It was the third of June/Another sleepy, dusty Delta day... With a new announcement, this June 3 has gotten a lot less sleepy. Bobbie Gentry's 1967 debut album Ode to Billie Joe established the Mississippi native as a crossover country superstar. Boasting the Grammy-winning, chart-topping title track, the LP made it to No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Pop and Country charts and even reached the top five of the R&B survey. One year later, Gentry delivered her second album on Capitol. While The
Release Round-Up: Week of May 29
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Ronnie Milsap, The Best of Ronnie Milsap (Craft Recordings) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) The Best of Ronnie Milsap gathers up 12 of the artist's biggest hits from his first tenure at RCA, including "It Was Almost Like a Song," "Any Day Now," and "What a Difference You've Made in My Life." Craft's parent company, Concord Music, acquired the rights to 16 of Milsap's RCA albums from between 1977-2006 last year, and this is the first
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
Bandcamp Blow-Out: Support Your Favorite Artists Today For a Good Cause!
Despite the challenges facing the music business amid the COVID-19 pandemic, there are some bright spots. On March 20, indie music service Bandcamp waived their revenue share for 24 hours, allowing artists and labels to support themselves even more robustly. Thanks to impressive results ($4.3 million spent on music and merch, 15 times an average Friday's revenue), Bandcamp will repeat the strategy not once, but thrice: the first Fridays of each month (today, May 1; June 5 and July 3). To
Release Round-Up: Week of May 1
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Todd Rundgren's Utopia, Benefit for Moogy Klingman (Purple Pyramid) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Cleopatra Records' Purple Pyramid imprint remembers Utopia's late keyboardist with Benefit for Moogy Klingman. This 4-CD/2-DVD set (originally slated for May 15 but apparently shipping today) includes the band's Highline Ballroom reunion set of January 29, 2011 (featuring Todd Rundgren, Moogy, Ralph Schuckett, John Siegler, Kevin
Wonderful! Wonderful! Crimson Collects "Gold" Volumes for Johnny Mathis, George Jones
The ongoing series of budget-priced 3-CD Gold compilations from Demon Music Group's Crimson Productions continues with a pair of releases from artists for whom "legendary" is no understatement: Johnny Mathis and the late George Jones. Curating a representative sampling of Johnny Mathis' singular career in under 50 tracks is no small task, and this set is indeed decades-spanning from his first commercially released single (1956's pairing of "Wonderful! Wonderful!" and "When Sunny Gets Blue")
We Found It / Please Don't Stop Loving Me / Say Forever You'll Be Mine / Porter & Dolly
BGO has four more albums from Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner on one 2-CD set, this time with Porter and Dolly's final four collaborative LPs from 1973-1975 and 1980. As usual for BGO, the release is slipcased and features a booklet with new liner notes.
Release Round-Up: Week of April 24
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! America, Heritage II: Demos/Alternate Takes 1971-1976 (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) "Today's the Day" when America continues its archival series of demos and alternates via Omnivore Recordings. Heritage II, out today on CD, features 13 previously unissued tracks from 1971-1976 including the epic "Jameroony," the track mix with background vocals only of the hit "Tin Man," Gerry Beckley's never-before-heard "Mandy," and
Loretta Lynn Pays Tribute to Patsy Cline With New Memoir and Single
On April 3, country music legend Loretta Lynn released a new book chronicling her friendship with another hero of the genre, Patsy Cline. Entitled Me & Patsy Kickin' Up Dust: My Friendship with Patsy Cline, the book is an endearing portrait of a relationship that not only changed the course of the singers' careers, but also the trajectory of country. Dolly Parton has provided the foreword. (Last year, Cline and Lynn's friendship was dramatized in the television film Patsy and Loretta,
Devoted to You: Edsel Collects Everly Brothers' "Cadence Recordings" on CD, Reissues Albums on Vinyl
Brothers Don and Phil Everly successfully straddled the line between country and rock-and-roll (with a healthy dollop of R&B) beginning with their first hit record, 1957's "Bye Bye Love." Still an oldies-radio staple today, the Felice and Boudleaux Bryant classic began a long stretch of successes for the duo. Archie Bleyer, of Cadence Records, signed the boys in February 1957 and was keenly aware of their potential to appeal to both teenaged and adult markets. At his behest, the Everlys
The Best of Ronnie Milsap
The Best of Ronnie Milsap gathers up 12 of the artist's biggest hits from his first tenure at RCA, including "It Was Almost Like a Song," "Any Day Now," and "What a Difference You've Made in My Life." Craft's parent company, Concord Music, acquired the rights to 16 of Milsap's RCA albums from between 1977-2006 last year, and this is the first physical product to come from the acquisition (an expanded digital version of this compilation featuring 25 songs was released last June by Craft and is
Like A Song: Craft Recordings Compiles "The Best of Ronnie Milsap" on CD
Craft Recordings has just announced a new collection celebrating country superstar Ronnie Milsap. Due out on May 29, The Best of Ronnie Milsap gathers up 12 of the artist's biggest hits from his first tenure at RCA. Craft's parent company, Concord Music, acquired the rights to 16 of Milsap's RCA albums from between 1977-2006 last year, and this is the first physical product to come from the acquisition (an expanded digital version of this compilation featuring 25 songs was released last June by
In Memoriam: John Prine (1946-2020)
Last evening, we learned of the passing of John Prine, 73, from COVID-19 complications. Though initially branded by the press as one of the "new Dylans," it wasn't long before the singer-songwriter transcended that label - and most others. With wit, humor, anger, empathy, and social conscience, the onetime "singing mailman" delivered mordant observations and poignant character studies over a career spanning five decades. Prine burst onto the scene with his 1971 self-titled release on Atlantic
Release Round-Up: Week of March 27
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Donna Summer, Encore (Crimson Productions) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) The ultimate Donna Summer box set, Encore bring together the late superstar's complete albums on 33 CDs, including 8 discs of 7″ and 12″ mixes, single edits, non-album cuts, and other rarities. It totals a staggering 329 tracks, truly the most comprehensive tribute to Summer ever collected. Christian John Wikane provides the new liner notes. The set is
Easy Rider: The Best of the Mercury Recordings
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Is the complete Johnny Cash at Mercury box set too much of the Man in Black for you? If so, Mercury/UMe offers this 24-track distillation on 1 CD or 2 LPs featuring highlights from the complete box set including duets with Rosanne Cash and The Everly Brothers; U2; Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, and Carl Perkins; Waylon Jennings; Hank Williams, Jr.; and Tom T. Hall.
The Complete Mercury Recordings 1986-1991
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 Perkins (1986), Johnny Cash Is Coming To Town (1987), Water From The Wells Of Home (1988), Classic Cash: Hall Of Fame
Cherry Red Round-Up: Label Delivers Definitive Reissues of Everly Brothers, Renaissance, and Jim Capaldi Classics
Cherry Red has proven once again that between all their subsidiary labels, they are a haven for diverse and excellent reissues. In the past few months, their RPM label has announced an extensive, 3-CD collection of The Everly Brothers' genre-expanding mid-'60s recordings, while Esoteric is set to release a 4-CD reissue of Renaissance's Turn of the Cards and a 3-CD/DVD box of Jim Capaldi's solo work late of Traffic. Out now in the U.K. and available this Friday in North America is the most
In Memoriam: Kenny Rogers (1938-2020)
Last evening, American popular song lost one of its most resonant and reassuring voices when Kenny Rogers died peacefully of natural causes at the age of 81. Rogers' recording career spanned seven decades, from his early singles in the 1950s through his final studio album, 2015's Once Again It's Christmas. He sold over 100 million records worldwide. It's appropriate that Rogers' last studio recording would be a Christmas album, as he embodied the season's spirit of joy and goodwill throughout
First Rose of Spring
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 digital.
ELP, Keith Richards, Kinks, and Ravi Shankar Rarities Feature on BMG RSD Slate
And the Record Store Day news keeps coming! BMG has announced their list of releases to be found in shops April 18 and it's a great lineup. If you're looking for live Emerson, Lake and Palmer; a very cool Motorhead shaped picture disc; the beautiful sounds of Ravi Shankar in collaboration with George Harrison; or classics from The Kinks - BMG has you covered! Let's take a closer look at all their offerings... Ravi Shankar, Chants of India For the first time on vinyl, Ravi
Message to Love: Universal Prepares a Wealth of Rarities for RSD 2020
Here at Second Disc HQ, we've been thrilled by the news of amazing releases coming from all the labels this Record Store Day 2020, and UMe's slate of 20+ titles is no exception. With a new definitive vinyl edition of Paul McCartney's debut, a tenth-anniversary celebration of Ellie Goulding's Lights, a Cat Stevens rarity making its vinyl debut, an expanded Elton John, a reissue of an impossible-to-find CTI Jazz album, and many more, fans will want to line up bright and early to secure their
The Big Light: Johnny Cash's Complete Mercury Albums Reissued in New Box Set and Individual LPs
Johnny Cash is coming to town (again)! When the legendary Man in Black was unceremoniously dropped by his longtime home of Columbia Records in mid-1986 - "the hardest decision I've ever had to make in my life," opined then-label chief Rick Blackburn - he wasn't yet finished. Mercury Records stepped up to sign Cash, beginning a relationship that lasted for five years and six albums. Now, that fertile 1986-1991 period of rebirth is being revisited by Mercury and UMe in a multi-platform
Rhino To Release A Whopping 29 Titles(!) for Record Store Day 2020
Rhino, the label that manages the catalogue of the Warner family of labels, has announced its upcoming Record Store Day releases. A mouth-watering 29 titles will hit shops on April 18, available exclusively at brick-and-mortar locations. These include the previously announced David Bowie titles; a rare live set from Alice Cooper; rarities from Jethro Tull; a box of John Prine's early albums; a set of core Notorious BIG records; BBC sessions from The Pogues, New Order, and Hawkwind; a
Release Round-Up: Week of March 6
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Cream, Goodbye Tour Live 1968 (Polydor/UMC) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) This new 4-CD box set expands on Cream's farewell album Goodbye Cream, but with a twist: it drops the three studio tracks and instead presents four complete concerts including the Los Angeles Forum show from which the original three live cuts on Goodbye were culled. Overall, the book-style package has 36 tracks, 29 of which are premiering on CD. 19 of the
Nashville Tears
Rumer returns with a beautiful new studio album celebrating the words and music of songwriter Hugh Prestwood. While Prestwood never became a household name, his songs have been covered by the likes of Judy Collins, Jimmy Buffett, Barbara Mandrell, Trisha Yearwood, and Kathy Mattea. Now Rumer adds herself to that illustrious list with this collection of 15 Prestwood compositions including "Hard Times for Lovers," "Ghost in This House," and the Emmy-winning "The Song Remembers When," plus a
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