While The Second Disc prides itself on connecting people to reissues and box sets they can keep on their shelves, it's no secret that listening audiences are also digital - catalogue music lovers, too - and our passion is connecting people to music from the past that they might adore. So we've introduced a new Saturday feature: The Weekend Stream, which focuses on hidden gems that recently made it to digital channels that might make your playlists a little brighter!
Various Artists, Philadelphia International Records: The Tom Moulton Remixes (Philadelphia International Records/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon / Spotify)
Back in 2012, the British label Harmless issued a killer collection of remixes of Philadelphia International classics (both old and new) created by the inimitable Tom Moulton, a legendary disco producer/mixer. From hits (The O'Jays' "Love Train," MFSB's "T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)," The Three Degrees' "When Will I See You Again") to deeper cuts and obscurities (Lou Rawls' "See You When I Git There," The Trammps' "Love Epidemic"), it offered a killer four hours of dance domination - and now it's digitally available for the label's 50th anniversary. While it's short one track from the physical release (The Jones Girls' "Nights in Egypt"), this is still a party worth the invite.
Lou Rawls & Desirée Goyette, Here Comes Garfield (Epic/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon / Spotify)
Philly soul icon Rawls appears once again with a fascinating digital reissue: the soundtrack to the first animated CBS special featuring Jim Davis' infamous corpulent comic-strip cat. (Members of the show's voice cast - including Lorenzo Music, who also featured in the beloved Garfield and Friends TV series - appear on the record as well.) A fascinating slice of pop culture that's as tasty as any lasagna!
Lionel Richie, Just for You: Deluxe Edition (Island/UMe) (iTunes / Amazon / Spotify)
Released last week, the second digital expansion from the latter end of Lionel Richie's catalogue features the Motown legend's seventh studio album, featuring the U.K. Top 20 title track plus collaborations with Lenny Kravitz and Daniel Bedingfield. Bonus tracks on this new edition include four non-LP B-sides, 10 dance mixes of "Just for You" and a live version of '80s chart-topper "All Night Long (All Night)."
John Linnell, State Songs: Expanded Edition (Rounder/Concord) (iTunes / Amazon / Spotify)
The 1999 solo project by Linnell (one half of They Might Be Giants) is a trippy concept album that presents a, shall we say, unique look at the United States of America. It's now been redelivered digitally with an extra track, the non-LP B-side "Louisiana."
NIcki Minaj, Beam Me Up Scotty (Young Money/Cash Money/Republic) (iTunes / Amazon / Spotify)
Finally, from iconoclastic rapper Nicki Minaj comes a new commercially-released version of a 2009 mixtape, featuring early standouts like "I Get Crazy" (a collaboration with Lil Wayne) and fan-favorite "Itty Bitty Piggy." It now features three new tracks, including "Seeing Green," which reunites her with Weezy and Drake (whose No. 2 hit "Best I Ever Had" was also remixed on Scotty with a verse by the queen of the Barbz).
Leave a Reply