Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today...and, with the holidays approaching, it just might be the biggest release week of the year! As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
George Harrison, Living in the Material World: 50th Anniversary (Dark Horse)
2CD/2LP/1BD/1-7": Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
1CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
1LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
As the studio follow-up to his landmark triple album All Things Must Pass, George Harrison further explored his spiritual and physical selves on 1973's leaner Living in the Material World. It's now returning from Dark Horse and BMG in a belated 50th anniversary edition comprising 2 CDs, 2 LPs, and a Blu-ray with a Dolby Atmos mix. It's limited to 5,000 units worldwide. The original album, newly remixed by Paul Hicks, will also be available in 2LP & 2CD Deluxe Editions, Limited Edition color vinyl versions (including an exclusive George Harrison Online Store purple vinyl LP), 1LP and 1CD standard versions, and digital/streaming. The bonus tracks include alternate versions of every song and the outtake "Sunshine Life for Me (Sail Away Raymond)." Read more here!
Robert Gordon, Rock Billy Boogie: Expanded Edition (7a Records)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
7a Records celebrates a late, great rockabilly revivalist with this expanded reissue of Rock Billy Boogie from Robert Gordon on both limited-edition 180-gram vinyl and CD. The 1979 album, featuring the lead guitar of Chris Spedding, marked Gordon's major label breakthrough and remains perhaps his finest (half) hour on record, featuring both original songs and energetic covers of familiar oldies including "It's Only Make Believe" and "Wheel of Fortune." This remastered package also features liner notes by TSD's Joe Marchese. Read more here!
Dwight Twilley, Twilley: Expanded Edition (Iconoclassic) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Dwight Twilley's 1979 solo debut - following his two fantastic Dwight Twilley Band albums - gets the expanded and remastered treatment from our friends at Iconoclassic Records. This first-ever authorized U.S. reissue has been produced with the support of the Dwight Twilley Estate and features a whopping seven rare and previously unreleased bonus tracks plus new liner notes and previously unpublished photos.
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Stones In The Road (30th Anniversary Expanded Vinyl Edition) (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music)
Mary Chapin Carpenter's Grammy-winning album makes its vinyl debut in a deluxe package from Real Gone Music. For its 30th anniversary, Real Gone is expanding the album by adding the four tracks from the 1995 UK EP Live at Her Majesty's Theatre. This EP was recorded on December 4, 1994 in London (at the home of Phantom of the Opera, no less) and first aired on BBC Radio 2. The four tracks include 3 songs from Stones and "This Shirt" from State of the Heart. The songs are featured on Side 4 of Real Gone's reissue. Released with the full consent of support of Carpenter, Real Gone's 2-LP vinyl edition comes on yellow highlighter vinyl.
Donna Summer, On the Radio: Greatest Hits [Expanded] (Driven by the Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
At the end of the '70s, to cap an incredible run as one of disco's biggest divas, Donna Summer issued On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II, a double album collecting more than a dozen of her biggest singles to date. Summer's reissue label Driven by the Music is now revisiting that set in a new way, creating a career-spanning, radio-ready overview of her complete career. On the Radio: Greatest Hits (Expanded) is a 2CD set offering 40 of Summer's biggest singles issued between 1975 and 2008 - all in their original single edits and mixes. Featuring the single version of almost everything from the original On the Radio set (the long version of the title track is omitted, as are Bad Girls tracks "Our Love" and "Sunset People"), the first disc adds seven songs from the period covered by that original set, including a cover of Barry Manilow's "Could It Be Magic," cuts from the thematic Four Seasons of Love and even "Down Deep Inside," Summer's theme song from the 1977 underwater thriller The Deep. From there, On the Radio brings another disc of 20 tracks from the remainder of Summer's Casablanca era, along with tracks from her tenures on Geffen, Atlantic and Epic, along with the closing cut "I'm a Fire," heard on her final album Crayons (2008). In essence, this is an all-new collection with the On the Radio artwork and branding. Get more details here!
Steve Martin, Steve in a Box: The Warner Years (1977-1981) (Warner/Rhino)
4CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
4LP: Rhino.com
Steve in a Box: The Warner Years (1977-1981) brings together all four of Steve Martin's original albums for Warner Bros. Records, which became some of the best-selling comedy albums of all time, as a 4CD set available everywhere and a 4LP set available exclusively at Rhino's web store. Comedy historian Kliph Nesteroff writes liner notes for both sets. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Read more here.
Tina Turner, Tina Turns the Country On! / Acid Queen / Rough / Love Explosion (Parlophone/Rhino)
Tina Turns the Country On!
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Half-Speed Mastered LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Acid Queen
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Rough
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Love Explosion
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
A half-century after her solo career began, the late, great Tina Turner's earliest albums return to print today - including the premiere CD release of her first solo album. Rhino, who digitally reissued Tina's four solo albums for United Artists last year, have pressed Tina Turns the Country On! (1974), Acid Queen (1975), Rough (1978) and Love Explosion (1979) on CD and vinyl. It's the first time the latter three have been in print in more than 20 years. The LP of Tina Turns the Country On! - marketed as a 50th anniversary pressing - is a half-speed master by John Webber at AIR Studios in London, pressed on 180-gram vinyl. Get more details here!
Max Webster, Seasons (Iconoclassic) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Joining Twilley on the Iconoclassic roster is the worldwide CD debut of 1981's Seasons from Kayak lead singer-drummer-percussionist Max Werner. Featuring the hit "Rain in May," Seasons is a concept album reflecting on the four seasons. Werner's drums drive the record, influenced by his contemporary Phil Collins' work on Peter Gabriel 3 and Collins' solo debut single, "In the Air Tonight." Spare synths, big drums, and powerful vocals brought the adventurous but melodic compositions (penned by Werner, Pilgram, and others) to life. Iconoclassic's reissue adds the Dutch non-LP side "Stop and Start," with the CD's audio newly remastered by Wouter Bessels. Ralph Chapman has written the liner notes, exploring the album via new interviews with Kayak's Ton Scherpenzeel and Edward Reekers, among others. Read more here about both of this week's Iconoclassic reissues!
The Unfolding, How To Blow Your Mind And Have a Freak-Out Party (Limited Orange Sunshine Vinyl Edition) (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music)
This 1967 psychedelic exploitation album was the only album from The Unfolding, a studio group about which little is known. Real Gone's release is the first ever vinyl reissue of the album in America. It comes in a variety of versions. The "Orange Sunshine" vinyl is the standard edition and is limited to 500 copies. The blue with purple swirl vinyl version is limited to 75 copies and is only available at Real Gone's website. Wax Mage has a "pulsar" vinyl edition and Vinyl Me Please has offered a pink pressing.
Ray Charles, Best of Country and Western (Tangerine) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
This new 13-track compilation presents a broad swath of The Genius' country crossover recordings including such seminal records as "Crying Time," "I Can't Stop Loving You," and "You Don't Know Me." Michael Graves has remastered. Available on CD, LP, and digitally.
The Tragically Hip, Up to Here: Deluxe Edition (MCA/UMe)
3CD/Blu-ray: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / The Tragically Hip Store
4LP/Blu-ray: The Tragically Hip Store
Available on three CDs or four LPs and a Blu-ray Disc, the Canadian rockers' Up to Here box includes the original remastered 1989 album, audio and video of a beloved live concert from 1990, and scores of unreleased studio material including demos and outtakes. Read more here.
Various Artists, Dearly Beloved: A Prince Songbook (Cherry Red) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Cherry Red brings together three discs' worth of songs penned by the late Prince including tracks from Sheena Easton, Martika, The Bangles, Patti LaBelle, Stephanie Mills, The Pointer Sisters, Paula Abdul, and many more on this essential collection. Get the full track listing and more here.
Misery Signals, Of Malice and the Magnum Heart (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music)
Real Gone's vinyl trifecta finishes up with this metalcore favorite - the band's first full-length album. This 20th anniversary edition of Of Malice and the Magnum Heart comes on Orange Crush vinyl. It includes an insert and is the first release on vinyl for American retail. Get the track listings for all three Real Gone titles this week here!
Jimmy Reed, I'm Jimmy Reed (Vee-Jay/Craft Recordings) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
This 1958 LP - Jimmy Reed's first - comprised singles released by the bluesman between 1953 and 1958 including the hit "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby." This remastered edition is available on CD and LP.
George Jones, The Lost Nashville Sessions (Country Rewind) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
A clutch of recordings made by George Jones for radio airplay in the 1970s come to CD on this new package which has been sourced from the original tapes and sweetened with new instrumentation by producer Paul Martin.
The Coward Brothers (New West) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
In the wake of the King of America and Other Realms box set, Elvis Costello and T Bone Burnett have reteamed as Howard and Henry a.k.a. The Coward Brothers. This new 2-disc album serves as the soundtrack to the Audible radio play The True Story of The Coward Brothers, written by Costello and directed by mockumentary great Christopher Guest. (Harry Shearer, Edward Hibbert, and Stephen Root are among the other players in the radio play.) While the physical album is available today on CD and LP, the digital release is next Friday to coincide with Audible's launch of the radio play.
Dolly Parton & Family, Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith, and Fables (Owepar Records) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Dolly Parton has brought together her family on the Parton and Owens sides for this new 2-CD/3-LP/digital collection celebrating their Appalachian roots. Sisters Stella Parton and Rachel Parton George and late brother Randy Parton are among her guests. The accompanying booklet promises a deep dive into the music.
Burton Cummings, A Few Good Moments (Jojo Productions) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Singer-songwriter Burton Cummings - who recently, with Randy Bachman, attained the trademark to his old band after a long legal battle, returns with a new solo double album, already streaming and coming to CD and vinyl today.
Mickey Thomas, A Classic Christmas (Mickey Thomas) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
The voice of Starship and The Elvin Bishop Group has a new Christmas album out with renditions of such vintage tunes as "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "Silver Bells," "My Favorite Things," and "I'll Be Home for Christmas." Available on CD and digitally; a vinyl edition follows on November 29.
Various Artists, Playing for Change: Songs for Humanity (Playing for Change) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Ringo Starr, John Paul Jones, Jackson Browne, Carlos Santana and the late Robbie Robertson are among the starry talents assembled for this charity record benefiting the organization that supports marginalized youth.
David says
Max Webster???
Max Webster, Seasons (Iconoclassic) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Iconoclassic Records says
Max Werner, not Max Webster. Both great 🙂
David says
If the gaffe exposes people to the brilliance of Max Webster, then the mistake will be most welcome and appreciated. For those who are curious, there is a terrific book about the band written by Bob Wegner that was released last year. Here's the link: https://highclassmax.com/ And you can't go wrong with any of the band's five studio albums, one live album, and one greatest hits album.
Iconoclassic Records says
Or if it leads Max Webster fans to the genius of Max Werner
David says
Touché!