1971 was a banner year for cinema with such all-time classics as The French Connection, A Clockwork Orange, Carnal Knowledge, The Last Picture Show, and Shaft. The highest-grossing film of the year in North America was United Artists' Fiddler on the Roof. But Fiddler wasn't the studio's only musical of the year. Mere days before the Broadway adaptation hit cinemas, UA opened one of the most wild, inventive, outré, and unhinged films of the year: 200 Motels. Written, co-directed, and composed
Release Round-Up: Week of September 24
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Steely Dan, Northeast Corridor: Steely Dan Live (UMe) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada The first Steely Dan live album since 1995's Alive in America, Northeast Corridor was recorded on the group's last tour at venues including New York's Beacon Theater, The Met Philadelphia, and others. (The band's nine-show Beacon residency in 2018 featured themed shows including performances of
Endless, Nameless: Nirvana's 'Nevermind' Goes Deluxe (Again) with Bonus Live Concerts
Exactly thirty years ago tomorrow, September 24, 1991, Nirvana's Nevermind hit store shelves. To celebrate this new anniversary, Geffen/UMe has announced new reissues of the album in a variety of formats including two editions of a super deluxe box set: an 8-LP version with a bonus 7-inch single, and a 5-CD version with a Blu-ray. All editions and formats are due out on November 12. It is the rare album that can be said to have changed the landscape of popular music, but that is no
Morning Has Broken: Cat Stevens' "Teaser and the Firecat" Goes Super Deluxe in November
In 1971, Cat Stevens, a.k.a. Yusuf Islam, built upon the success of his first two albums for Island Records (U.K.) and A&M Records (U.S.) with Teaser and the Firecat. Featuring three of the singer-songwriter's most beloved songs - "Peace Train," "Moonshadow," and an adaptation of the hymn "Morning Has Broken" - Teaser became his first U.K. and U.S. top five chart entry, reaching No. 2 on both charts. Following last year's 50th anniversary deluxe reissues of Mona Bone Jakon and Tea for the
No Nukes is Good News: Bruce Springsteen's 'Legendary 1979' Performances Set for General Release
While Bruce Springsteen has no current plans to tour, the New Jersey rock icon will bring out from the Thrill Hill vault a new box set featuring one of The E Street Band's most seminal performances. The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts, a multi-format set coming October 22, features newly remixed and restored audio and video footage from the band's sets at Madison Square Garden in New York City in late September 1979. The star-studded "No Nukes" concerts were put on by MUSE (Musicians United
Stop Your Sobbing: Rhino Expands First Two Pretenders Albums for 40th Anniversary
They may have called themselves The Pretenders, but Chrissie Hynde, James Honeyman-Scott, Pete Farndon, and Martin Chambers were as authentic as they come. The four-piece rock combo fused American and British styles (Hynde was the American émigré; the other three were British), bringing the swagger of punk to the craft of classic rock. The Pretenders' hip, seemingly effortless sound was crystallized on the band's first two records (not incidentally, the only two records with the original
Grapefruit Records Spotlight: Complete Collections Arrive from The Sorrows, Fire, and Tintern Abbey
Today, we're spotlighting three recent "Complete" collections from Cherry Red's Grapefruit imprint. "We played punk before punk was invented!" That quote by vocalist Don Fardon of The Sorrows opens up Grapefruit's new 4-CD set Pink Purple Yellow and Red: The Complete Sorrows. The R&B band formed in Coventry in 1963 and became a fixture on the mod scene; later, they were retroactively branded "freakbeat" for their aggressive and edgy style of R&B and rock and roll. Fardon, lead
Who Could Ask for Anything More? Stage Door Concludes "Show Time" Series With Third Volume Featuring "Girl Crazy," "Anything Goes," "Porgy and Bess," and More
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
In This Together: Simply Red Collect Remixes on New 2CD Set
Rhino U.K. is painting the town Red with the October 22 release of Simply Red Remixed Vol. 1 (1985-2000) collecting 22 remixes (including seven previously unreleased) on 2 CDs or digital platforms from the Manchester pop-soul band. Simply Red's debut album, 1985's Picture Book, introduced the band that then featured Mick Hucknall (vocals), Fritz McIntyre (keyboards/vocals), Chris Joyce (drums/percussion), Tony Bowers (bass), Sylvan Richardson (guitar), and Tim Kellett (trumpet). The album
Expecting to Fly: Neil Young Launches Bootleg Series with "Carnegie Hall 1970" In October
The long-running Neil Young Archives Series has featured a number of lines: an Official Release Series, a Performance Series, and a Special Release Series among them. Shakey Pictures Records and Reprise Records recently announced a new addition to the Archives: the Neil Young Official Bootleg Series. It will launch on Friday, October 1 with Carnegie Hall 1970, featuring Young's debut performance at the venerable venue on December 4, 1970 (the early show). Carnegie Hall 1970 will arrive on
In His Room: Brian Wilson's "At My Piano" Offers Solo Piano Renditions of Beach Boys Favorites
Those lucky enough to have seen Brian Wilson in one of his solo concerts knows that it's always a special moment when the Beach Boys' leader plays the piano. While he's always seated in front of a keyboard, he leaves the heavy lifting to such long-serving bandmates as Darian Sahanaja, Gary Griffin, or Billy Hinsche. Yet his mastery of the instrument has never been in doubt; in one moving moment of the recent documentary Long Promised Road, he's seen in the studio showing exactly how a tune
Take Another Home Again: Cherry Pop Collects Sheena Easton's EMI Singles On a New Collection Out Today
Today, Cherry Red imprint Cherry Pop begins its exploration of Sheena Easton's time at EMI with the release of The Definitive Singles 1980-1987, a 3-CD, 51-track collection bringing together her A-sides for the label including both 7-inch and 12-inch singles. Easton was born in North Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1959. She attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow where one of her tutors encouraged her to audition for the BBC program The Big Time which chronicled subjects'
Short Takes: More David Bowie Albums Come to Warner Music, Rod Stewart Announces New Album
Earlier today, Warner Music Group and the Estate of David Bowie announced a new partnership in which WMG will now have worldwide rights to Bowie's entire career-spanning catalogue [save a few early releases such as his self-titled 1967 Deram album]. Currently, WMG's agreement spans the period of 1968-1999, but the new deal will bring the late superstar's 2000-2016 recordings under the Warner umbrella, too, including his latter-day triumphs Heathen, Reality, The Next Day, and Blackstar. These
Are You Ready for the Sex Girls? Omnivore Reissues Gleaming Spires Discography
"Of the hundreds of new records unleashed on the public each year, few stand out as truly inspired, literate works of art," began Sparks' Russell Mael in his liner notes to Gleaming Spires' 1981 debut Song of the Spires. "Fewer still go beyond that. Though I have not personally had the time to listen to this, the Gleaming Spires' first recorded effort, two of my bridge partners tell me that this record goes way, way beyond." Sparks' tongue-in-cheek endorsement (to which Russell's brother Ron
Spooky, Scary: Andrew Gold's "Halloween Howls" Returns on Friday
When late singer-songwriter Andrew Gold set out to record his Halloween Howls: Fun and Scary Music album, he knew he was filling a void. The composer-lyricist of "Thank You for Being a Friend" and "Lonely Boy" wrote in the 1996 CD's original liner notes, "Each holiday has a mood and usually has music to go with it. However, it's been very hard to find any tapes or CDs of Halloween music. In fact, there's mostly just scary sound effects available and very few songs. So, I fixed that." Over the
Santa Came Down the Chimney: Real Gone Announces Christmas Titles Including a Trio of Vinyl Soundtracks and One CD Debut
Even though it's only the middle of September and it is not even fall yet, announcements are beginning to be made about the upcoming Christmas season. Real Gone Music is continuing its yearly holiday tradition with a batch of holiday albums, including a CD debut and three vinyl represses, due in October and November. The lone CD reissue in the slate, due November 5, is Merry Christmas, Baby, one of the earliest compilations of Christmas music singles from 1956. Subtitled Intimate Christmas
Feel the Earth Move: Legacy's Record Store Day Black Friday Slate Features Carole, Jimi, Ozzy, Miles, and More
It's that time of year again! Record Store Day has released the full list of titles for its annual RSD Black Friday event, happening this year on Friday, November 26 and unofficially kicking off the holiday shopping season. Legacy Recordings' slate draws on some of the most beloved artists on the label's roster, representing genres including pop, folk, rock, metal, jazz and R&B. Below, we've reprinted the descriptions supplied by the label. All titles are due in your local
Here to Make Music: Vinyl Me, Please Announces Philadelphia International Records Anthology
Sony Music's celebration of Philadelphia International Records' 50th anniversary has so far encompassed a new, vinyl-only series of hits collections as well as the first two releases in the ongoing complete albums series of CD box sets from the U.K.'s Snapper/United Souls label. Now, a major component of the golden anniversary celebration for the house that Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff built has been announced by the Vinyl Me, Please record club. VMP Anthology: The Story of Philadelphia
Love in the Key of C: Demon Reissues Belinda Carlisle's "A Woman and a Man" for 25th Anniversary
In December, The Go-Go's will launch a mini-tour of California and Nevada hot on the heels of their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Demon Music Group has recently been revisiting the catalogue of the band's breakout star Belinda Carlisle on vinyl. Following such releases as 2017's Heaven on Earth (reissued for its 30th anniversary), 2019's Runaway Horses (also a 30th anniversary), and Belinda earlier this year (marking its 35th), the label has delivered a Deluxe 25th Anniversary 3LP Box
Out There: Disney's Legacy Collection Returns with Expanded 'Hunchback of Notre Dame' Soundtrack
Like the pealing bells over Paris, Walt Disney Records has heralded the arrival of one of its most beloved recent archival projects with the surprise, impending release of an expanded score to the animated film The Hunchback of Notre Dame - the 14th release in the label's Legacy Collection series. It's only the third release in the series since two generous batches of titles in 2014 and 2015; an expansion of the music of animated films Robin Hood (1973) and Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Yesterday Once More: Richard Carpenter Returns with Solo "Piano Songbook"
Richard Carpenter's last solo album was titled Pianist, Arranger, Composer, Conductor. Now the musical legend is returning in three of those capacities for his first full-length recording since that 1997 set. His third overall solo album, Richard Carpenter's Piano Songbook arrives from Decca Records - not A&M, but part of the same Universal Music family - on October 22 in CD and digital formats. The nine-song collection features newly-recorded solo piano renditions of some of the rich,
Baby, What a Big Surprise: Chicago's "Japanese Singles Collection," Featuring Rare Versions, Out Now
On the eve of the release of Chicago's At Carnegie Hall: Complete, Rhino Japan has another treat for fans of the horn-rock band. The 2CD/DVD set Chicago: Japanese Singles Collection - Greatest Hits boasts 41 audio tracks representing the band's A-sides released in Japan between 1969 and 1998 plus 17 music videos. It's available now from CD Japan and Amazon Japan, as well as local Amazon stores as an import. Especially in the absence of a long overdue, complete U.S. singles anthology, this is
You Won't Change Me: Black Sabbath's "Technical Ecstasy" Goes Super Deluxe
2021 has been a good year for fans of Black Sabbath: the band's Vol. 4, Sabotage, Heaven and Hell, and Mob Rules have all been reissued and expanded. Now, Rhino is turning its attention to the band's 1976 album Technical Ecstasy. Sabbath's seventh album, the Gold-certified Technical Ecstasy will arrive on October 1 in 4CD and 5LP box set editions featuring the remastered original album, a brand-new Steven Wilson remix, and over 90 minutes of previously unheard bonus material. Black Sabbath
Put Your Hands Together: Second Volume of Complete Philadelphia International Albums Arrives in November
Back in late January, we shared news of Philadelphia International Records' 50th anniversary plans. The centerpiece of the campaign announced by Sony Music's Legacy Recordings was a series of fifteen CD box sets via the U.K.-based United Souls/Snapper Music presenting every PIR album in chronological order. The first of those box sets hit stores in late May, and now the second volume has been announced for November 19 release. The slipcased, 8-CD/1-12″ single hardcover book-style set
Make It Last Forever: Spice Girls' Debut Set for Expanded Reissue
Tell me what you want, what you really, really want... If what you want is a 25th anniversary expanded edition of the Spice Girls' 1996 debut Spice, you're in luck. On October 29, Virgin/UMC (U.K.) and EMI will reissue Spice on 2 CDs and a digital "eAlbum." The expanded Spice 25, curated by the Spice Girls, features the original album on the first CD plus a second disc of twelve bonus tracks. These encompass a sampling of period remixes and single versions plus five previously unreleased