Author Archive / Randy Fairman

Never Ending Song of Love: Real Gone’s February Slate Includes Delaney & Bonnie, Lesley Gore, Duke Ellington, Lynn Anderson, More

December 20, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 5 Comments
Lesley Gore Love Me By Name

As Christmas approaches and 2016 winds down, we start looking ahead to 2017 and what will be released.  We’ve already told you about the Second Disc Records/Real Gone Music reissue of Thom Bell’s all-star soundtrack to The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh due in February, and now we’re here to tell you about the rest of Real Gone’s killer lineup for that month. First up are two titles with liner notes by our very own Joe Marchese.  In 2015, Real Gone reissued Lesley’s Gore’s Someplace Else Now album from MoWest.  After leaving that…

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
,
Genres:
, , , , , ,
Tags:
, , , , , , ,

Holiday Gift Guide Review: “This Is Big Audio Dynamite” From Intervention Records

December 16, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 1 Comment
Big Audio Dynamite This Is

In 1982, The Clash has the biggest success of their career with the album Combat Rock featuring the songs “Rock The Casbah” and “Should I Stay or Should I Go.”  Of course, that’s when things began to go wrong.  It’s one of the oldest story in rock: a band whose members are split in two directions between being “safe” and “commercial” or being “artistic” and “daring.”  The two sides of that argument for The Clash were being represented in the early 1980s by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones.  Strummer liked the direction…

Continue Reading
Categories:
, ,
Formats:
Genres:
Tags:
,

Yes, Sir-ee! Kritzerland to Release “The Gang’s All Here” Score Featuring Benny Goodman

December 5, 2016 by Randy Fairman | No Comments
The Gangs All Here

By 1943, Busby Berkeley was a Hollywood veteran who had choreographed the dance sequences that would make him famous for decades.  He had also directed several classic films such as the Judy Garland/Mickey Rooney vehicles Babes In Arms and Strike Up The Band.  However, he had never directed a full motion picture in color, where his choreographed tableaux could be more vividly realized.  That all changed with The Gang’s All Here.  This famous musical has never had its soundtrack officially released on CD, but Kritzerland is rectifying that with a new edition…

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
Genres:
, ,
Tags:
,

Start Down The Golden Road: Rhino Reissues Grateful Dead’s Debut to Launch 50th Anniversary Campaign

November 18, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 5 Comments
Grateful Dead The Grateful Dead

2015 marked the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Grateful Dead and there were many projects to celebrate the occasion:  concerts, CD anthologies and boxsets, documentaries, DVDs/Blu-rays, and more.  But the Dead did not release their first studio album until 1967 and Rhino is celebrating that anniversary with a new 2-disc version of The Grateful Dead on January 20, 2017.  And Rhino promises that this release is just the start of a massive new reissue campaign focused on the band. The Grateful Dead: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition presents the original album on…

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
,
Genres:
Tags:

Let The Sunshine In: Real Gone To Release 3-Disc Singles Collection from The 5th Dimension in December

November 14, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 8 Comments
5th Dimension Soul City Bell Singles

While the Christmas season upon us, Real Gone Music has just announced a release which may be a perfect last-minute gift idea or stocking stuffer: The 5th Dimension’s The Complete Soul City/Bell Singles 1966-1975, coming out on December 23. The quintet of Billy Davis Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamonte McLemore and Ron Townson first came together as The Versatiles in late 1965 before becoming The 5th Dimension in 1966.  The soul group (their sophisticated, elegant vocal sound has been described as “champagne soul”) had a string of successes first on Johnny Rivers’ Soul City label…

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
Genres:
,
Tags:

Livin’ Proof: Cherry Red Follows Dusty Springfield’s “Reputation” with “Very Fine Love” Deluxe Reissue

October 31, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 4 Comments
Dusty Springfield A Very Fine Love Expanded

Earlier this year, Cherry Red’s Strike Force Entertainment label reissued Dusty Springfield’s Reputation, the legendary vocalist’s 1990 “comeback” album featuring productions by The Pet Shop Boys, Dan Hartman, and others.  That expanded reissue took the form of a 2-CD/1-DVD set, adding nineteen bonus tracks and five music videos within its slipcase.  More recently, SFE has turned its attention to Dusty’s follow-up, A Very Fine Love, as a CD/DVD combo. The 1995 Columbia album, recorded in Nashville with producer Tom Shapiro, tragically turned out to be Dusty’s last, as she would pass away…

Continue Reading
Categories:
,
Formats:
,
Genres:
Tags:

Can We Still Be Friends: Real Gone’s Black Friday Titles Feature Paul Butterfield, December Slate Includes Todd Rundgren, Mills Brothers

October 28, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 1 Comment
Paul Butterfield Got a Mind to Give Up Living

With Halloween coming on Monday, that means that the Christmas season is almost upon us.  Stores have already begun to put out Christmas merchandise and Christmas CDs have begun to hit the shelves.  Next week sees the release of Real Gone’s mega-Christmas slate, including three Second Disc Records titles featuring Jack Jones, Eddy Arnold and Mitch Miller.  In addition, Real Gone has just announced its exclusives for the Black Friday November 25 Record Store Day event which is part of the kickoff to the holiday shopping season and the label’s December batch of titles….

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
,
Genres:
, , , , ,
Tags:
, , , ,

Review: Keely Smith, “The Intimate Keely Smith: Expanded Edition”

October 20, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 3 Comments
Keely Smith The Intimate

Rarely has an album so lived up to its name as in the case of The Intimate Keely Smith.  The 1965 Reprise record, just brought to CD for the first time in a top-notch expanded edition via Real Gone Music, puts the song stylist front and center onstage in a tiny club, backed by just a small combo.  The listener has a stage-side table.  Other than the happy lack of clinking glasses and billowing smoke, you are there for a romantic, sensual, and yes, intimate set of classic ballads by Harry Warren,…

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
Genres:
Tags:
,

The Lights of Long Ago: Masterworks Broadway to Reissue Three Cast Albums Including Menken’s “A Christmas Carol”

October 18, 2016 by Randy Fairman | No Comments
Christmas Carol OCR

Masterworks Broadway has recently announced its next three reissue projects between now and November, all due on CD-R and DD. The first was released this past Friday, October 14: the original cast album to 1957’s Simply Heavenly.  The book and lyrics were written by noted poet and novelist Langston Hughes with the music by jazz bandleader David Martin. It starred Melvin Stewart and Claudia McNeil (who would later star in A Raisin In The Sun). The show, based upon Hughes’ novel Simple Takes A Wife and Other Simple Stories, premiered Off-Broadway before…

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
,
Genres:
Tags:
, ,

Don’t All Fade Away: The Who’s “My Generation” Receives 5-CD Super Deluxe Treatment in November

October 13, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 2 Comments
The Who My Generation Cover

2016 has already seen anniversary releases of many classic albums and another has just been announced.  While it originally came out in December 1965 in the U.K., The Who’s classic debut LP My Generation didn’t hit U.S. shores until April 1966 (as The Who Sings My Generation) and Universal Music is celebrating that 50th anniversary with a 5-CD Super Deluxe Edition of the album due to hit shelves on November 18. While it didn’t set the charts on fire in the U.S., the album went to #5 in the U.K. and the title…

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
, ,
Genres:
Tags:

Special Book Review: Thomas Dolby’s Memoir “The Speed of Sound”

October 12, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 2 Comments
Thomas Dolby Speed of Sound

When a music fan thinks of Thomas Dolby, the first thing that springs to mind is probably “She Blinded Me With Science,” his classic 1982 new wave hit.  He has been labeled as a “one-hit wonder” by several music trade publications and programs.  (He actually charted three Hot 100 hits in the United States and sixteen Pop hits in the United Kingdom.)  However, as is usually the case in real life, there is much more to his story…and that story is told in Dolby’s just-released autobiography, The Speed of Sound. As the sub-title…

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
Genres:
,
Tags:

This Could Be The Night: Shout! Factory To Release “T.A.M.I. Show” and “The Big T.N.T. Show” on Blu-ray

September 23, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 8 Comments
TAMI Show and Big TNT Show

While we normally concentrate on CD reissues here at The Second Disc, we do occasionally like to highlight other titles which we think may be of interest to our readers.  One such project, just announced from Shout! Factory, certainly qualifies:  a 2-disc Blu-ray set entitled the T.A.M.I. Show/The Big T.N.T. Show Collector’s Edition due out on December 2. Directed by Steve Binder, T.A.M.I. Show (meaning either “Teenage Awards Music International” or “Teen Age Music International”) was filmed on October 28 and 29, 1964 in California and released in December of that year. …

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
,
Genres:
, ,
Tags:
, , , , , , , , , ,

Here We Come A-Caroling: Real Gone’s November Christmas Slate Features Ray Conniff, The Ventures, Robert Shaw and Norman Luboff

September 21, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 9 Comments
The Ventures Christmas Album

As we are still over a month away from Halloween, it may seem a bit early to be thinking about Christmas.  But stores have already bringing out small bits of Christmas merchandise and the merriest season seems to start a little earlier each year.  Real Gone Music is ready to get in the holiday mood with the announcement of their Christmas-related November 4 line-up, which has become a yearly tradition for the label! We’ve already told you about the three Second Disc Records releases:  Jack Jones’ 1964 The Jack Jones Christmas Album,…

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
Genres:
, ,
Tags:
, , , , , , , , , , ,

Have Some Faith in The Sound: George Michael’s “Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1” To Be Expanded to a Box Set To Mark Anniversary

September 15, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 5 Comments
George Michael Listen 25

Last year marked the 25th anniversary of George Michael’s second solo album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1.  While nothing hit the shelves last year to commemorate the occasion, that is being rectified this year when Legacy Recordings releases Listen Without Prejudice 25 on November 11. After the breakup of Wham! in 1986, George Michael moved quickly to kick his solo career into high gear.  The result was the 1987 album Faith, where he wrote (or co-wrote) and produced every track.  Buoyed by the hit single “I Want Your Sex,” Faith would become…

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
, , , ,
Genres:
Tags:

Don’t Walk On By: Legacy To Release Single-Disc Roy Orbison Career Retrospective

September 14, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 3 Comments
Roy Orbison Ultimate

This last April marks what would have been Roy Orbison’s 80th birthday had he not sadly died in 1988 at the age of 52.  As one of the pioneers of rock ‘n’ roll, there have been numerous compilations and reissues devoted to Orbison’s career.  Just this last year, Universal released a 13-CD box set chronicling his tenure at MGM Records.  But, despite all of the collections over the years, there hasn’t been one that rounded up selections from most stages of his career from his time at Sun Records  up through his…

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
,
Genres:
,
Tags:
,

Going On Together: Elvis Joined by Royal Philharmonic for Orchestral Sequel

September 13, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 3 Comments
Elvis The Wonder of You

Despite having passed away nearly 40 years ago, Elvis Presley remains a large presence on the charts and on the shelves of stores.  Just this year, Elvis has had a 60-disc box devoted to all of the music he released in his lifetime and a 2-CD set concentrating on his final recordings .  And last year’s If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, melding Elvis’ vocals with new orchestral backings, hit the Top 25 in the U.S. but was a larger success in the U.K. – hitting #1…

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
, , ,
Genres:
Tags:

Do You Want To Dance: Bette Midler’s Debut “The Divine Miss M” to Be Reissued and Expanded

September 9, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 8 Comments
Bette Midler The Divine Miss M Deluxe

Bette Midler has been keeping busy recently.  Last year, she put on her Divine Intervention Tour for 32 shows across several countries.  This year she is scheduled to be a mentor on The Voice and next year she takes on the title role in a revival of Hello, Dolly! on Broadway.  On the CD front, she is going to back to look at her debut album with a 2-disc reissue of 1972’s The Divine Miss M, due from Rhino Records on October 21. Back in June 2011, Joe wrote a lengthy history here…

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
Genres:
Tags:

It Was A New Day Yesterday: Jethro Tull Continues Reissue Series with “Stand Up” In New Stereo, Surround Mixes

September 1, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 6 Comments
Jethro Tull Stand Up Elevated Edition

For the past several years, Jethro Tull has been releasing expanded editions of their albums featuring new remixes by Steven Wilson.  Coming on November 18, just under a year after the release of the last reissue in the series of 1976’s Too Old to Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young to Die!, is a 2CD/1DVD version of 1969’s Stand Up, entitled Stand Up: The Elevated Edition. The sophomore album by the band, Stand Up was the first to feature music written completely by Ian Anderson (with the exception of one instrumental by Bach). …

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
, ,
Genres:
Tags:

There In The Spotlight: R.E.M. Expands “Out of Time” for Its 25th Anniversary

August 26, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 2 Comments
REM Out of Time

Back in December, it was announced that Concord Bicycle Music had picked up the rights to R.E.M.’s Warner Bros. catalogue.  Now, the first major reissue project from that deal has been announced:  a remastered 25th anniversary deluxe edition of the band’s most successful album Out of Time to be released on November 18.  This new package will be released in several configurations:  a 3 CD/1 Blu-ray set, a 2-CD set, a 3-LP set, a single LP of the original album and as a digital download. Out of Time was R.E.M.’s second Warner Bros. album,…

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
, , , ,
Genres:
Tags:

It Had To Be You: Real Gone’s October Slate Features Eddie Money, Keely Smith, Mahalia Jackson, John Hammond, Percy Faith and More

August 24, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 2 Comments
Eddie Money Complete Hits

Real Gone Music has just announced their October slate of titles and while only one of them will get you into the Halloween spirit, there might well be something else among the eclectic choice of genres to pique your interest! First up, Real Gone is releasing three two-disc greatest hits collections.  One of these features liner notes from our very own Joe Marchese:  Percy Faith’s The Definitive Collection.  Faith was hugely in demand at Columbia Records, arranging and conducting for a large number of artists during the 1950s.  He also had a…

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
Genres:
, , , , , , ,
Tags:
, , , , , ,

Out On The Run Tonight: Bruce Springsteen to Release Companion Album to Autobiography With 5 Unreleased Tracks

July 28, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 6 Comments
Bruce Springsteen Chapter and Verse

Being in the public eye for over 40 years and being one of the biggest rock stars on the planet for much of that time, there has been much written and documented about Bruce Springsteen – from articles to interviews to documentaries to books.  But despite some of his songs having some personal content, The Boss had never sat down to tell his own story.  Happily, this fall, Springsteen’s autobiography Born To Run is released by Simon and Schuster on September 27. Four days before that, on September 23, Columbia will release a companion 18-track…

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
, ,
Genres:
, ,
Tags:

Let There Be More Light: Pink Floyd Announces Massive Box Set Tracing Band’s Early Years

July 28, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 10 Comments
Pink Floyd Creation

Back in May we told you about Pink Floyd’s vinyl reissue campaign for this year.  At the time, there was no word on any further CD reissues.  But all that changed this morning when word came out about what may be the most expansive Pink Floyd project yet:  the 27-disc The Early Years 1965-1972.  Due to be released on November 11 from Pink Floyd Records/Sony, the set contains 6 CD/DVD or Blu-ray book-style packages (which will be released separately) and a 7th “Extra” CD/DVD or Blu-ray package exclusive to the box.  A…

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
, , ,
Genres:
Tags:

Let’s Go Out Tonight: David Bowie’s “Who Can I Be Now” Box Set Arrives In September

July 25, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 4 Comments
David Bowie Who Can I Be Now

Hot on the heels of last Friday’s announcement that the next David Bowie box would include the unreleased album The Gouster, the details of what will be in the box have been released from Parolphone.  Coming on September 23 in CD, vinyl and digital download editions, David Bowie – Who Can I Be Now? (1974-1976) will contain the following albums: Diamond Dogs (Remastered) 1-CD David Live (Original Mix) (Remastered) 2-CD David Live (2005 Mix) (Remastered) 2-CD The Gouster (Previously Unreleased as an album) 1-CD Young Americans (Remastered) 1-CD Station to Station (Remastered) 1-CD…

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
, , ,
Genres:
, ,
Tags:

They Say It’s Wonderful: Real Gone September Slate Includes Robert Goulet, Porter Wagoner and The Meters

July 19, 2016 by Randy Fairman | 3 Comments
Robert Goulet Definitive

Even though summer has just begun, Real Gone Music is already looking toward the end of the season with its September releases.  As per the label’s norm, the artists represented span a wide range of styles and genres. We’ve already told you about the Second Disc Records/Real Gone release of The Isley Brothers’ lost Groove With You…Live! album.  Joe has also written the liner notes for another of Real Gone’s September offerings:  Robert Goulet’s 2-CD The Definitive Collection.  Joe put together and wrote the notes for Goulet’s Complete Columbia Christmas Recordings back in 2014.  This…

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
,
Genres:
, , , , ,
Tags:
, , , , , ,

More Powerful Than A Locomotive: DC Celebrates Musical Legacy with New Collection

July 14, 2016 by Randy Fairman | No Comments
The Music of DC Comics Vol 2

Superheroes and comic book characters have become a larger force in pop culture over recent years with many comic-book based properties racing to the top of list box-office winners each year, and over ten comic book-related television shows scheduled to air this fall on various networks.  DC Comics, home to Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and dozens of others, has been a big part of that.  Next week also sees the annual San Diego Comic Con taking place, the largest comic and pop culture gathering in the U.S.  To tie in with that…

Continue Reading
Categories:
Formats:
,
Genres:
Tags:
, , , , , ,
Upcoming Releases
Prince Timeless
Timeless
Prince
August 28, 2026
US UK CA
Cat Stevens Buddha and the Chocolate Box
Buddha and the Chocolate Box
Yusuf/Cat Stevens
September 4, 2026
US UK CA
The Roches Runs in the Family
Runs In The Family: The Warner Bros./Rykodisc Albums
The Roches
September 11, 2026
US UK CA
See Full Calendar
Connect
Popular Posts
Most Commented

Most Viewed

Music Resources

Labels of Note

Scroll to Top