Wow! And just like that, another year has flown by. Just a few weeks before The Second Disc hits its 12th anniversary(!), this Christmas Eve it is our custom to look back on the last 12 months and take some time to think fondly of the music, magic, memories and friends that made our lives worth living. As if last year wasn't unconventional enough, 2021 packed more pop, clicks, skips and distortion than the most misguided vinyl pressings. We got vaccinated, we got boosted, we tentatively
Takin' Care of Business: Dutton Vocalion Reissues Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Burton Cummings, Mott the Hoople, Leonard Bernstein, More in Quadraphonic
The Dutton Vocalion label has announced its first batch of hybrid SACD releases (playable on all CD players) for 2021 including another group of long-out-of-print quadraphonic surround mixes. First up is a three-for-one release from Ian Hunter and Mott the Hoople. The first disc of this 2-SACD set presents 1974's The Hoople (the band's highest charting album in the U.S.) in stereo and quadraphonic; followed by a stereo-only presentation of 1972's All the Young Dudes (featuring David Bowie's
The Year In Review: The 2020 Gold Bonus Disc Awards, From A to Z
Happy 2021 and welcome to The Second Disc's 11th Annual Gold Bonus Disc Awards! The past year has presented any number of unprecedented challenges. But music has filled a more important role than ever, providing solace, comfort, and escape in a time unlike any other. With that spirit in mind, The Second Disc once again wishes to recognize 2020's cream of the catalogue music crop - those exemplary reissues and box sets big and small that proved to be truly outstanding for music lovers
Release Round-Up: Week of December 11
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Neil Young, After the Gold Rush: 50th Anniversary Edition (Reprise) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) The 50th Anniversary Edition of Neil Young's classic album features new art based on Gary Burden's original album cover design. The CD is out today while the vinyl edition will be released in March, 2021 and presented in a box set with the LP and a bonus 7″ single in a newly designed picture sleeve. This set includes two different
Review: Joan Armatrading's Self-Titled Album Shines on Intervention's Vinyl Reissue
Back in 2018, we wrote about an upcoming vinyl reissue of Joan Armatrading's self-titled album on Intervention Records. (It was actually your author's very first post on The Second Disc!) Intervention had been making a name for themselves as the new kid on the block of audiophile labels. This imprint has since become known for its attention to detail, commitment to superior audio, and deluxe presentations. We were no doubt thrilled to hear what was to come. Well, after a slight pause,
Your Sweet Voice: Matthew Sweet's Power-Pop Classic 'Girlfriend' Arriving on SACD, Signed Edition Also Available
If you've been reading The Second Disc for any amount of time, you probably know we're big fans of Intervention Records. Back in 2018, we profiled the label's ongoing Matthew Sweet artist-approved reissue series and reviewed the excellent vinyl edition of 100% Fun. Now we can share the exciting news that Sweet's breakthrough 1992 album Girlfriend is set to arrive on SACD through Intervention Records. The disc hits shops on October 16. What sets this one apart from the vinyl counterpart
Release Round-Up: Week of September 11
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Reba McEntire, Rumor Has It: 30th Anniversary Edition (MCA Nashville) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Exclusive Orange Vinyl: Wal-Mart Reba McEntire expands her 1990 album in a new anniversary edition with two bonus tracks on CD (an acoustic take of Bobbie Gentry's "Fancy" recorded at the Ryman Auditorium and a dance remix of the song by Dave Audé) and one on vinyl (the acoustic
Review: Joe Jackson, "Body and Soul" [Hybrid SACD]
Joe Jackson was never much of a conformist. The singer-songwriter followed up his first two albums (which dovetailed with the new wave movement and also reflected a punk spirit) with two stylistic departures before embracing classic songcraft on 1982's watershed Night and Day. Basking in the success of the album and its singles "Steppin' Out" and "Breaking Us in Two," Jackson turned to film scoring with Mike's Murder, but most of his score was discarded in favor of one by John Barry. Where
My Blue Heaven: Impex Preps Expanded Audiophile Reissue of "Sing and Dance With Frank Sinatra" on LP and SACD
Over the course of his long and storied career, Frank Sinatra made many game-changing moves. He released the very first pop long-playing record with Columbia's 1948 reissue of The Voice of Frank Sinatra, pioneered the concept album with In The Wee Small Hours at Capitol, founded his own independent record label (Reprise), and transformed the art of pop vocal performance. In 1950, the future Chairman of the Board released an album (then available as either a set of four 10" 78s or a single
Phone Rings, Door Chimes, In Comes Company: Vocalion Releases Quad Mixes of "Company" and "A Chorus Line" on SACD
The U.K.'s Dutton Vocalion label is continuing its ongoing campaign reissuing quadraphonic albums on hybrid SACD (with a stereo layer playable on all CD players) with two classic Broadway cast recordings from the Columbia vaults. Both were choreographed by Michael Bennett, feature the talents of Donna McKechnie, and have orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. Moreover, both merged classic Broadway with a powerful and contemporary sensibility. Much as Rodgers and Hammerstein had done before him,
Review: The Flying Burrito Bros., "Burrito Deluxe" on Hybrid SACD
For years now, we've touted Intervention Records' superlative work in the vinyl reissue front. The team's attention to detail, impeccable artwork, and stellar sonics across genres have given them a reputation in the reissue world as one of the best. Their established quality in the LP world happily extends to the digital realm, as well. Intervention recently released a stereo-only hybrid SACD of The Flying Burrito Bros.' Burrito Deluxe - one of the formative albums of the country-rock genre
Happy Ending: Intervention Brings Joe Jackson's "Body and Soul" to Hybrid SACD
Intervention Records' Joe Jackson reissue series has already seen high-quality vinyl pressings of such favorite albums as I'm the Man, Look Sharp!, Night and Day, and Summer in the City: Live in New York. Now, the label is turning its attention to another classic from the Jackson discography, his 1984 studio album Body and Soul. On or around June 5, the label will reissue Body and Soul as a stereo hybrid SACD, playable on all CD players. Following the breakthrough success of 1982's Night and
Release Round-Up: Week of April 10
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Doris Day, Her Greatest Songs (Sony U.K.) (Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Her Greatest Songs features 16 of Doris' classics from 1948-1970 on pink vinyl. This new compilation draws on her classic Columbia recordings plus the vinyl debut of her rendition of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now," recorded in 1970 for the 1971 CBS-TV special The Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff Special. The release of Her Greatest Songs is available today on CD, streaming,
Set Me Free, Why Don't You: Mono Mix of "Vanilla Fudge" Gets The MoFi Treatment
Sweet news incoming... If you're a connoisseur of all things psychedelic, prepare to feel like a kid in a candy shop. Mobile Fidelity, the boutique audiophile label, has announced a special reissue of Vanilla Fudge's seminal, self-titled psych-rock debut. Limited to just 3,000 copies, this numbered 2-LP, 45-rpm pressing features Vanilla Fudge in its original mono mix, remastered from the original master tapes with the impeccable attention to detail that's given MoFi their reputation in the
Farther Along: Intervention Records Returns With Flying Burrito Bros. SACD, Other LP Titles
It's been a long road for Intervention Records, the audiophile label dedicated to all-analog vinyl and high-quality SACD reissues of classic titles. After taking a break from new releases, the label has returned. The IR team is back with vinyl re-pressings of some of their flawless reissues. These include Gene Clark's White Light, Everclear's Sparkle and Fade, and The Flying Burrito Bros.' Gilded Palace of Sin and Burrito Deluxe. Each features all-analog mastering (except for the
Wake Up Everybody: Vocalion Releases Quad SACDs from Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, O'Jays, Earth Wind and Fire, Helen Reddy
The U.K.'s Dutton Vocalion label has announced its first batch of hybrid SACD releases for 2020, all of which feature original quadraphonic and stereo mixes. (The stereo mixes are playable on all CD players.) This round follows an eclectic array of titles released in 2019 including albums by Paul Revere and The Raiders, The Guess Who, Argent, Blood Sweat & Tears, Carlos Santana, and numerous others. (Visit the Dutton Vocalion website for information on all of these titles and more!) The
Release Round-Up: Week of November 8
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Chet Atkins, The Complete RCA Victor and Columbia Christmas Recordings (Second Disc/Real Gone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music are proud to present The Complete RCA Victor and Columbia Christmas Recordings from legendary guitarist-producer Chet Atkins on a deluxe 2-CD, 46-song anthology remastered by Vic Anesini at Sony's Battery Studios and featuring new liner notes by the set's
Just a Shot Away: ABKCO Reissues Rolling Stones' "Let It Bleed" on LP, SACD for 50th Anniversary
Yesterday, ABKCO announced the latest in its series of Rolling Stones anniversary box sets: a 50th anniversary set for the band's multi-platinum 1969 classic Let It Bleed. Produced by Jimmy Miller and featuring "Gimme Shelter" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want," Let It Bleed was the Stones' eighth studio album in the U.K. and tenth in the U.S.; it reached No. 3 in America and No. 1 in England. Now, it's poised to return on November 1 in a 2-LP/2-Hybrid SACD set remastered in both stereo
The True One: 4AD Remasters, Reissues Gene Clark's "No Other" In Lavish Box Set
Fans of the late Gene Clark have long known that the singer-songwriter was, truly, like No Other - so it's appropriate that his 1974 cult classic of that name is getting the lavish, super deluxe treatment from the folks at 4AD Records. On November 8, the label will reissue No Other in four formats including: 3 SACD/1 Blu-ray/1 LP/1 7-inch single Limited Deluxe Box Set; CD; 2CD; and 1LP. No Other, recorded at West Hollywood's Village Recorder with producer Thomas Jefferson Kaye,
Release Round-Up: Week of July 12
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! America, 50th Anniversary: The Collection (Warner/Rhino) 50th Anniversary: The Collection (3-CD) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) 50th Anniversary: The Collection [2-LP] (Barnes & Noble Exclusive) 50th Anniversary: Golden Hits (Single CD) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Almost fifty years ago in London, Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell, and the late Dan Peek first joined their voices together in song - beginning a
The Year In Review - The 2018 Gold Bonus Disc Awards, From A to Z
Happy 2019 and welcome to The Second Disc's 9th Annual Gold Bonus Disc Awards! It's time once again to recognize this year's cream of the crop - those exemplary reissues and box sets big and small that proved to be truly outstanding products for physical media lovers worldwide. There was no shortage of great reissue titles in 2018; in fact, we covered over 700 releases in all! And after much deliberation, we're excited to unveil our favorites. This isn't your run-of-the-mill Top 10,
He and Mrs. Jones: Vocalion Adds to Quad Roster with SACDs from Billy Paul
The U.K.'s Dutton Vocalion label is continuing to grow its SACD catalogue of quadraphonic releases. Following recent titles from The Guess Who, Rick Derringer, Stephen Sondheim, and others, Vocalion has just released another batch of vintage quad mixes from the worlds of jazz (George Benson's Body Talk, Weather Report's Tale Spinnin'), rock (the Jim Peterik-affiliated jazz-rock fusion group Chase's Pure Music and Chase), and R&B. In the latter category comes three albums from Philadelphia
I'm Open to Persuasion: Intervention Celebrates Joan Armatrading's Self-Titled Album With LP, Hybrid SACD Reissue
Today, The Second Disc welcomes a new voice! Please give a warm welcome to our newest contributor, Sam Stone. Sam brings deep knowledge and tremendous passion for the world of catalogue music, and we're confident that his fresh perspective will put his news and reviews for The Second Disc on the top of your must-read list. You can read a little more about Sam at the end of this post. We couldn't be more thrilled to have him on board. Without further ado...take it away, Sam! Intervention
The Sun Won't Set: Vocalion Reissues Quadraphonic Sondheim, Herrmann, Waxman on SACD
In recent months, the U.K.'s Dutton Vocalion label has reissued a number of rare quadraphonic mixes on SACD, including titles from Poco, Johnnie Taylor, The Guess Who, The Hues Corporation, Rick Derringer, Art Garfunkel, and more. The label has just announced its slate for September, highlighted by the SACD debut of the quad mix of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music and two film score releases from movie maestro Charles Gerhardt. All of Vocalion's quadraphonic SACDs are hybrid discs,
Wild Horses: Intervention Reissues The Flying Burrito Brothers' "Burrito Deluxe" On LP, Hybrid SACD
On the heels of recent releases including the first-ever SACD of Gene Clark's classic A&M album White Light, Intervention Records has turned its attention once more to a group of California legends with ties to The Byrds: The Flying Burrito Brothers. Following its previous release of the Burritos' debut The Gilded Palace of Sin on both hybrid SACD and deluxe vinyl, Intervention will reissue the band's sophomore LP, Burrito Deluxe, in those formats. The 180-gram vinyl LP will arrive by