Even today, the name Kodak is synonymous with photography. But in 1980 Japan, Kodak was synonymous with The Monkees. The venerable company had scored a popular commercial there with the group's recording of "Daydream Believer," leading to a fresh wave of Monkeemania. Word spread, and soon, Davy Jones and Peter Tork were touring the country as solo acts. Micky Dolenz was third to arrive, having comfortably reestablished himself as not only a stage star but a theatrical and television
I’m In Love, What’s That Song: Replacements Expand ‘Pleased To Meet Me’ For New Box Set
On the heels of last year's revelatory Dead Man's Pop set exploring the making of Don't Tell a Soul, Rhino has announced a new box set from The Replacements celebrating another of the Minneapolis band's finest albums. On October 9, 1987's Pleased to Meet Me - the immediate predecessor of Don't Tell a Soul - will get the deluxe treatment as a 3-CD/1-LP set (also available digitally) featuring a whopping 29 previously unreleased tracks. The 'Mats' fifth studio album, Pleased to Meet Me is
Release Round-Up: Week of July 17
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Little Steven, Voice of America [CD/DVD] (Wicked Cool/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Little Steven's sophomore album from 1984, featuring "Voice of America," "Solidarity," "Los Desaparecidos," and "Among the Believers," returns to CD in Bob Ludwig's remaster previously available only on vinyl. The CD edition gets even sweeter with the addition of the full Live at Rockpalast 1984 concert. Voice of America was written,
Cherry Red, SoulMusic Release ‘Anything You Want,’ Three-Disc David Sanborn Salute
Whether you've heard his albums or not, chances are you've heard the music of David Sanborn. The alto saxophone great has played on classic records by Steely Dan, Paul Simon, Elton John, Billy Joel, James Taylor, David Bowie, and dozens of others. Now, Cherry Red's SoulMusic Records imprint has delivered a comprehensive survey of Sanborn's 20+ years for the Warner family of labels. Anything You Want: The Warner-Reprise-Elektra Years 1975-1996 draws on 17 of his albums as a leader and showcases
Pick Up The Pieces: Edsel Releases Multi-Disc Average White Band Anthology
In selecting a name, the Average White Band certainly was modest. Over a career spanning nearly 50 years, the Scottish band recorded thirteen studio albums and seven live sets; charted nine hits in the U.K. and U.S. and a further 15 songs on the U.S. R&B survey; scored a million-seller with "Pick Up the Pieces;" and had so many songs sampled that the group was ranked the fifteenth most sampled artist in history as of around a decade ago. The AWB is still active today under the auspices of
Back In The Old Routine: Cherry Red, Esoteric Expand Two from Strawbs
Cherry Red's Esoteric Recordings imprint has returned to the Strawbs discography with another pair of reissues: Burning for You (1977) and Heartbreak Hill (recorded 1978, released 1995). Burning for You arrived between Deep Cuts and Deadlines, both of which have already been reissued by Esoteric. Deep Cuts had been produced by the team of Rupert Holmes and Jeffrey Lesser who were enlisted to nudge the band - down to four pieces with David Cousins, Chas Cronk, Dave Lambert, and Rod Coombes -
Release Round-Up: Week of July 10
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Grateful Dead, Workingman's Dead: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Grateful Dead/Rhino) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Often hailed as one of Grateful Dead's most accessible albums along with its follow-up, American Beauty, Workingman's Dead placed its focus on tighter songcraft in a country/folk-oriented vein that would later be described as "Americana." It introduced the group's
Awakening: Real Gone Music Announces Reissues of Rare and Sought-After Titles from Black Jazz Records
Today, Real Gone Music announced the reissue of a batch of extremely hard-to-find albums from the legendary Black Jazz Records catalogue, due for release on August 28 on CD and LP. The legendary Black Jazz Records was founded in 1969 in Oakland, California by pianist Gene Russell and percussionist Dick Schory and released its first records in summer of 1971. From then on, it became a home for many emerging African-American jazz performers across a range of styles, including free jazz,
Star Star: The Rolling Stones Announce Reissues of “Goats Head Soup,” Including Deluxe Box With Surround Sound Mixes
Though it sometimes gets lost in the shuffle among the more critically lauded Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street, The Rolling Stones' 11th album, Goats Head Soup is worthy of reappraisal - and that time has finally come, as The Rolling Stones and UMe have announced a set of reissues slated for September 4 featuring new mixes, demos, alternate versions, and live material across a number of configurations. Released in August 1973, Goats Head Soup was recorded across the world, with
A Second Disc Interview: TJ Lubinsky Shares Details on New “Rock, Pop, and Doo Wop” DVD Set
"Be My Baby." "Can't Take My Eyes off You." "Stand by Me." "You Don't Own Me." Songs such as these not only defined the era in which they were first written and performed, but continue to resonate today. They're just four of the classic songs included on an upcoming 7-DVD set from Treasury Collection that serves as a definitive concert anthology of classic American R&B music. Rock, Pop, and Doo Wop has been curated by executive producer and director TJ Lubinsky from his acclaimed onstage
In Memoriam: Ennio Morricone (1928-2020)
In the spring of 2004, my junior year of high school, I enrolled in an elective that was split between Theatre Arts one semester and Analyzing Cinema the next. One of the more polarizing films shown in class was Sergio Leone's epic Western The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - the class of 16 and 17-year-olds didn't entirely jibe with the lengthy takes, surreal logic (complete with characters surprised by events that couldn't be seen within the frame), or the score, which was firmly Western in terms
Dancing Again: What To Expect for Record Store Day’s RSD Drops Day 1, August 29
As the COVID 19 outbreak continues to impact our lives, it's heartening to know that some things are returning to some semblance of "normal," or as close as we can get to it during this unpredictable impasse. As we previously reported, Record Store Day has been split into three standalone "RSD Drop" days, occurring on August 29, September 26, and October 24. That's not the only thing changing this time around. It's been reported by Georgia-based shop Comeback Vinyl that the organization is
Summer Blessings: Super Picks for July’s Bandcamp Friday
The Bandcamp Friday train keeps rolling - a light in the darkness for music lovers if ever there was one! On March 20, as the COVID-19 pandemic was putting the world on pause, the indie music service waived their revenue share on all music and merch sold, allowing indie artists and labels a chance for some steadier income as concert tours began to halt. The event was a resounding success, and has been repeated on the first Fridays of May and June, with another on June 19 (a planned annual
Release Round-Up: Week of July 3
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Willie Nelson, First Rose of Spring (Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Willie Nelson's latest studio album emphasizes love and positivity at a time when we all need it most. First Rose of Spring features new Nelson originals co-written with producer and longtime associate Buddy Cannon, as well as new songs from Toby Keith and Chris Stapleton and covers such as "Yesterday When I Was Young." Available on CD, LP, and
Life in the Fast Lane: Eagles’ “Live from The Forum” Airs This Sunday, Comes to CD, LP, DVD, BD
When Glenn Frey passed away in 2016, many wondered about the future of the Eagles. Happily, the band persevered and celebrated Frey's legacy with the addition of his son Deacon to the lineup as well as country superstar Vince Gill. This Sunday, ESPN will give fans a taste of the "new" Eagles with the broadcast of Live from The Forum MMXVIII. The special is culled from three performances at Inglewood, California's Forum on September 12, 14, and 15, 2018 during the band's North American tour.
I’ve Been Waiting: Little Steven Announces All-Encompassing CD/DVD Box Set
Last year, Steven Van Zandt looked back on his solo discography with an impressive 6LP/4CD box set. Rock 'n Roll Rebel: The Early Work collected six albums on vinyl and added four CDs of bonus material, adding up to a definitive look at a powerful and politically-charged body of work. Earlier this year, the versatile E Street Band guitarist/Sopranos and Lilyhammer actor/Disciples of Soul bandleader began issuing Bob Ludwig's remastered versions of all six original albums on CD, three of them
With Every Beat of My Heart: Cherry Pop Reissues, Expands Laura Branigan’s “Self Control”
Laura Branigan became an overnight sensation with the release of 1982's "Gloria." Her throbbing adaptation of Umberto Tozzi's Italian hit not only reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 (held from the top spot by Lionel Richie's "Truly") but spent 36 weeks on the chart, establishing a new record for a solo female artist. A dance party anthem for a post-disco age, "Gloria" helped propel the singer's debut album, Branigan, to top 40 status and a Gold sales certification. It set the stage for
No Choice But To Hear You: Alanis Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill” Celebrates 25th Anniversary With Digital Offerings, Including New Deluxe Edition of Album
June 13 marked the 25th anniversary of Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill. In celebration, Morissette and Rhino Records are unveiling several digital offerings, the centerpiece of which is a new deluxe edition, pairing the original album with a concert from March of this year, available today. Alanis Morissette's first two albums did not indicate the direction her music would take for her biggest smash record. Released on MCA in her native Canada, 1991's Alanis and 1992's Now is the Time
Release Round-Up: Week of June 26
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Johnny Cash, The Complete Mercury Recordings 1986-1991 (Mercury/UMe) 7CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 7LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada The Complete Mercury Recordings 1986-1991 will be available on 7CD or 7LP, 180-gram vinyl formats. The box collects all six albums Johnny Cash recorded for Mercury Records during that era: Class Of '55: Memphis Rock & Roll Homecoming with Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, and Carl
Before The Beginning: Fleetwood Mac’s “Then Play On” Receives “Celebration” Editions on CD and LP This September
On September 18, nearly 51 years to the day from its original release, Fleetwood Mac's third album, Then Play On, will be reissued on BMG on CD and half-speed mastered 2-LP in a special "Celebration Edition." And as far as Fleetwood Mac albums go, this one is certainly worth celebrating. On Then Play On, the band steers away from the straight-ahead blues covers that dominated their earlier albums. The band's lineup was also in transition - one of many such changes the Mac would see in its 50+
Soundtrack Watch: Quartet’s New “Thing,” Varese Dives Deep with “SeaQuest DSV” and “The Running Man”
A new remaster of a classic soundtrack album and two new expansions are on display in our latest soundtrack-round-up. For the first time in nearly 40 years, Quartet Records is remastering Ennio Morricone's score to John Carpenter's sci-fi classic The Thing. An adaptation of the John W. Campbell Jr. short story Who Goes There? (first filmed as 1951's The Thing From Another World), The Thing features an ensemble cast portraying researchers at an Antarctic outpost who encounter an alien creature
Color Me Taken Aback: Prince’s ‘Sign “O” The Times’ Set For Expanded Box Set
It's one of the most acclaimed albums of all time by one of the most beloved musicians of the 20th century - and now, it's getting the deluxe treatment. Prince's 1987 masterpiece Sign "O" The Times will be remastered and reissued by Warner Records on September 25, kicking off 2020's box set season with considerable style. It'll be available in multiple formats: newly remastered double CD or double vinyl, a 3CD or 4LP set that includes all the original B-sides and single mixes, and a massive
Review: The Iron City Houserockers, “Have a Good Time But…Get Out Alive!” [40th Anniversary Edition]
With apologies to John Lennon, Joe Grushecky is a working-class hero. A special education teacher by day and musician by night, Grushecky has worked for decades in inner-city Pittsburgh to help children battling severe developmental, emotional, and physical disabilities. Determination, grit, and authenticity have long been among his trademarks as an artist. Now, Cleveland International Records has reissued his sophomore album, recorded with his band The Iron City Houserockers, in a 2-CD or 2-LP
Dreamsville: Andy Williams’ “Cadence Albums” Box Available Now from Edsel
Though born in the small town of Wall Lake, Iowa, Howard Andrew Williams always had his sight on the stars. From a young age, he sang with his older brothers Bob, Don, and Dick - first in church, then on local radio. While their father was a railroad worker, he encouraged his sons' showbiz dreams as they "graduated" on the airwaves from Des Moines to Chicago to Cincinnati. It wasn't long before word reached Hollywood of the brothers' potential, and upon moving there in 1943, they were rewarded
It’s Getting Better: Cherry Red Reissues Kevin Rowland’s Cult Classic “My Beauty”
Kevin Rowland of Dexys Midnight Runners released his first solo album, The Wanderer, in 1988 - three years after the band's third studio album (and final one for 27 years). But after The Wanderer, Rowland walked away from the music biz altogether. He returned in 1999 with My Beauty, but the record itself was overshadowed by its striking cover depicting a semi-disrobed Rowland in a dress, stockings, and makeup, with a feather boa slung over the dressing screen. Now, over two decades later, the