Whitney Houston's skills as an R&B and pop singer made her a blockbuster act in the '80s and '90s, but the late singer had a deep, familial passion for gospel that she only partially explored during her too-brief career. A new compilation and documentary due in March will change that. I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston is a new 14-track collection featuring hymns and spirituals Houston recorded throughout her time as a professional singer. Most of the songs stem from
Soul'd Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection [Various Formats]
Soul'd Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection: 12CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Wattstax: The Complete Concert: 6CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 10LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada The Best of Wattstax (Highlights) 1CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Wattstax: The Living Word 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Wattstax 2: The Living Word 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada One of the greatest music
The Living Word: New Box Sets Chronicle Wattstax in Full, 50 Years On
One of the greatest music festivals of the '70s is getting celebrated with an exhaustive array of reissues in 2023: Wattstax, the multi-dimensional Los Angeles celebration of soul, funk, blues and gospel courtesy of Stax Records. A half-century after the premiere of a Golden Globe-nominated documentary on the star-studded 1972 event, Craft Recordings, custodian of the Stax catalogue, will release the most definitive looks at Wattstax, most recently addressed in a 3CD box set in 2003 that took
That Ol' Christmas Spirit: Real Gone Announces Yuletide Slate with Steve and Eydie, B.J. Thomas, Lea Michele
Real Gone Music has that holiday feeling with its upcoming slate of three joyful titles for the Christmas season. The label has just announced two deluxe CD releases along with one beautiful vinyl title that's sure to keep spirits bright. All three titles are due November 11. First up is a definitive, expanded, and remastered edition of Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme's 1964 Columbia Records classic That Holiday Feeling. After more than a decade of representing Steve and Eydie's GL Music
Let There Be Love: SoulMusic Collects, Expands Shirley Murdock's Elektra Albums
As a member of the extended family of funk group Zapp, Shirley Murdock memorably added her vocals to the 1986 hit "Computer Love" (for which she also shares a co-writing credit). Concurrently, Murdock was launching her own solo career at Elektra Records, where she would release three solo LPs through 1991. Now, Cherry Red's SoulMusic Records imprint has revisited and expanded that trio of albums on As We Lay: The Elektra Recordings (1985-1991), a new 3-CD collection that's an essential
Release Round-Up: Week of April 1
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles arriving in stores today! Daryl Hall, BeforeAfter (RCA/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Daryl Hall is looking back with his first-ever solo anthology. BeforeAfter, curated by the artist, draws on all five of his acclaimed solo albums: the Robert Fripp-produced cult classic Sacred Songs (1980), Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine (1986, including the top five hit "Dreamtime" and top
Release Round-Up: Week of March 25
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of new titles out today! Daryl Hall and John Oates, Marigold Sky: Expanded Edition (BMG) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada BMG's reissue of Daryl Hall and John Oates' 1997 album Marigold Sky - their first away from the major label system - adds three bonus tracks: the radio edit of "Romeo Is Bleeding," the remix of "Hold on to Yourself," and the Hot Mix of "The
I Saw the Light: BMG Collects Hank Williams' Radio Gospel Performances on "I'm Gonna Sing"
I wandered so aimless, life filled with sin/Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night/Praise the Lord, I saw the light... Though Hank Williams is often remembered today as much for his hellraising ways as for his venerable songbook - a remarkable one that crossed genre lines via such stone-cold standards as "Hey, Good Lookin'," "Cold, Cold Heart," "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," and "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You") - he was brought up in the church and its music stayed with
My Chains Are Gone
Reba McEntire returns with a 12-track collection subtitled Hymns and Gospel Favorites. My Chains Are Gone blends songs from Reba's 2017 Grammy-winning album Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope with four brand-new selections including "The Lord's Prayer" and "Because He Lives." The CD also includes an acoustic version of "Back to God" (featuring Lauren Daigle) premiering on a physical format. Available on CD and digitally.
OUT TOMORROW: Real Gone Celebrates B.J. Thomas on "In Remembrance: Love Songs and Lost Treasures"
B.J. Thomas first reached the U.S. top 10 in 1966 with a heartfelt cover of his father's favorite Hank Williams song, the plaintive ballad "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." The Oklahoma-born, Texas-raised artist had his sights beyond just the country genre, however. His always authentic and altogether compelling voice was equally at home in the genres of pop, R&B, rock and roll, contemporary Christian, bossa nova, and gospel. He became a songwriter's singer, bringing to vivid life the music
The Year In Review: The 2021 Gold Bonus Disc Awards, From A to Z - Part One
Happy 2022! Welcome, friends, to The Second Disc's 12th Annual Gold Bonus Disc Awards! Once again, we've all faced unprecedented challenges over the past twelve months. A year that began with hope and promise has ended with further uncertainty for many of us. But music continues to fill a significant role in our lives, providing solace, comfort, and escape in a time unlike any other. With that spirit in mind, The Second Disc wishes to recognize 2021's cream of the catalogue music crop -
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
In Remembrance: Love Songs and Lost Treasures
Real Gone Music remembers the late, great B.J. Thomas with this new collection of rare and previously unreleased material drawn from both Thomas' personal archives and the vaults of Reprise and Warner Bros. Records. In Remembrance: Love Songs and Lost Treasures features 18 tracks, 13 of which are making their debut here, including all five songs which B.J. recorded for the 2008 independent film Jake's Corner, and tracks cut with producers Steve Dorff, Jim Ed Norman, and Stewart Harris. B.J.'s
Red Letter Days: B.J. Thomas Rarities Premiere on "Love Songs and Lost Treasures" from Real Gone Music
B.J. Thomas first reached the U.S. top 10 in 1966 with a heartfelt cover of his father's favorite Hank Williams song, the plaintive ballad "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." The Oklahoma-born, Texas-raised artist had his sights beyond just the country genre, however. His always authentic and altogether compelling voice was equally at home in the genres of pop, R&B, rock and roll, contemporary Christian, bossa nova, and gospel. He became a songwriter's singer, bringing to vivid life the music
The Weekend Stream: November 27, 2021
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! Despite the Thanksgiving holiday (and recovery period from Record Store Day Black Friday) there are some surprises for lovers of rock, soul and soundtrack obscurities - check it out below! Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Live, New York, 1981 (Blackheart/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon / Spotify) If you can believe
The Second Disc's Picks for Record Store Day Black Friday 2021
From all of us here at Second Disc HQ to all of you, we hope you've enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving in the company of beloved family and friends. (And with plenty of delicious food, too!) Now, Record Store Day's annual Black Friday event is upon us, so we're spotlighting a dozen of the most eagerly anticipated releases arriving to your local independent brick-and-mortar record shop! Here are our personal picks for RSD BF must-haves; visit Record Store Day's official website for a list of
The Weekend Stream: October 9, 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! Madonna, Madame X - Music from the
Sweets for My Sweet: Cherry Red, SoulMusic Collect The Sweet Inspirations' Atlantic Recordings on "Let It Be Me"
In its 1960s heyday, Atlantic Records was the destination for deeply-felt soul. Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, Solomon Burke, and Wilson Pickett were just a handful of the artists there who defined the sound of soul music. Lesser-known but no less significant were The Sweet Inspirations. Today, the vocal quartet might be best-remembered as Elvis Presley's preferred onstage backup group, but The King was just one of a staggering number of artists they supported - including the
Release Round-Up: Week of June 11
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Black Sabbath, Sabotage: Super Deluxe Edition (Warner/Rhino) 4CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Rhino.com 4LP/7″: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Rhino.com Rhino is expanding Black Sabbath's 1975 album Sabotage to 4CD and 4LP/7″ proportions. The upcoming Super Deluxe Edition boasts a remastered version of the original album plus a complete live show from Sabbath's 1975 tour. The vinyl version only includes a bonus
In Memoriam: B.J. Thomas (1942-2021)
I can't stop this feelin' deep inside of me/Girl, you just don't realize what you do to me... For more than five decades, we've been hooked on the feelings imparted in song by B.J. Thomas: the despair of "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," the soaring optimism of "I Just Can't Help Believin'," the longing of "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song," the unfettered spirit of "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," and the sheer euphoria of "Hooked on a Feeling." Oklahoma-born,
Release Round-Up: Week of April 9
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Fleetwood Mac, Live: Super Deluxe Edition (Warner/Rhino) (Rhino.com / Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Rhino reissues Fleetwood Mac's 1980 Live - the first live album from the line-up of Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood - as a deluxe 3CD/2LP/7″ box set. The two CDs and two LPs will both have the remastered original double album. The third CD will offer 14 previously unreleased
Front Porch Singin'
The Oak Ridge Boys' fourth collaboration with Nashville uber-producer Dave Cobb, Front Porch Singin' finds the quartet in RCA's venerable Studio A harmonizing on classic country and gospel favorites as well as a couple of originals. The album is available on CD, LP, and digitally.
Beautiful Scars
The powerful voice of Merry Clayton returns on Beautiful Scars, a poignant new album that reunites her with legendary producer Lou Adler. Beautiful Scars is the singer's first album after an accident in 2014 robbed her of both her legs but not her spirit, determination, and voice. It merges gospel and soul as only Clayton can do, on material including Donny Hathaway's "A Song for You," Chris Martin's "Love Is a Mighty River," and Diane Warren's title track.
Release Round-Up: Week of March 19
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Neil Young, After the Gold Rush: 50th Anniversary [Vinyl + 7" Box] (Reprise) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) This 50th Anniversary remastered edition of Neil Young's classic album was released on CD in December; now the vinyl version arrives. The set includes two different recordings of the outtake "Wonderin'" on the bonus 45. The A-side was recorded in March 1970 in Topanga (previously heard on Archives Vol. 1) while the B-side is
I Want You, I Need You: Retroactive Reissues Three from Chris Christian Including Star-Studded LP with Cross, Valli, Champlin, Beckley, Foster
Chris Christian rose to prominence as one-third of the pop trio Cotton, Lloyd and Christian alongside producer Michael Lloyd (The Osmonds, Barry Manilow) and Daryl Cotton (Zoot, Olivia Newton-John). Before long, Christian's songs were being recorded by the likes of Elvis Presley ("Love Song of the Year"), Dionne Warwick ("When the World Runs Out of Love"), and Carpenters ("(Want You) Back in My Life Again"). Christian also produced and wrote songs for artists including B.J. Thomas, Marilyn