Welcome to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc's review of notable catalogue titles making digital debuts. Another vintage Madonna single, rarities from Andy Williams and Cab Calloway, and a comeback we're still processing all await you below...
Billy Joel, "Turn the Lights Back On" (Columbia) (iTunes / Amazon)
No, we can't believe it either. On Thursday, Billy Joel released only his third original pop song since 1993's River of Dreams. (The last two were in 2007: "All My Life," a Great American Songbook-style number written for his then-wife, chef Katie Lee, and "Christmas in Fallujah," written for singer/songwriter Cass Dillon and only belatedly released by the Piano Man as a limited live single.)
"Turn the Lights Back On" is, in some ways, completely unexpected. It's one of Joel's only co-writes - including British songwriter Wayne Hector and producer Freddy Wexler, who's collaborated with Ariana Grande, Halsey, Kanye West and others - and Wexler's vocal production makes the 74-year-old singer sound surprisingly youthful. But the melody and lyrics are classic Joel: a sentimental lover's plea, driven by acoustic guitar strums, light strings and that ever-present piano - that wouldn't be out of place on most of his classic Columbia albums.
Joel is set to perform the song on the Grammy Awards this Sunday, and press materials mention the song's connection to "the next chapter of Billy Joel's story." Will "Lights" illuminate the path toward one more album?
Madonna, Keep It Together (Warner/Rhino) (iTunes / Amazon)
The final single from Like a Prayer, a Top 10 hit in 1990, was a dance floor favorite that, according to the Queen of Pop herself, featured Prince on guitar. (The Artist also laid down riffs and solos for the title track - unused in the final mix but utilized on dance mixes and played in reverse on the album closer "Act of Contrition" - and co-wrote and produced their album duet "Love Song.") It's the latest in a long line of digital EPs devoted to Madonna's singles.
The Firm, The Album (Aftermath/Interscope (U.S.)/Columbia/Legacy (U.K.)) (iTunes / Amazon)
Now digitally available worldwide: the chart-topping 1997 hip-hop all-star session featuring New York emcees Nas, AZ, Foxy Brown and Nature, as produced by Dr. Dre, Chris "The Glove" Taylor and Poke & Tone of Trackmasters.
Cab Calloway, Chronological Calloway Vol. 1 (1932-33) (Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon)
Following the example of the work done on Duke Ellington's catalogue, Legacy now kicks off a series offering the work of singer, bandleader and trailblazer Cab Calloway, starting with Brunswick Records masters recorded after his signature "Minnie the Moocher" became a No. 1 hit in 1931. This two-hour set includes singles like "Reefer Man," "I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues" and "I've Got the World on a String."
Andy Williams, The Other Side of Me (Columbia) (iTunes / Amazon)
It's Andy Williams Week! Not only has Real Gone Music released a treasure trove of the late singer's previously unreleased recordings on When You Fall in Love: Lost Columbia Masters 1977-1982, but Legacy has finally added one of his classic '70s albums to the digital realm. 1975's The Other Side of Me continued Andy's gradual shift away from the all-familiar covers material which had dominated his LPs more or less since 1967. Sure, the album features his typically silky renditions of "Mandy," "Feelings," and "My Eyes Adored You," but Williams also found room for lesser-known compositions such as Danny O'Keefe's "Quits," Stevie Wonder's "What Happens to You," and Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan's "In My Eyes" - plus a whole clutch of Neil Sedaka songs including the title track and "The Hungry Years" (both with lyrics by Howard Greenfield) and "Solitaire" and "Sad Eyes" (both with lyrics by Phil Cody). Andy's "Solitaire" (recorded prior to the rest of the album, in 1973) was a top five hit in the U.K. and a top 30 AC entry stateside. Lead single "Sad Eyes" peaked at No. 11 AC while in the U.K., "The Other Side of Me" barely missed the Pop top 40. Produced by veteran Jack Gold, The Other Side of Me offers a timely reminder of Williams' evergreen vocal artistry.
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Robert says
Hopefully Joel is more than just the one song but I’m very happy to have the one.
RecordSteve says
Thanks fer the snippets of artists songs
included in this Weekend Stream.
Well done music man….