The legendary rock group KISS will release a new, career-spanning compilation, KISSWORLD: The Best of KISS on Friday, January 25, through UMe. The collection will arrive on CD and digitally first, with standard 2-LP black vinyl and UMe-exclusive color vinyl editions available on March 29. With a record-breaking number of Gold records, KISS have long been established as one of the most successful American rock bands. Forty-five years after their first concert, they've now launched the 2019
Darling, It’s Incredible: Nat King Cole’s Centennial Celebrated With Two New Compilations and Marvin Gaye Tribute Album
Unforgettable...that's what he is. This year marks what would have been the 100th birthday of one of America's finest performers of popular song: Nat "King" Cole. In his decades-long career, Cole blazed the trail for many entertainers to come, influencing the likes of Count Basie and Ray Charles along the way. Universal Music Group will celebrate his milestone centennial with a pair of retrospectives this spring, plus a digital expansion of another vocal icon paying tribute to the
Locked Away: Keith Richards Premieres Unreleased Material on “Talk Is Cheap” 30th Anniversary
Keith Richards is set to have a busy year. He and The Rolling Stones recently announced a headlining slot at the 50th New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival as part of the band's U.S. No Filter Festival. Now, Keith and BMG have teamed up for a special look at his debut solo album, Talk Is Cheap, due out March 29. Originally released in 1988, Talk Is Cheap found Richards leading an impressive roster of musicians, including Ivan Neville, Bootsy Collins, Maceo Parker, The Memphis Horns, and even
Dreams Do Come True: Run Out Groove Plans Four New Titles from Ronnie Hawkins, Better Than Ezra, Fred Neil, Incredible String Band
For the last several years, Run Out Groove, has given music fans the power to vote on new vinyl titles mined from the vaults of Warner Music. Over the years, some stellar titles just didn't get enough votes to move on to the pressing plants. Today, Run Out Groove announced a new partnership with vinyl micro-pressers QRATES to bring some of these worthy titles onto vinyl. The titles up for pre-order include: Better Than Ezra'sFriction, Baby, Fred Neil's Bleecker & MacDougal, The
Move On Up: Curtis Mayfield Albums Collected on “Keep On Keeping On”
2019 marks the fiftieth anniversary of Curtis Mayfield's solo career. He had previously spent 14 years as a member and driving force of The Impressions. His unique voice and guitar stylings, not to mention his exemplary songwriting skills, helped bring the world such classics as "It's All Right," "Gypsy Woman," and the iconic "People Get Ready." When Mayfield split with The Impressions in 1969, he forged a new chapter in his career and in soul music. His unique blend of gospel-influenced
On The Frontier: Esoteric Announces Renaissance “Ashes Are Burning,” Byrds’ Self-Titled Reissues, 1968 Box Set, and More
February promises to be a packed month for music fans, as Esoteric brings listeners a new, expanded reissue of Renaissance's 1973 classic, Ashes Are Burning, as well as a reissue of The Byrds, the reunion album by the legendary folk-rock group. Also on the way are reissues of Tear Gas's self-titled album, an expanded edition of Greenslade's Time and Tide, and a new 3-CD set called Revolution: Underground Sounds of 1968. Meanwhile, Esoteric's Reactive imprint will issue a 4-CD set
Review: Ministry, “Greatest Fits” (Run Out Groove Vinyl Reissue)
In the last few months, Run Out Groove has continued an initiative to get recent classics from the new millennium onto wax. With deluxe packaging and heavyweight, colored vinyl pressings, the label's limited-edition LP releases present Warner titles from the CD-era and beyond treasures in a unique and new way. Now, Greatest Fits, a 2001 compilation by industrial rock forerunners Ministry has received the Run Out Groove treatment with its first-ever vinyl appearance. The Second Disc was able to
Holding Court: King Crimson Announces 50th Anniversary Plans with New Single, Box Sets, Tour, and More!
Rock royalty King Crimson celebrate their golden jubilee this year and yesterday, January 13 - exactly 50 years since their first rehearsals - the band announced a wealth of new projects and plans to celebrate the momentous feat. Along with an upcoming documentary and ongoing download series, fans can expect a new tour, vinyl reissues, box sets, and live releases from the vault. We'll have full details for each release as they're announced, but to whet your appetite, here's a look at what the
Review: Permanent Green Light, “Hallucinations”
Power-pop and Paisley Underground acolytes had reason to celebrate in late 2018. Omnivore Recordings released a brand-new compilation album called Hallucinations, a collection of cult classics, deep cuts, and rarities from the '90s rock group Permanent Green Light, who were the torch-bearers of the psych-rock scene in L.A. early in the decade. The Second Disc was able to hear the new set and are delighted to report back on the excellent comp, which puts on full display Permanent Green Lights's
“Harmony in My Head: UK Power Pop and New Wave, 1977-81” Collects Costello, Squeeze, Nick Lowe, Searchers, More
In recent years, Cherry Red Records has made waves with their box set celebrations of music eras gone by. From late-'70s Scottish independent releases and '60s Baroque pop, to '80s shoegaze and even the avant-garde sound explorations of Edgard Varese and Karlheinz Stockhausen, the label has a reputation for their meticulous deep-dives into music subcultures. In November, Cherry Red put the spotlight on the late-'70s U.K. pop-rock scene with Harmony In My Head: UK Power Pop & New Wave,
Self Made Man: Real Gone Collects John Hartford Rarities on “Backroads, Rivers, and Memories,” Due in March
John Hartford may be best known as the writer of the classic hit "Gentle On My Mind," but the legacy of the talented singer, musician, and tunesmith reaches beyond that iconic track. When he wasn't playing sidekick to "Gentle" singer Glen Campbell on TV's Good Time Hour or appearing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Hartford was also an in-demand, banjo-picking performer. He appeared for acts like James Taylor, Delaney & Bonnie, Seals & Crofts, and The Byrds. His unique, Flatt and
Back To The Garden: ‘Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration’ Tribute Concert Coming to Theaters in February, Soundtrack Arriving in March
Few musicians have had as lasting an impact on music as Joni Mitchell. In her four-decade career, she made groundbreaking music that traversed genres and continually stunned fans and critics alike. The music icon celebrated her 75th birthday in style last November, as Jörn Weisbrodt and The Music Center in Los Angeles hosted a pair of star-studded Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration concerts in her honor. The line-up (which Joni helped select) featured many of her closest friends and dearest
Can’t Help Myself: Smithsonian Folkways Announces Dave Van Ronk, Lead Belly, and Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee Vinyl Reissues
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings is one of America's iconic record labels. When Moses Asch started Folkways in 1948, his goal was to create an audio encyclopedia of the world. And 70 years and one Smithsonian Institution acquisition later, it's safe to say they've stayed on track with that creed. Their repertoire now includes the 2,000+ classic Folkways titles, as well as the back catalog of other legendary labels like Cook, Paredon, Dyer-Bennett, Arhoolie, and The UNESCO Collection of
You Get What You Deserve: Omnivore To Release 1974 Big Star Concert on “Live On WLIR” CD/LPs
Few bands from the 1970s have seen as much resurgence in popularity as Big Star. Anchored by Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens, the Memphis-based power-pop group didn't make much of a commercial splash during their original years together, but their cult following has grown over the years. That's thanks in no small part to a series of fine reissues by Omnivore Recordings. In January, Omnivore will release Live On WLIR, a new, remastered version of Big Star's legendary 1974 radio broadcast. The
Got a Special Interest: Utopia Singles Collection and Reissue of Zappa’s “200 Motels” On the Way From Pledge Music
In recent years, many artists have teamed up with Pledge Music to bring their music direct to consumers. From small, independent do-it-yourself productions, to massive reissue campaigns by major artists (Cat Stevens' Back To Earth, for example), it's become one of many emerging avenues for artists who want to get their projects out there. Now, two projects by two heroes of "weird" rock have been announced - one a compilation of singles tracks from Todd Rundgren's Utopia, and the other a
Don’t Step On My Groove: Expanded Reissues of Bananarama’s “Drama” and “Viva” Arriving in January
There were few "girl groups" as prolific and successful during the MTV era as Bananarama. The London-formed pop group had a long string of Top 10 U.K. and U.S. singles during the '80s, including "It Ain't What You Do...," "Really Saying Something," "Shy Boy," and covers of Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" and The Shocking Blue's "Venus." Their popularity on the charts and on the dance floor continues, with the group tallying up an impressive 28 Top 50 U.K. singles from 1982 to 2009.
Real Gone To Release ‘Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out’ and ‘Mahoney’s Last Stand’ Soundtracks on Vinyl
In the last few months, Real Gone Music has announced a number of welcome reissues of soundtracks on LP. Next up in the series are two soundtracks to hard-to-find films, due out February 1: one by a countercultural hero and voice of experimentation, the other by a pair of Faces who explore a rural blend of folk-rock. Timothy Leary remains one of the legends of the sixties counterculture scene. He cashed in on the hippies' sense of adventure and experimentation to become a spokesperson for
Another Day In Paradise: Phil Collins Live Albums To Be Reissued in February
It's been a busy few years for Phil Collins. Most recently, he wrapped up the U.S. leg of the successful Not Dead Yet Live! Tour. He released the recent compilation, Plays Well With Others, which saw him dipping into his archives to find his session appearances and collaborations. He also released The Singles and oversaw the remastering of his studio work with the "Take A Look At Me Now" reissue series. Now, the campaign continues with the February 1 release of two remastered live albums
Paul McCartney Surprises Fans With “Get Enough”
Hello and Happy New Year, dear readers. Sure, we said we'd return on January 2, but some news is just too good to wait on, especially when it involves a new Paul McCartney song! Paul McCartney has been his usual busy self in the past few months. Most recently he's been trekking across the world on tour. Earlier this month, he released the latest volumes in his ongoing Archive Collection--Wild Life, Red Rose Speedway, and a deluxe set combining those two volumes with Wings live takes from
Sunny Day: Warner Licenses Sesame Street Catalog for Digital, Streaming, and Future Physical Reissues
Warner Music Group and Sesame Workshop have recently announced a joint effort that marks the relaunch of Sesame Street Records, the label that released over 60 classic originalSesame Street albums from 1970 to 1984. To celebrate 50 years since the program first aired, the extensive Sesame Street music catalog, including original titles and newer collections from Golden Music, Koch and Sony Wonder, has finally joined the streaming age. As of this writing, a whopping 119 titles--many previously
Real Gone Prepares ‘Love Actually’ White Vinyl Reissue, Grateful Dead ‘Road Trips Vol. 3, No, 4’ 3-CD Set for January
As temperatures continue to drop here in the northeast where The Second Disc HQ is stationed, Real Gone Music have announced two reissues that will be good company on a day spent indoors. On January 25, the label will release a 2-LP white vinyl edition of the Love Actually soundtrack in its first-ever vinyl pressing, plus a 3-CD reissue of a hard-to-find Grateful Dead concert collection, Road Trips, Vol. 3, No. 4. With an endearing and clever plot featuring ten interlocking stories and
Things That Come Back Again: Cat Stevens “Back To Earth” Box Set and Vinyl Reissues Announced
"Cat Stevens super deluxe edition box set" -- those are words that for years have been relegated to the "in my wildest dreams" wish list of super fans worldwide. But now, to the surprise of Cat enthusiasts everywhere, those words can soon be placed on your shopping list, as Yusuf (formerly Cat Stevens), Cat-O-Log/BMG, and Pledge Music have announced an extensive reissue of his 1978 album Back To Earth. The title will be re-issued in an array of formats and bundles. Standard 1-CD and black
They Say It’s Wonderful: Sonny Stitt Outtakes Arriving From Run Out Groove, Voting Open for Next Title
Every month, Run Out Groove Vinyl lets music fans vote on a new high-quality vinyl release selected from the Warner Music vault. Last month, three jazz recordings -- Chick Corea's Tones for Joan's Bones, The George Wallington Quartet's The Prestidigitator , and a set of Sonny Stitt outtakes -- were in the running. Jazz fans selected Sonny Stitt's Lone Wolf: The Roost Alternates to be the next limited-edition, numbered LP release by Run Out Groove. The album is available for pre-order now through
Let’s Do It Again: Beach Boys Live Rarities Collected on (Another!) New Copyright Extension Release, “On Tour: 1968”
On the heels of two new collections of vault material celebrating the studio outtakes from Friends and 20/20, The Beach Boys have released a further copyright extension release featuring their work onstage. On Tour: 1968 presents 114 tracks recorded on the road in summer and winter 1968. The Beach Boys were on somewhat rocky ground in 1968. Their popularity in the rock sphere was waning and their seemingly diminishing significance in public perception came to a head when The Beach Boys
Yesterday’s Dreams: UMe Releases “Motown Unreleased: 1968” and “In Loving Memory: Expanded Edition” Copyright Extension Collections
In a winter tradition that's as reliable as any, UMe has released the latest in the annual copyright extension series, entitled Motown Unreleased: 1968. The two-part compilation will arrive to digital download and streaming services today, December 14. Between the two volumes, there's a whopping 88 tantalizing, previously unreleased gems from the Motown vault! Motown heavy-hitters, soul superstars, and fan favorites abound on these two collections. There's a wealth of Stevie Wonder rarities,