed songs to both titles. The debut album reached No. 11 and yielded the top 40 hit “Fallin’ in Love” – a Furay tune – and welcomed guest musicians including Al Perkins, Jim Gordon, Paul Harris, and Joe Lala. Despite such strong material as the title track (later revisited by Souther on his You’re Only Lonely LP) and “Prisoner in Disguise” (recorded the same year by Linda Ronstadt), the title was prescient. There was Trouble in the ranks and the supergroup disbanded. Glenn Frey and Don Henley joined the vocalists on Souther’s “Somebody Must Be Wrong,” and uber-producer Jim Guercio added guitar to the title song.
All four titles are shipping now from Rhino.com. You’ll find the track listings below!
Carly Simon, Hotcakes/Playing Possum (Elektra/Rhino, 2026)
- “Safe And Sound”
- “Mind On My Man”
- “Think I’m Gonna Have A Baby”
- “Older Sister”
- “Just Not True”
- “Hotcakes”
- “Misfit”
- “Forever My Love”
- “Mockingbird”
- “Grownup”
- “Haven’t Got Time For The Pain”
- “After The Storm”
- “Love Out In The Street”
- “Look Me In The Eyes”
- “More & More”
- “Slave”
- “Attitude Dancing”
- “Sons Of Summer”
- “Waterfall”
- “Are You Ticklish”
- “Playing Possum”
Tracks 1-11 from Hotcakes, Elektra EQ-1002, 1974
Tracks 12-21 from Playing Possum, Elektra EQ-1033, 1975
Gordon Lightfoot, Cold on the Shoulder (Reprise RSTQ 2206-QF, 1975 – reissued Reprise/Rhino, 2026)
- “Bend In The Water”
- “Rainy Day People”
- “Cold On The Shoulder”
- “The Soul Is The Rock”
- “Bells Of The Evening”
- “Rainbow Trout”
- “A Tree Too Weak To Stand”
- “All The Lovely Ladies”
- “Fine As Fine Can Be”
- “Cherokee Bend”
- “Now And Then”
- “Slide On Over”
Hot Tuna, Yellow Fever (Grunt BFT1-1238, 1975 – reissued Rhino, 2026)
- “Baby What You Want Me To Do”
- “Hot Jelly Roll Blues”
- “Free Rein”
- “Sunrise Dance With The Devil”
- “Song For The Fire Maiden”
- “Bar Room Crystal Ball”
- “Half/Time Saturation”
- “Surphase Tension”
The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, The Souther-Furay-Hillman Band/Trouble in Paradise (Asylum/Rhino, 2026)
- “Fallin’ In Love”
- “Heavenly Fire”
- “The Heartbreaker”
- “Believe Me”
- “Border Town”
- “Safe At Home”
- “Pretty Goodbyes”
- “Rise And Fall”
- “The Flight Of The Dove”
- “Deep, Dark And Dreamless”
- “Trouble In Paradise”
- “Move Me Real Slow”
- “For Someone I Love”
- “Mexico”
- “Love And Satisfy”
- “On The Line”
- “Prisoner In Disguise”
- “Follow Me Through”
- “Somebody Must Be Wrong”
Tracks 1-10 from The Souther-Furay-Hillman Band, Asylum EQ-1006, 1974
Tracks 11-19 from Trouble in Paradise, Asylum EQ-1036. 1975
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