With the nation still fighting COVID-19, Record Store Day here in the U.S. looks a little - make that a lot - different this year. The usual offerings have been split among three dates with Drop 1 taking place tomorrow, August 29, at your local independent record retailer. Drop 2 is September 26, and Drop 3 is October 24. Every retailer is handling the Drop a bit differently thanks to the necessary accommodations for social distancing, smaller crowds, and better safety precautions. So please
A Message To You: Two Tone Classics Collected On New CD Box
A new box set next month will anthologize most of the output of influential ska/punk label 2 Tone Records. 2 Tone: The Albums will collect eight major long-playing albums issued by the British label between 1979 and 1984: The Specials' Specials (1979), More Specials (1980) and In The Studio (1984, issued under a revised line-up and new name, The Special AKA); The Selecter's Too Much Pressure (1980); Cuban-born Rico Rodriguez's That Man Is Forward (1981) and Jama Rico (1982); and two
Release Round-Up: Week of July 31
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Paul McCartney, The Paul McCartney Archive Collection: Flaming Pie [Various Formats] (MPL/Capitol/UMe) 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Deluxe 5CD/2DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Super Deluxe 5CD/2DVD/4LP: Paul McCartney Online Shop 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 3LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada The Paul McCartney Archive Collection returns with a new volume dedicated to Macca's
Release Round-Up: Week of July 24
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Little Steven and The Disciples of Soul, Men Without Women [CD/DVD] (Wicked Cool/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Little Steven Van Zandt's 1982 debut with The Disciples of Soul, Men Without Women, remains a high watermark in the Jersey shore bar band sound with its fusion of classic rock and soul sounds. Van Zandt was joined by members of The E Street Band, The Asbury Jukes, and The Miami Horns as well as pals like The
Lively Up Yourself: Bob Marley Estate Continues 75th Birthday Celebrations, Including Partnership With One Tree Planted Initiative
In many ways, 2020 has come to be about doing our part to build a better world. No doubt, music can be a catalyst for causes and when the proper partnerships are forged, can bring about measurable change. UMe and the Bob Marley Estate are doing their part and are inviting fans to join in as they partner with the One Tree Planted program. How it works: fans can connect their Spotify account to the Stream For Trees portal and for every Bob Marley song streamed, a tree will be planted to fight
Dancing Again: What To Expect for Record Store Day’s RSD Drops Day 1, August 29
As the COVID 19 outbreak continues to impact our lives, it's heartening to know that some things are returning to some semblance of "normal," or as close as we can get to it during this unpredictable impasse. As we previously reported, Record Store Day has been split into three standalone "RSD Drop" days, occurring on August 29, September 26, and October 24. That's not the only thing changing this time around. It's been reported by Georgia-based shop Comeback Vinyl that the organization is
Juntos: Real Gone Preps Reissues of Airto’s Sophomore Album and Errol Dunkley’s Roots Reggae Classic “Darling Ooh!”
July 31 is sure to be a crate-digger's delight as Real Gone Music is set to release color vinyl reissues of two jazz and reggae classics: Airto's Seeds on the Ground: The Natural Sounds of Airto and Errol Dunkley's roots classic Darling Ooh! Seeds on the Ground was percussion master Airto's second album and his final release on Buddah. Following sessions with the likes of Miles Davis, Paul Desmond, Wayne Shorter, and Astrud Gilberto, Airto began a solo career that often found him
Chase Down That Crown: A Special Bandcamp Friday Shopping List
Bandcamp Friday is fast becoming as exciting a time as any other music street date. On March 20, as the COVID-19 pandemic was putting the world on pause, the indie music service waived their revenue share on all music and merch sold, allowing indie artists and labels a chance for some steadier income as concert tours began to halt. The event was a resounding success, and has been repeated on the first Fridays of May and June, with another to follow on July 3. This Friday, June 19, in
Holiday Gift Guide Reviews: A Spotlight on Cherry Red’s Eclectic Offerings
The holidays are almost upon us, and The Second Disc will soon be launching our annual Holiday Gift Guide! As part of the festivities, we will also be offering long-form reviews over the next month about certain titles deserving of an extra spotlight. Today, Sam's taking a look at a handful of recent releases from Cherry Red! Few labels can claim as diverse a roster as the Cherry Red group. Between their wealth of sub-divisions, there's bound to be something special in store for everyone. As
Nothing Sweeter: Rocksteady Royalty Alton Ellis’ “Greatest Hits” Gets Expanded Reissue from Cherry Red
Cherry Red Records' Doctor Bird imprint is committed to uncovering and reappraising the early years of reggae, ska, Calypso, rocksteady, and mento music, and few figures are as instrumental in the development of those genres as Alton Ellis. Starting with his first recordings in 1960, the gifted songwriter, singer, and performer quickly garnered a reputation as one of Jamaica's greatest musical exports. Moving on from the American R&B style that inflected his earliest recordings, Ellis
Release Round-Up: Week of November 15
Welcome to another installment of Release Round-Up! Here's what's on the way this week. David Bowie, Conversation Piece [Various Formats] (Parlophone/Rhino) Conversation Piece box set: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Space Oddity 2019 Mix CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Space Oddity 2019 Mix LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada "Space Oddity" 360 Reality Audio single: Amazon HD / TIDAL / Deezer Links TBD The 5-CD box Conversation Piece traces
Look Around: Real Gone Announces Limited Vinyl Reissues Featuring Rain Parade and The Vulcans
Real Gone Music has recently announced two new vinyl reissues coming out this Friday, September 13. One is from the Paisley Underground genre and the other is an experimental effort combining reggae and electronic music. First up, is Rain Parade's Emergency Third Rail Power Trip. The band was part of the Paisley Underground movement in 1980s California which combined psychedelia with vocal harmonies, owing a debt to artists like The Byrds and Love from the 1960s. The Bangles are the
Release Round-Up: Week of June 14
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Johnny Mathis, Killing Me Softly with Her Song/When Will I See You Again (Second Disc Records/Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music continue celebrating Johnny Mathis' discography with two albums on one CD. 1973's Killing Me Softly with Her Song and 1975's When Will I See You Again both spotlight Mathis' silky interpretations of the day's greatest hits. Killing Me Softly with Her
Omnivore’s Record Store Day Lineup Features Woody Guthrie, Lone Justice, and More
And the hits just keep on comin'! Record Store Day is almost upon us - Saturday, April 13 - and Omnivore Recordings isn't going to miss out on all the fun. The label has just announced a quartet of titles set to reach your local independent record store. The label's four new vinyl titles include I Don't Like the Way This World's A-Treatin' Me, a four-song tribute to Woody Guthrie featuring a rare Guthrie demo plus Jeff Tweedy, Ryan Harvey with Ani DiFranco and Tom Morello, and U.S. Elevator;
One Love to Give: Cherry Red, Doctor Bird Expand Phyllis Dillon’s Pop-Rocksteady Classic
Cherry Red's Doctor Bird imprint is shining the spotlight on arguably the most significant female artist of the rocksteady genre, Phyllis Dillon. Her story is a special one; she only released one full album during her recording career, but that album - 1972's One Life to Live - laid the groundwork for the reputation which she enjoyed until her untimely death in 2004. Doctor Bird's reissue, due on September 7, expands the original 12-song album to 28 tracks, making for a deep retrospective of
Release Round-Up: Week of August 24
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Linda Clifford, If My Friends Could See Me Now / Let Me Be Your Woman / Here's My Love / I'm Yours (Blixa Sounds) If My Friends Could See Me Now: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Let Me Be Your Woman: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Here's My Love: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada I'm Yours: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Blixa Sounds reissues four albums (three new to CD) from seventies soul/disco
Release Round-Up: Week of August 17
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Neil Diamond, Hot August Night III (Capitol) 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2CD/DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2CD/BD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Neil Diamond's August 2012 concerts at Los Angeles' Greek Theater marking the 40th anniversary of the original Hot August Night are captured on this new live release which also follows 1987's Hot August Night II and 2009's Hot August Night/NYC (with
Release Round-Up: Week of August 10
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Elvis Presley, Where No One Stands Alone (RCA/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) RCA presents 14 of The King's seminal gospel and spiritually-themed recordings, all remixed with new orchestrations and new supporting vocals from artists who knew and worked with Elvis including Darlene Love, Cissy Houston, and Lisa Marie Presley plus members of The Stamps Quartet and The Imperials. Includes new versions of "Stand by Me," "You'll
United We Stand: Cherry Red Reissues Reggae-Pop Classics from Bob Andy and Marcia Griffiths
Nestled in the Motown discography between Diana Ross' "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and The Four Tops' "Still Water" singles in 1970 was a curiosity: the major label debut of the popular Jamaican singing duo Bob and Marcia, a.k.a. Keith Anderson and Marcia Griffiths. While the 45 with "Young, Gifted and Black" b/w "Peace of Mind" didn't dent the charts in the U.S., the A-side had made it all the way to No. 5 on the U.K. National Charts. Now, Cherry Red's Doctor Bird imprint has paired the
Release Round-Up: Week of April 20
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! The Who, Live at the Fillmore East 1968 (UMe) 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 3LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada The Who's April 6, 1968 concert from New York's Fillmore East gets its first-ever official release just in time for its 50th anniversary. For the occasion, it's been restored and fully remixed from the original four-track tapes by longtime Who engineer Bob Pridden, who was responsible for the mix heard
Release Round-Up: Week of March 2
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring three new titles from Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music, and much, much more! Johnny Mathis, Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head: Expanded Edition (Second Disc/Real Gone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Johnny Mathis' 1970 album - featuring the songs of Bacharach and David, Paul Simon, Jimmy Webb, George Harrison and others - gets its first-ever expanded CD reissue from Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music. And
In The Garden In the Moonlight: Real Gone’s Limited Edition Vinyl Slate in April Includes Tiny Tim, Girlschool, Jack Kerouac and Scientist & Jammy
We recently told you about Real Gone's line-up of limited edition vinyl soundtracks due in April and now we've got word of four more limited vinyl titles. All of these are due to be released on April 6. First up is the 1982 dub album Scientist and Jammy Strike Back!. Scientist (Hopeton Overton Brown) and Prince Jammy (Lloyd James) were both proteges of King Tubby (Osbourne Ruddock), a sound engineer who was a pioneer in dub and remixing in Jamaica in the 1960s and 1970s. Both Scientist and
Welcome Each New Day: Real Gone Goes Rocksteady with Limited Vinyl Editions from Ken Boothe and Phyllis Dillon In March
We've already told you about most of Real Gone's March slate of titles, including Johnny Mathis and Oak Ridge Boys titles from our Second Disc Records imprint. Now, word has come out about the final two items on Real Gone's March 2 list: a pair of vinyl reissues in the rocksteady style. Rocksteady is a genre created in Jamaica that rose out of ska and served as a precursor to reggae in the mid to late 1960s. It is characterized by offbeat rhythms with a particular drumming style and slower
Release Round-Up: Week of December 15
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! The Beatles, The Christmas Records (Capitol/Apple/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Happy Christmas, Beatle people! The Christmas Records, a seven-disc vinyl box set from the Fab Four, features colored 45 RPM recreations of the Beatles' original Christmas fan club flexi-discs (all single-sided except for the last two in 1968 and 1969). The original sleeve artwork has been recreated for each title, and an enclosed 16-page booklet
Full Time: Omnivore Acquires Nighthawk Reggae Catalogue, Celebrates Ru-Jac R&B
Omnivore Recordings continues to grow with news of the acquisition of the Nighthawk Records label, joining Ru-Jac Records as part of the Omnivore family. Omnivore has acquired rights to the master catalogues of both labels, as well as the respective publishing catalogues of each. Upcoming releases include Full Time by Gladiators and Ethiopian & His All Stars' previously unissued album The Return of Jack Sparrow, both via Nighthawk, due this Friday, December 15, 2017, and Something Got a