Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The Who, Live at Shea Stadium 1982 (Mercury Studios)

2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
3LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

The Who's October 13, 1982 concert at Shea Stadium, the now-demolished, longtime home of the New York Mets, was released on DVD and standard-definition Blu-ray back in 2015.  Now, Mercury Studios is returning to that thunderous gig - the band's second of two shows there - for an audio release on 2 CDs or 3 LPs. Live at Shea Stadium 1982 preserves The Who's tour stop in support of It's Hard.  In front of an enrapt New York audience in Flushing Meadows, Queens, founding members Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, and John Entwistle joined with drummer Kenney Jones to perform both new songs and old favorites.  The 1982 North American tour was ultimately the last one to feature Jones in the drummer's seat, and The Who's final such trek until 1989.  (Jones replaced the late Keith Moon for two studio albums, 1981's Face Dances and 1982's It's Hard.)  Get the track listing and more here.

Steve and Eydie, The Original Hits (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The Original Hits' 20 tracks chronicles many of Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme's chart successes.  You'll hear Eydie's "You Need Hands" (#11 Pop), "Sabor A Mi," "Blame It on the Bossa Nova" (#7 Pop), and "Tonight I'll Say a Prayer" (#45 Pop), and others.  From Steve, the disc includes "Party Doll" (#5 Pop), "Go Away, Little Girl" (#1 Pop) "Footsteps" (#7 Pop), "Portrait of My Love" (#9 Pop) and the Paul Williams/Roger Nichols sunshine pop rarity "The Drifter" (# 14 AC) which has been newly remixed for inclusion here and on The Steve & Eydie Ultimate Collection.  On the duet side, "I Want to Stay Here" (#28 Pop), "I Can't Stop Talking About You" (#35 Pop), and "We Can Make It Together" (featuring The Osmonds) (#68 Pop) are all featured.  Mike Milchner has remastered.

Various Artists, Now That's What I Call Country Classics '70s (NOW Music/Universal) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

This new collection is an enjoyable sampler of 18 classic country crossover hits including Glen Campbell's "Rhinestone Cowboy," Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler," Lynn Anderson's "Rose Garden," Charlie Daniels' "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," and Crystal Gayle's "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue."  Available on CD and orange LP.

Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street: 2023 Broadway Cast Recording (Reprise/Arts Music)

3LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

The new cast recording of Broadway's current smash hit revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street starring Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford arrives on 3 LPs today from Reprise/Arts Music.  Produced by musical director Alex Lacamoire and co-produced by director Thomas Kail, the album preserves the acclaimed cast's rendition of Sondheim's thrilling score with the original, 26-piece orchestrations of Jonathan Tunick.  Both the 2CD and 3LP versions include a deluxe, 40-page booklet with liner notes by Peter Marks, the full libretto, and production photos.  Gaten Matarazzo, Jordan Fisher, Ruthie Ann Miles, Maria Bilbao, Jamie Jackson, John Rapson, and Nicholas Christopher round out the principal cast of this stunning revival.

Fanny, Fanny (Orange Crush Vinyl Edition) (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Real Gone is re-pressing the self-titled debut album from Fanny on "orange crush vinyl."  When Richard Perry signed the group to Reprise in 1969, they became the first all-female rock band signed to a major label.  The foursome (June Millington on guitar, Jean Millington on bass, Alice De Buhr on drums, and Nickey Barclay on keyboards) released their debut, self-titled album in 1970, produced by Perry.  They soon created a buzz around Los Angeles which led to television appearances, session work, and opening for acts such as Slade, Jethro Tull, and Humble Pie.  Real Gone first reissued this album on vinyl back in 2020 on white vinyl.  This new edition is limited to 1,000 copies.

The Donnas, Early Singles 1995-1999 (Real Gone Music)

LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Real Gone first released The Donnas' Early Singles 1995-1999 last year on Record Store Day as a limited edition vinyl LP and then a few weeks later on CD.  The label is now bringing the LP to general retail, pressed on dark purple vinyl.  The insert contains rare photos and memorabilia plus track-by-track commentary and liner notes by all four band members.  It has been mastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision.

Vivabeat, The House Is Burning: The Best of Vivabeat 1979-1986 / Party in the War Zone: Expanded Edition (Rubellan Remasters)

The House Is Burning: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Party in the War Zone: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Rubellan Remasters is reintroducing '80s techno-pop/New Wave band Vivabeat with two new releases.  The group formed by Marina Muhlfriedel (Marina del Rey) and Mick Muhlfriedel on keyboards and bass, respectively - plus lead vocalist Terrance Robay, keyboardist Consuelo de Silva, guitarist Alec Murphy, and drummer Doug Orilio - was championed by Peter Gabriel and became the first U.S. band to be signed to the U.K.'s Charisma label (home of Genesis as well as solo Gabriel LPs).  These projects have been made possible thanks to the Muhlfriedels' discovery of a stash of master tapes; these, in turn, have been restored and mastered by Rubellan's Scott Davies with the label's signature attention to sonic detail.  Party in the War Zone, available on CD, expands Vivabeat's long out-of-print 1979 Charisma debut with a whopping ten tracks (seven of which are previously unreleased).  The House Is Burning: The Best of Vivabeat, on LP, is a potent sampler and introduction to the Los Angeles band's electronic, often experimental spin on pop-rock. Its twelve tracks spanning 1979-1986 include productions from Earle Mankey (The Runaways, The Three O'Clock) and Jeffrey Lesser (Rupert Holmes, Loudon Wainwright III). It's no surprise that both Mankey and Lesser collaborated with Sparks; Vivabeat shares the Mael brothers' taste for something new and different. The collection features various lineups of the group and guest turns from Blondie drummer Clem Burke and Japan's Rob Dean on guitar. Burke appears on Earle Mankey's new remix of "Blue Guitars," and Dean is heard on the title track, "The House Is Burning (But There's No One Home)," which appeared in director Brian DePalma's film Body Double. Five tracks are previously unreleased the aforementioned "Blue Guitars" and "What We Talk About (When We Talk About Love)," both featuring original lead singer Terrance Robay. Two additional premieres, "Glisser le Rat" and "The Last White Man," are exclusive to this collection. It's all pressed on heavyweight purple-and-blue vinyl and housed in a protective inner sleeve.  Both titles are limited, so don't miss out; they're available now directly from Rubellan's online store or from Amazon.

Hardline, Double Eclipse (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

In 1992, Journey and Bad English guitarist Neal Schon joined future brothers-in-law Johnny and Joey Gioeli on guitars and vocals and a rhythm section of bassist Todd Jensen and drummer Deen Castronovo in the band Hardline to record their debut album, Double Eclipse.  The singles "Takin' Me Down" and "Hot Cherie" hit the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart at No. 37 and No. 25, respectively.  But Hardline would break up within a year and Schon rejoined Journey.  The Gioeli brothers would eventually reform the band which would release its next album in 2002.  The group has remained active since then, releasing five more albums, the most recent being 2021's Heart, Mind and Soul.  Real Gone's new reissue comes on fire orange vinyl.

Spineshank, Self-Destructive Pattern (Real Gone Music)  (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Nu-Metal band Spineshank (featuring Jonny Santos on vocals, Mike Sarkisyan on guitar, Robert Garcia on bass, and Tommy Decker on drums) took a more commercial approach towards hard rock on their third album, 2003's Self-Destructive Pattern.  The new direction paid off as the LP became their most successful to date and garnered a Grammy nomination for "Best Metal Performance" for the track "Smothered."  The album peaked at #89 on the Billboard 200.  But Santos soon announced he was leaving the group and it broke up as the other members could not find a suitable replacement vocalist.  Santos would rejoin the other three members for one album in 2012 before the band broke up for the second, and as of now, final time.  Just as they did for Spineshank's second album in 2022, Real Gone is giving Self-Destructive Pattern its vinyl debut.  It comes on bone white vinyl and is limited to 1,000 copies.  Get the track listings for all of today's Real Gone releases here!

Merrily We Roll Along: The New Broadway Cast Recording (Masterworks Broadway)

2LP Black Vinyl: Barnes & Noble
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

"It's a hit!"  It took over 40 years, but Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's musical Merrily We Roll Along - which closed after just 16 performances in 1981 - is finally the toast of Broadway. Now everybody can hear why, thanks to this splendid new recording of the revival packing houses at the Hudson Theatre (and recently extended into July). Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez bring new depth to the three-way friendship at the core of Merrily We Roll Along, while stellar support is provided by Krystal Joy Brown, Katie Rose Clarke, Reg Rogers, a fantastic ensemble, and a brassy, rip-roaring orchestra. This one-of-a-kind show is finally getting its full due.  Barnes and Noble has the exclusive 2LP black vinyl pressing.

Mean Girls: Original Broadway Cast Recording (Atlantic) [2LP Pink-and-Black Splatter Vinyl] (Barnes & Noble)

That's not the only Barnes & Noble vinyl exclusive today.  The retailer also brings the 2018 cast recording of Tina Fey, Jeff Richmond, and Nell Benjamin's Mean Girls (the basis of the recent movie) to 2 LPs in a pink-and-black splatter pressing.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music: From The Trapp Family Singers to Broadway to Hollywood: The Singles Collection (Jasmine) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The U.K. Jasmine label has released a nifty little collection celebrating The Sound of Music.  This 31-song set opens with the score of the beloved stage musical as assembled from singles by various artists including Patti Page ("The Sound of Music," "An Ordinary Couple"), Johnny Desmond ("How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?"), Leslie Uggams ("Sixteen Going on Seventeen"), Petula Clark ("My Favorite Things"), Percy Faith ("How Can Love Survive" and "No Way to Stop It"), Mitch Miller ("Do-Re-Mi"), and Tony Bennett ("Climb Ev'ry Mountain").  It continues with more pop covers by Roy Hamilton, Johnnie Ray, Shirley Bassey, Gordon MacRae, and others, and concludes with a half dozen non-Rodgers and Hammerstein tunes from the real Trapp Family Singers.  Note that this release is made possible via current U.K. public domain laws, and is a CD-R, not a pressed CD.  One shouldn't be misled by this release's use of the movie's familiar logo, but The Singles Collection does make a delightful companion to the lavish and definitive Sound of Music box set recently issued by Craft Recordings.

Various Artists, Tennessee Waltz: The Many Moods of a Smash (Jasmine) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Jasmine has another fun curio out today on CD (-R): a collection of 27 renditions of Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King's country classic "Tennessee Waltz," a chart-topping 1950 hit for Patti Page.  Her pop version opens the set which continues with a take from co-author King and versions from an array of pop, country, and R&B artists such as Bing Crosby, Eddy Arnold, Roy Acuff, Jo Stafford, Lloyd Price, Kitty Wells, Sammy Kaye, Cowboy Copas, Sam Cooke, Damita Jo, Spike Jones, and The Ames Brothers.

Albert Hammond, Body of Work (EarMusic) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Singer-songwriter Albert Hammond ("It Never Rains in Southern California," "The Air That I Breathe," "To All the Girls I've Loved Before") returns with a new album of original songs reflecting on the world today.  Available on CD, LP, and digitally.