Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up!

Tom Jones, The Complete Decca Studio Albums Collection (Decca/UMC) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Link TBD)

This long-awaited box from Sir Tom Jones - counting 17 discs, including 15 studio albums and two CDs of non-LP single and EP sides - boasts over 200 tracks and 10+ hours of music from Jones' classic Decca period of 1965-1975.  It includes hits such as "What's New Pussycat?," "It's Not Unusual," "Help Yourself," "Green, Green Grass of Home," "Delilah," "She's a Lady," and many more.  This collection from one of music's most enduring talents is housed in a flip-top box and contains an accompanying booklet of liner notes and credits.  Read more here.

The Kinks, Lola vs. Powerman and The Moneygoround, Part One [Various Formats] (BMG)

3CD/2 7-inch Box Set (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
1CD Edition (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
1LP Edition (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
2CD Edition (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The Kinks' 1970 classic Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One will be reissued in a variety of formats including bonus material such as singles, B-sides, alternate mixes, session outtakes, BBC recordings, and newly-recorded commentary from Ray and Dave Davies.  The box set has been delayed until January 22, 2021 (though some copies are reported to have arrived) while the other formats are available today as scheduled.

Paul McCartney, McCartney III (Capitol)

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
CD with alternate album art: Target / JPC / FNAC
Green vinyl with alternate album art: Target (pre-orders sold out; may be available in stores)
White vinyl LP: Your Local Record Shop
Yellow/black vinyl with alternate album art: Third Man Records (sold out)
Red vinyl with alternate Third Man Records album art: Paul McCartney's online shop
Red vinyl with alternate album art, UK variant: Paul McCartney's online shop (UK)
Coke clear vinyl: Spotify-exclusive through Paul McCartney's online shop (sold out)
Pink vinyl: Newbury Comics (pre-orders sold out; may be available in stores)
Blue vinyl: HMV UK / JPC / Barnes and Noble
Orange vinyl: UDiscover Music (sold out)
Yellow vinyl: Paul McCartney Online Store (sold out)
Violet vinyl: Paul McCartney Online Store (sold out)
Cassette, clear shell: Paul McCartney Online Store (UK)
Cassette, smoky tint shell: Paul McCartney Online Store (US)
Color Collections:
-- White with secret demo bonus track 1: Paul McCartney Online Store
(standard CD mini-jacket, deluxe CD softpak, CD+dice, CD+shirt,CD+hat, CD+mask, and CD+ornament configurations available in white)
-- Red box set with secret demo bonus track 2: Paul McCartney Online Store
(standard CD mini-jacket, deluxe CD softpak, CD+dice, CD+shirt, CD+hat, CD+mask, and CD+ornament configurations available in red)
-- Blue box set with secret demo bonus track 3: Paul McCartney Online Store
(standard CD mini-jacket, deluxe CD softpak, CD+dice, CD+shirt,CD+hat, CD+mask, and CD+ornament configurations available in blue)
-- Yellow box set with secret demo bonus track 4: Paul McCartney Online Store
(standard CD mini-jacket, deluxe CD softpak, CD+dice, CD+shirt,CD+hat, CD+mask, and CD+ornament configurations available in yellow)
Japan CD + 4 bonus tracks: CDJapan (with free calendar while supplies last)
Japan CD without bonus tracks: CDJapan (with free calendar while supplies last)
Japan CD + 4 bonus tracks: Amazon Japan (in 24cm x 24cm packaging)
CD + songbook bundle: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Your Local Record Shop
Signed LP test pressing sweepstakes: Universal Music (three copies to be won)

Following in the D.I.Y. spirit of McCartney and McCartney II, Paul McCartney debuts a new (home) studio album recorded during COVID lockdown, er, rockdown.  Available on multiple CD versions, a host of vinyl editions, cassettes, and digital services, McCartney III is seemingly attempting to set a record for the most versions of an album available on its release day!  Read more here.

Taylor Swift, Evermore (Republic) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

By now it's been revealed that Taylor Swift and Paul McCartney worked in tandem to see that their albums didn't roll out on the same day; hence Swift's Evermore - the follow-up to her acclaimed Folklore from earlier this year - was issued digitally last Friday.  Its physical CD edition arrives today, with vinyl to follow in the future.

Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Legacy (Broadway Records) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Broadway Records premieres on CD two previously unheard song cycles from the team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Once on This Island, Anastasia).  1859: A Farmer's Diary was recorded in 2004 with Flaherty accompanying Jason Danieley and the late Marin Mazzie on vocals.  A Boy with a Camera was also recorded that year, with Steve Marzullo at the piano accompanying Steven Pasquale and Sarah Uriarte Berry.  A final track celebrates Mazzie's life: her 2013 performance of "Something Beautiful" recorded at 54 Below with Flaherty on piano and Antoine Silverman on violin.  The authors' proceeds from this release will benefit various charities including the Marineau-Mazzie Music Theatre Performance Scholarship at Western Michigan University.

Billy Stritch, Jim Caruso, and Klea Blackhurst, Christmas at Birdland (Club 44) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Have yourself a merry swingin' little Christmas with this delightful 2019 release from Billy Stritch, Jim Caruso, and Klea Blackhurst.  That talented threesome captures the spirit of New York's vibrant club scene with jolly renditions of classic tunes such as "The Christmas Waltz," "The Christmas Song," "Little Jack Frost Get Lost," "It Happened in Sun Valley," and the Andy Williams specialty "Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells" plus the Cy Coleman/Floyd Huddleston gem "He's Stuck in the Chimney Again."  The trio is joined on their seasonal romp by jazz great Dave Koz and the one and only Donny Osmond.  Tonight - Friday, December 18, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. - Stritch, Blackhurst, and Caruso will reunite online at Radio Free Birdland for a special holiday concert featuring Dave Koz, Luke Hawkins, and the inimitable Marilyn Maye.  Visit events.broadwayworld.com to get your front row ticket to this virtual concert.

Well, friends, that's it - this is the final Release Round-Up of the year!  We'll be back every Friday as usual in 2021 once releases start rolling out again on January 8.  In the meantime, please visit our Holiday Gift Guide for our last-minute stocking stuffer suggestions, and we'll see you on Monday for more news and reviews!