Motown's Rare Earth imprint intended to bring the sound of rock to the home of The Supremes, The Miracles, Martha and The Vandellas, The Temptations, and Four Tops. The imprint was named after a white rock band from Detroit and its artists were both home-grown and licensed from other parties. In the latter category was Toe Fat, a U.K. psych-rock band built around the talents of Cliff Bennett, formerly of the beat group Cliff Bennett and The Rebel Rousers. Both of Toe Fat's albums - issued on
Glory of Love: Cherry Pop Collects Peter Cetera's Full Moon-Warner Bros. Discography On New Box Set
UPDATED 1/22: As one of the seven members of Chicago as featured on their 1969 debut album Chicago Transit Authority, bassist-singer Peter Cetera's soaring tenor became an integral component of the band's sound on such hits as "25 or 6 to 4," "Feelin' Stronger Every Day," "Just You 'n' Me," and "(I've Been) Searching So Long." When his own composition "If You Leave Me Now" became Chicago's first-ever No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 - not to mention in international territories such as Canada,
March Is Bustin' Out All Over: Stage Door Collects First Volume of RCA's "Show Time" Series of Classic Musicals
By 1953, RCA Victor already boasted a considerable number of Broadway classics in its catalogue - from original cast recordings of Brigadoon and Paint Your Wagon to studio cast renditions of South Pacific and Finian's Rainbow. But the label was eager to build up its musical theatre repertoire and compete with the likes of Columbia and Decca. To that end, the Show Time series was launched - a collection of 16 EPs, each dedicated to four songs from a beloved musical or operetta. The EPs were
Where Do We Go From Here: ABKCO Reissues, Remasters Bobby Womack's "The Poet" Albums
Singer, songwriter, musician, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Womack (1944-2014) saw his songs covered by The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, and his longtime friend Wilson Pickett. But his solo output, recorded over 40+ years for labels including Minit, United Artists, Columbia, Arista, MCA, Capitol, XL, and others, was no less impressive. Now, two of his albums for the Beverly Glen label (also onetime home of artists including Anita Baker and Johnnie Taylor) are
Wild Thing: Cherry Red Collects Complete Recordings of '70s Glam-Pop Band Fancy
The story of the band Fancy began with Chip Taylor's "Wild Thing." Captivated with Jimi Hendrix's fiery take on the classic popularized by The Troggs, producer Mike Hurst (The Springfields, Cat Stevens, Shakin' Stevens, Showaddywaddy) began to imagine the song as sung by a woman. He dialed up both the sex and the funk for a slower, breathier, and more salacious version of the pop-rock staple. Guitarist Ray Fenwick, bassist Mo Foster, drummer Henry Spinetti, keyboardist Alan Hawkshaw, and
Review: Elvis Costello and The Attractions, "Armed Forces: Super Deluxe Edition"
"Hey Clockface, keep those fingers on the dial," Elvis Costello implored on the jaunty, jazz-flavored title track of his 2020 album. "You said you'd be a friend to me, but time is just my enemy and it is hurting me so..." Despite his pleas, time has been rather good to Costello's artistry. Though initially branded an "angry young man" - and indeed, he channeled the punk zeitgeist early on with his fast and furious compositions - Costello has been able to travel wherever his muse takes him.
Batteries Not Included: Rhino, Chrysalis Reissue Jethro Tull's "A" in 40th Anniversary Box
1979's Stormwatch could have been the final Jethro Tull record. The culmination of the band's "folk-rock trilogy" that began with Songs from the Wood in 1977, Stormwatch was the final album to feature Tull's classic line-up. Barriemore Barlow, John Evan, and Dee Palmer all departed the group after the April 1980 conclusion of the Stormwatch tour, and John Glascock died during the tour. With the band seemingly dissolved, Ian regrouped with guitarist Martin Barre to record a solo album. But
Oh Me, Oh My: Crimson Collects Lulu's Hits and Rarities on New "Gold" Volume
Demon Music Group has recently celebrated the career of Scottish singer Lulu with projects including 2018's Decade, a definitive chronicle of her first ten years in music. Now, Demon's Crimson Productions imprint is releasing the first comprehensive, career-spanning anthology for Lulu as part of its ongoing, budget-priced but music-packed Gold series. Lulu's Gold volume encompasses a generous 60 songs on three CDs, and most significantly, is cross-licensed to include tracks from her various
Short Takes: Live Albums Coming from The Allman Brothers Band, New Order
The Allman Brothers Band Recording Company has announced a new addition to its live concert series. Recorded on September 28, 1971 at the Austin Municipal Auditorium in Austin, TX, Down in Texas '71 is available now for pre-order exclusively through Merch Mountain. Beginning March 26 (the anniversary of the band's formation), it will be available only at Macon, GA's Big House museum gift shop and online store, and as a digital release. Down in Texas '71 captures the Allman Brothers Band -
Better Get Hit In Yo' Soul: 60 Years of Impulse! Records Celebrated On New CD, LP Box Set
Since its initial 1961 releases produced by founder Creed Taylor, Impulse! Records has been synonymous with excellence in jazz. "The House That Trane Built" was stylish both in packaging (with its distinctive orange-and-black color scheme and exclamation point) and content, with a remarkable artist roster boasting not only John Coltrane but Charles Mingus, Ray Charles, Archie Shepp, Alice Coltrane, Quincy Jones, McCoy Tyner, Gil Evans, Oliver Nelson, Duke Ellington, Johnny Hartman, and Pharoah
I Have a Dream: Motown Reissues "The Great March on Washington," Relaunches Black Forum Imprint
In 1962, Motown was growing by leaps and bounds with each new release. Founder Berry Gordy, Jr. launched his namesake Gordy imprint in October with The Contours' Do You Love Me as G-901, following it months later, in June 1963, with Martha and The Vandellas' Come and Get These Memories (G-902). The imprint's third release was more atypical - pianist and longtime Tony Bennett accompanist Ralph Sharon's Modern Innovations on Country and Western Themes. But the label's next release began a quiet
High Time: Cherry Red, Grapefruit Collects U.K. Band Byzantium on "Halfway Dreaming: Anthology 1969-75"
Byzantium was only active for a brief period at the tail end of the late 1960s and the first half of the 1970s, but the band is still well-remembered within the British underground rock scene. Now, the group's officially issued works (and more!) have been collected by Cherry Red's Grapefruit imprint on the new 5-CD set Halfway Dreaming: Anthology 1969-75. Byzantium emerged from the ashes of the band Ora, formed by students Robin Sylvester, Julian Diggle, and Jamie Rubinstein at University
Landslide: Fleetwood Mac Readies Super Deluxe Expansion of 'Live'
Fleetwood Mac's Live arrived in December 1980, roughly fourteen months after the adventurous Tusk. While Tusk had peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and yielded two U.S. top ten hits, it fell off the albums chart after nine months. (Rumours, in contrast, spent 31 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 in 1977-1978, a record for a group or duo.) With the public still hungry for new Fleetwood Mac material, the band issued the sprawling double album Live. It was the first live album from the line-up
In Memoriam: Mary Wilson (1944-2021)
Mary Wilson...our world is empty without you. When Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard (along with their friend Barbara Martin) first came to Motown, they were known as The Primettes. Before their first single's release, they had been rechristened The Supremes. While there was initial skepticism of the name, any such doubts clearly dissipated when "Where Did Our Love Go" reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 on August 22, 1964. It was the first of a staggering twelve No. 1s The
Short Takes: More of Frank Sinatra's "Reprise Rarities" Compiled, Universal Reissues Peggy Lee and David Bowie
Frank Sinatra Enterprises and UMe have released a second volume of their digital-only Reprise Rarities series, bringing together another 13 sides from Frank Sinatra's time at the label he founded, all of which are new to download and streaming. This baker's dozen from the Chairman of the Board spans 1960-1995 and is arguably even more eclectic than the first collection. Reprise Rarities Vol. 2 includes single B-sides ("Tina," "Blue Lace," "Star!," "It's Sunday") as well as the sublime 1976
Add Some Music: Universal Japan Reissues Beach Boys Collections on CD
Beach Boys collectors' alert: late in December 2020, Universal Japan quietly released a series of six collections from the group in the MQA-CD format on UHQ (Ultimate High Quality) CDs and housed in mini-LP paper sleeves with OBIs. While these discs are playable on all CD players, those listeners equipped with MQA decoders are promised a higher-fidelity listening experience. All titles have been 24-bit remastered. The six titles from Brian, Carl, Dennis, Mike, Al, and Bruce (plus Ricky and
Long Shadow: Dark Horse Label Relaunches with "Assembly" from Late Clash Frontman Joe Strummer
Last year, just before COVID-19 derailed most of the world, Olivia and Dhani Harrison announced that George Harrison's Dark Horse label would be relaunching. Founded by the late Beatle in 1974, Dark Horse released George's own records but also LPs from artists including Ravi Shankar, Wings guitarist Henry McCullough, the David Foster band Attitudes, the duo Splinter, and soul group The Stairsteps and Stairsteps member Keni Burke. While there's been no news as to reissues of those vintage Dark
Look at the View: Cherry Red's New Strawberry Imprint Collects Mod, Pop, Psych, and Freakbeat on "Halcyon Days"
Last year, Cherry Red's RPM imprint closed up shop after almost 30 years and some 600+ releases. But a new imprint was announced to pick up where RPM left off: Strawberry. Its inaugural collection, Halcyon Days: '60s Mod, R&B, Brit Soul, and Freakbeat Nuggets has proved an auspicious debut for the imprint with big shoes to fill. The 3-CD collection traces the development of '60s British soul and R&B from the mod period to the first flowering of psychedelia featuring a blend of names
Ain't Misbehavin': Mosaic Collects Louis Armstrong's "Complete RCA Victor and Columbia Studio Sessions 1946-66"
Throughout his remarkable and influential career, Louis Armstrong recorded in a variety of styles for a number of labels. In April, some of his most significant sides for both RCA Victor and Columbia are coming to CD in a new box set from the fine folks at Mosaic Records. The Complete Louis Armstrong Columbia and RCA Victor Studio Sessions 1946-1966 is a sprawling and comprehensive 7-CD collection with all 29 of Satchmo's 1946-47 RCA sides plus his '50s Columbia LPs with producer George
Blame It on the Boogie: Legacy Expands Three Jacksons Albums, Reissues "Live!" on Vinyl
45 years after their first recordings were released by Epic and Philadelphia International Records, Sony's Legacy Recordings is turning its attention to The Jacksons. On February 12, the labels will issue digital-only expanded editions of The Jacksons (1976), Goin' Places (1977), and Destiny (1978) while on March 26, a 2-LP vinyl version of The Jacksons Live! (1981) will be released. After seven years at Motown, four-fifths of The Jackson 5 - Michael, Tito, Marlon, and Jackie - made the move
Little Wonder: David Bowie's "Brilliant Live Adventures" Series Continues with 1997 "Look at the Moon!"
The fourth installment of David Bowie's six-concert Brilliant Live Adventures build-it-yourself box set is now available for pre-order. On February 12, Look at the Moon! (Live Phoenix Festival '97) will arrive from Parlophone Records in 2-CD and 3-LP versions. Both formats are one-run-only releases. Look at the Moon! was recorded on July 20, 1997 at the Phoenix Festival at Long Marston Airfield near Shakespeare birthplace Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Bowie was backed by Zachary Alford on
Tommy James and The Shondells' "Celebration: The Complete Roulette Recordings" Out Today on Grapefruit
UPDATED 1/29: Ohio-born, Michigan-raised rocker Tommy James fronted some of the 1960s' most indelible hits, including "I Think We're Alone Now," "Mony Mony," "Crystal Blue Persuasion," "Sweet Cherry Wine," and the chart-topping "Hanky Panky" and "Crimson and Clover." Combining garage rock attitude with pop polish, Tommy James and The Shondells' recordings are still beloved staples of oldies radio today. Now, all of those hits and more have returned to CD in a new 6-disc box set from Cherry
Life Lessons: America's Gerry Beckley Looks Back on New Solo Career Retrospective "Keeping the Light On"
For over fifty years, Gerry Beckley has performed, written, and recorded with the group he co-founded with Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek, America. But with his 1995 album Van Go Gan, Beckley began a parallel solo career that also continues to this very day. On the heels of his sublime 2019 release Five Mile Road, the singer-songwriter is looking back with a new solo retrospective. Keeping the Light On: The Best of Gerry Beckley will arrive in 2-CD and 2-LP formats via the Blue Élan label on
Puttin' on the Ritz: Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein" London Cast Comes to CD from NoteforNote Music
Young Frankenstein, billed as The New Mel Brooks Musical, came to Broadway in fall 2007 as one of the Great White Way's most hotly-anticipated tickets. A musical adaptation of Brooks' beloved 1974 film, the production reunited the creative team behind The Producers, the record-breaking, multiple Tony Award-winning show that had closed in spring '07 after six years and 2,502 performances: composer, lyricist, and librettist Brooks; co-librettist Thomas Meehan (Annie, Hairspray);
Heavy: Cherry Red, Esoteric Collect Iron Butterfly's "Unconscious Power" on New Box Set
Truth in advertising: Iron Butterfly's first album was titled Heavy. The 1968 Atco Records release introduced the band's dense sound fusing hard rock and psychedelia with a set of original songs plus a reimagining of Allen Toussaint's "Get Out of My Life Woman." While three-fifths of the band left after that debut, Heavy nonetheless began Iron Butterfly on a journey encompassing four studio LPs, one-off tracks, and live sets through 1971. Now, that journey has been lavishly chronicled on a
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