Today, Gloria Hunniford is best known throughout the U.K. as a television presenter for both the BBC and ITV, including as a panelist on Loose Women (Britain's equivalent to The View). But the Northern Ireland-born broadcaster and reporter began her career as a singer, first performing publicly as a child and later hosting her own radio show in Canada, on which she sang Irish songs. Hunniford, once dubbed "Ireland's Queen of Song," has returned to music with frequency - from sharing bills with
The Weekend Stream: February 1, 2025
Welcome to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc's review of notable catalogue titles (and some new ones, too!) making digital debuts! A new charity cover from Def Leppard, reissues of classic albums by Simple Minds and Sheena Easton, and a mess of vintage jazz is on the menu today - plus a heads-up for a forthcoming way to help the ongoing California wildfire relief effort. Def Leppard, Stand by Me (Bludgeon Riffola/Mercury/UMe) (iTunes / Amazon) While also a single
Release Round-Up: Week of January 31
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Dwight Twilley, Scuba Divers: Blueprint Edition (Iconoclassic) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) The road to Dwight Twilley's second album, 1982's Scuba Divers, was a long one. Now, Iconoclassic Records is expanding that 10-track album with a whopping 15 bonus tracks (11 of which are previously unreleased) chronicling
In Memoriam: Marianne Faithfull (1946-2025)
It was clear from the start that Marianne Faithfull was no ordinary artist. The chanteuse, who died today at the age of 78, established her long and remarkable career on a dual track. Following the success of her singles "As Tears Go By" and "Come and Stay with Me" (gifted to Marianne by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards and Jackie DeShannon, respectively), Decca wanted her to record a pop album. Marianne wanted to record a folk album. The result was that not one, but two, LPs were released in
Going Back Again: Rhino Boxes Fleetwood Mac's Classic Quintet Albums
Today in "sure, why not": Rhino will release a box set of Fleetwood Mac's classic albums as a quintet. 1975 to 1987, available March 28, is exactly what it states: a box set of Fleetwood Mac (1975), Rumours (1977), Tusk (1979), Mirage (1982) and Tango in the Night (1987) - available as a 5CD set or a 6LP crystal-clear vinyl box. (D2C orders from Rhino will add an additional reissue of a promotional 12" on crystal clear vinyl, offering stereo and mono versions of Rumours-era non-album cut
Tell 'Em Your Name: Goo Goo Dolls' Breakthrough Gets 30th Anniversary Expansion
A new deluxe edition of the Goo Goo Dolls' breakthrough album takes fans back to a time when the world got to know their name. The Buffalo, NY-born group will expand 1995's A Boy Named Goo as a 2CD and 2LP set, due for release on March 14. In addition to the alt-rock classic, featuring "Name," "Long Way Down," "Naked" and others, both sets will include a previously unreleased disc of performances taped at The Aladdin in Las Vegas in the spring of 1996, featuring nine tracks from the album and
Release Round-Up: Week of January 24
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today! As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Badfinger, Head First: 50th Anniversary Edition (Y&T) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Head First, originally intended to be Badfinger's eighth album and third for Warner Bros. Records, was recorded in 1974 but shelved until 2000. That release presented a rough mix by Apple Studios engineer Phil McDonald; now, 25
Takin' on a New Direction: Tina Turner's 'Private Dancer' Set for 40th Anniversary Box Set
The album that unquestionably coronated Tina Turner as the Queen of Rock and Roll will be celebrated with a new deluxe box set this spring: 1984's blockbuster Private Dancer. Available March 21, the album - featuring the hits "What's Love Got to Do with It," "Better Be Good to Me," the scintillating title track and more - will be reissued as a 5CD/Blu-ray deluxe box packed with rare B-sides, remixes, additional studio material from the Private Dancer era (including the unreleased "Hot for You
Life's What They Made It: Slightly Expanded Talk Talk Compilation Gets CD, Vinyl Release
Nearly two decades after its original release, a compilation from U.K. band Talk Talk will be dusted off and reconfigured for reissue. 1997's The Very Best of Talk Talk was, at the time, a pretty standard affair - a postmortem of the band's evolution from New Romantic hitmakers to ambitious art-rock ensemble, six years after the band took their final bow. Modestly promoted, it missed the U.K. Top 40 but still was a gold seller in England. Now, it's being reissued on CD and, for the first
Song Called Love: Omnivore Readies "The Beckies Story" For February Release
The Beckies are back! Following Omnivore Recordings' 2022 expansion of The Left Banke's Strangers on a Train, the label is exploring another chapter of the Michael Brown story with the February 28 release of Good to Know: The Beckies Story on 2 CDs. Michael Brown (also known for his work with Montage and "Brother Louie" band Stories) was known for fusing baroque and classical sounds with rock and roll, but The Beckies emphasized the latter. The band was anchored by Brown and vocalist Scott
The Weekend Stream: January 18, 2025
Welcome to The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc's review of notable catalogue titles (and some new ones, too!) making digital debuts! This week, we're heavy on the classic rock plus a vintage soundtrack, a dash of modern classical, and more! Fleetwood Mac, Live from the Record Plant (December 15, 1974) (Rhino) (iTunes / Amazon) Coinciding with its standalone vinyl debut as part of Rhino's Start Your Ear Off Right, this vintage pre-Buckingham/Nicks Fleetwood Mac concert hit digital
Release Round-Up: Week of January 17
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today! As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Vince Guaraldi, Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording (Lee Mendelson Productions) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) The Lee Mendelson family continues its series of debut releases from the Peanuts animation library with this premiere audio release of the score for 1975's Be My Valentine, Charlie
Ain't Nobody: Rufus' Final Albums Reissued in New Robinsongs Set
A forthcoming two-for-one set from Robinsongs will chronicle the last works of funk legends Rufus - including their powerful final bow with singer Chaka Khan. The label will release the 1983 studio album Seal in Red and live/studio hybrid Stompin' At The Savoy - Live as a 2CD set on March 14. The set will feature new liner notes by Lois Wilson of MOJO as well as three bonus tracks, including single versions of "Take It to the Top" and the smash hit "Ain't Nobody," as well as a rare remix of the
Dead or Alive's 'Youthquake' Spins Around Into New Deluxe Edition
This winter, Edsel will continue its long association with the Dead or Alive catalogue with a new deluxe edition of the band's 1985 breakthrough Youthquake, to be reissued February 21 for its 40th anniversary. The 4CD set (in double gatefold packaging with an O-ring joining the two) collects a new remaster of the album, 18 remixes (including a whole disc devoted to period and latter-day versions of hit single "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" and a live set taken from two nights at London's
Love Changes (Everything): Cherry Pop Expands Climie Fisher Discography
Two reissues by Cherry Red, separated by nearly a year, collect the brief but intriguing discography of late-'80s U.K. duo Climie Fisher - including a raft of rare and unreleased bonus material totaling seven discs between them. The wait is finally over for fans of the group when Climie Fisher's 1987 debut Everything gets a major expansion from the Cherry Pop imprint on March 21. The set features the remastered album and a whopping 51 bonus tracks: versions and remixes of singles "Love
A "Souvenir" from Sony Music Japan: An Expansion of Billy Joel's 'Streetlife Serenade'
Here's a belated 50th anniversary present for Billy Joel fans: a new, Japan-exclusive collector's edition of his third studio album, 1974's Streetlife Serenade. Available February 19, this lavish deluxe version - which follows a similar package for its predecessor Piano Man last year - includes many similar extras. The 7" cardboard packaging includes lyrics and liner notes in English and Japanese (including a CD-sized replica of the original booklet that came with the Japanese LP), replicas
The Weekend Stream: January 11, 2025
Welcome to 2025's first edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc's review of notable catalogue titles (and some new ones, too!) making digital debuts! We're catching up on some of our favorite artists adding albums to stream and download, plus country soul and remixes aplenty - as well as a list of resources to help our friends and family in the music business affected by the California wildfires. The Damnwells, One Last Century / No One Listens to the Band Anymore (Poor
Release Round-Up: Week of January 10
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles in stores today. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Rosanne Cash, The Essential Rosanne Cash (Rumble Strip) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) After a website-exclusive release, The Essential Rosanne Cash hits retail today. This newly-curated set brings together 40 of Cash's most treasured recordings - half from her tenure on Columbia Records and the other from mostly
Just Like Paradise: David Lee Roth's Solo Works Remastered for New Box Set
Diamond Dave's got a whole new shine, thanks to a forthcoming box set from Rhino. David Lee Roth's The Warner Recordings 1985-1994, coming February 21, will include the four LPs (and one EP) the iconoclastic singer released outside of his concluding tenure as the vocalist for Van Halen. All of the albums have been newly remastered, and will be available at general retailers as a 5CD set. (Rhino's official store will exclusively carry a vinyl version.) Roth's solo career began four decades ago
Hold On to What We've Got: Bon Jovi Expands 'Slippery When Wet'
After celebrating their debut album with a deluxe edition last year, Bon Jovi will offer similar treatment to their biggest album: 1986's Slippery When Wet. The New Jersey rockers' third LP will be reissued February 28 in a variety of formats including a 2CD expansion with seven bonus tracks (nearly all of which are previously unreleased) as well as a picture disc, cassette and - novelty alert! - a clear vinyl pressing filled with liquid. Everything aside from the 2CD is limited in quantities
In Memoriam: Peter Yarrow (1938-2025)
When Bob Dylan famously took the stage at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival and "plugged in" - an event dramatized at the climax of the Golden Globe-nominated film A Complete Unknown - the friendly face serving as emcee tried mightily to calm the fiercely divided crowd. Though his screen time in director James Mangold's film is minimal, Nick Pupo makes an impression as that beleaguered host: one Peter Yarrow, of Peter, Paul, and Mary. The folk trio was part of the same managerial stable as Dylan
Rhino's 2025 Start Your Ear Off Right Campaign Features Fleetwood Mac, Ramones, Rush, More
We've already filled you in on details of Rhino's upcoming live release from WAR, but that's not all coming from the label. Rhino's annual Start Your Ear Off Right vinyl campaign has already commenced at independent retailers and select Barnes and Noble locations. This year's slate encompasses releases from Dream Theater, Ramones, Fleetwood Mac, ZZ Top, Grateful Dead, Rush, and others. Below, you'll find the complete list of SYEOR titles due this month, including those which arrived last
The Weekend Stream: December 21, 2024 - and a Merry Discmas to All!
Welcome to 2024's final edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc's review of notable catalogue titles (and some new ones, too!) making digital debuts! With no Release Round-Up this Friday and a few weeks of peace and quite from (and for!) us until 2025, we've got a few more treats for you under the tree from Wham!, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Miles Davis, Archie Bell & The Drells and so much more! Wham!, Last Christmas (Epic/Legacy/Sony Music U.K.) (iTunes / Amazon) For
Holiday Gift Guide Review: Joni Mitchell, "Archives: Volume Four (1976-1980)" and "The Asylum Albums (1976-1980)"
Earlier this year, Joni Mitchell brought her now-famous Joni Jam shows to the Hollywood Bowl for two sold-out evenings. A little more than 45 years ago, Mitchell closed out her North American tour with a series of shows some fifteen minutes away from the Bowl at the Greek Theatre; a selection from that concert closes the fourth volume of the Joni Mitchell Archives series of box sets. The Bowl shows proved another triumph for the artist who's now widely recognized for the innovations that
Holiday Gift Guide Review: 'Dearly Beloved: A Prince Celebration'
The holidays are a time of good cheer and gratitude, where we all (in theory) come together to share in a common joy. There has not been a lot of common joy if you're a Prince fan; we don't need to re-litigate it more than we did this summer, but it's worth noting that the quest to make intriguing, posthumous Prince projects under the current estate organization has maybe gotten worse than when we published our editorial. But there have been celebrations of The Purple One that honor his