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/ Randy Fairman

Speed of Sound: Omnivore's Black Friday Record Store Day Slate Includes Chris Bell, The Raspberries and Roger Taylor

October 20, 2017 By Randy Fairman Leave a Comment

Raspberries Pop Art Live

As we continue to make our way through the offerings for this year's Black Friday Record Store Day event coming on November 24, let's now look at what Omnivore Recordings has on tap with its three releases. First up is the 6-LP The Complete Chris Bell.  This set, consisting of the solo output of the Big Star co-founder, reconfigures the material from earlier Omnivore CD releases: July's Looking Forward: The Roots of Big Star and September's I Am The Cosmos: Deluxe Edition.  As a bonus, the

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Categories: News Formats: Box Sets, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Pop, Rock Tags: Big Star, Chris Bell, Record Store Day, Roger Taylor, The Raspberries

Fill Your Nights With Song: Real Gone Expands Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life" for Its 40th Anniversary

October 18, 2017 By Randy Fairman 11 Comments

Debby Boone You Light Up My Life

Forty years ago this week, Meco's "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" was knocked from the top of the Billboard Hot 100 after a two-week run at the peak position.  The new chart-topper would remain in that spot for an additional 9 weeks and become the biggest-selling single of the entire 1970s.  And what was that song?  You might first guess it was perhaps something by the Bee Gees, who were in their own historical chart-run at this moment.  But it was actually "You Light Up My Life" by Debby Boone. 

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Pop Tags: Debby Boone

Hungry for Fun: Samantha Fox Receives 4 Disc CD/DVD "Fox Box" from Cherry Pop

October 12, 2017 By Randy Fairman Leave a Comment

Samantha Fox The Fox Box

Last year marked the 30th anniversary of Samantha Fox's debut on Jive Records.  Recently, Cherry Red imprint Cherry Pop Records released a box set chronicling her career.  The 2CD/2DVD set Play It Again, Sam: The Fox Box traces Fox's musical journey from 1986 all the way up through the present day. While initially gaining fame in the U.K. as a model, Samantha Fox began a career in music at nearly the same time.  In her early teens, she formed the band SFX, which also included Ringo Starr's

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: Box Sets, CD, DVD Genre: Disco/Dance, Pop Tags: Samantha Fox

Reach The Stars and Fly A Fantasy: Cherry Red Expands "The NeverEnding Story" Soundtrack

September 29, 2017 By Randy Fairman 1 Comment

NeverEnding Story

"A Boy Who Needs a Friend Finds a World That Needs A Hero."  So proclaimed the tagline to the 1984 fantasy film The NeverEnding Story.  The film became a hit that year and featured a title song which also climbed the charts.  Cherry Red imprint Strike Force Entertainment has recently released an expanded reissue of the film's soundtrack. The movie, based upon the 1979 German fantasy novel by Michael Ende, tells the tale of ten-year old Bastion Balthazar Bux who begins to read a book

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Soundtracks Tags: Giorgio Moroder, Klaus Doldinger

Making a List and Checking It Twice: Real Gone's Christmas Offerings Revealed, Including Percy Faith, Fred Waring and Robert Shaw

September 22, 2017 By Randy Fairman 4 Comments

Percy Faith Music of Christmas Reissue

We've already told you about the three Christmas offerings coming from Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music this year from The Supremes, The Ames Brothers and Connie Smith. Now here's the rest of Real Gone's superlative slate of yuletide releases...and one more non-holiday reissue, all due on November 3! First up is an expanded edition of the classic Music of Christmas from Percy Faith and His Orchestra.  This was actually the second album to bear this title from the prolific conductor. 

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Vinyl Genre: Holiday, Popular Standards/Vocal, Soundtracks Tags: Cliff Martinez, Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians, Percy Faith, The Robert Shaw Chorale

You'll Be Doin' All Right: New Compilation Features Elvis Presley Christmas Classics with New Orchestral Backing

September 14, 2017 By Randy Fairman 5 Comments

Elvis Christmas Deluxe

Even though the fall season has yet to officially begin, kids are back at school and we are already looking ahead to winter.  Of course, that also means Christmas and it is time to start kicking off the announcements of Christmas recordings for this year.  RCA and Legacy Recordings have just announced a new Elvis Presley project for this yuletide season: Christmas with Elvis and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, due on October 6. As you may have guessed from the title, this new project

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl Genre: Gospel, Holiday, Pop Tags: Elvis Presley

Have Some Faith in The Sound: George Michael's "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1" To Be Expanded (UPDATED 9/7/2017)

September 7, 2017 By Randy Fairman Leave a Comment

LWP box

UPDATE (9/7/2017): Nearly a year after the deluxe Listen Without Prejudice--and some months after the unexpected passing of George Michael on Christmas 2016, the expanded Listen Without Prejudice is back on the calendar and packing a few new surprises. The 3-CD/1-DVD set and cut-down 2-CD package (featuring the original album and the MTV Unplugged set) will now hit stores October 20. The 2-CD set features new cover art as well as one additional bonus track: a new remix of Listen-era B-side

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Categories: News Formats: Box Sets, CD, Digital Download, DVD, Vinyl Genre: Pop Tags: George Michael, Nile Rodgers

You're About To Get Your Share: Real Gone Announces Desmond Dekker and Meters Vinyl Reissues

September 6, 2017 By Randy Fairman 4 Comments

Desmond Dekker You Can Get It Vinyl

After revealing its Halloween slate of titles, Real Gone Music has announced two more vinyl reissues due in late October and early November. The first, due on October 27, is the 3-LP set The Meters - A Message from The Meters:  The Complete Josie, Reprise and Warner Brothers Singles 1968-1977.  Funk pioneers The Meters are one of those bands who are greatly influential to a great many musicians.  They have worked with artists ranging from Dr. John to Paul McCartney, but have not had great

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Categories: News Formats: Vinyl Genre: R&B/Soul, Reggae Tags: Desmond Dekker, The Meters

Back From the Grave and Ready To Party: Real Gone's October Releases Celebrate Halloween with 'Cujo,' Zacherle, 'Return of the Living Dead' and More

August 24, 2017 By Randy Fairman 1 Comment

Zacherle Monster Gallery

Real Gone has already announced one title for October: an expanded edition of Carol Burnett Sings. Now they are going in a completely different direction with titles to get listeners in the Halloween spirit, due on October 6.   Things kick off with a limited vinyl reissue of the soundtrack to 1985's The Return of the Living Dead. Return's history and legacy is a little complicated. George A. Romero and John Russo wrote 1968's classic Night of the Living Dead.  After its release, the

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Vinyl Genre: Everything Else, Rock, Soundtracks Tags: 45 Grave, Carol Burnett, John Zacherle

I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together: Real Gone Reissues Carol Burnett Album for 50th Anniversary

August 18, 2017 By Randy Fairman 2 Comments

Carol Burnett Sings

Real Gone Music is kicking off its October slate of titles with a CD commemorating the 50th anniversary of one of the most iconic television program of all time: The Carol Burnett Show.  The multi-talented Burnett recorded the album Carol Burnett Sings to tie in with the premiere of her new program, and Real Gone is giving the title its first-ever reissue on CD on October 6th, featuring liner notes by our very own Joe Marchese. Carol Burnett was already a stage, screen and recording veteran

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal Tags: Carol Burnett

Smoke On The Water: Career-Spanning Deep Purple Compilation Due From Rhino

August 15, 2017 By Randy Fairman Leave a Comment

Deep Purple A Fire in the Sky

Deep Purple have just kicked off their latest tour in Las Vegas, co-headlining with Alice Cooper.  The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and part of the "Holy Trinity of British Hard-Rock" (with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath) are nearing their 50th anniversary and Rhino Records has announced a new anthology, available in several configurations to celebrate the band's legacy.  A Fire in the Sky will be available in single and 3-CD editions on September 8, with a 3-LP edition following on

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Rock Tags: Deep Purple

Review: Keely Smith, "Little Girl Blue/Little Girl New (Expanded Edition)"

August 9, 2017 By Randy Fairman 3 Comments

Keely Smith Little Girl Blue

In spring 1963, Keely Smith entered the studio to cut her first full-length effort for Reprise Records, the label recently founded by her friend Frank Sinatra.  Little Girl Blue/Little Girl New, recorded with arranger-conductor Nelson Riddle, exemplified Smith's classy vocal art and Riddle's peerless gift for orchestration.  After far too long an absence from the shelves, this seminal release is back in print from Real Gone Music as the second entry in the label's Keely Smith series, with two

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Categories: Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Popular Standards/Vocal Tags: Keely Smith

Listen To What The Band Is Playing: Bruce Springsteen Releases Two 1977 Concerts Featuring Official Premiere of Unreleased Song

August 7, 2017 By Randy Fairman 2 Comments

Bruce Springsteen Palace 1977

Bruce Springsteen has just released two new concerts into his ever-growing list of shows available as made-on-demand CD-Rs and digital downloads at nugs.net.  The first is from February 7, 1977 in Albany, New York and the second is from the next night, February 8 in Rochester, New York.  They are significant as no soundboards from this portion of Springsteen's touring career have ever surfaced before, and because they also feature a song which sees its first official release here:  "Action in

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Digital Download Genre: Classic Rock, Rock Tags: Bruce Springsteen

Give Your Propers: New Aretha Franklin Project Combines Classics with New Orchestral Backing

July 25, 2017 By Randy Fairman 14 Comments

Aretha and the Philharmonic

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Aretha Franklin's arrival at Atlantic Records in 1967 after departing Columbia Records.  Her twelve year-tenure there would produce some of the most iconic soul and R&B recordings of all time.  To celebrate this anniversary, Rhino Records is taking a cue from the Elvis Presley playbook and combining her classic vocals with new orchestral backing tracks.  A Brand New Me: Aretha Franklin with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will hit stores on November

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Digital Download, Vinyl Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Aretha Franklin

There's No Need To Argue: Real Gone's September Slate Concludes with Expanded DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince and a Two-fer from Ornette Coleman

July 24, 2017 By Randy Fairman Leave a Comment

DJ Jazzy Jeff Hes the DJ

We've told you about the first batch of Real Gone Music's releases for September, including the Second Disc Records collection of Melissa Manchester's Arista singles.  Now, we've got the final two releases on Real Gone's September slate to share. First up, due on September 8, is an expanded edition of 1988's He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper from DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince.  The group began when Will Smith ("The Fresh Prince") and Jeff Townes ("DJ Jazzy Jeff") met at a party where Townes

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Jazz, Rap/Hip-Hop Tags: DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Ornette Coleman

The Thrill of the Hunt: Real Gone's September Slate Begins with "Predator" on Vinyl Plus Duane Eddy RCA Singles and Grateful Dead

July 19, 2017 By Randy Fairman 4 Comments

Duane Eddy Complete RCA Singles

While we are now in the height of the summer heat, Real Gone is looking ahead to the fall.  The label has announced the first part of its release slate for September of this year and it is another eclectic mix of titles. First up is a title from the artist most people consider to be the greatest rock-instrumentalist of all time: Duane Eddy.  Guitar Star: The Complete RCA Singles A's and B's collects all 22 single sides Eddy recorded for RCA Victor in the early to mid-1960s on CD, and is due

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Pop, Rock, Soundtracks Tags: Alan Silvestri, Duane Eddy, Fifteen, Grateful Dead

They Can't Take That Away From Me: Real Gone's August Slate Concludes with Rare Radio Performances from Jo Stafford and Rosemary Clooney

July 14, 2017 By Randy Fairman 4 Comments

Jo Stafford It Had to Be You

We've told you previously about some of Real Gone Music's releases for August, and now we've got the final two titles for that month: unreleased 1950s radio performances from Jo Stafford and Rosemary Clooney, both due on August 4. Jo Stafford's It Had To Be You: Lost Radio Recordings features 24 performances from her stint as co-host (with crooner Tony Martin) of The Carnation Contented Hour on CBS Radio from 1950-1951.  It features liner notes from our very own Joe Marchese.  Stafford got

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Popular Standards/Vocal Tags: Jo Stafford, Rosemary Clooney

Know the Meaning of Fun: Real Gone Announces More of August Slate Including Samson and Jaguar

June 27, 2017 By Randy Fairman Leave a Comment

Samson Shock Tactics Vinyl

Real Gone Music has just announced two more additions to the label's August slate of releases and this time it focuses on two bands from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement.  This wave of music in the late 1970s and early 1980s would encompass numerous bands in the U.K. and gain international attention eventually influencing genres such as thrash metal.  The movement declined with the rise in popularity of music videos.  The biggest groups to come from this period include Iron

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Categories: News Formats: Vinyl Genre: Rock Tags: Jaguar, Samson

Follow the White Rabbit: Real Gone's Early August Slate includes "The Matrix," The Slits and Rain Parade

June 12, 2017 By Randy Fairman Leave a Comment

The Matrix Vinyl

With summer just around the corner, Real Gone Music has just announced its first three releases available toward the end of the season in the beginning of August. First up, coming out on August 4, is a two-fer from the band The Rain Parade.  The band was part of the Paisley Underground movement in 1980s California which combined psychedelia with vocal harmonies, owing a debt to The Byrds and Love from the 1960s.  The Bangles are the best known group to be a part of this genre.  Rain Parade

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Vinyl Genre: Pop, Rap/Hip-Hop, Rock, Soundtracks Tags: Marilyn Manson, Rage Against the Machine, Rain Parade, Rob Zombie, The Slits

Ask For "The World": Skeeter Davis' "Let Me Get Close to You" Expanded on CD with All Her 1963-1965 Solo Hits

June 8, 2017 By Randy Fairman 2 Comments

Skeeter Davis Let Me Get Close to You

Exactly 55 years ago today, on June 8, 1962, Skeeter Davis stepped into RCA Studios in Nashville with producer Chet Atkins to record "The End of the World."  Despite having a professional recording career dating back nearly a decade to 1953 as both a solo act and one-half of The Davis Sisters (including several Country chart hits), "The End of the World" would be Skeeter's "breakthrough" and become forever associated with her as it climbed to No. 2 on both Billboard's Hot 100 and Country charts,

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Pop Tags: Skeeter Davis

Let Us Love Again: 50th Anniversary of Engelbert Humperdinck's Decca Breakthrough Celebrated with 11-CD Box Set and 2-CD Anthology

May 30, 2017 By Randy Fairman 9 Comments

Engelbert Decca Box

Last week saw the release of multiple versions of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band which included the double A-side single "Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever" among its bonus material, as the songs were recorded during the same time period as the album.  When the single was released in late February 1967, what song kept it from hitting the top of the U.K. Singles Chart, making it the first Beatles single in nearly five years not to do so?  That would be the Decca single of

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Categories: News Formats: Box Sets, CD Genre: Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal Tags: Engelbert Humperdinck

Get a Brand New Walk: Real Gone's July Slate Features Dusty Springfield, Keely Smith, Eddy Arnold, Tim Buckley and Loma Singles

May 22, 2017 By Randy Fairman Leave a Comment

Dusty Springfield Brand New Me Complete

It's not even Memorial Day yet, but we're already looking ahead to the heart of summer for upcoming reissues and now we've got Real Gone's slate due just after Independence Day on July 7.  As is usually the case with this label, it's an eclectic group of releases. You've already heard the news about Second Disc Records and Real Gone's A Little Magic, A Little Kindness from Laura Nyro, with notes by our very own Joe Marchese, but Joe's notes are also featured in two other Real Gone releases in

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Country, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul, Rock, Soundtracks Tags: Dusty Springfield, Eddy Arnold, Keely Smith, Tim Buckley, Tom Tom Club

Higher and Higher: Real Gone's June Slate Features Rita Coolidge, Kris Kristofferson, Doris Day, Larry Coryell, Jesse Ed Davis and More

April 17, 2017 By Randy Fairman 2 Comments

Kris and Rita Full Moon

As we get further into the spring season, we've begun to hear about releases that will be coming out more towards summer.  Among these are the new announcements of titles from Real Gone Music due on June 2.  As always, they are an eclectic group featuring CDs and vinyl reissues. First up are two titles from Rita Coolidge featuring liner notes from our very own Joe Marchese.  1973's Full Moon was the first duet album Coolidge made with her then-husband Kris Kristofferson.  It was the first of

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Country, Jazz, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, Soundtracks Tags: Doris Day, Grateful Dead, Jesse Ed Davis, Kris Kristofferson, Larry Coryell, Merry Clayton, Rita Coolidge, Ry Cooder, Shirley Walker

Adios, Adios: Glen Campbell To Release Final Studio Album in June

April 14, 2017 By Randy Fairman 8 Comments

Glen Campbell Adios

In 2011, Glen Campbell released Ghost On the Canvas and it was revealed that the legendary artist was suffering from Alzheimer's disease.  Campbell then embarked upon the yearlong Good Times - Final Farewell Tour which took him to cities in Europe and North America.  After the conclusion of that tour, he went into the studio to finish the album See You There, which was released in August of 2013.  It was billed at the time as his sixty-third and final studio album.  However, it has now been

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl Genre: Country, Pop Tags: Glen Campbell, Jimmy Webb, Roger Miller, Willie Nelson

Hot Blooded: Foreigner Celebrate Four Decades with New Compilation

April 6, 2017 By Randy Fairman 4 Comments

Foreigner 40

Just a little over four decades ago, on March 8, 1977, Foreigner hit record shelves.  The album was the self-titled Atlantic Records debut of the band consisting of Mick Jones, Lou Gramm, Dennis Elliot, Al Greenwood, Ian McDonald and Ed Gagliardi.  The record would become a smash-hit, eventually going 5X platinum and launching Foreigner into superstardom right out of the gate.  To celebrate this anniversary, Rhino is releasing a new 2-CD and 2-LP compilation entitled 40 on May 19. Foreigner

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Rock Tags: Foreigner

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