One of the most pivotal Broadway shows of the last few decades will be revisited in a special package for its vinyl debut. Spring Awakening, the striking rock musical by Steven Sater (book/lyrics) and Duncan Sheik (music), will have its original cast recording reissued for its 20th anniversary on August 14. In addition to the original songs – now newly mastered for vinyl by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound – this package will also include two previously unreleased recordings of songs cut from the final production. The high-quality gatefold package includes…
Everything’s Heavy Underground: Ben Folds Five to Reissue Debut with ‘Shelved First Attempt’ Bonus Disc
Piano-pounding alternative trio Ben Folds Five will revisit their first album this fall – both versions of their first album. The group’s self-titled debut will be remastered and expanded on September 4, a year after its 30th anniversary mark. This 2CD or 180-gram 2LP release pairs that original album, featuring seminal tracks like “Underground” and “Philosophy,” with a mostly unreleased “Shelved First Attempt” featuring many of the same tracks (and a few others) recorded in an earlier session. Both sets will offer expanded liner notes featuring rare photos and commentary by Folds. It…
Soundtrack Watch: ‘Frankenstein’ from Intrada, Barry and Bond from La-La Land and Quartet, ‘SpongeBob’ and ‘Shrek’ At Varese, and Williams’ Full ‘Disclosure’
Recent weeks have seen some incredible archival soundtrack announcements from many of our favorite labels – as well as a physical release of a new film score we’re quite excited about here. Come take a deep dive with Mike and Randy in our latest Soundtrack Watch! INTRADA 1973’s Frankenstein: The True Story is a two-part British-American television film directed by Jack Smight and loosely adapted from Mary Shelley’s classic novel by Christopher Isherwood and Don Bachardy. Starring Michael Sarrazin as Frankenstein’s Monster, Leonard Whiting as Victor Frankenstein, David McCallum as Dr. Henry Clerval,…
Give the Kid a Break: Alice Cooper’s Early Solo Material Remastered in New Box Set
On July 31, Rhino will celebrate the early years of shock rock legend Alice Cooper with a new 5CD or 5LP box set. The Studio Albums 1975-1978 begins with 1975’s Welcome to My Nightmare, his first proper solo album, and continues with Alice Cooper Goes to Hell (1976), Lace and Whiskey (1977), and From the Inside (1978). The collection is rounded out with a 7-track collection of bonus material encompassing rarities and unique single versions. (In the vinyl set, this bonus album is cut at 45 RPM.) The band Alice Cooper began…
Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow): Rhino Celebrates 60 Years of “The Monkees” with “Made For TV”
On September 12, 1966, television audiences first met The Monkees. Under the auspices of creators Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider, the zany foursome of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork pushed the boundaries of the American sitcom format with their musical misadventures. The Emmy Award-winning comedy only lasted two seasons and 58 episodes on NBC but endured thanks to Saturday morning repeats, syndication, cable, DVD, Blu-ray, and – most notably – the albums recorded by the four young men cast as The Monkees who went on to assume the…
The Force is with Him: New John Williams Addresses His Film Music ‘Legacy’
John Williams’ place in the canon of film music, Hollywood history and American popular culture is well solidified. The 94-year-old composer just saw the release of Disclosure Day, his 30th soundtrack for director Steven Spielberg – a collaboration that’s yielded three Oscar-winning scores in JAWS, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and Schindler’s List plus memorable themes to classic films like Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the Indiana Jones film series and Jurassic Park. Next year, his Oscar-winning work on 1977’s Star Wars – a musical odyssey that’s yielded a trio of film trilogies and multiple spin-off streaming shows and theme park…
All I Want: Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” Turns 55, Rhino Unveils Vinyl and Reel-to-Reel Reissues
Joni Mitchell’s landmark Blue turns 55 this year, and Rhino isn’t letting the occasion go unnoticed. On July 10 – just weeks after the album’s actual anniversary on June 21 – the label will unveil High Fidelity editions on both vinyl and reel-to-reel tape. (For audiophiles who prefer shiny silver discs, Blue was reissued last year on Blu-ray Audio with Atmos, quadraphonic, and high-resolution stereo mixes.) On Blue, Mitchell turned her artistry fully inward for an act of stunning musical self-reflection. Upon hearing the original album, Kris Kristofferson famously quipped “Save something…
Gimme A Slice: Cherry Red, Second Disc Collect The Roches’ Warner Bros. and Rykodisc Albums on “Runs In The Family”
The world first heard the voices of Maggie and Terre Roche on Paul Simon’s 1972 LP There Goes Rhymin’ Simon. With youngest sister Suzzy, The Roches soon carved out a remarkable career of their own. Between 1979 and 2007, Maggie, Terre, and Suzzy pushed the boundaries of so-called folk music. The songs of The Roches were personal, funny, heartbreaking, vulnerable, witty, sad, joyful, and utterly original as the sisters bared their hearts and souls in striking harmony. Now, on September 11, Cherry Red’s Lemon Recordings and Second Disc Records will celebrate The…
Release Round-Up: Week of June 19
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Sheena Easton, The Singles: 1980-1987 (Cherry Pop) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Cherry Pop’s Sheena Easton series has a new crown jewel: a 25CD box set chronicling her singles from the EMI years in the ’80s – and yes, this set has unreleased material as well. The Singles 1980-1987 follows two recent boxes following Easton’s EMI recordings in full (not strictly the original albums, but plenty of unreleased and alternate material in the mix)….
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I Feel Free: Esoteric Collects Jack Bruce Albums, Concerts on “Halfway to the Stars”
The recording career of the late Jack Bruce (1943-2014) spanned the 1960s through the 2010s, encompassing tenures in the Graham Bond Organisation, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Manfred Mann, West, Bruce and Laing, and, of course, Cream (among other bands). Between 1969 and 2014, Bruce released fourteen solo studio albums as well as numerous live sets, videos, and compilations. Now, Cherry Red’s Esoteric Recordings imprint has recently bundled two studio albums and two live sets from the turn of the (new) century as Halfway to the Stars: The Recordings 2001-2003. The bassist/singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist was known…
Never Get Away from the Sound: Fleetwood Mac Expands Quintet-Era ‘Greatest Hits’ Set
Rhino is revisiting the first compilation of Fleetwood Mac’s “classic” quintet era – a push, it appears, ahead of a long-awaited, as-yet unreleased documentary on the band. 1988’s Greatest Hits will be reissued on July 31 in a new double-disc edition on CD and vinyl. In addition to the plethora of smash hits like “Rhiannon,” “Go Your Own Way,” “Dreams,” “Don’t Stop,” “Tusk,” “Gypsy,” “Little Lies” and “Everywhere” – as well as the then-new tracks “As Long As You Follow” and “No Questions Asked” – the set now includes a bonus disc of…
OUT TOMORROW! The 5th Dimension’s Soul City and Bell Albums Collected on New Box from TSD, Cherry Red
2026 marks 60 years of The 5th Dimension–and the celebration is kicking off with the first-ever box set dedicated to the legendary “champagne soul” fivesome! Tomorrow, June 12, is the date for Let the Sunshine In: The Soul City & Bell Albums 1967-1974 from Cherry Red’s Strawberry imprint and Second Disc Records! This comprehensive 6CD collection brings together all of Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis, Jr., Florence LaRue, and the late Ron Townson and LaMonte McLemore’s recordings for the Soul City, Bell, and Arista labels, plus bonus selections including the group’s rare pre-5th Dimension…
Spill the Wine: WAR’s “Greatest Hits” Returns in Expanded Form
Rhino is revisiting the 1976 collection which reaffirmed WAR’s status as reliable hitmakers. On July 31, the label will reissue WAR’s Greatest Hits on both CD and vinyl. Whereas the 2021 edition entitled Greatest Hits 2.0 added an entire disc’s worth of favorites, this release is more compact. The CD version adds four cuts (including “Spill the Wine”) to the original collection while the LP, part of Rhino’s Spirit of ’76 summer vinyl campaign, replicates the original album track listing. (The campaign encompasses 23 releases from 1976 including Yes’ Live at Roosevelt Stadium.)…
You’re My Everything: Sue and Sunny’s Sue Glover Goes Solo with “For No Reason at All,” Premieres Duet with Davy Jones
Sue Glover is stepping back into the spotlight. As one-half of the duo Sue and Sunny with her sister Sunny Leslie, Sue’s powerful voice graced many of the most significant records of the rock era. A (very!) partial list of her credits includes Elton John’s “Your Song” and “Tiny Dancer,” Mott the Hoople’s “All the Young Dudes,” T. Rex’s “20th Century Boy” and “Children of the Revolution,” Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” and “On the Radio,” and Tom Jones’ “She’s a Lady.” As a member of Brotherhood of Man, Sue’s voice was prominent…
Nothing Left But Stone: ‘Timeless’ Collects 10 Unreleased Prince Recordings
The faithful fans hoping for more music from Prince’s vault have something to look forward to. Timeless, a new collection from NPG Records and Legacy Recordings, offers 10 previously unreleased recordings spanning the breadth of the Minneapolis legend’s career, from a 1978 home recording to a live take of a favorite B-side from one of his final concerts. The album will be available on CD and vinyl on August 28. Prince’s version of “With This Tear,” an early ’90s ballad given to Celine Dion and released to mark the 10th anniversary of…
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Return of a ‘Hero’: Maren Morris’ Breakthrough Gets Expanded for Its 10th Anniversary
Almost exactly a decade after catapulting into the upper tier of country music, Maren Morris will celebrate the album that put her there with a new deluxe edition. HERO: A Second Wind expands Morris’ major-label debut HERO for its 10th anniversary with a generous nine tracks – nearly double the length of the original record. In addition to three previously available tracks on a Target-exclusive deluxe edition, the set (available on CD, 2LP and digitally) offers two previously unheard songs, “We Can’t Be Friends” and “Hard Liquor and Soft Rock,” and demo versions…
In Memoriam: Peabo Bryson (1951-2026)
To an entire generation of families, Peabo Bryson was the voice behind the end-credit versions of the beloved Disney animated themes “Beauty and the Beast” and “A Whole New World” from Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, respectively. But long before – and well after – he brought to life the melodies of Alan Menken and lyrics of Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, Bryson distinguished himself as one of the richest, smoothest, and most versatile voices in contemporary R&B. Yesterday evening, June 2, family announced his death at the age of 75…
Short Takes, Classic Rock Edition: Yes, Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Frank Zappa
This Friday, Pink Floyd celebrates the era of the 8-track with a new compilation entitled (what else?) 8-Tracks. The collection, available in the U.S. as a Target-exclusive CD as well as on vinyl and digitally, brings together eight (yup, eight!) tracks from the band’s seventies heyday including “Money,” “Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2,” “Wish You Were Here,” and “Comfortably Numb.” Steven Wilson has edited the tracks in an exclusive sequence, utilizing sound effects from the songs’ original multitrack tapes to create a continuous listening experience unique to this title. Also…
Reach Out: ‘Four Tops Live!’ Set for New Remix, Expansion
UMe is making it a soulful summer thanks to the release of a newly remixed and expanded edition of one of Motown’s prime single-artist concert albums: Four Tops Live! Pressed on vinyl by the Elemental Music label with a July 24 release date (with a digital edition dropping on the same date), this 60th anniversary edition of Four Tops Live! offers even more from the two dates at Detroit’s Roostertail club which comprised the original LP. Now expanded to four sides of vinyl with 10 tracks not featured on the original album, the concert…
It’s A New Orleans Thing: Craft Recordings Expands “The Allen Toussaint Songbook”
It’s been more than a decade since Allen Toussaint passed away at the age of 77 in November 2015. Yet the New Orleans native’s music and lyrics remain as powerful, funky, sweet, and moving as ever. In 2013, the singer-songwriter-producer-arranger-musician looked back on his extraordinary career with The Allen Toussaint Songbook, his first live album since 1975 (and that set remained on a shelf for nearly three decades before seeing release). Yet even that Grammy-nominated 25-song album couldn’t reflect the full breadth of Toussaint’s mighty discography. Now, Craft Recordings has revisited The…
In Memoriam: Sonny Rollins (1930-2026)
Farewell, Saxophone Colossus. On Monday, news spread of the death of Sonny Rollins at the age of 95. A Lifetime Achievement Grammy and National Medal of Arts recipient as well as a Kennedy Center Honoree, Rollins dedicated his life to his art: as a sideman, as a composer, as a leader. A New York native of Caribbean heritage, Walter Theodore Rollins was nicknamed “Sonny” by his grandmother, and the name stuck. He began taking piano lessons at the age of nine but switched a couple of years later to the saxophone: first…
True Faith: New Order’s ’90s Compilations Get Expanded
New Order will visit their mid-’90s compilation years – with a whole host of mostly trance remixes – on a new 4CD reissue. True to its name, (the best & the rest of) New Order will include both the 1994 hits set (the best of) New Order and its 1995 follow-up (the rest of) New Order. The former featured their biggest hits up to 1993’s Republic and new mixes of songs like “Bizarre Love Triangle,” “True Faith” and ‘Round & Round,” while the latter collected 10 mostly recent remixes, including a handful of exclusive tracks….
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In the Dark of the Night: Wang Chung’s ‘To Live and Die in L.A.’ Soundtrack Gets Expanded
A much-anticipated ’80s soundtrack reissue is finally coming – even if it’s taking a different shape from what might have been expected. Interscope Records will release a new deluxe edition of To Live and Die in L.A., the beloved soundtrack to William Friedkin’s 1985 neo-noir film, as performed by pop duo Wang Chung. The set will be greatly expanded from the outset, offering a newly sequenced version of the original eight-track album featuring two bonus recordings (one of which is unreleased) as well as a further eight bonus tracks, five of which are,…
Down At the Farm: Thin Lizzy’s Debut Gets New Remixed Deluxe Edition
Thin Lizzy’s debut album is their latest to be remixed and expanded. The self-titled 1971 album will be reissued in multiple formats, including a 3CD/Blu-ray box set and both 4LP and 2LP editions – featuring remixes, single-only and EP material, rare and unissued radio sessions and 11 unreleased outtakes. Each version will be released July 10. Coming for the 55th anniversary of the Irish band’s first album, the Thin Lizzy box follows similarly expansive sets featuring remixed and rarities-packed versions of the albums Nightlife and Fighting (released last year in the 7CD collection 74-75) as well…
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A More Perfect Way: Remastered Breakthrough Album by Scritti Politti Gets Expansion with Rare Remixes
After remastering and reissuing newly-acquired classic albums from ’80s pop duo Scritti Politti in 2021, Rough Trade will go back and revisit their signature album with bonus tracks – and have also recently given a third of the group’s albums a re-release. Scritti’s sophomore album Cupid & Psyche 85 will be reissued on July 10 in a new CD or double LP deluxe edition, featuring the classic original album (featuring the U.K. hits “Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)” and “The Word Girl” as well as the U.S. stunner “Perfect Way”) alongside seven…
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