CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada The sophomore album from U.K.-formed post-punk/pop group Scritti Politti offered a new direction in British music: indebted to the organic sound of R&B with sleek electronic flourishes and a sheen of lyrical intellectualism. It also featured U.S. hit “Perfect Way,” which Miles Davis went bananas over. Remastered by Rough Trade in 2022 after they acquired the rights from bandleader Green Gartside, this expanded CD or double vinyl offers the four bonus tracks from the original CD release as well as two rare mixes of…
A More Perfect Way: Remastered Breakthrough Album by Scritti Politti Gets Expansion with Rare Remixes
After remastering and reissuing newly-acquired classic albums from ’80s pop duo Scritti Politti in 2021, Rough Trade will go back and revisit their signature album with bonus tracks – and have also recently given a third of the group’s albums a re-release. Scritti’s sophomore album Cupid & Psyche 85 will be reissued on July 10 in a new CD or double LP deluxe edition, featuring the classic original album (featuring the U.K. hits “Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)” and “The Word Girl” as well as the U.S. stunner “Perfect Way”) alongside seven…
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The Weekend Stream: May 16, 2026
Welcome back to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc’s review of notable catalogue titles making digital debuts, plus new works from legacy acts and even some personally curated favorites. This week has a collection of outtakes from one of the greatest albums ever made, a breezy theme song to a popular web series, fantastic new film scores, an unheard recording from Peggy Lee and a frankly stunning amount of songs about horses. Plus our tributes to those we lost recently, and a cool arts-related documentary project worthy of your…
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What’cha Taking Me For: Sheena Easton Singles Box Set Includes More Unreleased Tracks
“But The Second Disc,” you may have thought, “what more is there to discover after Cherry Red’s thorough re-eleases of Sheena Easton’s beloved discography?” The label, in partnership with her RT Industries, has a new answer for you: a 25CD box set chronicling her singles from the EMI years in the ’80s – and yes, this set has unreleased material as well. The Singles 1980-1987 follows two recent boxes following Easton’s EMI recordings in full (not strictly the original albums, but plenty of unreleased and alternate material in the mix). While this…
The Weekend Stream: May 2, 2026
Welcome back to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc’s review of notable catalogue titles making digital debuts, plus new works from legacy acts and even some personally curated favorites. You know you’re in for a treat when the most recognizable digital catalogue here is a country-rock record by Jimi Jamison – plus new singles from Madonna and Peter Gabriel, for good measure. Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, “Bring Your Love” (Warner) (Apple / Amazon) The official lead single from Madonna’s anticipated Confessions II – a sequel to her 2005 blockbuster Confessions on a…
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The Weekend Stream: April 25, 2026
Welcome back to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc’s review of notable catalogue titles making digital debuts, plus new works from legacy acts and even some personally curated favorites. Some of our favorites lead this pack: an archival Prince single, a new Duran Duran song, a vintage George Michael EP, outtakes from The Beach Boys, demos from Andy Partridge – and plenty more where that came from. Prince, “With This Tear” (NPG/Legacy) (Apple / Amazon) Last Tuesday, the 10th anniversary of Prince’s death, The Artist’s estate released the latest posthumous…
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The Weekend Stream: April 18, 2026
Welcome back to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc’s review of notable catalogue titles making digital debuts, plus new works from legacy acts and even some personally curated favorites. We’ve got a trove of new songs from old (and not-so-old) favorites to kick off your post-Record Store Day festivities, plus a load of rare, out-of-print and expanded titles across genres from country, jazz, prog and beyond. Madonna, “I Feel So Free” (Warner) (Apple / Amazon) Just over two decades after her triumphant Confessions on a Dance Floor – and seven years after…
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The Second Disc’s Guide to Record Store Day 2026
Tomorrow, Record Store Day is once again upon us! And it wouldn’t be a RSD without The Second Disc chiming in with our annual RSD Guide featuring some of our favorite picks. As always, it wasn’t easy for us to narrow ’em down, so we’d like you to sound off on your hoped-for titles, too! Looking for the nearest shop? Visit RecordStoreDay.com in the U.S., RecordStoreDay.co.uk in the U.K., and RecordStoreDayCanada.ca in Canada for the complete list of participating stores. Without further ado, Mike, Joe, and Randy have a handful of the titles upon which…
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The Weekend Stream: April 4, 2026
Welcome back to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc’s review of notable catalogue titles making digital debuts, plus new works from legacy acts and even some personally curated favorites. The elder British/Irish rock contingent is alive and well, with new music from U2, Peter Gabriel and Ringo Starr plus new remixes from Sting; there’s also quite a bit of country (from Jim Reeves and Ricky Skaggs to…Disney?) and jazz (Monk, Maynard and more) to go around. U2, Easter Lily EP (Island) (Apple / Amazon) More prolific (and present) than they’ve…
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Happy Day: Book of Love’s Debut Turns 40, Receives New Vinyl Pressing from Rhino
Who wrote the Book of Love? On June 26, Rhino will revisit the debut from synth-pop pioneers Book of Love in a new 40th anniversary vinyl edition of their self-titled album which first hit stores on April 1, 1986. (No fooling!) The Philadelphia-formed, New York-based band – lead vocalist Susan Ottaviano and keyboardists/backing vocalists Ted Ottaviano (believe it or not, no relation!), Jade Lee, and Lauren Roselli (later Johnson) – shattered taboos with their frank songs about LGBTQ+ and outsider youths, set to throbbing electronic beats. Their debut LP, produced by Ivan…
The Weekend Stream: March 28, 2026
Welcome back to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc’s review of notable catalogue titles making digital debuts, plus new works from legacy acts and even some personally curated favorites. This week is delivering the goods: vintage George Michael mixes, Beach Boys rarities, new tracks from some of our favorite elder statesmen of pop and rock, and so much more in so many genres. George Michael, I Want Your Sex EP (Columbia/Legacy) (Apple / Amazon) There’s things that you guess and things that you know – but we honestly weren’t expecting this!…
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The Weekend Stream: March 21, 2026
Welcome back to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc’s review of notable catalogue titles making digital debuts, plus new works from legacy acts and even some personally curated favorites. Two eras of Madonna, early INXS and plenty of new cuts for country, folk and rock lovers are all in the mix! Madonna, Into the Groove / Hung Up (Remixes) / Sorry (Remixes) / Jump (Remixes) / 4 Minutes (feat. Justin Timberlake & Timbaland) (Remixes) / Celebration (Remixes) EPs (Warner/Rhino) “Groove”: Apple / Amazon “Hung Up”: Apple / Amazon “Sorry”: Apple / Amazon “Jump”: Apple / Amazon “4 Minutes”: Apple…
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The Weekend Stream: February 28, 2026
Welcome back to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc’s review of notable catalogue titles making digital debuts, plus new works from legacy acts and even some personally curated favorites. Nine Inch Nails returns to The Grid, plus a trio of soundtracks from an electronica icon, rarities from The New Christy Minstrels, Wynn Stewart, Vince Guaraldi and others, plus some tributes to artists we’ve lost and a TSD-related onstage production you don’t want to miss! Nine Inch Nails, TRON Ares: Divergence (The Null Corporation/Walt Disney Records/Interscope) (Apple / Amazon) A complete surprise…
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Release Round-Up: Week of February 27
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Paul McCartney, Man on the Run: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack (MPL/Capitol) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Morgan Neville’s newest documentary, which received a limited theatrical engagement before landing on Prime Video, details how Paul McCartney found new life after the break-up of The Beatles with his new group Wings. On the documentary’s streaming release date, a companion album will include favorites (and a…
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You Promised Me The Love: Cherry Red Collects Hazell Dean’s “The Decca Years”
Late last year, Cherry Red continued its series of reissues from Hi-NRG queen Hazell Dean with a trip back to the Essex-born singer’s earliest days. The Decca Years, from the Strike Force Entertainment imprint, rounds up a dozen single sides originally released on the Decca label between 1975 and 1978, while a quartet of bonus tracks round up four ‘80s rarities. While Dean’s career took off with such dance-pop hits as “Searchin’ (I Gotta Find a Man),” “Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go),” and “Who’s Leaving Who,” she admits in a new…
The Weekend Stream: February 14, 2026
Welcome back to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc’s review of notable catalogue titles (and some new ones, too!) making digital debuts. New remixes from James Brown and Tears for Fears, uncovered rarities from Peggy Lee, new songs from MUNA and Bleachers and a whole lotta Ween will keep you busy for the rest of the day! MUNA, “Dancing on the Wall” (Saddest Factory) (Apple / Amazon) One of pop’s best current bands is back for more! Queer-friendly trio MUNA have built a considerable fan base through catchy, electronics-and-guitar-driven albums –…
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Jive Talkin’: Bee Gees’ Extended Dance Mixes Reissued on New Box Set
This morning, Universal unveiled a limited edition 4LP box set rounding up fourteen extended dance versions of Bee Gees classics. You Should Be Dancing: The 12″ Collection is available for pre-order now exclusively through the Bee Gees’ and Universal Music’s online storefront and is limited to 1,000 units only. It will ship on or around February 27. Alas, much like the last time the group’s extended mixes were reissued (2015’s Extended EP, on Rhino), this collection will be unavailable on compact disc. You Should Be Dancing features the original Disco Mixes of…
Let Him Run Wild: Rhino’s Record Store Day Slate Includes Brian Wilson, David Bowie, The Doors, Talking Heads, Black Sabbath, Joni Mitchell, More
Today’s the day! The Record Store Day list is here, ramping up anticipation for the annual event which takes place at brick-and-mortar stores on Saturday, April 18. As expected, Rhino is leading the RSD pack with a whopping slate of over 50 titles scheduled to arrive in independent shops everywhere. The label has brought out many of its heaviest hitters, including David Bowie, The Doors, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Grateful Dead, Rod Stewart, Talking Heads, and Brian Wilson, among others. Head over to RecordStoreDay.com for the complete list of participating stores (and…
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Release Round-Up: Week of January 30
Welcome to our final Release Round-Up of January, with a selection of the new titles available today. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. The Monkees, The A’s, The B’s, and The Monkees (Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) The A’s, The B’s and The Monkees, at long last, brings together on 2 CDs all of the band’s commercial singles originally released between 1966 and 1970, from “Last Train to Clarksville” b/w “Take a Giant Step” through “Oh My My” b/w “I Love You Better.” It’s arranged with its 15 A-sides on…
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Lessons in Love: Robinsongs Caps Off Level 42 Box Sets with ‘The Later Years 2001-2020’
Cherry Red’s suite of labels have already planned a healthy amount of box sets and reissues for the first quarter of the year. One such title is Robinsongs’ fourth collection devoted to the work of British jazz-rock outfit Level 42 – and since the last one of them we covered was a volume in 2021, the time seemed right to catch you up while sharing the new news, too. The work kicked off with The Complete Polydor Years 1980-1984, a 10CD set offering the band’s first five albums (Level 42 (1981), The Early Tapes –…
The Later Years 2001-2020
The fourth and final box set of Level 42’s discography from Robinsongs covers their 21st century output, when the group reunited for 2006’s Retroglide and continued to tour through the years. This 7CD set includes Retroglide, a set of acoustic recordings from 2010 to 2013, the EP Sirens (2013) and four discs of rare remixes and bonus tracks. It’s compiled with the full cooperation of the group, alongside band authorities Paul Waller and Simon Carson. Daryl Easlea of Record Collector has penned liner notes, drawing from interviews with band members past and present. Each disc is housed…
Café Bleu (Special Edition)
6CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 3LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Not long after dissolving The Jam, frontman Paul Weller was back with The Style Council, a loose collective more pointedly inspired by R&B and dance ideas, with more explicitly political lyrics. Fans embraced the change, putting singles “Speak Like a Child,” “Long Hot Summer,” “My Ever Changing Moods” and “You’re the Best Thing” into the U.K. Top 10. (“My Ever Changing Moods” also became a U.S. Top 40 hit, something The Jam didn’t have.) This new 6CD box set of 1984 debut album Café…
The Weekend Stream: January 10, 2026
Welcome back to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc’s review of notable catalogue titles (and some new ones, too!) making digital debuts! We’ve got some new music from old pop favorites, a few Record Store Day Black Friday releases, and a pop icon and a big rock band moving their catalogues from one label to another. It’s a lot to keep up with, but we’ve got your back! Bruno Mars, “I Just Might” (Atlantic) (Apple / Amazon) Though Bruno Mars has hardly been absent from the pop charts recently – earning…
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The Best Thing: The Style Council’s Debut Gets Box Set Expansion
More than 40 years after Paul Weller introduced a new phase of his musical work as part of the genre-hopping Style Council, a forthcoming box set will dive deep into their first few years of work, complete with a trove of unreleased material. UMR will expand the group’s full-length debut Café Bleu as a 6CD collection on January 30. Extras include an expansion of 1983’s debut EP Introducing The Style Council (available as a European import in the U.K.), a host of non-LP single and B-side material, and a whopping 55 unreleased tracks:…
Another Merry Discmas to All from The Second Disc!
No one – not even your friends at TSD HQ! – can predict the arc of music reissues. When we launched The Second Disc nearly 16 years ago, the business was in a place of surprising highs and lows. The Beatles’ albums had been remastered for the first time ever – but it seemed that stalwarts like Rhino Records were enduring hardships. Vinyl was a niche concern, streaming even more so, and who knew where the CD would end up? (And that doesn’t even account for personal growth immaterial of the music…
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