Roger Taylor’s 1981 solo debut gains three single sides in Omnivore’s expanded CD edition. The original album sequence will also be available on vinyl; the first pressing of the latter will be on clear vinyl!
Countdown To “Physical Graffiti” Begins: Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page Does Q&A, Expanded Album Streams Tomorrow
The wait for the latest volume of Led Zeppelin’s remastered and expanded reissue series is almost over! Tomorrow – Thursday, February 19 – Yahoo Live will stream the 40th Anniversary Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti Deluxe Edition Premiere. The complete, previously unreleased companion audio from the upcoming deluxe edition will be unveiled, followed by a live Q&A with legendary axeman and album producer Jimmy Page in front of a live audience at Olympic Studios in London, the same studio where portions of the album were originally recorded over 40 years ago. Fans worldwide will have the opportunity to…
Duets: Re-Working the Catalogue
No, this isn’t April Fool’s. Van Morrison has announced a newest release: a duets album! But in a typically Morrison-esque twist, he’s not re-recording his past hits but rather a selection of largely unheralded tracks from his discography. Guests include Michael Bublé , Natalie Cole, George Benson, Steve Winwood, Mark Knopfler, P.J. Proby, Georgie Fame, Mick Hucknall, Mavis Staples and the late Bobby Womack.
Postcards from Paradise
Ringo Starr’s eighteenth album arrives just in time for his solo induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Guest musicians include members of Starr’s most recent All-Starr Band, all of whom co-wrote one track with Starr: Todd Rundgren, Steve Lukather, Gregg Rolie, Richard Page, Warren Ham and Gregg Bissonette. Guest appearances are also promised from Joe Walsh, Richard Marx, Peter Frampton and Dave Stewart.
No Pier Pressure (Deluxe Edition)
Brian Wilson returns with his long-anticipated eleventh studio album featuring Al Jardine, David Marks and Blondie Chaplin of The Beach Boys, plus Nate Ruess of fun., She & Him, Kasey Musgraves, Sebu Simonian of Capital Cities, Peter Hollens, Mark Isham, and longtime members of Wilson’s band. Wilson and Joe Thomas (The Beach Boys’ That’s Why God Made the Radio) have produced. The standard CD edition will include 13 songs, while a deluxe CD edition has been promised with 16. The 2-LP vinyl set will feature the 16-track version. This link is for the Deluxe…
Release Round-Up: Week of February 17
The Pretenders, 1979-1999 (Edsel) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) This mega-box features all of Edsel’s expanded Pretenders reissues, totaling the band’s eight Sire/Warner Bros. albums across 14 CDs and 8 DVDs (with six of the titles as 2-CD/1-DVD sets and two as 1-CD/1-DVD sets). Wow! All of the box set’s albums are also available individually (see below)! All track listings and discography can be found here. The Pretenders, 1979-1999 individual CD/DVD reissues (Edsel) Pretenders (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) Pretenders II (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) Learning To Crawl (Amazon U.S. / Amazon…
Little Earthquakes (Deluxe Edition)
Tori Amos’ 1992 debut is expanded by Rhino to two CDs with the addition of 18 bonus tracks from period singles. The original album will also be available on vinyl.
Under the Pink: Deluxe Edition
Tori Amos’ sophomore album, from 1994, is expanded by Rhino to two CDs with the addition of 15 bonus tracks from period singles. The original album only will also be available on vinyl.
Minstrel in the Gallery: 40th Anniversary La Grande Edition
Jethro Tull’s “Minstrel in the Gallery” celebrates its 40th with a 2-CD/2-DVD book-style edition including new 5.1 and stereo mixes of the original album, the original stereo and quadraphonic mixes, a previously unreleased concert in 5.1 and stereo, and more!
One Little Spark: New Label Launches With Kate Bush, Ben Folds, Laura Nyro, “The Sound of Music”
With its upcoming roster boasting titles from Kate Bush, Ben Folds Five, The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Laura Nyro and Julie Andrews, the new audiophile label Analog Spark is pulling out all the stops for its debut this spring. Yesterday, Razor & Tie announced the launch of Analog Spark, a new imprint which will focus on reissued releases on both 180-gram vinyl and SACD. Razor & Tie co-owners Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam commented, “We’re very excited about the launch of Analog Spark and the reissue of this important historical music. These albums…
Release Round-Up: Week of February 10
Mike + The Mechanics, Living Years: Deluxe Edition (Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) This Deluxe Edition of Mike + The Mechanics’ 1988 album arrives in the U.S. with a second disc featuring “The Living Years 2014″ and live tracks culled from the band’s 1989 tour. Read our full coverage here. Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Complete Columbia Singles (Friday Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) Friday Music has repackaged Collectors’ Choice Music’s 2010 three-disc collection of the complete Columbia singles output of the legendary band (“Kicks,” “Hungry,” “Just Like Me”)….
Reviews: Two From Omnivore – Ian Matthews, “Stealin’ Home” and TV Eyes, “TV Eyes”
In Part One of our Omnivore round-up, we looked at recent releases from Big Star and Roger Taylor. Today, we’re turning the spotlight on Ian Matthews and the trio of Roger Manning, Jason Falkner and Brian Reitzell, a.k.a. TV Eyes! “This album was very much a conscious attempt at something a little more AOR, without deserting my roots.” So writes Ian (or, as he’s sometimes known on record, Iain) Matthews in his introduction to Omnivore Recordings’ splendid 2014 reissue of his 1978 album Stealin’ Home (OVCD-98). As a prevailing sound of AOR…
Another Side: Shedding Light On Bob Dylan’s “Shadows”
With this week’s release of Shadows in the Night, Bob Dylan has unveiled his buzziest album in years. On track to become Dylan’s eighth No. 1 album in the U.K. – with chart success also expected stateside – Shadows in the Night is the album on everybody’s lips. We can’t stop talking about it at Second Disc HQ, either. Joe filed his review on Tuesday, but longtime Dylanphile Ted has “another side” to offer, too! Please join the discussion and sound off below on the latest work from one of America’s most…
Easy Skanking in Boston ’78
Easy Skanking in Boston ’78 kicks off a new program from UMe and the Bob Marley family. This new release, consisting of previously unreleased concert footage, will be available in Blu-Ray/CD combo pack, DVD/CD and standalone CD and vinyl versions. The video was shot with a hand-held camera by a fan that Marley allowed to sit right in front of the stage for his 1978 concert at Boston’s Music Hall. The result captures the artist from just a few feet away. Gaps in the original footage have been filled with newly-created animation over the existing audio….
Release Round-Up: Week of February 3
Tony Joe White: The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings (2-CD Set) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) / George Jones & Tammy Wynette: Songs of Inspiration (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) / Bobby Lance: First Peace/Rollin’ Man (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. ) / Jerry Williams: Gone (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) / Various Artists: Apollo Saturday Night/Saturday Night at the Uptown (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) / John Hall: Power (Expanded Edition) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) / Ray Kennedy: Ray Kennedy (Expanded Edition) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) / Grateful Dead: Dick’s Picks Vol. 12—Providence Civic Center 6/26/74 &…
More Fun In Space: Omnivore Reissues, Expands Two From Roger Taylor
On the heels of 2014’s career-spanning box set The Lot and the single-disc anthology The Best, Omnivore Recordings continues to unfold the solo story of Queen’s Roger Taylor with two reissues due on March 24. On that date, the label will unveil expanded editions of Taylor’s first two solo albums, 1981’s Fun in Space and 1984’s Strange Frontier. Fun in Space found Taylor truly striking out on his own, as all of the sounds heard on the record were performed and played by him save “approximately 50 per cent of keyboards” handled…
Global: CD/DVD Deluxe Edition
Todd Rundgren is back with his 25th studio album which is described as fusing “rock, soul and EDM” – undoubtedly as only Todd could do. Though he’s of late been busy with Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band, Rundgren will also take to the road in April and May to support his latest release. Songs include “Global Nation,” “Flesh and Blood,” “Skyscraper” and “This Island Earth.” Global will be available via Cherry Red’s Esoteric label in the U.K. in standard and deluxe editions and MVD Entertainment stateside in a standard edition. The 180-gram vinyl…
The Brunswick Singles 1965-1966
The Who box up replicas of seven early 7-inch singles plus an eighth with The High Numbers’ “Zoot Suit” b/w “I’m the Face” on this deluxe vinyl box set.
Real Nighttime
Omnivore continues its celebration of Game Theory with a 30th Anniversary reissue of Real Nighttime. The Mitch Easter-produced album is expanded with 13 bonus tracks (10 previously unissued) including covers of songs by Gerry Rafferty and Queen. Real Nighttime will be available on CD and digital download, as well as on a translucent red LP of the original album sequence (with download card for entire CD program). This release includes rare photos and an interview with Easter and series co-producer Pat Thomas, as well as notes from Byron Coley and a remembrance from Carl Newman of The New…
Star-Spangled Rodeo: Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy” Turns 40, Gets Expanded Edition
When the 87th Annual Academy Award nominations were announced on January 15, fans of legendary entertainer Glen Campbell no doubt rejoiced at his first-ever Academy Award nomination. Campbell and co-writer Julian Raymond received a Best Original Song nod for “I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” the singer-songwriter’s touching farewell from the soundtrack of the documentary film I’ll Be Me. It followed news of two Grammy nominations for the song. Campbell, of course, is in the midst of a valiant and very public battle with Alzheimer’s. Though the disease has reportedly robbed him of ability…
Rhinestone Cowboy: 40th Anniversary Edition
Capitol Nashville remasters and expands Glen Campbell’s smash 1975 album with five bonus tracks, including the previously unreleased “Quits,” two rare new-to-U.S.-CD single sides and remixes of “Rhinestone Cowboy” and “Country Boy (You Got Your Feet in L.A.).”
Shadows in the Night
It’s not a catalogue title, but it’s one of the most intriguing of the year nonetheless – Bob Dylan’s 36th studio album and first dedicated to the Great American Songbook. Recorded at Capitol Studios, Shadows in the Night features ten Dylan interpretations of songs previously recorded by Frank Sinatra and written by Irving Berlin, Cy Coleman, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, Harold Adamson and Jimmy McHugh, and others including the Chairman himself (“I’m a Fool to Want You”).
Something Good: Legacy Expands “The Sound of Music,” Classic Soundtrack Also Comes to SACD and Vinyl
The hills are alive again! On March 10, Legacy Recordings will reissue RCA Victor’s chart-topping 1965 soundtrack to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s five-time Academy Award-winning The Sound of Music in a new 50th anniversary edition to coincide with the golden anniversary release on Blu-ray. Collectors will note that expanded CD reissues of the classic musical soundtrack starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer are as inevitable as raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens; editions have arrived in time for the beloved film’s 35th, 40th and 45th anniversaries. But this 50th anniversary release –…
Release Round-Up: Week of January 20
Jellyfish, Bellybutton and Spilt Milk (Omnivore) Bellybutton: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. Spilt Milk: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. Here are the deluxe editions that fans of the cult ’90s pop revivalists have been waiting for! A total of 51 bonus tracks are spread across these freshly-remastered reissues of Jellyfish’s two studio albums. Look for Joe’s review later today! Universal Togetherness Band, Universal Togetherness Band (Numero Group) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) The Numero Group has excavated eight tracks, recorded between 1979 and 1981, from a soulful Chicago collective that may be the…
Live At The Orpheum
Released to coincide with the 46th anniversary of King Crimson’s formation in January 1969, Live At The Orpheum features performances from the band’s critically acclaimed, sold-out 2014 US tour. Available as a CD/DVD-A set (with high-resolution 96/24 stereo on the DVD-A) or on heavyweight 200 gram vinyl, this release premieres 41 minutes of live music from the current seven-piece iteration of King Crimson. Includes “Starless,” “Sailor’s Tale,” “The Letters” and more as recorded on September 30 and October 1, 2014 at Los Angeles’ Orpheum Theatre.

























