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Five classic albums from singer-songwriter Janis Ian have just been reissued on CD and vinyl from Sony Legacy’s U.K. arm.  Stars (1974), Between the Lines (1975), Aftertones (1976), Miracle Row (1977), and Night Rains (1979), all originally released on Columbia Records, represent the peak of Ian’s commercial success.  Between the Lines yielded Ian’s most successful single, the touching “At Seventeen,” a No. 3 Pop/No. 1 AC hit.  The song netted the artist a Grammy Award and was performed by her on the very first episode of Saturday Night Live.  The first three albums were all produced by Brooks Arthur (Bette Midler, Dusty Springfield, Debby Boone) while Ian and Ron Frangipane helmed the final two.  Miracle Row includes “Will You Dance,” a No. 1 in Japan, and the affecting “Maria,” one of the first gay-themed love songs from a mainstream artist.  A pair of tracks on the international platinum seller Night Rains were co-produced and co-written by disco guru Giorgio Moroder.  All five of these beloved albums have been newly remastered from the original tapes at Sony’s Battery Studios under the supervision of Ian and Legacy’s Steve Berkowitz.  While there are no new liner notes, original artwork is replicated including full credits, sleevenotes, and lyrics.

On June 22, Craft Recordings will return to print two rare albums from Creedence Clearwater Revival members Tom Fogerty and Doug Clifford.  Fogerty’s Excalibur and Clifford’s Doug “Cosmo” Clifford will be reissued on 180-gram vinyl, derived from lacquers cut by George Horn and Anne-Marie Suenram at Fantasy Studios, as well as on streaming platforms and high-resolution digital audio services.  1972’s Doug “Cosmo” Clifford is the CCR drummer’s only solo album to date, and features both original songs and covers of The Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Daydream,” The Sir Douglas Quintet’s “She’s About a Mover,” and The Spencer Davis Group (“I’m a Man”).  CCR’s Stu Cook joined on rhythm guitar, Stax legend Donald “Duck” Dunn sat in on bass, John McFee played lead guitar, and The Tower of Power horn section added their mighty brass.  The Walter Hawkins Singers provided the background vocals.  The vinyl release is housed in an old-school tip-on jacket.

Also from 1972, Excalibur is the late Tom Fogerty’s second of nine solo albums, and featured a band including Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders on guitar and keys, respectively, plus John Kahn on bass and Bill Vitt on drums.  While Excalibur is the only title from John Fogerty’s older brother to receive a physical release, his albums Tom Fogerty (originally released in 1972), Zephyr National (1974), Myopia (1974), and Deal It Out (1981) will all be reissued that same day on streaming and high-resolution digital platforms.

And that’s not all from Craft Recordings.  The prolific label has set June 29 for the vinyl reissue of Social Distortion’s fiery first (and only) live album, Live at the Roxy.  The original album, released almost twenty years ago to the day on June 29, 1998 on the band’s own Time Bomb Recordings label, is being pressed on double vinyl and features a replica of the poster that was included in the original pressing.  The band’s blend of hard rockabilly and punk can be heard on such key tracks as “Ball and Chain” and “Story of My Life” (both introduced on their gold-certified 1990 self-titled LP) as well as “Bad Luck,” “Mommy’s Little Monster,” and a cover of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.”  Live at the Roxy is available to pre-order now as a 2-LP vinyl set and also on limited edition green smoke-colored vinyl, limited to 1,000 units.  This edition is available exclusively through the Social Distortion online store.  This release coincides with the band’s new North American summer tour, which kicks off on June 1 in San Francisco and is currently scheduled to run through a July 20 show in Avila Beach, California.

All of the above-referenced titles can be ordered at these links:

Janis Ian reissues (2018): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Doug Clifford, Doug “Cosmo” Clifford (Fantasy 9411, 1972 – reissued Fantasy/Craft Recordings, 2018): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Tom Fogerty, Excalibur (Fantasy 9413, 1972 – reissued Fantasy/Craft Recordings, 2018): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Social Distortion, Live at the Roxy (Time Bomb 70930-43516-2, 1998 – reissued Craft Recordings, 2018): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada