The Disco Discharge series, dormant for over a decade, has been recently reactivated by Demon Music Group’s Edsel label for one of its boldest projects yet. The 5-CD collection Disco Discharge Presents Box of Sin (also available on 4 LPs of highlights) is a journey through the gay club scene of 1980-1989 via 54 full-length or extended tracks from artists both expected and unexpected – including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Donna Summer, Dreamgirls Sheryl Lee Ralph and Jennifer Holliday, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Bronski Beat, Laura Branigan, Dusty Springfield, Liza Minnelli, and…
Love Will Save the Day: Edsel’s “Disco Discharge Presents Box of Sin” Chronicles ’80s Gay Club Scene
Spheres of Reflection: David Gilmour and The Orb’s “Metallic Spheres” Reimagined, Listeners Invited to Remix Selections
Much has been made lately of Artificial Intelligence (AI), from the new “machine learning” program that made The Beatles’ “Now and Then” and further stereo remixes of mono material possible, to the more eyebrow-raising applications proliferating around the media landscape. Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour and UK electronic group The Orb recently released Metallic Spheres in Colour, a reimaging of their 2010 ambient collaboration Metallic Spheres. Producer Youth commented, “The idea for Metallic Spheres in Colour was that Alex Paterson [founder of The Orb] could have done more on the first version and…
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Release Round-Up: Week of November 17
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the many titles available today in the final “big week” of the holiday release season. We are an Amazon affiliate and earn on qualifying purchases. We’re kicking things off with our two Christmas releases from Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music! While Amazon’s orders are unfortunately delayed, both of these titles are shipping now from Real Gone’s webstore! Arthur Fiedler and The Boston Pops, The Ultimate Pops Christmas Party! (Second Disc Records/Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music) Arthur Fiedler…
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The Weekend Stream: November 11, 2023
Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there’s plenty of great new/old music to float you into the weekend. A very chill weekend shows off the latest in Melissa Manchester’s forthcoming new album of favorite classics, a stripped-down Record Store Day rarity from Soul Asylum and another trance treasure from the ZTT vaults. Melissa Manchester, Confide in Me (Green Hill) (iTunes / Amazon) Diana Ross’ 1977 album Baby It’s Me featured not one, but two, songs co-written by Melissa Manchester….
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The Weekend Stream: November 4, 2023
Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there’s plenty of great new/old music to float you into the weekend. We’re headed into most wonderful time of the year territory with a few holiday rarities, plus more Madonna remixes, rare live tracks from Portishead and a forgotten link between Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship. Teddy Pendergrass, This Christmas (I’d Rather Have Love) (Craft) (iTunes / Amazon) We’re officially in the months-long lead-up to the Christmas season – and while we have…
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The Weekend Stream: October 14, 2023
Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there’s plenty of great new/old music to float you into the weekend. There’s a plethora of breakouts from box sets new to streaming, from John Lennon to Prince – plus rare remixes by Cyndi Lauper and a surprise treat from a beloved theme park. John Lennon, Imagine (The Ultimate Mixes / Deluxe) / Imagine (The Elements Mixes) / Imagine (The Evolution Documentary) / Imagine (The Raw Studio Mixes) / Imagine (The Out-Takes / Deluxe)…
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Substance 1987: Expanded Edition
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 4CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2MC: New Order Store (U.S.) / New Order Store (U.K.) New Order’s landmark 1987 compilation is getting expanded as a 4CD set. The newly-remastered Substance 1987 collected a dozen classic sides from the British electronic band, from 1981’s “Ceremony” to the then-new “True Faith” as well as exclusive updates of “Temptation” and “Confusion.” The double vinyl reissue is pressed on black or retail-exclusive red and blue discs, while the 2CD and double cassette (the latter exclusive to the band’s official stores) add the same program…
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The Weekend Stream: September 30, 2023
Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there’s plenty of great new/old music to float you into the weekend. From classic rocker comebacks to ’90s nostalgia and more – we’ve got the goods to set you up for these days off. Bruce Springsteen, Addicted to Romance (Columbia) (iTunes / Amazon) While he’s postponed the rest of this year’s tour due to a battle with peptic ulcers, Bruce Springsteen had time this year to contribute a new song to the new…
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Release Round-Up: Week of September 29
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today! The Spinners, Ain’t No Price on Happiness: The Thom Bell Studio Recordings (1972-1979) (SoulMusic/Cherry Red) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Earlier this year, Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music celebrated the extraordinary legacy of The Spinners with the release of The Complete Atlantic Singles: The Thom Bell Productions 1972-1979, collecting a whopping 43 single sides on two CDs. Now, SoulMusic Records and Cherry Red are continuing the Spinners party with a comprehensive box set chronicling that halcyon period with…
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The Weekend Stream: September 23, 2023
Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there’s plenty of great new/old music to float you into the weekend. Enjoy a hometown birthday present from The Boss and a holiday collection first put on CD by The Second Disc – plus remixes from Madonna and The Art of Noise and so much more – all in this week’s latest round-up. Bruce Springsteen, The Live Series: Songs of New Jersey (Columbia/Legacy) (Apple Music / Amazon) In honor of Springsteen’s 74th birthday,…
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Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret: Deluxe Edition
Marc Almond’s Tenement Symphony isn’t the only title involving the U.K. synthpop singer going deluxe this year. On October 20, UMR will give you all a boy could give you with a massive deluxe edition of Soft Cell’s breakthrough debut album, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret. The 6CD set, housed in a 10″ x 10″ box, presents the beloved New Wave classic alongside a treasure trove of B-sides, remixes, live cuts, demos and other audio curiosities. Of the set’s 98 tracks, 40 of them are previously unreleased, including versions of the hits “Tainted Love,” “Say Hello, Wave…
True Faith: New Order’s Classic Compilation ‘Substance 1987’ Gets Expanded
Style over Substance? New Order offered both on their unforgettable 1987 compilation – and it’s getting expanded as a 4CD set this fall. The newly-remastered Substance 1987 collects once more a dozen classic sides from the British electronic band, from 1981’s ceremony to the then-new “True Faith” as well as exclusive updates of “Temptation” and “Confusion.” The double vinyl is pressed on black or retail-exclusive red and blue discs, while the 2CD and double cassette (the latter exclusive to the band’s official stores) offers the same program of B-sides to the 12 tracks….
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The Weekend Stream: September 2, 2023
Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there’s plenty of great new/old music to float you into the weekend. It’s a full ’80s revival this week, including a rare Duran Duran track and some live cuts from Squeeze,and – whether you’re ready for it or not – a batch of Christmas catalogue titles. Duran Duran, Ball and Chain (Tape Modern/BMG) (iTunes / Amazon) Duran Duran are back in a big way this fall, set to release the album…
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And That’s Not Nearly All: Soft Cell’s ‘Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret’ Goes Massive for Box Set Season
Marc Almond’s Tenement Symphony isn’t the only title involving the U.K. synthpop singer going deluxe this year. On October 20, UMR will give you all a boy could give you with a massive deluxe edition of Soft Cell’s breakthrough debut album, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret. The 6CD box set, housed in a 10″ x 10″ box, presents the beloved New Wave classic alongside a treasure trove of B-sides, remixes, live cuts, demos and other audio curiosities. Of the set’s 98 tracks, 40 of them are previously unreleased, including versions of the hits “Tainted…
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The Bones of What You Believe: 10-Year Anniversary Special Edition
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada The debut album by the Scottish electronic trio gets a 10th anniversary upgrade on 2CDs or 2LPs. The album, which introduced the world to multi-instrumentalists Iain Cook and Martin Doherty alongside Lauren Mayberry’s distinctive vocals, gets a fresh remaster by Gavin Lurssen, who mastered the band’s fourth album Screen Violence (2020). It’ll also be augmented by nine unreleased bonus tracks: four live cuts and five unheard studio tracks from the band’s earliest assemblages of the album.
Get the Message: The Best of Electronic
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Rhino is urging fans to “get the message” by reissuing and expanding their collection devoted to British dance-pop supergroup Electronic. Get the Message: The Best of Electronic, originally released in 2006, will be revisited as a new double-vinyl pressing or a 2CD edition pairing the original 15-track compilation alongside another 15 rare remixes and B-sides.
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Music to Freak Your Friends and Break Your Lease
Tired of “Monster Mash”? Through with calling “Ghostbusters”? If your Halloween playlist is begging for something different, Real Gone Music and Second Disc Records have you covered with Music to Freak Your Friends and Break Your Lease. One of the most unusual records of all time, this “Symphony for Tape Delay, IBM Instruction Manual, & Ohm Septet” was credited upon its original release in 1974 to “recognized raconteur, genius, composer, musicologist, conductor” Heins Hoffman-Richter, whom the original liner notes blithely informed us “died from an ear lobe tumor.” Who? you might ask. It turns…
Feel Every Beat: Electronic Add Rarities to ‘Get the Message’ Collection
Rhino will next month urge fans to “get the message” by reissuing and expanding their collection devoted to British dance-pop supergroup Electronic. Get the Message: The Best of Electronic, originally released in 2006, will be revisited as a new double-vinyl pressing or a 2CD edition pairing the original 15-track compilation alongside another 15 rare remixes and B-sides. The acclaimed sound of the group was almost tailor-made to surprise fans who came across early U.K. hits like “Getting Away with It” and “Get the Message” at the tail end of the ’80s. Though…
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Send Out the Clowns: Real Gone, Second Disc Revisit “Music to Freak Your Friends and Break Your Lease” In Time for Halloween
Tired of “Monster Mash”? Through with calling “Ghostbusters”? If your Halloween playlist is begging for something different, Real Gone Music and Second Disc Records have you covered! On October 6, you can look no further than the frightfully fun Music to Freak Your Friends and Break Your Lease. Don’t believe us? Take The Bride of Frankenstein’s word for it – she’s on the cover! One of the most unusual records of all time, this “Symphony for Tape Delay, IBM Instruction Manual, & Ohm Septet” was credited upon its original release in 1974…
The Mother They Share: CHVRCHES Revisit Debut for 10th Anniversary
CHVRCHES have really had some moments in the last few years. The Scottish electronic trio has toured relentlessly, working up enough presence to secure a new deal away from longtime indie home Glassnote, signing to Island Records in 2022. And the band are celebrating with a well-earned rest: frontwoman Lauren Mayberry is releasing her first solo music and supporting it with a tour this fall. But CHVRCHES proper is all about celebration this season, specifically the 10th anniversary of their debut album, 2013’s The Bones of What You Believe. The buzzy LP,…
The Weekend Stream: August 5, 2023
Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there’s plenty of great new/old music to float you into the weekend. From New Age to New Wave to creepy sound effects, children of famous songwriters and a whole lot more, there’s a lot to enjoy. ABC, The Lexicon of Love (Steven Wilson Stereo and Instrumental Remixes) (Mercury/UMC) (iTunes / Amazon) The 40th anniversary vinyl box of The Lexicon of Love is finally available – but if you just wanted to…
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The Weekend Stream: July 29, 2023
Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there’s plenty of great new/old music to float you into the weekend. Big things happening in this column: two big box sets from a legendary prog-turned-pop outfit, rare mixes from one of pop’s most legendary performers, tons of remixes from a soulful producer/performer and 200(!) classical titles from a legendary British label. Whew! Genesis, Archive #1 (1969 – 1975) / Archive #2 (1976 – 1992) (Atlantic/Rhino/Craft) Archive #1: iTunes / Amazon…
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Now You’ve Captured Me: Howard Jones Celebrates 40 Years with New Collection
Since 2017, Howard Jones has worked with Cherry Red to distribute his classic Warner-era back catalogue spanning 1983 to 1993. This fall, they’ll be the ones to release a lavish new multi-format collection commemorating his 40 years as a recording artist. Celebrate It Together: The Very Best of Howard Jones 1983-2023 brings together Jones’ unforgettable synth-driven hits like “New Song,” “Things Can Only Get Better,” “No One is to Blame,” “Everlasting Love” and many more, alongside the terrific independent work he’s issued through his own Dtox label since 1994, for a new…
The Weekend Stream: July 2, 2023
Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there’s plenty of great new/old music to float you into the weekend. This week brings an R.E.M. classic given new life by a hit TV show, another side of one of Motown’s sultriest crooners, two Prince-related artists gone solo, dance grooves from Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul and an early version of one of the greatest epic film scores of the ’50s. R.E.M., Strange Currencies EP (Craft) (iTunes / Amazon) The…
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Release Round-Up: Week of May 12
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today! Daft Punk, Random Access Memories: 10th Anniversary Edition (Columbia) 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 3LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Daft Punk’s final album, 2013’s disco-flavored, multiple Grammy-winning Random Access Memories, welcomed such all-time luminaries as Nile Rodgers, Paul Williams, Giorgio Moroder, Paul Jackson, Jr., Nathan East, John “J.R.” Robinson, and Omar Hakim as well as contemporary greats Pharrell Williams, Julian Casablancas, and Animal Collective co-founder Panda Bear. Now, it’s time to “Get Lucky” with a deluxe 10th anniversary edition on…
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