Less than one year ago, on July 24, 2022, Joni Mitchell took the stage of the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island for her first full concert set in two decades. Word quickly spread, usually attached to adjectives such as "thrilling," "moving," and "extraordinary." Since then, the Mitchell renaissance has continued unabated. Earlier this year, she received the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, following in the footsteps of such greats as Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder,
In Memoriam: Gordon Lightfoot (1938-2023)
We mourn the loss of troubadour Gordon Lightfoot (1938-2023). Lightfoot's songs pierced the heart, springing from the folk tradition but with one foot in the pop realm as they pondered love, loneliness, nature, and history. His warm, burnished baritone was like that of an old friend, reassuring and wise. The Ontario native was a Canadian national treasure but his music belonged to the world; part of the secret to his success was his richly diverse musical background. By his teenaged years,
In Memoriam: Harry Belafonte (1927-2023)
Can a song truly make change? In an increasingly complex, divided and uncertain world, it's a fair question that has no easy answers. As a child, though, I can tell you I believe the answer was yes. After all, there was Harry Belafonte's "Turn the World Around." It's funny to think that a song from one of Belafonte's final studio albums - far removed from the unprecedented success of 1956's Calypso, the first LP claimed to sell a million copies - and one that didn't even get a considerable
Take Me Home Tonight: Liberation Hall Preps Eddie Money, Muddy Waters, Charlie Parker, More for Record Store Day
When it comes to Record Store Day, Liberation Hall sure isn't kidding around. The label has seven titles from a host of rock, jazz, blues, and folk superstars, all set for release on vinyl at independent record stores everywhere tomorrow, April 22 - but that's not all. All seven albums have also arrived on CD. Eddie Money's The Covers (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) brings the late rock-and-roller's two 2009 EPs together on one album. The eight songs on The Covers encompass the
Release Round-Up: Week of April 21
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles in stores today! Philip Bailey, State of the Heart: The Columbia Recordings (1983-1988) (SoulMusic/Cherry Red) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) State of the Heart celebrates the timeless voice of Earth, Wind & Fire's Philip Bailey with expanded editions of his three solo LPs for Columbia Records in the '80s: 1983's Continuation, 1984's Chinese Wall (including the mega-hit Phil Collins duet
The Weekend Stream: April 15, 2023
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 usher you into the weekend. Rarities and oddities abound: cartoon soundtracks, early works from country legends, and more! Pat Irwin, Rocko's Modern Life (Original Music from the Series) (Nickelodeon) (iTunes / Amazon) Joe Murray's colorful cartoon about a harried wallaby and his misadventures was one of Nickelodeon's
Wait: Paul Simon Announces New Folk Project for Release in May
Last year, rumors began abounding that Paul Simon was back in the studio recording a new album which would be his first since 2018's In the Blue Light and first of original material since 2016's Stranger to Stranger. 2018 was also the year when Simon said goodbye to the road with his Homeward Bound tour. That farewell tour culminated on September 22 in an unforgettable hometown show at Queens' Flushing Meadows Corona Park, but Simon has revealed that he's far from done with music. Those
Saw Your Name in the Paper: Morello Reissues Loudon Wainwright III's Atlantic Albums
Upon the release of his 1970 self-titled debut for Atlantic Records, Loudon Wainwright III was hailed as a "new Dylan." The comparison wasn't completely off-the-mark, given the artist's incisive, alternately wrenching and wry songwriting; and pinched, somewhat nasal voice as he accompanied himself on acoustic guitar. But the lyrical content of Wainwright's songs was far-removed from The Bard of Hibbing's. Having been born to an affluent family (his father wrote the column "The View from Here"
Release Round-Up: Week of March 10
Welcome to this week's (teeny tiny) Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles in stores today. Van Morrison, Moving on Skiffle (Exile/Virgin) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Van Morrison is back with a new 2-CD set dedicated to the skiffle style and featuring the likes of "Cold, Cold Heart," "Cotton Fields," "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," and "Greenback Dollar." Available on CD, LP, and digital formats. Blackmore's Night, Shadow of the Moon: 25th
The Weekend Stream: February 18, 2023
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 usher you into the weekend. Today, Joe and Mike are sharing the latest from the Stream: new posthumous singles from Burt Bacharach and Olivia Newton-John, a new song from Ben Folds, a demo from Sting and more - plus a way you can voice your support for members of the LGBTQ+ community who need it. Burt Bacharach &
Release Round-Up: Week of February 17
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles in stores today! Dionne Warwick, Sure Thing: The Warner Bros. Recordings (1972-1977) (Cherry Red/SoulMusic) (Cherry Red / Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Dionne Warwick's new 6-CD box set Sure Thing: The Warner Bros. Recordings (1972-1977) anthologizes the superstar singer's years for the famous label, including five full albums and over 40 additional recordings. This adds up to the most
Vinyl Box Watch: Clapton, a-ha, Neutral Milk Hotel All Prep Big Sets on LP
For nearly no other occasion would you see these three bands in the same sentence, but it's true: vinyl box sets are all forthcoming from blues-rock legend Eric Clapton, Norwegian popsmiths a-ha, and '90s indie-folk darlings Neutral Milk Hotel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wdl2I1spS8M This week, on January 13, Clapton readies The Complete Reprise Studio Albums - Volume II from Rhino Records. This 10LP set picks up where last year's first set left off, offering new remasters of Clapton's
The Year In Review: The 2022 Gold Bonus Disc Awards, From A to Z - Part One
Happy 2023! Welcome, friends, to The Second Disc's 13th Annual Gold Bonus Disc Awards! A lot has happened in the last twelve months, but as we look to a new year with optimism and a hopeful spirit, we recognize the many roles music has played in our lives. With that spirit in mind, The Second Disc wishes to recognize 2022's cream of the catalogue music crop - those exemplary reissues and box sets, big and small, that proved to be truly outstanding for music lovers worldwide. Despite the
Release Round-Up: Week of December 2
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles in stores this week! The Beach Boys, Sail On Sailor: 1972 (Capitol/UMe) 6CD Super Deluxe: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2CD Highlights (Remastered Albums plus bonus tracks): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 5LP+7" Super Deluxe Vinyl Edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 5LP+7" Super Deluxe Vinyl Edition (Limited Edition): Beach Boys Store 2LP+7" Remastered Albums
Close To It All: Cherry Red, Grapefruit Collect Power Pop, Folk, "Bubblerock," and More on New Anthologies
Cherry Red's Grapefruit imprint, dedicated to the psychedelic and garage eras, has concentrated in recent months on various-artists anthologies exploring different aspects of the pop-rock scene of the mid-to-late 1960s through the mid-1970s. Today's Grapefruit Round-Up looks at a quartet of those recent releases. The 3-CD anthology High in the Morning: The British Progressive Pop Sounds of 1973 is focused on the twelve-month period in which the look and sound of glam rock made ripples
Fare Thee Well: Sony Music, Analogue Productions Reissue Two Harry Belafonte Classics
On March 1, 2022, Harry Belafonte turned 95 years old. Though the actor, singer, and humanitarian largely retired from performing in the early years of the twenty-first century, he's remained active with the causes near and dear to his heart. On November 5, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will honor this American legend with its Early Influence Award, a recognition previously bestowed on such musical heroes as Louis Armstrong, Nat "King" Cole, Woody Guthrie, Mahalia Jackson, and Hank Williams.
Can't Keep It In: Cat Stevens Reissues "Catch Bull at Four" in 50th Anniversary Editions
Cat Stevens, today known as Yusuf, marked the 50th anniversary of his first three Island/A&M albums (1970's Mona Bone Jakon and Tea for the Tillerman, and 1971's Teaser and the Firecat) with a variety of releases including expansive super deluxe box sets. For 1972's Catch Bull at Four, the troubadour is taking a distinctly slimmed-down approach. On December 2, Island and A&M will reissue Stevens' classic album on CD, LP, and digitally, newly remastered from the original tapes but with
Keep On Sailing: Cherry Red Collects Iain Matthews' Plainsong on New Box Set
Cherry Red's Lemon imprint has anthologized the works of singer-songwriter Iain Matthews on previous releases including the 2019 rarities collection Orphans and Outcasts and this year's I Can't Fade Away: The Rockburgh Years 1978-1984. Now, Lemon is turning back the clock to Matthews' time in the band Plainsong with a new 6-CD box set. Following Amelia: The 1972 Recordings and More is, in essence, a generous 50th anniversary expanded edition of the original band's one and only album to be
Release Round-Up: Week of October 14
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today! Frank Zappa, Zappa '75: Zagreb/Ljubljana (Zappa/UMe) (Zappa Official Store / Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Zappa '75: Zagreb/Ljubljana captures The Mothers' first and only concerts in Yugoslavia. Zappa referred to the dates as "The Mothers of Invention Yugoslavian Extravaganza," and the performances lived up to that mighty moniker. The shows were staged in Zagreb and
The Weekend Stream: August 7, 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! From new remixes of old favorites and throwback remixes of new hits, to deep dives into '80s alt-rock, mid-century easy listening, '70s live folk and '90s tracks to run on the beach in slow motion to...we're pulling out all this stops this Sunday! Beyoncé & Madonna, Break My Soul (The Queens Remix)
The Minor Fall, The Major Lift: New Leonard Cohen Compilation Out in October
As oversimplifying as it may seem, if a songwriter can get one work to bury deep in the public consciousness, then they've done their job and followed the creative muse that drives them. Leonard Cohen had more than a few entries from his songbook take hold of listeners in a career that spanned nearly 50 years - but the one that truly passed through generations was "Hallelujah," now the centerpiece of a new career-spanning collection of Cohen's work. Already available digitally, Hallelujah
The Weekend Stream: June 4, 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 is packed with a few digital-led campaigns for Leonard Cohen, Bob Marley and Avril Lavigne, plus batches of releases for fans of Gloria Estefan and country singer Gene Watson! Leonard Cohen, Hallelujah & Songs from His Albums (Columbia/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon) It's getting to the point where
Release Round-Up: Week of June 3
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, highlighted by our newest Second Disc Records release and featuring a selection of the week's other new titles! Stoney and Meatloaf, Everything Under the Sun: The Motown Recordings (Second Disc Records/Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music) Stoney and Meatloaf's Everything Under the Sun: The Motown Recordings from Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music is the ultimate celebration of late rock superstar
Cat's in the Cradle: Cherry Red Celebrates Harry Chapin on "Story Book: The Elektra Albums 1972-1978"
It's fair to say that when Harry Chapin's debut single "Taxi" peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100, the ballad didn't sound like much else on the chart. The top spot was held by Sammy Davis, Jr.'s bouncy ode to "The Candy Man" while the upper reaches also featured gospel-tinged R&B (The Staple Singers' "I'll Take You There"), pristine pop (Neil Diamond's "Song Sung Blue," Carpenters' "It's Going to Take Some Time"), driving funk (Billy Preston's "Outa-Space"), raunchy rock-and-roll
The Weekend Stream: May 7, 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! Truly something for everyone this week, from classic rock to live jazz and folk to...Christmas albums? Whitesnake, Greatest Hits (2022 Remix) (Rhino) (iTunes / Amazon) Ahead of their farewell tour, David Coverdale has yet again revisited the Whitesnake catalogue through a series of remixes, this time pertaining
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