Looking for our usual Release Round-Up? Alas, there's not much new in the way of catalogue music this Friday (and we've already filled you in on Billy Paul and Leon Russell!), but for a very good reason: tomorrow sees releases a-plenty as part of Record Store Day! Without further ado, welcome to our annual rundown of Must-Haves for this year's RSD event! Once you're through reading, let us know what you're most looking forward to picking up tomorrow at your favorite local independent
Review: Nat “King” Cole, “Ultimate Nat King Cole” and “International Nat King Cole” [UPDATED]
March 17, 2019 would have been Nat "King" Cole's 100th birthday. While the man born Nathaniel Adams Coles only lived to the age of 45, he more than earned his royal moniker over his three decades of performing. He paved the way for African-American artists as the first black man to host a nationwide television variety show, and quietly but devotedly crusaded for civil rights. At the time of his death, at the height of Beatlemania, he was selling some seven million records a year. The Cole
Release Round-Up: Week of April 5
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! David Bowie, Spying Through a Keyhole: Demos and Unreleased Songs (Parlophone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Spying Through a Keyhole: Demos and Unreleased Songs is the new box set with four seven-inch vinyl singles of some of Bowie's earliest material. It will feature nine rare, monaural recordings, including mostly solo vocal-and-guitar versions of familiar songs ("Space Oddity" in its earliest known version, "London Bye Ta Ta,"
Motown Did It First: Japan’s Motown 60 Campaign Reissues Supremes, Temptations, Four Tops, Gladys, Martha, Brenda, and More
Motown Did It First! That's the campaign slogan for Universal Japan's ongoing program celebrating the venerable label's 60th anniversary. And indeed, the influence of Motown - still the most successful African-American-founded record label of all time - can't be underestimated when considering the current music scene. A number of physical releases have already been released in Japan to mark the anniversary, most of which are available as affordable imports and include titles not commonly
Review: Nat “King” Cole, “Ultimate Nat King Cole”
Yesterday, March 17, 2019, would have been Nat "King" Cole's 100th birthday. While the man born Nathaniel Adams Coles only lived to the age of 45, he more than earned his royal moniker over his three decades of performing. He paved the way for African-American artists as the first black man to host a nationwide television variety show, and quietly but devotedly crusaded for civil rights. At the time of his death, at the height of Beatlemania, he was selling some seven million records a
Release Round-Up: Week of March 15
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Nat King Cole, Ultimate Nat King Cole (Capitol/UMe) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada To celebrate Nat King Cole's centennial and his legacy of enduring music, Capitol/UMe has partnered with the Nat King Cole Estate for a number of exciting projects. Among them are two new collections that showcase Cole's remarkable talents -- both available today Ultimate Nat King Cole arrives on CD and digital, with a 2-LP configuration to
Release Round-Up: Week of March 8
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Pamela Polland, Pamela Polland/Have You Heard the One About the Gas Station Attendant? (BGO) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) BGO collects the two Columbia albums of singer-songwriter Pamela Polland in one deluxe, slipcased package - her 1972 self-titled LP and 1973 follow-up which was shelved and never released...until now! Pamela Polland and Have You Heard the One About the Gas Station Attendant? are filled with enchanting pop
The Story of His Life: Hal David Celebrated on Public Television, Upcoming CD and DVD
"Words by Hal David." That credit graces many of the most cherished popular songs of the second half of the twentieth century, including "(They Long To Be) Close To You," "I Say a Little Prayer," "The Look of Love," and of course, "What the World Needs Now Is Love." Beginning this weekend, Public Television stations nationwide will be celebrating the life and legacy of Hal David with a new special. What the World Needs Now: Words by Hal David from John Paulson Productions is hosted by The
Love Is The Thing: Nat “King” Cole Comes to Public Television, New CD Collection and DVD
All hail the King! The velvet voice of Nat "King" Cole is coming this weekend to Public Television as TJ Lubinsky's My Music series premieres a centennial celebration of the late singer-pianist born March 17, 1919. My Music: Nat King Cole's Greatest Songs includes full performances of his greatest hits, most beloved classics, and favorite standards including the timeless "Mona Lisa," "Unforgettable" and "When I Fall in Love," the cool "Route 66," and jubilant "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of
Release Round-Up: Week of March 1
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, The Best of Everything (Geffen/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) On the heels of the release of the acclaimed rarities box set An American Treasure, a new career-spanning anthology arrives from the late Tom Petty. The Best of Everything is subtitled The Definitive Career-Spanning Hits Collection 1976-2016 and features 38 tracks from the soulful rock-and-roller, including two previously unreleased
Release Round-Up: Week of February 22
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! We kick off with not one, but two, releases from The Zombies! The Zombies, The Complete Studio Recordings (Varese Vintage) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) The 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees are being celebrated this week with two comprehensive vinyl box sets - one for the U.S., and one for the U.K. market. The 5-LP, 61-track U.S. version, from Varese Vintage, includes the band's two American albums in mono - She's Not
UPDATED WITH MORE INFO: An Occasional Dream: More Bowie Demos Announced For Second Vinyl Box
A second box set of David Bowie demos has been announced by his estate, following the recent announcement of a first box, Spying Through a Keyhole, this spring. Clareville Grove Demos will arrive on May 17 from Parlophone. The box will feature six additional 1969 home recordings (four previously unreleased), all performed with singer/guitarist John "Hutch" Hutchinson, his former cohort in the trio Feathers (alongside then-girlfriend Hermione Farthingale). Several of these tracks were heard
You Will Believe: La-La Land Restores Williams’ ‘Superman’ Score For 40th Anniversary
Look, up in the sky! (You knew we were going to say that!) Following remastered releases of the scores to Superman II, Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest For Peace in 2018, La-La Land Records returns to the one that started it all: a brilliant new remastered edition of John Williams' score to Superman: The Movie, landing just a few months after its 40th anniversary. (In an amazing confluence of events, today's announcement comes on "Superman Soundtrack Day," the same date as two previous
Release Round-Up: Week of February 15
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Elvis Presley, The Best of the '68 Comeback Special (RCA/Legacy) Standard CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Walmart Exclusive CD/DVD: Walmart.com The celebration of Elvis Presley's legendary 1968 NBC television special continues. The Best of the '68 Comeback Special features highlights from Legacy's recent '68 Comeback Special box set with performances culled from both of the "stand-up" and "sit-down" shows recorded in June,
Love’s Themes: Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra To Receive New Box Set, Vinyl Reissues
After an astounding 2018 for Barry White reissues, including a box of remastered albums as well as complete singles sets for not only himself but girl group Love Unlimited and backing group The Love Unlimited Orchestra, UMe is preparing more "White gold" for fans next month. This time, The Love Unlimited Orchestra's first seven albums will be collected as The 20th Century Records Albums (1973-1979) on March 29. White sumptuous arrangements for the orchestra were readily apparent on his own
An Occasional Dream: More Bowie Demos Announced For Second Vinyl Box
Another vinyl box set of David Bowie demos has been announced by his estate, following the recent announcement of a first box, Spying Through a Keyhole, this spring. Clareville Grove Demos will feature six additional 1969 home recordings (four previously unreleased), all performed with singer/guitarist John "Hutch" Hutchinson, his former cohort in the trio Feathers (alongside then-girlfriend Hermione Farthingale). Several of these tracks were heard in final form on Bowie's self-titled 1969
Never Grow Old: Aretha’s Early Gospel Recordings Back On Vinyl In March
UMe will commemorate the late, legendary Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, with a new vinyl reissue of her earliest recordings next month. Songs Of Faith: Aretha Gospel offers nine gospel standards recorded by a 14-year-old Aretha in 1956 at the New Bethel Church in her native Detroit, where her father, the legendary Rev. C.L. Franklin, would give his inimitable sermons. Predating her tenure on Columbia Records by six years and her breakthrough on Atlantic Records by more than a decade, these
Soundtrack Watch: Intrada Expands ‘An American Tail,’ La-La Land Releases Scores by Zimmer and Legrand
Almost halfway through February, three soundtracks from titans of film composing have been released by the fine folks at Intrada and La- La Land Records. On Monday, Intrada's latest archival soundtrack was announced: an expansion of James Horner's score to the hit An American Tail. Directed by Don Bluth (The Secret of NIMH, All Dogs Go To Heaven) and produced by Steven Spielberg, this movie--one of the few mainstream animated films of the '80s not produced by Disney--tells the story of Fievel
Release Round-Up: Week of February 8
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Prince, Musicology [Various Formats] (Legacy) 1-CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2-LP black vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2-LP purple vinyl: Prince Official Store Today, three of Prince's essential 2000s albums arrive on CD and, for the first time ever, LP. Musicology marked Prince's return to a major label and to the upper heights of the charts. It reached the Top Five on the Billboard Album Chart in
A Shell of a Soundtrack: ‘Ninja Turtles’ Score Debuting From Waxwork Records (CD UPDATE 2/6)
UPDATE (2/6/2019): CD buyers rejoice! Waxwork is now taking orders on their site for this soundtrack, featuring CD-sized versions of the art and packaging and the same track list. An Amazon link for the standard vinyl is below, as well. ORIGINAL POST (10/4/2018): They're lean, they're green, and they're on...your turntable? Vinyl soundtrack label Waxwork Records has a real treat coming this month, with the premiere release of John Du Prez's score for 1990's Teenage Mutant Ninja
30 and Life: Skid Row’s Debut Gets Digital Expansion With Unreleased Live Show
Rhino's celebrating the 30th anniversary of hair-metal group Skid Row's breakthrough debut album with a new digital expanded edition. The Toms River, NJ-based band, fronted by the inimitable Sebastian Bach, spent 1989 taking over the charts with their first album, supported with memorable music videos and a carefully-honed live act, serving as opening act for Bon Jovi, Aerosmith and Mötley Crüe that year. Featuring sharp production by Michael Wagener (Dokken, White Lion), Skid Row has gone
Release Round-Up: Week of February 1
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Johnny Mathis, I Love My Lady (Second Disc Records/Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Link TBD) Johnny Mathis' legendary lost 1981 collaboration with CHIC receives its first-ever standalone release from Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music! For the occasion, I Love My Lady has been outfitted with brand-new artwork and a deluxe 24-page booklet featuring an introduction from Nile Rodgers and interviews with Johnny and
OUT TOMORROW! Johnny Mathis and CHIC’s “I Love My Lady” Arrives From Second Disc Records, Real Gone Music
Johnny Mathis was billed on his very first album as "A New Sound in Popular Song." In the decades since that 1956 debut, the vocalist has always explored new avenues in pop from Latin music to Philly soul. But the most adventurous of Mathis' 60-plus albums may be the one that got away...until now. Tomorrow, Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music will proudly present the first-ever standalone compact disc release of I Love My Lady, the remarkable 1981 album by two American treasures: Johnny
Release Round-Up: Week of January 25
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Big Star, Live on WLIR (Omnivore) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2-LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Omnivore has Live On WLIR, a newly restored and remastered version of Big Star's legendary 1974 radio broadcast. The 15-track collection is available on CD and 2-LP. The release marks the vinyl debut of this raw, live set. Read more here! Love Actually: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Real Gone
Intrada Launches ‘Apollo 13’ Expansion As First Score Title Of 2019
For its first soundtrack release of the new year, Intrada's taking fans to the stars with a definitive release of the score to Apollo 13, as composed by the late, great James Horner. Ron Howard's blockbuster drama is based on the real 1970 mission to the moon, which turned into a race back to Earth when an explosion depleted most of the crew's oxygen supplies. Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon and Bill Paxton portrayed the mission's crew, and the production team maintained a strong sense of accuracy and