Tomorrow's a big day here at Second Disc HQ as we unveil two new releases on CD.

Melissa Manchester's Live '77 is the renowned singer-songwriter's first and only live album, recorded by Arista Records in October 1977 at Gainesville, Florida's Great Southern Music Hall but unreleased until now!  The 21 songs on Live '77  include Manchester's hits "Midnight Blue," "Better Days," and the song Bob Dylan admired, "Just You and I," as well as the now-standard "Come in from the Rain," fan favorites "We've Got Time," "Happy Endings," and "Caravan," and spirited covers of such beloved tunes as "I Wanna Be Where You Are," "Rescue Me," and "Monkey See, Monkey Do."  Live '77 also debuts Melissa's only recording anywhere of the blues classic "Hi-Heel Sneakers."

With absolutely no overdubbing or studio wizardry, Live '77 represents the artist at her most searingly raw, emotional, soulful, and rocking.  She's joined by a smoking-hot seven-piece band of rock, R&B, and jazz veterans including two KISS collaborators - saxophonist/keyboardist/musical director Tom Saviano (Dolly Parton, Earth Wind & Fire) and bassist Bill Bodine (Van Morrison, Cher) - plus drummer Art Rodriguez (Rickie Lee Jones, Manhattan Transfer) and Melissa's discovery Lenny Castro, now one of the most-recorded percussionists of all time.

Our 2-CD release features mastering by Mike Milchner and a deluxe 24-page booklet with liner notes by TSD's Joe Marchese drawing on fresh interviews with Melissa and Arista Records founder Clive Davis, photos by David LeShay and Sherry Rayn Barnett, and design by John Sellards.

Live '77 is joined tomorrow by the CD debut of our 2022 Record Store Day release from the legendary Darlene Love.  The Many Sides of Love: The Complete Reprise Recordings Plus! brings together all of the rare single sides recorded by Darlene for Reprise Records, both as a solo artist and with The Blossoms (the most famous line-up of which featured Darlene, Fanita James, and Jean King).  The collection also features the sides The Blossoms recorded (with Darlene on lead, of course) for guitarist Barney Kessel and as The Wildcats.  But there's still that Plus! in the title.  It additionally offers Darlene's volcanic rendition of Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector's "River Deep, Mountain High" from her star turn in Broadway's Leader of the Pack (produced by Ellie and the legendary Bob Crewe) as well as two Andy Paley-written and produced cuts from the Dick Tracy soundtrack/companion album and Darlene's delightful duet with Bette Midler on the Spector-era classic "He's Sure the Boy I Love."

These rare tunes are every bit as absorbing as Love's more famous recordings for Phil Spector, with songs from David Gates, Lee Hazlewood, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and Van McCoy; productions by Hazlewood and Jack Nitzsche, and Jimmy Bowen; and arrangements by H.B. Barnum, Gene Page, Ernie Freeman, and Bill Justis.  In other words, the cream of the crop came together for Love and The Blossoms' Reprise recordings, all of which have been newly remastered for this release by Mike Milchner at SonicVision.

The CD edition of The Many Sides of Love offers an expanded 20-page booklet designed by John Sellards with additional photos and new tributes from Darlene's friends including Dionne Warwick, Jackie DeShannon, and Stevie Van Zandt.  Joe Marchese again provides the liner notes.

Look for both Melissa Manchester's Live '77 and Darlene Love's The Many Sides of Love: The Complete Reprise Recordings Plus! tomorrow, May 6, from Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music!

Melissa Manchester, Live '77 (Second Disc Records/Real Gone Music RGM-1361, 2022) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music)

CD 1

1. Let Me Serenade You
2. Party Music
3. Happy Endings
4. Midnight Blue
5. Be Somebody
6. This Lady's Not Home
7. We've Got Time
8. Good News
9. I Wanna Be Where You Are
10. Monkey See, Monkey Do
11. Rescue Me
12. Hi-Heel Sneakers

CD 2

1. Caravan
2. Be Happy Now
3. Better Days/Come In from the Rain
4. O Heaven (How You've Changed Me)
5. A Love of Your Own
6. If It Feels Good (Let It Ride)
7. Just You and I
8. Easy
9. No One's Ever Seen This Side of Me

All tracks previously unreleased

Darlene Love, The Many Sides of Love: The Complete Reprise Recordings Plus! (Real Gone Music/Second Disc Records RGM-1375 (LP) / 1463 (CD), 2022) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. TV Commercials - Barney Kessel (Reprise single R-20,152, 1963)
2. What Are We Gonna Do In '64? - The Wildcats (Reprise single 0253, 1964)
3. 3625 Groovy Street - The Wildcats (Reprise single 0253, 1964)
4. That's When the Tears Start - The Blossoms (Reprise single 0436, 1966)
5. Good, Good Lovin' - The Blossoms (Reprise single 0436, 1966)
6. My Love, Come Home - The Blossoms (Reprise single 0475, 1966)
7. Lover Boy - The Blossoms (Reprise single 0475, 1966)
8. Let Your Love Shine on Me - The Blossoms (Reprise single 0522, 1966)
9. Deep Into My Heart - The Blossoms (Reprise single 0522, 1966)
10. Too Late to Say You're Sorry - Darlene Love (Reprise single 0534, 1966)
11. If - Darlene Love (Reprise single 0534, 1966)
12. River Deep, Mountain High - Darlene Love (Elektra single 7-69647, 1985)
13. Mr. Fix It - Darlene Love (Sire U.K. single W 9535, 1990)
14. He's Sure the Boy I Love - Bette Midler and Darlene Love (Warner Bros. LP 545542-2, 2014)
15. Mr. Fix It (1930s Version) - Darlene Love (Sire LP 9 26236-2, 1990) (Bonus Track)