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/ Pop

Let's Get This Party Rolling: Capitol Readies "Beach Boys' Party! Uncovered and Unplugged

October 22, 2015 By Joe Marchese 6 Comments

Beach Boys Party Uncovered and Unplugged

Following the release of The Beach Boys Today! and Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) earlier in the year, Capitol Records was eager to make yet more Beach Boys music available for the 1965 holiday season.  The label urged Brian and the Boys into the studio to record Beach Boys' Party!, an album filled with loose versions of familiar favorites, complete with laughter and background talk.  Now, that LP filled with freewheeling good vibrations is getting a surprise 2-CD deluxe, expanded edition to

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Digital Download, Vinyl Genre: Pop Tags: The Beach Boys

Thank You Friends: Omnivore Offers Big Star, Neil Finn and Paul Kelly For Record Store Day Black Friday

October 20, 2015 By Joe Marchese 3 Comments

Big Star Jesus Christ

Omnivore Recordings is looking ahead to this year's annual Black Friday Record Store Day event on Friday, November 27, with the announcement of two special vinyl releases. The first continues in the tradition of Omnivore's Big Star releases.  The RSD 10-inch EP of Jesus Christ features the original album version of the song recorded for the band's Third plus the demo version (which first appeared on the acclaimed Keep an Eye on the Sky box set) and five previously unissued tracks, for a total

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Digital Download, Vinyl Genre: Pop, Rock Tags: Big Star, Neil Finn, Paul Kelly, Record Store Day

Casting Their Spell: Croydon Municipal Celebrates Halloween, Salutes Girl Groups

October 20, 2015 By Joe Marchese 6 Comments

Songs for Swinging Ghosts

With Halloween around the corner, the pre-Beatles pop specialists at Cherry Red's Croydon Municipal imprint have offered up a collection of spooky musical treats, Songs for Swinging Ghosts, along with a disc of more traditional fare, the girl group salute All About the Girls. The 22 tracks on Songs for Swinging Ghosts, comprising both vocals and instrumentals, are primarily drawn from U.K. releases though a handful of American artists are on hand, too.  Compiler Bob Stanley of St. Etienne

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Pop, R&B/Soul Tags: St. Etienne, Various Artists

Reflections: The Greatest Songs of Rod McKuen

October 19, 2015 By

Rod Reflections

Varese Vintage celebrates the life and singular career of Rod McKuen with this new collection.  Reflections brings together 24 of the late songwriter's own interpretations of his most famous compositions including "If You Go Away," "Seasons in the Sun," "Love's Been Good to Me," "A Man Alone" and many more.  TSD's own Joe Marchese has written the liner notes for this new overview of McKuen's storied legacy in song.

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Formats: CD Genre: Folk, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal

A Man Alone: Varese Collects "The Greatest Songs of Rod McKuen" In November

October 19, 2015 By Joe Marchese 6 Comments

Rod Reflections

On November 13, Varese Vintage will celebrate a singular career when the label releases Reflections - The Greatest Songs of Rod McKuen.  This definitive overview of McKuen's work as a singer-songwriter features 24 of his most famous compositions including "If You Go Away," "Jean," "Seasons in the Sun," "A Man Alone" and "Love's Been Good to Me." Though a self-professed loner who often wrote of isolation and solitude, McKuen had an extraordinary ability in music, poetry and prose to

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal Tags: Rod McKuen

Completely Under the Covers

October 18, 2015 By

Completely Under the Covers

This 4-CD box set collects all three Under the Covers albums released by Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs paying tribute, respectively, to the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s and adds a fourth disc with 15 bonus tracks, for a total of 60 songs.  This bonus disc rounds up most of the exclusive tracks previously associated with Under the Covers.  The box also includes a 48-page booklet with track annotations by Sweet and Hoffs!

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Formats: Box Sets, CD Genre: Classic Rock, Pop, Rock

Hungry Heart: Bruce Springsteen Expands "The River" In New Box Set

October 16, 2015 By Joe Marchese 5 Comments

Bruce The Ties That Bind

Bruce Springsteen is going down to The River on December 4 when Columbia Records releases The Ties That Bind: The River Collection.  This 4-CD/3-DVD or 4-CD/2-BD set promises a treasure trove of previously unreleased material across its 53 audio tracks plus four hours of never-before-seen video footage. Springsteen's fifth album, The River was released on October 17, 1980.  The sprawling double album reached the top of the Billboard 200 chart and No. 2 in the U.K., and yielded the hit single

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Categories: News Formats: Blu-Ray, Box Sets, CD, DVD Genre: Pop, Rock Tags: Bruce Springsteen

Sweeter Than Ever: Nick Kamen's Debut, With Madonna Collaboration, Expanded to 2 CDs

October 16, 2015 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Nick Kamen

Nick Kamen's career as a singer was a short-lived one, spanning just four LPs between 1987 and 1992.  But the former Levi's model - best known for his role in the denim company's "Launderette" television advertisement in which he walks into a laundromat and removes his shirt and 501s  - scored considerable success in that period including a U.K. Top 5 hit co-written and produced by none other than Madonna.  Cherry Red's Cherry Pop label has recently reissued Nick Kamen, the debut album from the

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Pop Tags: Madonna, Nick Kamen

Release Round-Up: Week of October 16

October 16, 2015 By Joe Marchese 1 Comment

Christmas Time Again

Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! The dB's and Friends, Christmas Time Again! (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) Omnivore revisits and revises the classic alt-rock Christmas compilation.  Producer Chris Stamey has added new performances by Yo La Tengo & Jeff Tweedy, Marshall Crenshaw, Robyn Hitchcock, and Big Star's Third (featuring Mike Mills of R.E.M. taking lead vocals on Big Star's "Jesus Christ") to selected tracks from past editions of the album for a total of 22

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Categories: Release Round-Up Formats: CD, Digital Download, DVD-Audio, Vinyl Genre: Cast Recordings, Classic Rock, Country, Jazz, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock, Soundtracks Tags: Cole Porter, Earth Wind and Fire, Glen Campbell, Judy Garland, King Crimson, Pat Boone, Ray Parker Jr., Raydio, The dB's

Christmas Album

October 12, 2015 By

Herb Alpert Christmas

1968's classic Christmas Album from Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass is back on CD from the artist's newly-minted Herb Alpert Presents label.  This reissue of the original A&M album has been freshly remastered and features memorable TJB takes on "The Bell That Couldn't Jingle," "Sleigh Ride," "Winter Wonderland" and more!

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Formats: CD, Digital Download Genre: Pop

Release Round-Up: Week of October 9

October 9, 2015 By Joe Marchese 5 Comments

Small Faces Decca

Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up highlighted by the first course of a Christmas feast, plus a trio of deluxe box sets, new albums from veteran artists, and more! The Three Suns, A Ding Dong Dandy Christmas / George Melachrino and His Orchestra, Christmas Joy / John Gary, The John Gary Christmas Album / The Soulful Strings, The Magic of Christmas (Real Gone Music) The Three Suns: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. George Melachrino: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. John Gary: Amazon U.S. /

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Categories: Release Round-Up Formats: Box Sets, CD, Digital Download, DVD, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Disco/Dance, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul Tags: Bobby Rydell, Damita Jo, Donna Summer, George Melachrino, John Gary, Lee Hazlewood, Nat King Cole, Raging Fire, The Beckies, The Small Faces, The Soulful Strings, The Three Suns, The Zombies, Tom Jones

It Must Be Love: Edsel Reissues Five From Singer-Songwriter Labi Siffre

October 9, 2015 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Labi Siffre

Despite a relatively small catalogue of under ten albums in over forty years, British singer-songwriter Labi Siffre has long been recognized as one of the most original voices in pop.  Artists as diverse as Rod Stewart, Madness, Joss Stone and Kenny Rogers have all recorded his songs; hip-hop performers like Kanye West and Eminem have sampled him.  Edsel has recently celebrated Siffre's legacy with a program of five reissues - expanded editions of four of his studio albums plus a new edition of

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Pop Tags: Labi Siffre

Alone in the Universe

October 8, 2015 By

ELO Alone in the Universe

Electric Light Orchestra is back with this all-new studio album from Jeff Lynne's ELO!  Alone in the Universe features ten new Lynne songs (twelve on the U.K. deluxe and U.S. Amazon-exclusive edition) - the first full-length set of ELO originals since 2001's Zoom.  The links below both direct to the 12-track version of the album!

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Formats: CD, Digital Download, Vinyl Genre: Pop, Rock

The Decca Years

October 6, 2015 By

Small Faces Decca

Faces precursor The Small Faces celebrate 50 years with a new 5-CD box set including all of the recordings the band made for Decca, plus rarities, alternative versions, previously unavailable tracks and a disc of BBC sessions. All audio has been remastered from the original analog sources under the supervision of drummer Kenney Jones. This lift-off lid box also includes a 72-page booklet featuring rare and previously unseen photos and memorabilia plus four postcards.

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Formats: Box Sets, CD Genre: Classic Rock, Pop

Long Lost Suitcase

October 6, 2015 By

Tom Jones Long Lost Suitcase

To coincide with the release of long-awaited autobiography Over the Top and Back, Sir Tom Jones unpacks his Long Lost Suitcase on an all-new studio album.  Titles on the album reflect chapters in his book including "Elvis Presley Blues," "Why Don't You Love Me Like You Used to Do," "Bring It On Home" and "Factory Girl."  No U.S. release is currently on the schedule, though that may change.

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Formats: CD, Digital Download, Vinyl Genre: Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock

Croydon Municipal Pops More "Popcorn," Revisits "Troxy Music" On Recent Compilations

October 6, 2015 By Joe Marchese 1 Comment

Popcorn Exotica

Croydon Municipal, an imprint of Cherry Red Group, has recently continued two of its popular series with the releases of Troxy Music 2 and Popcorn Exotica. Like the first volume of Troxy Music, this edition is subtitled Fifties and Sixties Film Themes; this time around, it's Screen 2.  Compiler Bob Stanley and compiler/annotator Martin Green set out the collection's ethos in the liner notes, explaining how both Hollywood and Great Britain fought against the onslaught of television: "Hollywood

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Jazz, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul, Soundtracks Tags: Various Artists

Right Here Now: Marshall Crenshaw Unveils "# 392: The EP Collection"

October 5, 2015 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Marshall Crenshaw EP Collection

When Marshall Crenshaw launched a vinyl EP subscription service in early 2013 as a vehicle for his new music, the veteran singer/songwriter/producer set out to not make a new album.  Yet, as these things happen, he ended up with enough music to make one after all.  # 392: The EP Collection is a new 14-track album with twelve songs drawn from the six EPs released between 2013 and 2015, plus two exclusive bonus tracks.  All songs here make their CD debuts on this release. Each vinyl EP,

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Pop, Rock Tags: Marshall Crenshaw

Release Round-Up: Week of October 2

October 2, 2015 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Paul McCartney Tug of War

Welcome to our new Release Round-Up! Paul McCartney, The Paul McCartney Archive Collection: Tug of War (MPL/Concord) The Paul McCartney Archive Collection continues with 1982's Tug of War, featuring "Ebony and Ivory" and "Here Today."  The release is available in various formats: 3-CD/1-DVD Deluxe Edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. 2-CD Special Edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. 2-LP Vinyl Edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. Check out our full feature for information on what

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Categories: Release Round-Up Formats: CD, Digital Download, Vinyl Genre: Cast Recordings, Classic Rock, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul, Rock Tags: Bad Company, Carl Wilson, Carole King, Celtic Thunder, Dean Martin, Dick Haymes, Earth Wind and Fire, Garbage, Grateful Dead, Janet Jackson, Joe Jackson, Judy Garland, Paul McCartney, Sarah McLachlan

Spotlight On: The 4 Seasons' "Sherry" and "Big Girls Don't Cry" Mono Editions

October 1, 2015 By Joe Marchese 3 Comments

Four Seasons Sherry

In recent months, Real Gone Music has further diversified its CD offerings with a line of mini-LP replica editions of rare titles from Banana and the Bunch, The Viscounts, and Jorge Ben.  This Friday, the label kicks off an eagerly-anticipated series from New Jersey's favorite sons, The 4 Seasons.  The band's first and third albums - from 1962 and 1963, respectively - were both headlined by U.S. No. 1 singles.  The Vee-Jay releases Sherry and 11 Others (RGM-0386) and Big Girls Don't Cry and

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Pop Tags: Frankie Valli, The Four Seasons

Paul McCartney Archive Collection "Tug of War" and "Pipes of Peace" ARRIVE TOMORROW!

October 1, 2015 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Paul McCartney Tug of War

REMINDER!  Tomorrow, October 2, will finally see the release of the next two installments in Paul McCartney's Archive Collection: Tug of War and Pipes of Peace! At last, we can say, say, say it's true: the next two volumes of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection are almost here in a variety of formats.  Macca's second and third albums of the 1980s, the platinum sellers Tug of War and Pipes of Peace, will arrive from Concord Records and MPL with the expected array of bonus material,

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Categories: News Formats: Box Sets, CD, Digital Download, DVD, Vinyl Genre: Pop, Rock Tags: Paul McCartney

Man, We Had a Party: Ace Collects Sequel Songs On "Second Helpings"

September 30, 2015 By Joe Marchese 2 Comments

Second Helpings

Numerous collections have compiled famous "answer songs."  Ace Records' 2007 anthology The Answer to Everything had many of the best, like Jody Miller's "Queen of the House," Esther Phillips' "When a Woman Loves a Man" and Marilyn Michaels' "Tell Tommy I Miss Him."  Early in the summer, Ace took a look not at answer songs, per se, but at sequel songs, on the compilation of Second Helpings: Sequels to the Songs That Left 'Em Hungry for More! The 24 tracks on this collection all hail from the

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Country, Pop, R&B/Soul Tags: Buddy Holly, George Jones, Jay and the Americans, Jimmy Dean, Marty Robbins, The Marvelettes, The Shirelles, Various Artists, Wanda Jackson

Review: Tennessee Ernie Ford, "Portrait of an American Singer"

September 25, 2015 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

With three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and inductions into the Country Music and Gospel Music Halls of Fame to his name, there were few heights that Ernest Jennings Ford - a.k.a. Tennessee Ernie Ford - didn't scale.  A mainstay of radio and television, Ford's decades-long association with Capitol Records yielded a rich catalogue filled with country, proto rock-and-roll boogie-woogie, western swing, pop and folk ballads, gospel, novelty records, blues and

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Categories: Reviews Formats: Box Sets, CD Genre: Country, Pop Tags: Tennessee Ernie Ford

Release Round-Up: Week of September 25

September 25, 2015 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

David Bowie Five Years Cover

Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up - maybe the biggest and most diverse yet of 2015! David Bowie, Five Years (Parlophone) 12 CD Box Set: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. 13 LP Box Set: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. New remasters of David Bowie (a.k.a. Space Oddity), The Man Who Sold the World, Hunky Dory and Pin Ups are collected in a new box set along with existing versions of Ziggy Stardust (in both the original and 2003 mixes), Aladdin Sane, Live Santa Monica '72, the Ziggy Stardust

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Categories: Release Round-Up Formats: Box Sets, CD, Digital Download, SACD, Vinyl Genre: Cast Recordings, Classic Rock, Country, Jazz, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul Tags: Ashford and Simpson, Billy Cobham, Bob Marley, David Bowie, Diana Krall, Don Henley, Herb Alpert, Johnny Mathis, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Loggins and Messina, Micky Dolenz, Queen, Sneakers, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Tony Bennett

Tender Words: The Anita Kerr Singers, The Mike Sammes Singers Collected On él Label

September 24, 2015 By Joe Marchese 2 Comments

Anita Kerr Tender Words

A pair of recent releases from Cherry Red's él imprint shines a well-deserved spotlight on two famed groups of background vocalists, one from each side of the Atlantic: The Anita Kerr Singers and The Mike Sammes Singers. As a major pioneer of The Nashville Sound alongside producer-guitarist Chet Atkins, Anita Kerr led her distinctive choir on records by Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, Brenda Lee, Eddy Arnold, Willie Nelson and Floyd Cramer.  The Kerr Singers' distinctive harmonies were also heard

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Country, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal Tags: Chet Atkins, The Anita Kerr Singers, The Mike Sammes Singers

Stay On These Roads: Rhino Expands a-ha Catalogue With New Deluxe Editions

September 23, 2015 By Mike Duquette 1 Comment

a ha Stay on These Roads

Following both the 30th anniversary reissue of their debut album Hunting High and Low (1985) and the release of a new record, Cast in Steel, a-ha will complete the expansion of their early catalogue in October. Expanded editions of the band's third, fourth and fifth albums, Stay on These Roads (1988), East of the Sun, West of the Moon (1990) and Memorial Beach (1993) will join the new 4CD/1DVD box set version of Hunting High and Low and an expanded Scoundrel Days (1986), released alongside a

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Pop Tags: a-ha

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