Following in the footsteps of other late legends including Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly, Bob Marley will be next to receive the orchestral treatment. Bob Marley & The Chineke! Orchestra is due on May 27 from Island Records/UMe. The 10-song set, recorded at Abbey Road Studios under the aegis of producer Nick Patrick, merges Marley's original vocal tracks with new orchestrations. The album features many of the reggae pioneer's most beloved compositions including "Get Up, Stand Up," "Is
America, Chicago, Grateful Dead, Joni Mitchell, Doors, Ramones, More Featured on Rhino's Record Store Day Lineup
Rhino is bringing out the heavy hitters for its Record Store Day lineup of releases, all of which are due on Saturday, April 23 at independent record stores everywhere. We've already filled you in on the pair of David Bowie titles coming to both CD and LP, but Rhino also has vinyl offerings from music legends including Joni Mitchell, Madonna, Willie Nelson, Stevie Nicks, and The Everly Brothers as well as such beloved bands as America, Bad Company, Blur, Chicago, The Doors, Grateful Dead,
The Sound of Liberation Hall: Label Announces Slate Through April Featuring Flamin' Groovies, The Troggs, Tony Hazzard, Kim Fowley, More
Since its formation in late 2020, the Liberation Hall label has delivered a wide variety of releases ranging from a Dr. Demento-curated collection of novelties to a campaign from the vaults of San Francisco indie label 415 Records. Now, the label has announced a bounty of upcoming releases scheduled between now and April. The eclectic slate encompasses reggae (Peter Tosh), blues (Chicago Blues Reunion), psychedelic and garage rock (The Moving Sidewalks, The Flamin' Groovies, Kim Fowley, The
The Weekend Stream: January 15, 2022
Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing weekly review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there's plenty of great new/old music to discover! This week features early works by John Denver, TV works by Jan Hammer and Giorgio Moroder, live stuff from Tegan and Sara and a real throwback of a compilation album. Denver, Boise & Johnson / The Mitchell Trio, Leaving on a Jet Plane: John Denver (Warner Records) (Amazon / Spotify) John Denver's career
Have Yourself a Merry Little Discmas...
Wow! And just like that, another year has flown by. Just a few weeks before The Second Disc hits its 12th anniversary(!), this Christmas Eve it is our custom to look back on the last 12 months and take some time to think fondly of the music, magic, memories and friends that made our lives worth living. As if last year wasn't unconventional enough, 2021 packed more pop, clicks, skips and distortion than the most misguided vinyl pressings. We got vaccinated, we got boosted, we tentatively
The Weekend Stream: October 23, 2021
While The Second Disc prides itself on connecting people to reissues and box sets they can keep on their shelves, it's no secret that listening audiences are also digital - catalogue music lovers, too - and our passion is connecting people to music from the past that they might adore. So we've introduced a new feature: The Weekend Stream, which focuses on hidden gems that recently made it to digital channels that might make your playlists a little brighter! Chicago, Chicago at Carnegie Hall
Release Round-Up: Week of September 3
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Bob Marley and The Wailers, The Capitol Session '73 (Tuff Gong/Mercury Studios) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada CD/DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP Green Marble Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Five days after Bob Marley and The Wailers' landmark Burnin' hit stores in October 1973, producer Denny Cordell (Leon Russell, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers) took the band into Hollywood's Capitol
Get Up, Stand Up: Bob Marley and The Wailers' "The Capitol Session '73" Comes to CD, LP, DVD
1973 was a landmark year for Bob Marley. His band, The Wailers, released their sixth studio album in October to critical acclaim and commercial success. Burnin' earned a Gold sales certification in the U.S. and eventually an induction into the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry. The album introduced "Get Up, Stand Up" as well as the future Eric Clapton hit "I Shot the Sheriff." But Marley and The Wailers weren't resting on their laurels around the time of the album's release.
The Second Disc Guide to Record Store Day Drop 2 TOMORROW!
Once again, 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 two dates in 2021 with Drop 1 having taken place on June 12 and Drop 2 happening tomorrow, July 17. 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 check in with your favorite store to find out more information. Below, you'll
Release Round-Up: Week of June 18
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Joe Jackson and Todd Rundgren featuring Ethel, State Theater, New Jersey 2005 (Purple Pyramid) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Todd Rundgren and Joe Jackson's 2005 international tour featuring post-classical string quartet Ethel is brought to a 2CD/DVD set from Purple Pyramid collecting all three artists' sets plus the encore which brought them together. Both Jackson and Rundgren performed solo for sets blending fan favorites with
Invitation to Jamaica: Landmark Anthology "The Trojan Story" Sees 50th Anniversary Reissue
Since 1968, Trojan Records has been synonymous with the reggae, rocksteady, dub, and ska genres. The U.K. label founded by Lee Gopthal and Island Records' Chris Blackwell was instrumental in spreading those Jamaican sounds throughout the world and popularizing such key artists as Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker, Lee "Scratch" Perry, and The Maytals. By 1971, Trojan - with its focus on 45 RPM singles - had amassed enough hit records to release a label anthology. On June 18, that seminal release,
Release Round-Up: Week of February 5
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Dusty Springfield, The Complete Atlantic Singles 1969-1971 (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) The Complete Atlantic Singles 1968-1971brings together Dusty Springfield's 24 U.S. single sides released during her tenure at Atlantic. These tracks have been remastered from the original mono tapes by Mike Milchner at Sonic Vision, and all but the eight sides pulled from Dusty in Memphis have never before appeared on CD in
Release Round-Up: Week of January 29
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Tommy James and The Shondells, Celebration: The Complete Roulette Recordings (Cherry Red/Grapefruit) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Cherry Red's Grapefruit imprint brings together Tommy James and The Shondells' 1966-1973 recordings for Roulette Records (including James' solo Roulette LPs) on this 6-CD box set. The set features liner notes by Bob Fisher and mastering by Simon Murphy. Read the track listing and more here, and watch
Stir It Up: Bob Marley's 75th Anniversary Celebration Continues with Two Box Sets, Vinyl Reissues
Nearly 40 years after his passing, Bob Marley's music, image and message continue to fascinate audiences the world over. The end of this year has seen some considerable activity around his classic '70s and '80s catalogue for Tuff Gong/Island Records, including a new career-spanning box set and some vinyl reissues - and another box set, a new version of an old collection, is due early next year. Five years from its original vinyl release in 2015, a CD edition of The Complete Island Recordings
Classic Bad Brains Albums to Get Definitive Reissues in 2021
Legendary punk band Bad Brains will embark on a special "re-everything" of their seminal catalogue, having formed a new label to be distributed by Org Music. Founded in Washington, D.C. in 1977, the band initially known as Mind Power transitioned from jazz fusion to a fast-paced, rhythmic form of rock (known today as hardcore) along with elements of reggae and funk. Vocalist Paul "H.R." Hudson, his brother Earl on drums, guitarist Gary "Dr. Know" Miller and bassist Daryl Jenifer comprised the
Release Round-Up: Week of December 4
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Cat Stevens, Mona Bone Jakon: 50th Anniversary Edition (A&M/UMe) 4-CD/Blu-ray/LP/12″ Box: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2-CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Cat Stevens, a.k.a. Yusuf, revisits 1970's Mona Bone Jakon with a new, 50th anniversary edition available in a host of formats. The 4-CD/Blu-ray/LP 50th anniversary
We'll Be Together: Sting Preps New Duets Collection
While known as a singular performer - even his stage name is one word - Sting's next album is a collection of (mostly) previously released collaborations with other artists. But don't expect Duets to be a simple compilation of hits: only three of these tracks are from the former Police frontman's studio albums (four, if you count deluxe editions). Everything else is from Sting's guest appearances on albums by others and the occasional soundtrack appearance. Highlights include his 1999 hit
Reggae Pressure: Doctor Bird Reissues, Expands Classics from Delano Stewart, The Reggae Strings
Cherry Red's Doctor Bird imprint has reliably delivered Jamaican reggae and ska sounds from the vaults of Trojan Records. Today we're looking at two of its recent releases. First things first: the smiling woman on the cover of Delano Stewart's Stay a Little Bit Longer, to the left, is not the artist but rather a model. Winston Delano Stewart is the male singer of '60s rocksteady group The Gaylads, formed in Kingston, Jamaica when Stewart and his singing partner Harris "B.B." Seaton decided
The Second Disc Guide to Record Store Day Drop 1 TOMORROW!
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