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/ Reviews

Holiday Gift Guide Review: Lefty Frizzell, "An Article from Life: The Complete Recordings"

December 5, 2018 By Joe Marchese 3 Comments

Lefty Frizzell An Article from Life

The music of William Orville "Lefty" Frizzell (1928-1975), one of the most influential honky-tonk singers of all time, has long been a cornerstone of the Bear Family catalogue.  The German reissue specialists first compiled the Frizzell oeuvre in 1984 as a 14-LP box set, updating that in 1992 on 12 CDs.  Now, more than 25 years later, the Bears have returned to the country-and-western troubadour's career for the most definitive chronicle ever.  An Article from Life: The Complete Recordings has

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Categories: Holiday Gift Guide, Reviews Formats: Box Sets, CD Genre: Country Tags: Lefty Frizzell

Holiday Gift Guide Review: Neil Diamond, "50th Anniversary Collector's Edition"

December 3, 2018 By Joe Marchese 5 Comments

Neil Diamond 50th Collectors Edition Cover

I. I Got the Feelin' In his 1966 debut single for Bang Records, Neil Diamond famously declared himself a "Solitary Man."  But the New York singer-songwriter wasn't to be solitary for very long, as he soon gained the worldwide audience that, over 50 years later, still follows each one of his musical endeavors.  Diamond has just looked back on his remarkable career on a handsome new box set from Capitol Records and UMe.  50th Anniversary Collector's Edition expands upon the similarly-titled

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Categories: Holiday Gift Guide, Reviews Formats: Box Sets, CD Genre: Classic Rock, Country, Pop Tags: Neil Diamond

Holiday Gift Guide Review: Eagles, "Legacy"

November 28, 2018 By Joe Marchese 5 Comments

Eagles Legacy Cover

Just Find a Place to Make Your Stand On the list of the United States' five best-selling albums of all time, one name stands tall - the only artist to lay claim to two of those five titles.  That artist is, of course, a band: Eagles.  1976's Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) sits atop the list at 38 million copies sold; Hotel California is third with 26 million.  The ten tracks on the former are all modern-day standards, each and every one of them still a radio staple.  Though the original

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Categories: Holiday Gift Guide, Reviews Formats: Box Sets, CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Country, Pop Tags: Eagles, Glenn Frey

Review: Golden Smog, "Down By the Old Mainstream" from Run Out Groove

November 13, 2018 By Sam Stone Leave a Comment

Golden Smog Down by the Old Mainstream

What do you get when you bring together members of Wilco, Soul Asylum, and The Jayhawks and throw them into a remote recording studio in Minnesota wilderness? Well, as the Run Out Groove label proved with its LP reissue earlier this year, the result is one mighty down-home, fun album of country-rock grooves: Down By the Old Mainstream by '90s supergroup Golden Smog. While their lineup has been mercurial since they first got together in the late-'80s, the core lineup included Kraig Johnson of

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Categories: Reviews Formats: Vinyl Genre: Country, Folk, Rock Tags: Golden Smog, Jeff Tweedy, Soul Asylum, The Jayhawks, Wilco

Review: Willie Nelson, "My Way"

September 21, 2018 By Joe Marchese 2 Comments

Willie Nelson My Way

Last week, Willie Nelson made headlines when he announced that he would be playing a concert in support of Texas' Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Beto O'Rourke.  News outlets made much of the fact that some of the artist's conservative fans perceived a betrayal, but in truth, Nelson has always followed his heart and stayed true to his own convictions.  He shared that in common with the late Frank Sinatra, his friend and onetime duet partner.  The appropriately-titled My Way is a heartfelt

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Categories: Reviews Formats: CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl Genre: Country, Popular Standards/Vocal Tags: Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson

Review: Michael Nesmith and The First National Band Redux, "Live at The Troubadour"

August 22, 2018 By Joe Marchese 3 Comments

Michael Nesmith and First National Band Redux Live

Michael Nesmith always traveled to the beat of a different drum.  While serving as one-fourth of The Monkees, Nesmith was expanding his musical horizons beyond the group's infectious Brill Building pop stylings.  "I wanted beautiful music wherever I could find it," he writes in the liner notes to his new release on 7a Records.  "But if I wanted to sing it myself and write it myself, I had to have an understanding of what that music was, and how to get to it.  So, the first place I looked was in

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Categories: Reviews Formats: CD, Vinyl Genre: Country, Pop Tags: Christian Nesmith, Circe Link, Michael Nesmith, The Monkees

The Second Disc's 2018 Record Store Day Must-Haves

April 20, 2018 By The Second Disc 9 Comments

Lulu Heaven and Earth and the Stars 1

Welcome to our annual rundown of Must-Haves for this year's Record Store Day event!  Once you're through reading, let us know what you're most looking forward to picking up tomorrow at your favorite local independent retailer!  Our list features just a sampling of our favorites from our friends at Legacy Recordings, Varese Sarabande, Rhino Records, Real Gone Music, Demon Music Group, Walt Disney Records, Omnivore Recordings, and more! Joe's kicking things off with five essential picks (in

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Country, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock, Soundtracks Tags: Belinda Carlisle, Bob Dylan, Bobbie Gentry, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Elton John, Elvis Costello, Eric Clapton, Harry Nilsson, John Lennon, John Williams, Johnny Cash, Johnny Mathis, Led Zeppelin, Lulu, Madonna, Record Store Day, T Rex, Tangerine Dream, The Beau Brummels, The Police, The Rascals

Like Someone in Love: Ace Collects Complete Charlie Rich at RCA

March 27, 2018 By Joe Marchese 3 Comments

Charlie Rich Too Many Teardrops

Charlie Rich (1932-1995) finally achieved superstardom when his laid-back readings of "Behind Closed Doors" and "The Most Beautiful Girl" ascended in 1973 to the top spot of the Billboard Country chart and crossed over to Pop - the latter to Number One on that chart, too.  Although those songs kicked off a new chapter in the career of the man known by that point as the Silver Fox (for his mane of gray hair and wizened appearance), Rich's repertoire could hardly be defined by their mellow sound. 

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Country, Pop Tags: Charlie Rich

Review: Chris Hillman, "The Asylum Years"

March 5, 2018 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Chris Hillman Asylum Years

Chris Hillman is surely one of rock's largely unsung heroes.   A veteran of groups including The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Desert Rose Band, and supergroup The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, Hillman last year released the acclaimed album Bidin' My Time - only his seventh solo album.  Produced by Tom Petty (one of the late superstar's last projects) with one foot in the past and another in the present, the LP reaffirmed the artist's deserved place in the pantheon.  Now, Omnivore

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Categories: Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Classic Rock, Country, Pop Tags: Chris Hillman

Holiday Gift Guide Review: Various Artists, "Stax Country"

December 22, 2017 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Stax Country

We're continuing to look at the 60th anniversary releases from legendary R&B powerhouse label Stax Records with a single-CD or LP collection that just might make a perfect stocking stuffer! Stax Country (CR 00009), from Craft Recordings, takes a fresh look at some of the other, non-R&B music emanating from the corridors of Stax's studios on East McLemore Avenue - in particular some "Sweet Country Music."  That's the title of the twangy ditty recorded in 1975 by Becki Bluefield which

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Categories: Holiday Gift Guide, Reviews Formats: CD, Vinyl Genre: Country Tags: Various Artists

No Time To Lose: Music Pioneer Ralph Peer Celebrated with Box Featuring Bing, Desi, Buddy, Ray, Elvis, Bob, Nat and Others

December 18, 2017 By Randy Fairman Leave a Comment

Roots of Popular Music Box

The history of commercial recorded music stretches back over 100 years and has encompasses the stories of many artists and talents.  One of the biggest figures in this early history was Ralph S. Peer.  The A&R (Artists and Repertoire) and publishing pioneer might not be a household name today, but he made major contributions to many varied musical genres including blues, country and Latin.  Sony Music Latin has recently released a wide-ranging, eclectic 3-CD box set entitled The Roots of

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: Box Sets, CD Genre: Blues, Country, Folk, Jazz, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal Tags: Bing Crosby, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Ralph S. Peer, Ray Charles, Various Artists

Review: Elvis Presley, "A Boy From Tupelo: The Complete 1953-1955 Recordings"

July 28, 2017 By Joe Marchese 1 Comment

Elvis A Boy from Tupelo Cover

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

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Categories: Reviews Formats: Box Sets, CD, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Country, Pop Tags: Elvis Presley

Review: The Flying Burrito Brothers, "The Gilded Palace of Sin" from Intervention Records

May 10, 2017 By Joe Marchese 3 Comments

Flying Burrito Brothers Gilded Palace

In 1969, The Flying Burrito Brothers welcomed listeners into their Gilded Palace of Sin.  The album, released on Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss' A&M label, heralded a new style of music - one which co-founder Gram Parsons would famously dub "Cosmic American Music."  Indeed, the sounds emanating from this Palace were, at the same time, surprisingly traditional and completely radical.  For the Burritos melded the harmonies of the Everlys or the Louvins with the gutbucket soul of the deep south,

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Categories: Reviews Formats: Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Country Tags: Gram Parsons, The Flying Burrito Brothers

Holiday Gift Guide Review: A Vinyl Christmas From Presley, Cash and More

December 13, 2016 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Elvis Merry Christmas Baby

As the vinyl revolution continues, it's no surprise that numerous classic Christmas albums have been reissued in the format, while newer holiday recordings have gotten the 33-1/3 treatment as well.  Legacy Recordings, rather than continuing its Classic Christmas Album series in CD form this year, has brought a number of titles to vinyl including new collections from Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, and a Classic Christmas volume dedicated to the big band sound. Of course, Elvis Presley has been

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Categories: Holiday Gift Guide, Reviews Formats: Vinyl Genre: Country, Holiday, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal Tags: Benny Goodman, Elvis Presley, Glenn Miller, Johnny Cash, Sammy Kaye, Various Artists

Acting Naturally: Omnivore Collects Buck Owens' Capitol Singles, Anthologizes Don Rich

December 8, 2016 By Joe Marchese 2 Comments

Buck Owens Complete Capitol Singles

Buck Owens changed the face of country music, and all he had to do was "Act Naturally."  With his back-to-basics, honky-tonk approach, Alvis Edgar Owens defined the Bakersfield Sound, an antidote to the slick, guitar-and-choir-laden style coming out of Nashville in the 1960s.  Omnivore Recordings, the label home of a number of stellar Owens-related projects, is about to issue a definitive 2-CD collection from his prime era - The Complete Capitol Singles 1957-1966 - as well as a compilation

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Country Tags: Buck Owens, Don Rich

Above and Beyond: Varese Brings Papa John Phillips, Wynn Stewart to Vinyl

July 27, 2016 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

John Phillips John the Wolfking of LA

For his first solo album - and lone solo LP released during his lifetime - John Phillips was careful not to repeat himself.  With The Mamas and the Papas in the rearview mirror at that moment in time, Papa John reinvented himself as John, The Wolfking of L.A. and surrounded himself with the day's top musicians to craft a beguiling, mellow portrait of Los Angeles circa 1970.  Varese Vintage expanded this one-of-a-kind record on CD in 2006, and has recently issued it on a new 180-gram vinyl

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: Vinyl Genre: Country, Pop Tags: John Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas, Wynn Stewart

Cash, Robbins, Jones, Arnold Feature On Ace's "More Country Hits"

July 1, 2016 By Joe Marchese 1 Comment

More Country Hits

Ace Records has recently continued its Golden Age of American Popular Music Series with another volume dedicated to the sounds of country-and-western.  More Country Hits follows The Country Hits, released in 2008, and like that volume, presents a collection of country classics that crossed over to the pop side on the Billboard Hot 100.  Many familiar names from the first collection show up here, too, including Johnny Horton, Johnny Cash, Faron Young, Ray Price, George Jones, Skeeter Davis, Marty

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Country, Pop Tags: Carl Perkins, Eddy Arnold, George Jones, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Dean, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Various Artists

Some Velvet Morning: Ace Salutes Lee Hazlewood on "Shazam!"

April 8, 2016 By Joe Marchese 3 Comments

Lee Hazlewood Shazam

The title of Ace's new entry in its Songwriter Series - Shazam! - doesn't refer to Captain Marvel's magic word or Gomer Pyle's favorite expression.  Rather, the new compilation CD is titled after Duane Eddy's (naturally) twangy western gallop "Shazam!" penned by Eddy and maverick producer Lee Hazlewood and released in 1960.  (Okay, Duane and Lee likely did take its name from C.C. Beck and Bill Parker's popular comic book superhero!)  Shazam! and Other Instrumentals Written by Lee Hazlewood is

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Country, Pop Tags: Billy Strange, Desi and Billy, Dino, Duane Eddy, Jack Nitzsche, Lee Hazlewood, Various Artists

Review: Tennessee Ernie Ford, "Portrait of an American Singer"

September 25, 2015 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

With three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and inductions into the Country Music and Gospel Music Halls of Fame to his name, there were few heights that Ernest Jennings Ford - a.k.a. Tennessee Ernie Ford - didn't scale.  A mainstay of radio and television, Ford's decades-long association with Capitol Records yielded a rich catalogue filled with country, proto rock-and-roll boogie-woogie, western swing, pop and folk ballads, gospel, novelty records, blues and

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Categories: Reviews Formats: Box Sets, CD Genre: Country, Pop Tags: Tennessee Ernie Ford

Review: Glen Campbell, "Rhinestone Cowboy: 40th Anniversary Edition"

April 8, 2015 By Joe Marchese 6 Comments

Glen Campbell Rhinestone Cowboy

On April 22, Glen Campbell will turn 79 years old.  The past years haven’t been easy for the artist; his ongoing battle with Alzheimer’s was boldly chronicled in the acclaimed 2014 documentary I’ll Be Me for which he earned an Academy Award nomination.  Though the disease has reportedly robbed Campbell of his ability to communicate verbally, it’s understood that he still finds solace and comfort in the music of his guitar.  It’s a small but important reward for Campbell considering the joy he’s

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Categories: Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Country Tags: Glen Campbell

Rosemary Clooney, Jim Reeves Rarities Arrive From Mint Audio

March 31, 2015 By Joe Marchese 19 Comments

Rosemary Clooney Rare

Newly-launched label Mint Audio recently made a splash with Operation Santa Claus: Live from Hong Kong 1962, a previously unreleased concert from vocal great Matt Monro. The label’s two other premiere releases salute two other titans of song – Rosemary Clooney and Jim Reeves. Rare and Unreleased features 30 radio performances from Maysville, Kentucky’s favorite daughter, Rosemary Clooney (1928-2002). Most are from the period of 1955-1961, with the earliest tracks dating to a few years

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Country, Popular Standards/Vocal Tags: Jim Reeves, Rosemary Clooney

Review: George Jones and Tammy Wynette, "Songs of Inspiration"

March 6, 2015 By Joe Marchese 1 Comment

george and tammy inspiration3

When George Jones met Tammy Wynette, sparks flew. So, apparently, did dishes, utensils and glasses, when Jones interceded in an argument between the younger country starlet and her then-husband. It wasn’t long before Jones and Wynette were married, and dubbed “Mr. and Mrs. Country Music” by their adoring public. While maintaining separate recording careers, they also scored hits as a duo, joining the ranks of other famous country pairs – both married and platonic – like Porter and Dolly, Conway

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Categories: Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Country Tags: George Jones, Tammy Wynette

The NOT Column: Anne McCue, "Blue Sky Thinkin'"

February 27, 2015 By Ted Frank Leave a Comment

Anne McCue Blue Sky

We'd like to kick off your weekend with some Frank on Friday, as we welcome back Ted to debut what he's deemed The NOT Column...as in, "NOT a reissue, but NOTeworthy nonetheless!"  Today, he looks at the latest release from Australian alt-country singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Anne McCue, who has tapped into a rich vein of blues, jazz and folk to craft Blue Sky Thinkin'.  We have no doubt that the music being created by McCue will one day be reissued and covered by future catalogue

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Categories: Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Country, Folk, Jazz Tags: Anne McCue

Holiday Gift Guide Review: A Folk and Country Christmas with The Kingston Trio, The Brothers Four and the Statler Brothers

December 15, 2014 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

brothers four merry christmas

The cover of The Kingston Trio’s 1960 Capitol release The Last Month of the Year depicts the three young folksingers in suits and ties, each loaded with a bundle of Christmas gifts. With a cover like that, one could be forgiven for having expected the group to deliver a jovial set of holiday favorites. Instead, The Trio created an album of rare beauty but considerable darkness. As such, it’s hardly your typical holiday fare but Real Gone Music’s reissue (RGM-0312) is a worthwhile inclusion on

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Categories: Holiday Gift Guide, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Country, Folk Tags: The Brothers Four, The Kingston Trio, The Statler Brothers

Holiday Gift Guide Review: "The Classic Christmas Album" Series

December 5, 2014 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

bscc1

Johnny Mathis. Frank Sinatra. Perry Como. Steve Vai? Menudo? When it comes to Christmas music, Legacy Recordings doesn’t pull its punches. The label’s series of Classic Christmas Album releases has become a bit of an annual tradition, and this year’s batch of single- and various-artist anthologies once again draws on names both expected and unexpected. While the packages are bare-bones, with no liner notes (but happily with full credits and discographical annotation), the music most certainly is

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Categories: Holiday Gift Guide, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Classic Rock, Country, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, Rock Tags: Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Il Divo, Johnny Mathis, Perry Como, Various Artists

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