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
OUT TOMORROW! Dionne Warwick's Warner Bros. Recordings Collected on SoulMusic's "Sure Thing" Box
Between 1962 and 1971, Dionne Warwick put New York's Scepter Records on the map with over fifteen original albums and forty chart hits, more than twenty of which reached the top 40. Seven hit the top ten. Dionne earned her first two Grammy Awards during this period for "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" and "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" - just two of the timeless songs of Burt Bacharach and Hal David which she brought to stunning life. (Those hits can soon be heard on an upcoming collection,
(Don't) Walk on By: Real Gone Collects Dionne Warwick's "Complete Scepter Singles"
From the moment she burst onto the music scene in 1962 exhorting "Don't Make Me Over," Dionne Warwick has been a musical force with which to be reckoned. The legendary singer blended elegant pop and deeply felt soul in a fashion which remains unrivaled today for its sophistication and polish; her signature songs such as "Walk On By," "I Say a Little Prayer," "Alfie," and "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" have all become cornerstones of the new American songbook. Those songs were all co-written
Holy Mackerel! Hanky Panky Collects Early Paul Williams on Two New LPs
He might have been born a someday man, but Paul Williams has proven himself to be a forever artist. A modern-day renaissance man, the Nebraska native tried his luck as an actor, a songwriter, and a singer from his earliest days in Los Angeles. A brief three-month stint peddling his tunes at The Turtles' home of White Whale Records ended in disappointment when Williams was shown the door. But he didn't have to wait long for a new opportunity. A friend played his songs for Herb Alpert and
The Weekend Stream: February 11, 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 sees digital expansions from Jan Berry, Brian McKnight and Weezer; new songs from The Guess Who and a member of Jellyfish - plus a great way to provide aid in the face of the week's biggest natural disaster. Brian McKnight, Anytime (Deluxe Edition) (Motown/UMe) (iTunes / Amazon) Soulful
A New Testament: Whitney Houston Gospel Collection Announced
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
Release Round-Up: Week of February 10
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles in stores today! The Rolling Stones, GRRR! Live (Mercury Studios) 3LP black vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 3LP red vinyl: uDiscoverMusic.com / Rolling Stones Store 3LP white vinyl: Barnes & Noble 2CD/Blu-ray: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2CD/DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Mercury Studios commemorates a
In Memoriam: Burt Bacharach (1928-2023)
"I have a bridge to write." Summer 2021: I had gently clasped Burt Bacharach's hands as I thanked him - not for the first time, but for the last - for composing the melodies which had long enriched my heart. He politely accepted the compliment, his voice barely above a whisper, and quickly excused himself, disappearing into the California sunset. The reason for his exit was simple: there was more music to write. It was announced this morning that Burt passed away at the age of 94. At the
Goodness Gracious Me: Cherry Red Collects Early George Martin Productions on "A Painter in Sound"
Late producer Sir George Martin is described as A Painter in Sound on Cherry Red/El's new collection of his Pre-Beatles Productions and Classical Influences. While Martin has been anthologized in the past, most notably on the unparalleled 6-CD set Produced by George Martin in 2001, there's always room for another one - in this case, an eclectic 4-CD journey that's largely far-removed from the rock which made Martin famous. The title of the set is derived from a Martin quote repeated in its
She's a Rebel: Liberation Hall Brings Darlene Love's "Live 1982" to CD, DVD
When "He's a Rebel" skyrocketed to No. 1 in November 1962, America fell in love with the voice of Darlene Wright...but her name was nowhere to be found on the 45 which was instead credited to The Crystals. Ironically, it displaced Bobby "Boris" Pickett's "Monster Mash" from the top spot; Darlene and her group, The Blossoms, had provided the background vocals for that record, too. A second "Crystals" smash followed for Darlene, "He's Sure the Boy I Love," and she joined The Blossoms' Fanita
The Weekend Stream: February 4, 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 sees digital reissues of Raw Power, The Chronic, rare Motown, unreleased music from a Cash family member and more. The Stooges, Raw Power (50th Anniversary Legacy Edition) (Columbia/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon) Look out honey, 'cause he's using technology! The Stooges' seminal proto-punk
For The First Time: Real Gone's February Slate Includes Grateful Dead, Soul Searchers, Harem Scarem, and "One Fine Day" Soundtrack
Real Gone's line-up for February features music from the 1970s and 1990s, representing genres from funk to classic rock. Available today are vinyl reissues for The Soul Searchers' second album, Salt of the Earth, the One Fine Day soundtrack, and a CD reissue of Grateful Dead's Road Trips Vol.1 No.1: Fall '79. Coming out in two weeks, on February 17, is a vinyl reissue of the debut album from Canadian band Harem Scarem. Washington, D.C.-based group The Soul Searchers formed in the early
OUT TOMORROW! Iconoclassic Reissues Carole Bayer Sager's Star-Studded "Sometimes Late at Night," Featuring Burt Bacharach, Michael Jackson, Neil Diamond, More
Carole Bayer Sager was still a student at New York's High School of Music and Art when her song "A Groovy Kind of Love," co-written with Toni Wine, topped the U.S. Cash Box and Record World charts and reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966. Though some at the time thought it wouldn't last due to its prescient use of the word "groovy," Sager and Wine's youthful tune more than proved its endurance. 22 years later, Phil Collins took it to No. 1 Pop and AC in the U.S. - not to mention No.
Get Back to the Woods: Elton John's 'Honky Château' Gets New Deluxe Edition in March
Though Elton John lavishly retired from touring with a run of shows at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles last year - part of a tour that's set box-office records - you'd be right that it wouldn't be a long, long time before we heard from him in some way, shape, or form. Indeed: now comes word that his 1972 album Honky Château will be reissued just past its 50th anniversary with a trove of rare session demos and live tracks. If Madman Across the Water - reissued and expanded last year by UMe - was
Walking on the Chinese Wall: SoulMusic Records Collects Philip Bailey's First Three Solo Pop Albums
Band break-ups can be traumatizing, no matter how they happen. Philip Bailey, whose high falsetto vocals were a key part of Earth, Wind & Fire during their most commercial years in the '70s and '80s, has frequently described the band's (temporary) dissolution, brought up during a 1983 band meeting by founder Maurice White, as one of the lower points of his career. Bailey's next moves could shape his trajectory as an artist for better or worse. Of course, what happened over the rest of the
Got It Together: "Nancy and Lee Again" Debuts on CD in March
Following last year's reissue of 1968's Nancy and Lee, Light in the Attic is continuing its Nancy Sinatra Archival Series with the first-ever reissue of Sinatra's second duets LP with Lee Hazlewood, 1972's Nancy and Lee Again. On March 24, an expanded edition of the album will be available in CD, vinyl, four- and eight-track tape, and digital formats. Nancy and Lee Again inaugurated Sinatra's brief tenure at RCA Victor which additionally encompassed the solo album Woman (hopefully also on
Release Round-Up: Week of January 27
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today. BUY NOW FROM AMAZON.COMBob Dylan, Fragments - Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996-1997): The Bootleg Series Vol. 17 (Columbia/Legacy) 5CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 10LP: Bob Dylan Store 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 4LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada The seventeenth volume of
Something's Gonna Happen: Marshall Crenshaw's Expanded Debut Coming Back to CD
After coming back into circulation last year courtesy of a new label home and a Record Store Day reissue, CD fans can rejoice at the news that Yep Roc's new expanded edition of Marshall Crenshaw's self-titled debut will get a wider release on disc on February 17. Back in September, Yep Roc announced a double LP expanded edition of Crenshaw's hook-filled debut album for Record Store Day Black Friday. In addition to the classic album, featuring the Top 40 hit "Someday, Someway" and a host of
Review: The Monkees, "Headquarters: Super Deluxe Edition"
It didn't take long for The Monkees to realize that they'd experienced a level of success far beyond their wildest dreams. Far from being mere actors on a television show portraying a band, they'd been thrust in front of capacity crowds in stadiums, arenas, and large auditoriums - a de facto band that, in reality, wasn't yet calling the shots on their own careers and music. That changed when Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, and Peter Tork demanded creative freedom from impresario Don
Stolen Secrets: Quartet Expands Harold Faltermeyer's "Thief of Hearts," Includes Melissa Manchester Songs
Hot on the heels of such releases as Ron Goodwin and Henry Mancini's scores to Frenzy and John Barry's to Mary, Queen of Scots, the Quartet Records label is turning its attention to an eighties score from a modern master. Quartet is now shipping the first-ever complete, 2-CD edition of Harold Faltermeyer's score to 1984's thriller Thief of Hearts, featuring all the cues composed by Faltermeyer for the film as well as the remastered, original Casablanca Records soundtrack album complete with
The Weekend Stream: January 14, 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, we've got more Madonna, Peggy March in German and easy-listening versions of Neil Diamond hits - plus a way you can help out a local venue! Madonna, Madame X (International Deluxe) (Boy Toy/Live Nation/Interscope) (iTunes / Amazon) As rumors of a Madonna 40th anniversary tour heat up,
King of Swing: Real Gone's January Slate Features Vinyl Reissues of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Fountains of Wayne
To kick off 2023, Real Gone Music is bringing two titles to vinyl for the first time from two bands from the 1990s: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's Americana Deluxe and Fountain of Wayne's compilation Out-of-State Plates. Both titles hit store shelves today, January 13, along with vinyl re-presses of Jack Kerouac and Steve Allen's Poetry for the Beat Generation and Kerouac's Blues and Haikus. Scotty Morris and Kurt Sodergren came together to form Big Bad Voodoo Daddy in 1989 in Ventura, California.
Deep in the Motherlode: Genesis Detail 'BBC Broadcasts' Box
Though the exhaustive archival work that accompanied Genesis' 2007 touring did not extend to the group's latest (and likely last) outing in 2021 and 2022, this year brings a new box set for fans of the prog-turned-pop/rock icons: a collection of their live material as recorded by the BBC. BBC Broadcasts, curated by founding keyboardist Tony Banks and longtime engineer Nick Davis, offers a trove of concert audio from all the major eras of Genesis from 1970 to 1998. The earliest material, taken
Four Hearts Beat As One: U2 Revisit Tracks on 'Songs of Surrender'
With 40 years, countless honors, some of the highest-grossing tours of all time, one album that irrationally annoyed a lot of people and - perhaps - less and less to prove, what is left for U2 to do? The Irish legends - fresh from Kennedy Center Honors last year, end a five-year gap between albums by revisiting their vast discography for a new project. Songs of Surrender takes its name from the speaking tour undertaken last year by frontman Bono, tied to his memoirs. While writing those, he -
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