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/ Joe Marchese

Get It Moving! Analog Spark Reissues Original "Raspberries" On Vinyl

February 29, 2016 By Joe Marchese 5 Comments

Raspberries Vinyl LP

Analog Spark is going all the way with its next vinyl LP reissue. The audiophile imprint of Razor and Tie has recently made a 180-gram deluxe reissue of The Raspberries' classic 1972 self-titled debut available on its website, with an arrival at Amazon and other retailers on March 11.  Over the course of just four albums released between 1972 and 1974, The Raspberries positioned themselves as legitimate heirs to the thrones of The Beatles, The Beach Boys and The Byrds.  With jangly guitars,

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Categories: News Formats: Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Pop Tags: Eric Carmen, The Raspberries

Review: Emitt Rhodes, "Rainbow Ends"

February 26, 2016 By Joe Marchese 5 Comments

Emmit Rhodes Rainbow Ends

A new Emitt Rhodes album.  That's right, say it again - a new Emitt Rhodes album.  With the release of Rainbow Ends, Omnivore Recordings has delivered on what has long been thought an impossibility.  The cult tunesmith and multi-instrumentalist earned his stripes as a member of The Palace Guard and then the harmony-soaked LA band The Merry-Go-Round ("You're a Very Lovely Woman," "Live") before recording four beautiful solo albums for A&M and ABC/Dunhill.  His last full-length LP, Farewell

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Categories: Reviews Formats: CD, Digital Download, Vinyl Genre: Pop Tags: Emitt Rhodes

Wishing On A Star: BBR Reissues, Expands Ashford and Simpson, Rose Royce On CD

February 26, 2016 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Ashford and Simpson I Wanna Be Selfish

Big Break Records has recently returned to the catalogues of Ashford and Simpson and Rose Royce for a trio of new, expanded and remastered reissues. Gimme Something Real (1973) and I Wanna Be Selfish (1974), Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson's first two albums for Warner Bros. Records, concludes BBR's survey of the duo's WB years.  Gimme Something Real introduced all but the most diehard fans to the already-famous songwriters as singer-songwriters.  As "Valerie and Nick," they had released

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Disco/Dance, R&B/Soul Tags: Ashford and Simpson, Rose Royce

Release Round-Up: Week of February 26

February 26, 2016 By Joe Marchese 1 Comment

Bowie at the Beeb Vinyl Box

Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up filled with deluxe reissues on vinyl and CD, box sets, new releases from veteran artists, and more! Michael Jackson, Off the Wall (Epic/Legacy) CD/DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada CD/BD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada The King of Pop's 1979 Epic solo debut Off the Wall is revived for 2016 with an additional DVD or BD of Spike Lee's acclaimed new documentary about the making of the album, Michael Jackson's Journey from

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Categories: News Formats: Blu-Ray, Box Sets, CD, Digital Download, DVD, SACD, Vinyl Genre: Cast Recordings, Classic Rock, Country, Jazz, Pop, Rock Tags: Billy Cobham, Bonnie Raitt, Burt Bacharach, David Bowie, Emmit Rhodes, Herbie Hancock, Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, Stephen Sondheim, Todd Rundgren, Willie Nelson

From Memphis To New Orleans: Ace Collects Stax, DeLuxe Rarities

February 25, 2016 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Other Side of the Trax

Bring on the B-sides! Despite its title, the massive, indispensable box set The Complete Stax/Volt Singles 1964-1968 concentrated on A-sides, presenting only a fraction of the labels' valuable flips.  The box left many worthy B-sides overlooked in the CD era, but Ace Records' Kent imprint has redressed that situation with the release of The Other Side of the Trax: Stax-Volt 45 RPM Rarities 1964-1968. All but one of the 24 tracks on this new compilation are all making their official CD

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Carla Thomas, Dave Bartholomew, Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, Various Artists, William Bell

Reviews: Stan Getz and João Gilberto, "Getz/Gilberto '76" and Stan Getz, "Moments in Time"

February 24, 2016 By Joe Marchese 13 Comments

Getz Gilberto 76

Resonance Records has recently tapped the archives of the fondly-remembered San Francisco jazz spot Keystone Korner for two valuable additions on compact disc and vinyl to the Stan Getz discography.  The late tenor saxophone legend's appearances at the nightspot between May 11 and 16, 1976 have been culled to create two new albums.  Moments in Time preserves nine performances from Getz's core sets, while its companion is even more special.  Getz/Gilberto '76 is a new entry to the small but

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Vinyl Genre: Jazz Tags: Joao Gilberto, Stan Getz

Bedtime Stories: Morello Reissues Albums by Tammy Wynette and Guy Clark

February 24, 2016 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Tammy Wynette Bedtime Story and My Man

Morello Records, an imprint of Cherry Red Group, continues to salute the greats of country music with recent releases from Tammy Wynette and Guy Clark. Last year, the label reissued Tammy Wynette's The First Lady and We Can Sure Love Each Other, from 1970 and 1971, respectively, on one CD.  Now, a two-fer has emerged with The First Lady of Country Music's next two Epic albums, both from 1972: Bedtime Story and My Man. Both albums are very much of a piece.  They continued Wynette's long

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Country Tags: Guy Clark, Tammy Wynette

I'm Just Wild About "Eubie!": Kritzerland Brings Rare Broadway Cast Album to CD

February 23, 2016 By Joe Marchese 2 Comments

Eubie OBC

Next month, a new musical begins previews on Broadway with the unlikely title of Shuffle Along, or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921, and All That Followed.  The show chronicles the backstage drama behind the musical Shuffle Along as it broke new ground for African-Americans both on and offstage.  The composer was Eubie Blake (1887-1983), whose infectious jazz and ragtime melodies would captivate listeners throughout the whole of the 20th century and make him a popular guest with the

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Cast Recordings Tags: Eubie Blake, Gregory Hines, Maurice Hines

In The Mood: Rollofone Label Celebrates Glenn Miller On New Album Of 78 RPM Records

February 22, 2016 By Joe Marchese 2 Comments

Glenn Miller Swing for the Jukebox

The vinyl revival has certainly brought its fair share of unexpected projects on 33 and 45...but how about 78 RPM?  Rollofone Records, a Texas-based independent label, recently announced plans to reissue ten sides from the legendary Glenn Miller Orchestra as a limited edition album of five 78 RPM records entitled Swing for the Jukebox. Featuring Miller's signature "Moonlight Serenade" as well as the era-defining, chart-topping "In the Mood" and "Tuxedo Junction" and other hits like

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Categories: News Formats: Vinyl Genre: Popular Standards/Vocal Tags: The Glenn Miller Orchestra

Analog Spark Breathes New Life Into Three Classic Broadway Cast Recordings

February 19, 2016 By Joe Marchese 2 Comments

West Side Story OBC

Curtain up!  Analog Spark, the audiophile imprint of Razor and Tie, has brought back the luster of yesteryear with a trio of reissues from the days when people dressed up to go to the theatre.  The label has given the Original Broadway Cast Recordings of My Fair Lady, West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof the deluxe treatment on 180-gram vinyl, and indeed, one would be hard-pressed to think of three titles more worthy of the presentation. Fair Lady, Fiddler and West Side all reveal

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Categories: Reviews Formats: Vinyl Genre: Cast Recordings Tags: Alan Jay Lerner, Arthur Laurents, Chita Rivera, Frederick Loewe, Jerry Bock, Julie Andrews, Leonard Bernstein, Sheldon Harnick, Stephen Sondheim, Zero Mostel

Release Round-Up: Week of February 19

February 19, 2016 By Joe Marchese 3 Comments

Yvonne Elliman Night Flight and Yvonne

Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up with titles from legends of pop, jazz, country and more! Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto, Getz/Gilberto '76 (Resonance) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) In 1976, Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto reunited at San Francisco's Keystone Korner alongside pianist Joanne Brackeen, bassist Clint Houston and drummer Billy Hart.  Their never-before-released set arrives in lavish fashion from Resonance Records on CD and vinyl.  The deluxe CD includes a

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Categories: Release Round-Up Formats: CD Genre: Country, Jazz, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock Tags: Bruce Broughton, Buck Owens, Fun Lovin' Criminals, Joao Gilberto, Stan Getz, Tammy Wynette, Yvonne Elliman

Go Your Own Way: Fleetwood Mac's "In Concert" Gets Standalone Vinyl Release

February 18, 2016 By Joe Marchese 2 Comments

Fleetwood Mac In Concert

Last December, Fleetwood Mac expanded its seminal album Tusk to box set proportions.  Among the material premiering on the Tusk: Deluxe Edition was an all-new 2-CD concert album featuring 22 previously unreleased live recordings from the band's 1979-1980 tour. On March 4, Fleetwood Mac: In Concert will arrive for the first time as a stand-alone vinyl release.  Pressed on 180-gram vinyl with Tusk-inspired artwork, its three LPs will be presented in a tri-fold jacket. The music heard on In

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Categories: News Formats: Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Pop Tags: Fleetwood Mac

Love Is: Robinsongs Reissues A Quiet Storm Pair from Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly

February 17, 2016 By Joe Marchese 1 Comment

Maze Silky Soul Two Fer

Frankie Beverly began his recording career in his native Philadelphia, but it wasn't until he took his band Raw Soul to San Francisco that the group began to pick up steam.  With the support of Marvin Gaye, Raw Soul became Maze, one of the biggest proponents of the "quiet storm" sound.  Late last year, Cherry Red's Robinsongs label reissued the final two albums by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly - Silky Soul and Back to Basics - as one 2-CD set with bonus tracks. Gaye reportedly came up with

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Maze

Review: JD Souther, "Black Rose" and "Home By Dawn" Expanded Editions

February 16, 2016 By Joe Marchese 1 Comment

JD Souther Home by Dawn

Omnivore Recordings continues to mine one of the great underrated catalogues in contemporary pop-rock with two more titles from singer-songwriter JD Souther.  Black Rose (1976) has been joined on compact disc by Home by Dawn (1984) with both titles splendidly remastered and featuring previously unreleased bonus tracks.  These definitive reissues aren't to be missed. The wide-ranging Black Rose, originally released on Asylum Records, remains Souther's most diverse and expansive musical

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Categories: Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Classic Rock, Pop Tags: JD Souther

They Are Family: BBR Reissues, Expands Sister Sledge's Debut "Circle of Love"

February 16, 2016 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Sister Sledge Circle of Love

"We Are Family" catapulted Sister Sledge to stardom in 1979, but while the uplifting anthem was a breakthrough, it wasn't a beginning.  Philadelphia-based Kathy Sledge and her three older sisters Debbie, Joni and Kim had been recording for Atlantic Records since 1973 when all four members were still teenagers.  In 1975, Sister Sledge's first album, Circle of Love, was released.  This lost gem has been previously released on CD in a bare-bones version, but Cherry Red's Big Break Records label has

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Disco/Dance, R&B/Soul Tags: Sister Sledge

Release Round-Up: Week of February 12

February 12, 2016 By Joe Marchese 6 Comments

Barbara Mandrell This Time

Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up featuring the lost songs of a country-pop superstar, two more entries into an underrated SoCal songbook, new music from veteran artists, and much more! Barbara Mandrell, This Time I Almost Made It: The Lost Columbia Masters (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) We all know Barbara Mandrell did make it...as one of the most successful country crossover superstars of all time.  Now, Real Gone has rescued the legendary

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Categories: Release Round-Up Formats: CD, Digital Download, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Country, Jazz, Pop Tags: Barbara Mandrell, Charles Bukowski, Dion, J.D. Souther, Marty Balin, Maynard Ferguson, Paul Carrack

Cherry Red, SoulMusic Revive Philly Disco Sounds of Anglo-Saxon Brown

February 10, 2016 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Anglo Saxon Brown

The team of Joseph Jefferson and Charles Simmons is best remembered today for their string of memorable songs penned for The Spinners under the aegis of Philadelphia soul maestro Thom Bell: "Mighty Love," "Games People Play," "Love Don't Love Nobody."  But like many of the talented artists orbiting the creatively fertile Philly scene of the period, Jefferson and Simmons were multi-faceted.  In 1975, Jefferson became involved with Ujima, a Richmond, Virginia-founded band that had previously

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Anglo-Saxon Brown

Review: The Monkees, "Classic Album Collection" and "The Cereal Box Singles"

February 9, 2016 By Joe Marchese 14 Comments

Monkees Classic Album Collection

2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the first time Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork first hit TV screens and record sleeves as The Monkees, and indeed, it's shaping up to be an auspicious year.  In advance of the restored Blu-ray premiere of The Monkees' television show, new album Good Times! and a tour featuring Dolenz and Tork, Rhino has released The Monkees 50: Classic Album Collection, a 10-disc box set collecting the original version of every one of the band's Colgems

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Categories: Reviews Formats: Box Sets, CD, Vinyl Genre: Pop Tags: Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork, The Monkees

When I Say Groove: Ace Explores "Detroit Soul," "South Texas Rhythm 'n' Soul" On Recent Compilations

February 8, 2016 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Dave Hamiltons Detroit Soul 2

When it comes to chronicling the various regional iterations of rock and soul, Ace Records has few equals.  The U.K. label's Kent imprint has two recent, rarities-packed collections touching on two American locales and their contributions to popular music. Dave Hamilton's Detroit Soul Volume Two brings together 24 tracks spanning the 1960s-1980s from Hamilton's small but prolific Motor City studios.  Hamilton had been a presence on the Detroit musical landscape since the late 1940s, and

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Carolyn Franklin, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Ronnie Milsap, Various Artists

Love to Love: The Monkees Announce New Album "Good Times!" Coming In June

February 5, 2016 By Joe Marchese 14 Comments

Monkees Good Times

The Monkees turn 50 this year - and the celebration is just getting bigger and bigger!  Rhino has already released two titles in conjunction with the label's Start Your Ear Off Right campaign, The Classic Album Collection and The Cereal Box Singles (watch this space for reviews soon!), and the eagerly-awaited Blu-ray box set of the classic television show is due on April 29.  Today, Rhino and Micky Dolenz took to Rolling Stone to confirm more big news: the first new Monkees album in 20 years. 

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Vinyl Genre: Pop Tags: Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork, The Monkees

Release Round-Up: Week of February 5

February 5, 2016 By Joe Marchese 5 Comments

Elton Wonderful Crazy Night

Welcome to February's first Release Round-Up! Elton John, Wonderful Crazy Night (Island/UMe) Deluxe Edition CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Standard Edition CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Box Set: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Sir Elton returns with his 32nd studio album!  Featuring his longtime band and production by T Bone Burnett, Wonderful Crazy Night returns Elton to his upbeat, piano

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Categories: Release Round-Up Formats: CD, Digital Download, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Country, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul, Rock Tags: Chicago, Doug Sahm, Elton John, Grateful Dead, Ides of March, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Nancy LaMott, Ralph Stanley, The Circle Jerks

Feelin' Groovy: Now Sounds Collects Harpers Bizarre's "Complete Singles"

February 4, 2016 By Joe Marchese 3 Comments

Harpers Bizarre Complete Singles Collection

Now Sounds is back with its first release of 2016, and with it, the label is spreading some California sunshine.  Harpers Bizarre's The Complete Singles Collection 1965-1970 compiles all 26 sides issued on 45 RPM singles by Warner Bros. Records, including tracks from the group's early incarnation as The Tikis and numerous mono mixes never before available on CD.  The resulting release, which follows Now Sounds' reissues of Harpers' Feelin' Groovy and Anything Goes albums, is a refreshing journey

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Pop Tags: Harpers Bizarre

Omnivore Readies New Releases From Soul Man Winfield Parker, Jazz Great Maynard Ferguson

February 4, 2016 By Joe Marchese 1 Comment

Winfield Parker at Ru Jac

Omnivore Recordings continues to heat up winter 2016 with releases coming from R&B titan Winfield Parker and late jazz giant Maynard Ferguson. Throughout his long career which happily continues to this day, Winfield Parker has shared stages with the illustrious likes of James Brown, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Little Richard, Etta James, Carla Thomas and Lloyd Price.  Parker began his singing career at Baltimore's Ru-Jac label, one of America's first African-American-owned record

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Digital Download, Vinyl Genre: Jazz, R&B/Soul Tags: Maynard Ferguson, Winfield Parker

RPM Collects Mod-Rockers The Mickey Finn, Reissues Two Albums From Tim Rose

February 3, 2016 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Mickey Finn Garden of My Mind

Cherry Red's RPM label closed out 2015 on a high note with a couple of releases in today's spotlight, from mod rockers The Mickey Finn and singer-songwriter Tim Rose. The Mickey Finn traveled in the same circles as The Rolling Stones and The Pretty Things, but despite some very close calls, the band never hit the big time.  Garden of My Mind: The Complete Recordings collects The Mickey Finn's 1964-1967 Blue Beat, Oriole, Columbia, Polydor and Direction singles along with previously unreleased

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Classic Rock, Pop Tags: The Mickey Finn, Tim Rose

Popsicles, Icicles and More: Ace Collects The Best of The Murmaids

February 2, 2016 By Joe Marchese 1 Comment

The Murmaids

Ace Records has recently made quite a splash with the first-ever comprehensive compendium from one-hit wonder girl group The Murmaids.  But as the collection so accurately titled A Few of the Things We Love reveals, the girls had more to offer than just "Popsicles and Icicles."  This collection is pure girl group manna! That nostalgic composition by the young David Gates, pre-"Make It with You" and "Baby I'm a-Want You" fame, of course kicks off this 21-track anthology comprising The

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Pop Tags: The Murmaids

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