Randy Newman once observed of his friend Harry Nilsson, "The records Harry made, and the first records I made, it was like The Rolling Stones never existed." Indeed, before his famously chronicled lifestyle as a Hollywood hellraiser threatened to overshadow his reputation as a talent nonpareil (and left his once-angelic voice in tatters), Nilsson had carved out an artful niche of wit and whimsy. He expressed his musical muse in gentle psychedelia, baroque pop, folk rock, vaudeville
Review: Keely Smith, "Little Girl Blue/Little Girl New (Expanded Edition)"
In spring 1963, Keely Smith entered the studio to cut her first full-length effort for Reprise Records, the label recently founded by her friend Frank Sinatra. Little Girl Blue/Little Girl New, recorded with arranger-conductor Nelson Riddle, exemplified Smith's classy vocal art and Riddle's peerless gift for orchestration. After far too long an absence from the shelves, this seminal release is back in print from Real Gone Music as the second entry in the label's Keely Smith series, with two
I Want Action: Playback Collects Lost Soul Recordings of Jeanette Jones
Even a diehard R&B connoisseur could be forgiven for not recognizing the name of Jeanette Jones. She only had one solo single to her name: 1969's "The Thought of You" b/w "Darling I'm Standing by You," released on the small Golden Soul label out of San Francisco. But in the 21st century, the musical archaeologists at Ace Records began issuing lost masters from this lost singer, building up a small but powerfully vivid catalog from the mystery-shrouded vocalist. Now, in association with
Is He Groovin' You? Big Break Collects Harvey Mason's Funky Arista Years
Harvey Mason may be best known for his session credits on countless classic records by artists from Carole King to Quincy Jones. But the drummer/percussionist has also led a solo career since 1975, most often fusing his jazz sensibility with R&B textures. His first stint as a solo artist came at Clive Davis' Arista Records, where he recorded five well-received, self-produced albums between 1975 and 1981. Big Break's recent anthology Sho Nuff Groovin' You: The Arista Records Anthology
Hard-Hitting "Sweet Sweetback" Returns To Vinyl For Stax 60th Campaign
Upon its release in 1971, there was nothing quite like Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. The low- budget, independently-made film - written, directed, edited, composed by and starring Melvin Van Peebles, and rated X "by an all-white jury" as its tagline proclaimed, ushered in the blaxploitation genre in shocking and often graphic fashion. Prior to the film's release, the multi-hyphenate Van Peebles realized that the best way to spread the word about his groundbreaking work was via music. And
Try To See It Her Way: Ace Spotlights Rare Pop Gems From Peggy March
Trivia time: Who was the youngest female artist ever to top the Billboard Hot 100? If you answered "Little" Peggy March, we will follow you! The Pennsylvania-born singer was just fifteen years old when "I Will Follow Him" resided at the chart's top spot for three weeks in April-May 1963. The teenager's sweet ode of devotion ensured Peggy's place in the annals of popular culture, referenced in films, commercials, and hip-hop samples. But "I Will Follow Him" was just the tip of the iceberg for
DeShannon, Ronstadt, Baez, Nyro Featured on "Milk of the Tree: Anthology of Female Folk and Singer-Songwriters"
The new anthology Milk of the Tree, from Cherry Red's Grapefruit label, sets forth its mission statement clearly in its subtitle: An Anthology of Female Vocal Folk and Singer-Songwriters 1966-1973. Still, how to anthologize such a broad and powerful group of artists during one of the most creatively fertile periods in popular music history? Grapefruit does a fine job in distilling the essence of the period - and charting the growth of artists from a pure pop framework to one in which they
Review: Santana and The Isley Brothers, "Power of Peace"
In 1965, Hal David first made the observation, "What the world needs now is love, sweet love...it's the only thing that there's just too little of." Over fifty-two years later, there's still just too little love, and it's a situation which Carlos Santana has aimed to remedy. The guitar hero was inspired by seeing the velvet-voiced Ron Isley, longtime lead singer of The Isley Brothers, performing with Burt Bacharach in a 2004 television special promoting their collaborative album Here I Am.
Review: Arthur Alexander, "Arthur Alexander [Expanded Edition]"
If the influence of Arthur Alexander on rock-and-roll is ever in doubt, one need only look at the list of artists who have recorded his songs - a list that includes The Beatles and The Rolling Stones just for starters. Though the R&B singer-songwriter ("You Better Move On," "Anna (Go to Him)") never became a household name in the vein of Otis or Sam or The Wicked Pickett, he nonetheless left behind a treasure trove of varied recordings. Now, the Alabama native's 1972 self-titled Warner
Review: Ramones, "Leave Home: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition"
The sophomore album from Forest Hills, Queens, New York's Ramones, Leave Home, arrived in January 1977 on Sire Records, just months after the April 1976 release of the band's self-titled debut. Despite the title, however, Leave Home didn't mark a large stylistic leap or departure for the young punks out of their comfort zone. On closer inspection, however, it continued the growth of the band. Forty years later, it's easier to hear that progression than ever, thanks to a new, 3-CD/1-LP set
Review: Elvis Presley, "A Boy From Tupelo: The Complete 1953-1955 Recordings"
It's hard to believe - impossible, even - but Elvis Aron Presley once was just A Boy from Tupelo. The once and future King's transformation from modest beginnings to international superstar has never been more vividly traced than on the new 3-CD box set from RCA and Legacy. A Boy from Tupelo: The Complete 1953-1955 Recordings is a trip back in time to the birth of rock-and-roll (destination: Memphis) featuring every one of Elvis' known Sun Records masters and outtakes, as well as his four
Party, Party: Big Break Reissues, Expands "The Best of Eruption"
Following last year's expanded reissues of the group's first two albums, Big Break Records has returned to the catalogue of Eruption with another title from the soulful disco group. The Best of Eruption was originally released on the Hansa label in 1981, but BBR's new iteration has happily upped the track listing from 14 to 19 selections to provide a fuller overview of Eruption's positively volcanic legacy in disco, pop, soul, funk, and R&B. Founded in the United Kingdom in 1969 by
Say Hello to Yesterday: Mark Wynter Anthology Traces Career From Pop Hits to Rare Showtunes
Mark Wynter scored his first hit pop single at the age of seventeen in 1960 with "Image of a Girl" on the Decca label, paving the way for future U.K. smashes like "Venus in Blue Jeans" and "Go Away Little Girl." By the end of the decade, he had taken his first steps towards an enduring theatrical career with a lead role in the musical Phil the Fluter. Flash-forward to 2016, and after decades onstage in such diverse musicals as Robert and Elizabeth, Cats, On the Twentieth Century, and Phantom
Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere: Ace Collects Shel Talmy Productions From The Who, David Bowie, More
An advertisement reprinted in Ace Records' splendid new collection Making Time: A Shel Talmy Production reads, "Artistes Shel Talmy Has Recorded: The Kinks, The Bachelors, The Who, Chad and Jeremy" and so on. Add to that list Manfred Mann, The Creation, The Fortunes, Trini Lopez, Lee Hazlewood, and a certain David Bowie, and you have an idea of the scope of this first-of-its-kind collection dedicated to the work of the producer-engineer-impresario. Though born in Chicago, Talmy made his name
Up, Up and Away: Cherry Red Collects Charlie Byrd's Sixties Pop-Jazz Recordings
Today, the name of Charlie Byrd (1925-1999) remains synonymous with jazz guitar and moreover, with the soft sounds of Brazil's bossa nova, which he helped bring into the mainstream of American popular culture. Cherry Red's El Records imprint has recently celebrated a key decade in Byrd's career with a fun new compilation. Sixties Byrd draws on eight albums from the prolific artist originally released on Columbia Records between 1965 and 1969, all produced by Teo Macero (Bitches Brew, Time
Review: The Beach Boys, "1967: Sunshine Tomorrow" and "Wild Honey" (Stereo LP)
There's nothing quite nice as a kiss of wild honey... Carl Wilson - the angelic voice from on high of "God Only Knows" - unleashed his inner soul man with a fury on "Wild Honey," the title track of The Beach Boys' second album of 1967. The funky, Theremin-driven ode to a "girl with the sweetness of a honey bee" opened the LP which turned out to be one of the most singular in the band's storied catalogue. Its fusion of pulsating R&B and raw rock-and-roll, anchored by nine Brian
The Monkees Celebrated On New Benefit Release "Listen to the Bands"
With its latest project, 7a Records has invited Monkees fans to Listen to the Bands - yes, plural. This recent 25-track collection features modern, independent artists all tackling Davy, Micky, Mike, and Peter's classic songbook - and making it even more special, all profits from the limited edition album will be donated by the label to the Davy Jones Equine Memorial Foundation. Appropriately, curators Glenn Gretlund and Iain Lee of 7a have made sure that many of the famous songwriting names
Review: Prince and The Revolution, 'Purple Rain: Deluxe Expanded Edition'
Dearly Beloved It exists. It really exists. That may be the most astounding thing about the deluxe expanded edition of Prince's masterpiece Purple Rain (Warner Bros./NPG Records 547374-2). And believe me, there's a lot to be astounded by. This set features the first remaster of any Prince album in the compact disc era, a fully-stocked disc of officially unreleased tracks from the vault, a complete offering of sides (edits, remixes and B-sides) from all five singles released from the
Review: "Singles: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Deluxe Edition"
A Tribute Told in Vignettes... Well, I don't like to reduce us to just being part of the "Seattle Sound." I'd like to think of us as expanding more. Like, we're huge in Europe right now. I mean, we've got records... uh, a big record just broke in Belgium. -Cliff Poncier, Singles A Cameron Crowe film tends to have a "killer" soundtrack. Listening to a Crowe soundtrack is an intriguing adventure filled with carefully curated juxtapositions. In fact, the experience is a lot like the
Omnivore Revives "Rosebud" From Henske, Yester, Doerge On New Expanded Edition
Last year, the Omnivore label began its retelling of the story of Judy Henske and Jerry Yester with the hotly-anticipated, first authorized reissue of the then-married duo's 1969 cult favorite album Farewell Aldebaran. Now, the Henske/Yester tale continues with another lavishly expanded CD reissue: this time, of 1971's Rosebud. The album was so named for the band itself, featuring Henske on vocals, Yester on vocals, bass, and banjo, her future husband Craig Doerge on vocals, keyboards, and
Kick Out The Jams! Run Out Groove Compiles Best of The MC5 on Vinyl
Has the time ever been more right for a return of The MC5? The band from Lincoln Park, Michigan fused garage rock with elements of blues, jazz, and psychedelia to give voice to the counterculture movement of the mid- to late 1960s in as aggressive a fashion as possible. Between 1969 and 1971, the band released three albums on Elektra and Atlantic, anticipating the punk movement with fast and furiously heavy riffs. Run Out Groove, Rhino's new arm dedicated to limited edition
Review: Robert Lamm, "Time Chill: A Retrospective"
It's not much of a stretch to say that Robert Lamm is the heart and soul of Chicago. Since founding that seminal horn-rock band with Terry Kath, Peter Cetera, Lee Loughnane, Walter Parazaider, James Pankow, and Danny Seraphine, Lamm has contributed some of the band's most memorable songs including "Saturday in the Park," "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is," "Beginnings," "25 or 6 to 4," and "Another Rainy Day in New York City." Lamm's work has always been equal parts craft and
Review: The Beatles, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band: 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition"
I. It Was Fifty Years Ago Today... I read the news today, oh, boy! It's a new day in Pepperland thanks to today's release of the most eagerly-anticipated reissue project of the year: the 50th anniversary deluxe box set of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. This would be a landmark collection for any number of reasons: that Pepper is routinely considered one of the greatest albums, if not the greatest album, of all time; that this is the first-ever "Expanded Edition" of a
What The World Needs Now: Bacharach Demos Collected, Featuring Brian Wilson, Bill Champlin, More
On May 12 of this year, Burt Bacharach turned 89 years young. Since 1952, when he began his career as a professional songwriter with Nat "King" Cole's recording of the instrumental "Once in a Blue Moon," hardly a year has gone by without a new Bacharach song. Throughout the seven decades in which he's been working, Bacharach has enjoyed fruitful collaborations with not only Hal David, but also Bob Hilliard, Carole Bayer Sager, Elvis Costello, and most recently, Steven Sater. Now, the
Soul and Inspiration: Ace Collects Righteous Brother Bobby Hatfield's Solo Recordings
There's only one word for Ace Records' superlative new collection of the solo recordings of the late Bobby Hatfield: righteous! The Other Brother: A Solo Anthology 1965-1970 brings together 24 sides from the tenor half of The Righteous Brothers including the entirety of his 1970 MGM Records album Messin' at Muscle Shoals, rare singles, all surviving previously unreleased tracks from both MGM and Verve (seven songs in total), and more. The story of The Righteous Brothers' 1964 hit "You've
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