Everything Else

Just a Sweet, Sweet Fantasy: Mariah Carey Celebrates 30 Years of ‘Daydream’ with Expanded Editions

Mariah Carey surprised fans earlier this month with a generous digital expansion of her 1995 smash album Daydream. Physical versions of the 30th anniversary set are forthcoming – but, to quote one of the album’s biggest hits, the variations in track list might have you feeling kinda hectic inside. Legacy Recordings’ 2CD-equivalent digital offering, issued on July 17, added 21 rare and unreleased bonus tracks to the original 12-track album: vintage remixes, B-sides and outtakes, writing session demos, a cappella versions and excerpts from three concerts recorded across 1995 and 1996. The physical…

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Release Round-Up: Week of July 24

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. Four Tops, Live! (Deluxe Edition) (Elemental Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Recorded over two separate engagements at the Roostertail club in Detroit, this 60th anniversary edition of one of Motown’s first and best live LPs has been completely rebuilt, newly mixed and mastered from the original multitrack tapes and offering not only songs from the concerts not heard on the original album, but alternate performances of the ones…

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I’m in Heaven: Tom Tom Club Collect (Sort of) Complete Albums for New Box Set

Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth splintered from Talking Heads to create the side project Tom Tom Club, a loose grouping of musicians and singers also including Weymouth’s sisters and guitarist Adrian Belew.  Over the course of six albums originally released between 1981 and 2012, Tom Tom Club kept fans glued to the dancefloor with original songs and diverse covers including Donna Summer’s “Love to Love You Baby,” Lou Reed’s “Femme Fatale,” and Hot Chocolate’s “You Sexy Thing.”  On August 7, Rhino will assemble the group’s discography (or most of it, anyway) on…

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Back For More: Cherry Red Expands Lulu’s “Independence” with Remixes, Singles, Videos, More

Scottish singer Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie was just fifteen years old in 1964 when, under the stage name of Lulu, she made listeners want to “Shout!” with a rip-roaring rendition of The Isley Brothers’ classic.  She parlayed that memorable U.K. top ten hit into an international career that’s encompassed records, film and television roles, West End appearances, multiple books, and a concert career.  Lulu remained on Decca Records, the home of “Shout!,” for a two-year stint, departing the label in late 1966 to sign with producer Mickie Most EMI’s Columbia Records arm…

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Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story? A Decade of ‘Hamilton’ Celebrated with CD, Vinyl Box Sets

One of the biggest Broadway musicals of the last decade is getting celebrated in a big way for its 10th anniversary. Rhino has announced Rise Up! Hamilton: The Anthology, a heavy-duty 5CD or 7LP+7″ box set honoring Lin-Manuel Miranda’s acclaimed show. The set, available September 25, will include three albums’ worth of material from the musical – the original cast recording, the chart-topping covers project The Hamilton Mixtape, and the first physical release of the Hamildrops series of bonus recordings inspired by the production – along with additional audio extras, an 80-page book, and collectible ephemera….

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The Weekend Stream: July 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 throwbacks to the ’90s and the ’00s, a legend of film music conducting live for America, some deluxe editions of the  current top-selling album in the country from a timeless pop icon, and so, so much more! Mariah Carey, Daydream (30th Anniversary Edition) (Columbia/Legacy) (Apple / Amazon) A sweet, sweet fantasy came true for all the Lambs out there: a…

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’80s Romance: Edsel Reissues “The Belle Stars” With Singles, Remixes, More

The Belle Stars’ catalogue is a relatively tiny one, consisting of just one complete studio album, a handful of non-LP singles, and a live album that didn’t see release until long after the group had broken up.  Now, Edsel has reassembled the all-girl band’s audio discography in a new 3CD, 7-inch-sized box simply titled The Belle Stars – essentially a generously expanded edition of their same-titled debut LP. The Belle Stars were born out of the ashes of two-tone/ska revival band The Bodysnatchers when five of its seven members decided to press…

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Release Round-Up: Week of July 3…Plus The Weekend Stream!

Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up!  Due to the U.S. holiday, there’s less than usual on offer this week, but our usual large gathering of titles will resume soon!  In the meantime, here’s a rundown of some highlights from today’s releases plus a truncated version of The Weekend Stream (on hiatus this weekend). As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.  From all of us at TSD HQ to all of you, we wish you and your loved ones a very happy Fourth of July weekend! Grateful Dead, Fillmore Audtitorium, San…

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The Weekend Stream: June 27, 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. A solo record from a Prince associate gets expanded with rare tracks, another classic Tom Petty track gets a new mix, and new music from Sugar, a Monkee and a killer pop songstress (those are all different songs!) help kick off our latest round-up! Morris Day, Color of Success (Deluxe Edition) (Warner/Rhino) (Apple / Amazon) Rhino offers a dual celebration of Black…

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In Memoriam: Clive Davis (1932-2026)

Today, The Second Disc remembers Clive Davis.  Mike kicks things off… It was not entirely hubris that spurred Clive Davis to title his second memoir The Soundtrack of My Life in 2013 (which, in turn, inspired the career-spanning documentary on him to be named The Soundtrack of Our Lives). Here was a man who, with very few peers, was the sort of self-styled “record men” that fueled phases of incredible music industry growth in the back half of the 20th century. Next to perhaps only Berry Gordy, Davis’ label tenures at Columbia, Arista and…

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The Weekend Stream: June 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. We’ve got a last little Toy Story update, plus an unreleased XTC concert, great late-period Ben Folds Five, some British acts that couldn’t be more different, and plenty of others! Randy Newman/Taylor Swift, Toy Story 5 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Walt Disney Records) (Apple / Amazon) “I Knew It, I Knew You,” Taylor Swift’s new song from the soundtrack to Disney and Pixar’s…

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Release Round-Up: Week of June 19

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. Sheena Easton, The Singles: 1980-1987 (Cherry Pop) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Cherry Pop’s Sheena Easton series has a new crown jewel: 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)….

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(the best & the rest of) New Order

4CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada (the best of) 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada (the rest of) 3LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Less than a decade from the beloved compilation Substance, New Order issued (the best of) New Order in 1994 that chronicled their ’90s transitions into house and traditional alt-rock music, with a few new mixes to boot. The following year, (the rest of) New Order compiled recent and new remixes of the same material. (the best & the rest of) New Order brings together both collections with a further two discs of rare, new-to-CD and unreleased remixes…

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To Live and Die in L.A. (Deluxe Edition)

Available exclusively through Interscope Records’ online store, Wang Chung’s soundtrack to William Friedkin’s 1985 neo-noir will be pressed on two opaque orange “L.A. sunset” LPs. The first offers a chronological sequence of the music from the film, with two additional tracks: the hit single “Dance Hall Days” and the unreleased “This One’s for You, White Boy.” The second LP offers eight bonus remixes and edits, five of which are previously unreleased. (A futher expanded digital edition is promised, but the long-discussed CD edition seems to be off the table.)

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The Weekend Stream: June 13, 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. Olivia Rodrigo makes a triumphant return, Blink-182 dip into the CD bin, Taylor Swift and John Williams (separately) flesh out their latest projects, and an unexpected return from one of pop/folk’s living legends sets the mood for our latest rundown.  (As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.) Olivia Rodrigo, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love (Geffen)…

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Release Round-Up: Week of June 12

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. The 5th Dimension, Let the Sunshine In: The Soul City & Bell Albums 1967-1974 (Second Disc/Cherry Red/Strawberry) Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Cherry Red 2026 marks 60 years of The 5th Dimension–and the celebration is kicking off with the first-ever box set dedicated to the legendary “champagne soul” fivesome!  Second Disc Records is proud to team with Cherry Red’s Strawberry imprint for Let the Sunshine In: The Soul City &…

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Review: Frank Zappa, “Zappa ’66, Vol. 1: Live at TTG Studios”

Freak Out!  Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention’s 1966 debut record on the venerable Verve label introduced an artist for whom no cow was sacred; Zappa spent his entire career successfully pushing the boundaries of popular music and, some might add, of taste.  He always had his finger on the pulse of pop culture, unafraid to poke fun at its excesses.  Now, with Zappa ’66, Vol. 1: Live at TTG Studios – No. 134 in the Official Release Series – Zappa Records’ recently-relaunched Vaulternative imprint has given fans a real treat:…

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The Singles 1980-1987

Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Cherry Pop’s Sheena Easton series has a new crown jewel: 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 box has some similarities – the A and B-sides were present there, and many period remixes and even alternate or live versions of the same songs are repeated as…

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The Weekend Stream: June 6, 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. A Tom Petty classic gets a new mix, Taylor Swift emerges from the toybox and John Williams returns to the film scoring stage in our latest round-up – plus rarities from Foreigner, Jim Reeves, Reba Rambo and a reissue we think you’ll love more than donuts from the good donut shop, eh? Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, “American Girl (2026…

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Release Round-Up: Week of June 5

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. Barry Manilow, What a Time (Stiletto) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / ShopManilow.com LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / ShopManilow.com Arriving today as Manilow prepares to embark on his first tour after recovering from lung cancer treatment, Barry Manilow’s What a Time is the singer-songwriter’s first album of primarily original music since 2011’s 15 Minutes.  The album takes on a reflective tone characterized by its first single, a cover of Peter Allen and Dean Pitchford’s “Once…

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ZAPPAtite (Frank Zappa’s Tastiest Tracks)

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Zappa.com UMe and Zappa Records are dipping into the recent past for the vinyl debut of the 2016 compilation ZAPPAtite (Frank Zappa’s Tastiest Tracks).  The 18-track collection is sequenced in the manner of a meal, with tracks representing Appetizers (“Dancin’ Fool,” “Peaches En Regalia”), Entrees (“Valley Girl,” “Tell Me You Love Me”), a Second Course (“Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow,” “Titties and Beer”) and Dessert (“Zoot Allures,” “Strictly Genteel”) – one course per side of vinyl.  Collectively, these tracks encompass some of the late composer-guitarist-sonic…

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Harpo Speaks! The Riverside Symphony Concert Featuring “Peter and the Wolf”

Indeed…Harpo Speaks!  The legendarily silent Marx Brother is heard on this surprising new release from Ramseur Records.  On March 20, 1964, the semi-retired Harpo joined Southern California’s Riverside Symphony for a benefit performance.  But this time, Harpo wasn’t mute.  Instead, he narrated Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. The enchanting performance took place just six months before his death at the age of 75.  The evening was recorded but the tapes disappeared…until now.  Marx Brothers archivist John Tefteller and biographer Robert Bader have spearheaded this restored release.  Bader explains, “The fact that we have a…

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Release Round-Up: Week of May 29

Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles out today.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Paul McCartney, The Boys of Dungeon Lane (MPL/Capitol) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Paul McCartney Store LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Paul McCartney Store Paul McCartney releases his first new studio album since 2020’s McCartney III.  The Boys of Dungeon Lane, like McCartney III and its two predecessors, was recorded almost entirely by the artist.  Andrew Watt, whose credits include the most recent albums from Elton John and The Rolling Stones, is in the producer’s…

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The Weekend Stream: May 24, 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. Rare George Michael remixes, late period a-ha and more Andy Partridge demos are kicking off another great week of streaming tunes – including three new soundtracks from theme park attractions! George Michael, “Monkey” (Columbia/Legacy) (Apple / Amazon) The latest of the Faith-era digital EPs is here, and it’s a corker: these 1988 remixes of “Monkey” by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis helped…

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True Faith: New Order’s ’90s Compilations Get Expanded

New Order will visit their mid-’90s compilation years – with a whole host of mostly trance remixes – on a new 4CD reissue. True to its name, (the best & the rest of) New Order will include both the 1994 hits set (the best of) New Order and its 1995 follow-up (the rest of) New Order. The former featured their biggest hits up to 1993’s Republic and new mixes of songs like “Bizarre Love Triangle,” “True Faith” and ‘Round & Round,” while the latter collected 10 mostly recent remixes, including a handful of exclusive tracks….

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