Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there's plenty of great new/old music to float you into the weekend. A very chill weekend shows off the latest in Melissa Manchester's forthcoming new album of favorite classics, a stripped-down Record Store Day rarity from Soul Asylum and another trance treasure from the ZTT vaults.
Melissa Manchester, Confide in Me (Green Hill) (iTunes / Amazon)
Diana Ross' 1977 album Baby It's Me featured not one, but two, songs co-written by Melissa Manchester. The first, "Come In from the Rain," was recorded twice by Manchester and once by its co-writer Carole Bayer Sager, and also went to the AC top ten thanks to The Captain & Tennille. The second, the beguiling "Confide in Me," was written by Manchester and her onetime sideman Stanley Schwartz. A highlight of Baby It's Me, the sensual ballad never found its way to one of Melissa's own albums - until now. It follows the Kenny Loggins duet of "Whenever I Call You Friend" as the second single previewing Manchester's upcoming album RE:VIEW. It's been beautifully reinvented with a bossa nova feel, and stands confidently alongside Miss Ross' original as a smoldering invitation that's hard to refuse.
Soul Asylum, The Complete Unplugged - NYC '93 (Columbia/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon)
Issued on vinyl for Record Store Day back in April, this intimate set recorded for MTV Unplugged in the wake of Soul Asylum's mainstream breakthrough Grave Dancers Union captures the Minneapolis rockers at the peak of their powers, with stripped-down versions of "Runaway Train," "Somebody to Shove," "Black Gold" and even a striking cover of "To Sir, with Love" with Lulu herself adding guest vocals.
Solid State Logic, Rise (ZTT) (iTunes / Amazon)
Not to be confused with the British post-production audio manufacturer, Solid State Logic was a U.K. techno/house duo whose sole single, "Rise," was issued in 1991 and makes its digital debut here. Group co-founder Chris Cowie would later go on to found several trance labels in the '90s, including Hook Recordings, Bellboy and Aquatraxx.
They Will Have Their Way: Legacy Plans Packed Record Store Day Slate
Release Round-Up: Week of February 23
The Weekend Stream: January 27, 2024
The Weekend Stream: October 7, 2023
I am loving Confide In Me. REVIEW is slated for a February release. I hope there is a cd and not just download/streaming.
Melissa's songs have really stood the test of time.
Melissa is currently starring as Mrs. Brice in the national tour of Funny Girl. Unfortunately, Melissa had a fall on her way to the theater last week and will be out of the show while she has knee surgery.
If there is no cd of REVIEW, I will have to tell myself, Don't Cry Out Loud.