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Some Kind of a Summer: Real Gone Offers David Cassidy, Gary Lewis, Grateful Dead, Johnny Mathis In August

July 17, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

real gone august 31

Real Gone Music is looking ahead to August, and it's going to be one hot summer!  The label has just announced new titles from all around the pop/rock spectrum: Gary Lewis and the Playboys, David Cassidy, The Grateful Dead and Johnny Mathis! Gary Lewis and the Playboys' Complete Liberty Singles first arrived in 2009 from the late Collectors' Choice Music label, with 45 tracks on 2 CDs.  This anthology definitely proved that there was much more to the group than just "This Diamond Ring,"

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Pop Tags: David Cassidy, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Johnny Mathis, The Grateful Dead

Heaven In Her Eyes: BBR Reissues Two From Deniece Williams

July 16, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

deniece williams niecy1

The curriculum vitae of Deniece Williams can boast some of the most esteemed names in popular music: Maurice White, Charles Stepney, David Foster, Thom Bell and George Duke, just to name a few.  All of those gentlemen produced albums for, or with, Williams, whose career has been the subject of a series of deluxe reissues from Big Break Records.  Earlier this year, BBR (part of the Cherry Red group of labels) added Williams' 1976 debut This is Niecy to its previous four titles from the artist:

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Deniece Williams

When Worlds Collide! John Barry and Matt Monro Spy Thriller Joins George Pal Sci-Fi Flicks

July 11, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

the quiller memorandum1

His name is Barry...John Barry.  And the famed film composer's score to the 1966 spy thriller The Quiller Memorandum is one of the two latest soundtrack reissues from Intrada.  The film score specialists have also just released a 2-CD set of four scores drawn from the legendary films of George Pal.  War of the Worlds/When Worlds Collide includes, as bonuses, The Naked Jungle and Conquest of Space.  These four soundtracks are the work of Leith Stevens (War of the Worlds, When Worlds Collide),

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Soundtracks Tags: John Barry, Matt Monro

Review: Carly Simon, "Spoiled Girl: Expanded Edition"

July 9, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

carly simon spoiled girl cover1

The title of Spoiled Girl had a knowingly ironic resonance for Carly Simon.  A scion of the Simon and Schuster publishing firm (her father was founder Richard L. Simon), Carly was considered by some to be a "spoiled girl." In fact, that couldn't have been further from the truth, despite a somewhat privileged upbringing.  Yet here she was, mockingly singing of a woman who "thinks of nothing but herself," the kind of gal who sends her chauffeur to supply more bubbles for her bath!  1985's Spoiled

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Categories: Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Pop Tags: Carly Simon

I Feel Good (All Over): Dance All Weekend Long with Kent's "Cleethorpes Northern Soul Weekender"

July 6, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

cleethorpes 11

Though we've come to expect delightful and deeply soulful compilations from Ace's Kent label, one of Kent's latest is a particular trip: a trip, in fact, to the Cleethorpes Northern Soul Weekender.  The 6Ts Rhythm and Soul Society has been throwing these bashes on a yearly basis since 1993, offering up plenty of dancing and some of the best names in soul music, among them Doris Troy, Barbara Lewis, Tommy Hunt, Bettye LaVette and Maxine Brown.  Kent's The Cleethorpes Northern Soul Weekender,

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Barbara Lewis, Bettye LaVette, Doris Troy, Maxine Brown, Tommy Hunt, Various Artists

Review: Jellyfish, "Live at Bogart's"

July 3, 2012 By Joe Marchese 7 Comments

jellyfish live cover1

When Jellyfish's Live at Bogart's was recorded on February 21, 1991, did anybody realize that neither the band nor the venue were long for this world?  On December 2, 1993, The Los Angeles Times lamented the closure of the Long Beach, California club, calling it a "mighty blow" to the local music community.  Yet Bogart's actually outlasted the first iteration of the band that hailed from miles up north in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Andy Sturmer (drums/vocals), Roger Joseph Manning Jr.

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Categories: Reviews Formats: CD, Vinyl Genre: Pop, Rock Tags: Jellyfish

"The Very Best Of" Jazz: Concord Launches New Series With Davis, Rollins, Coltrane and More

June 29, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

miles davis very best

If you've ever felt it might be a daunting task to "get into" jazz, Concord Music Group just might have the perfect releases for you.  Concord is home to many of the genre's greatest labels, including Prestige, Contemporary, Riverside, Milestone, Fantasy and Pablo.  With the new series simply titled The Very Best Of, the Concord team has offered an affordable, entry-level look into five of the most influential musicians of all time: Miles Davis (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor saxophone), Sonny

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Jazz Tags: Chet Baker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Wes Montgomery

Expanded "Green Onions" Coming From Booker T. & The MGs

June 27, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

green onions

Concord Music Group continues its Stax Remasters series by dipping into the label's early days with a bona fide R&B classic.  The title track of Booker T. & The MGs' 1962 Green Onions is still instantly recognizable today from appearances in television (American Dad) and film (X-Men: First Class), and was in May 2012 inducted into the Library of Congress' prestigious National Recording Registry.  On July 24, the original Green Onions album will be reissued and expanded with two bonus

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Booker T. and the MG's

Dinah Shore, Songs of James Taylor Feature on Upcoming Masterworks Broadway Reissues

June 22, 2012 By Joe Marchese 1 Comment

call me madam rca1

After a brief sabbatical, Masterworks Broadway has taken another dive into its vaults, with its first round of disc-on-demand/digital reissues since February.  The label was hardly idle, however, delivering releases from Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett, and Liza Minnelli as deluxe CDs in the ensuing months, and preparing the new Broadway Cast Recording of Evita.  This summer, however, Masterworks will turn its attention to two classic recordings from the 1950s and one with a more contemporary

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Digital Download Genre: Cast Recordings Tags: Dinah Shore, Irving Berlin, James Taylor, Stephen Schwartz

Review: Omnivore's Legends of Music and Comedy, Buck Owens and Ernie Kovacs

June 20, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

buck owens live

In the pantheon of American comedy legends, you’d likely find Ernie Kovacs, the gifted, gone-too-soon (1919-1962) personality who carved out a niche in the early days of American television.  Joining Ernie in that esteemed company might well also be Buck Owens (1929-2006), the influential guitarist and songwriter who made a second career out of joking, a-pickin’ and a-grinnin’ on the cornpone television variety show Hee Haw.  However different these two gentlemen are, however, Omnivore

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Categories: Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Country, Everything Else Tags: Buck Owens, Ernie Kovacs

Are You An Elvis Fan? New Fan-Selected Compilation Arrives In July

June 15, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

i am an elvis fan1

Although this August 16 will mark the 35th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death, the musical light left behind by the once and future King of Rock and Roll has never dimmed.  2012 has already seen the expanded reissue of Elvis Country, including the Love Letters from Elvis album, and a handful of reissues from the Follow That Dream specialty label.  (More titles are on the way from FTD including a long-awaited, upgraded collection of Presley's Sun recordings: watch for Part Two for more

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Pop Tags: Elvis Presley

A Star Beyond Time: Talking "Trek" with Mike Matessino, Part 2

June 14, 2012 By Mike Duquette Leave a Comment

tmp cast

Captain's log, Stardate 2012.614. When last we left the crew of the starship Second Disc, they were interviewing renowned soundtrack producer Mike Matessino, whose work on La-La Land's triple-disc expansion of Jerry Goldsmith's score to Star Trek: The Motion Picture may be the most vivacious and definitive single soundtrack presentation in a career brimming with many projects. Our interview with Matessino was lengthy, and the two-hour interview was bound to take up more than one post. Why the

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Categories: Interviews Formats: CD Genre: Soundtracks Tags: Mike Matessino

Reviews: Three From Real Gone - Mick Fleetwood's Zoo, Jerry Reed and Durocs

June 8, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

durocs1

Real Gone Music has become known for its wide-ranging and eclectic releases, and today we’re looking at three of the most recent, from the countrypolitan stylings of Jerry Reed to the rock animals of Mick Fleetwood’s Zoo and the pure pop of The Dūrocs! Dūrocs, Dūrocs (Real Gone Music RGM-0058, 2012) Are you ready to hear one of the best albums you’ve never heard?  Then head straight to the pig pen for the first-ever CD release of Dūrocs.  Primarily written and produced by the team of Ron

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Categories: Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Country, Pop, Rock Tags: Durocs, Fleetwood Mac, Jerry Reed, Mick Fleetwood, Ron Nagle

Catch A Wave! Special Review: The Beach Boys' "That's Why God Made The Radio"

June 5, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

beach boys the the beach boys thats why god made the radio album cover1

In Part One of our special two-part series, we recalled the ups and downs of The Beach Boys and the band’s chief musical architect, Brian Wilson.  Today, in Part Two, we turn the spotlight over to That’s Why God Made the Radio, the new album in stores today from America’s Band! Brian Wilson is still a cork on the ocean floating over the raging sea.  But is that a whiff of contentment I hear running through The Beach Boys’ “reunion” album, That’s Why God Made the Radio?  Despite the ups and

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Classic Rock, Pop Tags: Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys

There is No Comparison: Talking "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" with Mike Matessino, Part 1

June 4, 2012 By Mike Duquette 1 Comment

star trek motion picture

If you're a catalogue soundtrack fan, you doubtlessly know the name and work of Mike Matessino. For decades, Matessino has been among film score elite, serving ably as a producer, editor, mixer and writer for some of the best soundtrack catalogue titles. The New York University graduate first rose to prominence restoring the music of The Sound of Music and The King and I for 20th Century-Fox, then assembled with Nick Redman the most definitive CD releases of John Williams' scores to the Star

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Categories: Interviews Formats: CD Genre: Soundtracks Tags: Mike Matessino

Reviews: First Family of Soul - Rare Albums From Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick, Cissy Houston Reissued and Expanded

May 30, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

presenting cissy houston1

If there's such a thing as a First Family of Soul, it might as well be the combined Houston/Warwick clan.  Born in Newark, New Jersey in 1933, Emily "Cissy" Drinkard sang gospel with her family as part of The Drinkard Singers, which counted Cissy's sister Lee Warrick among its members.  Marie Dionne Warrick was born in 1940 to Lee and her husband Mancel; Delia Mae "Dee Dee" Warrick followed in 1942.  Though The Drinkard Singers remain an important part of the history of gospel music, said to

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Pop, R&B/Soul Tags: Cissy Houston, Dee Dee Warwick, Dionne Warwick, Isaac Hayes

Leaders of the Pack: Ace Celebrates Legendary Songwriters Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry

May 24, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

greenwich and barry1

The union of Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry was a brief one.  Married in 1962, the same year that they began a songwriting partnership, they were divorced in 1965.  Their professional partnership only continued for a short time thereafter.  And to this day, the team of Greenwich and Barry is spoken of in the same breath as two other successful Brill Building husband-and-wife teams, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil (married 1961, still going strong!) and Gerry Goffin and Carole King (married 1959,

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Pop Tags: Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry, The Crystals, The Monkees, The Ronettes

Back Tracks, In Memoriam: Robin Gibb

May 20, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

robin gibb secret agent

May 20, 2012: We're deeply saddened to report that Robin Gibb of The Bee Gees passed away this morning in England at 10:47 a.m. (5:47 a.m. ET) at the age of 62.  Gibb's passing comes following a brave battle with cancer, courageously fought in the public eye.  Robin Gibb will always be remembered for his great gift of song, with his angelic voice having provided comfort to so many of us in our saddest times and pure joy in our most upbeat moments.  Robin, we will miss you.  In honor of this

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Disco/Dance, Pop Tags: Back Tracks, Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb, The Bee Gees

Review: A Quartet From BBR - The Pointer Sisters, Buddy Miles, Pharoah Sanders, Greg Phillinganes

May 18, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

buddy miles all the faces

Among the most recent reissues from Big Break Records is a 1974 album from Electric Flag founder and Jimi Hendrix drummer Buddy Miles entitled All the Faces of Buddy Miles.  But one could easily title any given batch of music from the Cherry Red-affiliated label as All the Faces of BBR, so reliably diverse is each group of the label's releases.  Today's capsule reviews look at four of the latest from the Big Break team! Buddy Miles, All the Faces of Buddy Miles (Columbia KC-33089, 1974 -

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Categories: Reviews Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Buddy Miles, Greg Phillinganes, Pharoah Sanders, The Pointer Sisters

Just As He Was: Bill Withers' 1971 Debut "Just As I Am" Reissued By Big Break

May 16, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

bill withers just as i am1

Bill Withers titled his 1971 debut album Just As I Am, and the raw, simple and understated cover photo seemed to support that title.  Withers, with an ingratiating smile on his face and a lunch pail in his hand, is standing against a brick wall at California's Webber Aircraft facility.  The US Navy aircraft mechanic turned guitar-slinging singer/songwriter was somewhat of an anomaly on the music scene, and in his understated manner wrote on the album's jacket, "It matters not where I came from

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Bill Withers

Ram On: Paul McCartney Archive Collection's "Ram" Coming In May [UPDATED WITH FULL TRACK LISTING AND DETAILS]

May 4, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

thrillington

We're gonna keep this one short and sweet, dear boys and long-haired ladies.  Yes, the oft-rumored Paul McCartney Archive Collection of Paul and Linda McCartney's 1971 album Ram is very close to becoming a reality.  On March 22, it was officially announced that Ram will be reissued in multiple formats on May 22.  But one of those formats will be a bit surprising to collectors of previous Archive Collection titles.  It appears that Ram will not follow the hardcover book format of those past

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Categories: News Formats: Box Sets, CD, Digital Download, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock Tags: Paul McCartney, The Beatles

Review: Carole King, "The Legendary Demos" and "Something Good from the Goffin and King Songbook"

April 24, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

something good carole king

Though there's no one formula for creating a great song, there's no denying the success of the method that flourished first in New York's Tin Pan Alley (28th Street between Broadway and Sixth Avenue, for those wondering) and later a bit uptown in and around the Brill Building (1619 Broadway near 49th Street).  A couple of blocks away at 1650 Broadway at 51st Street, during the halcyon days of the 1960s, you would have found the home of Aldon Music, and the team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King. 

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Pop Tags: Carole King, Gerry Goffin

Step Inside Love: Cilla Black's Historic Recordings with George Martin Collected In Complete 5 CD/1 DVD Box Set [UPDATED 4/23]

April 23, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

cilla lp

What's it all about, Cilla? Though "Alfie" and "Anyone Who Had a Heart" are very much the property of Ms. Dionne Warwick in the United States, Liverpool's Cilla Black can fairly stake claim to them across the pond.  Born Priscilla Maria Veronica White, the protégé of Brian Epstein and close Beatle pal scored a string of beloved hit singles at the height of Swinging London, though her profile has long remained under the radar in America.  Well, not if The Second Disc has anything to say about

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Categories: News Formats: Box Sets, CD Genre: Pop Tags: Burt Bacharach, Cilla Black, The Beatles

Review: Janis Joplin, "The Pearl Sessions"

April 18, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

janis pearl sessions

One dictionary defines "pearl" as an object both "hard" and "lustrous," synonymous with "gem" or "jewel."  Couldn't all of those words also describe Janis Joplin?  Pearl was, of course, the name bestowed upon the singer by her final group, The Kozmic Blues Band, and the title of her final, posthumously released album from 1971.  Pearl has arrived on CD once more from Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings under the title The Pearl Sessions (88697 84224 2), expanding the original 10-track album

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Classic Rock Tags: Janis Joplin

King of Cool: Career-Spanning Dean Martin Box Set "Collected Cool" Coming in June, Uncut Dino DVDs Arriving in May

April 16, 2012 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

dean martin collected cool1

How lucky can one guy be?  Although Dean Martin's exhaustive catalogue has been definitively anthologized on four massive box sets released by Germany's Bear Family label between 1997 and 2001, unheard material from the King of Cool continues to be discovered.  Reporting in February 2011 about the then-recent Cool Then, Cool Now 2-CD/book box set, this writer opined: "A true career retrospective box with material from each label and era would be essential for those Martin fans looking for more

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Categories: News Formats: Box Sets, CD, DVD Genre: Popular Standards/Vocal Tags: Dean Martin

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