R&amp;B/Soul

Formats:

Genres:

CCM, Cast Recordings, Classic Rock, Country, Disco/Dance, Everything Else, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock, Soundtracks

Working Day and Night: Michael Jackson Biopic Yields New Compilation

March 16, 2026 by Joe Marchese | 6 Comments

Friday, April 24 sees the release in theatres everywhere of Michael, director Antoine Fuqua’s biopic-slash-celebration of the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Epic Records and Legacy Recordings are marking the occasion with the release the same day of Michael: Songs from the Motion Picture, a straightforward, 13-song soundtrack drawing on the period between The Jackson 5’s Motown debut and Jackson’s triumphant Bad (1987). Filling the superstar’s shoes is his nephew (and son of brother Jermaine) Jaafar Jackson, who reportedly will do some of his own singing in the film. Despite that,…

Categories:

Michael Jackson, The Jackson 5, The Jacksons

Formats:

CD, Cassette, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl

Genres:

Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock, Soundtracks

Tags:

Release Round-Up: Week of March 13

March 13, 2026 by The Second Disc | 6 Comments

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. Leon Russell with Mary Russell, The Paradise Years 1976-1981 (Cherry Red/Lemon/Second Disc) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Cherry Red) Second Disc Records teams with Cherry Red’s Lemon Recordings imprint to release the first-ever collection of Leon Russell’s recordings for the Warner-distributed Paradise Records label. The Paradise Years 1976-1981 presents, on four CDs, six full albums plus seven bonus tracks, all of which are new to CD. These encompass the non-LP B-side…

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Formats:

Blu-Ray, Books, Box Sets, CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl

Genres:

Classic Rock, Country, Jazz, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul, Rock

Tags:

Kim Wilde, Leon Russell, Liza Minnelli, Mary Russell, Miles Davis, Peter Gabriel, Rush

OUT TOMORROW! TSD, Cherry Red Collect Leon Russell’s Paradise Recordings on New Box Set

March 12, 2026 by The Second Disc | 2 Comments

‘Wedding Album’ was a gloriously upbeat slab of Southern soul where [Leon & Mary Russell’s] voices blended seamlessly…His own ‘Americana’ (1978) was partly co-written with Kim Fowley, swung with the aid of Chicago’s brass section; dismissed at the time, it’s aged nobly. At the very moment Mary’s self-produced, Leon-arranged ‘Heart of Fire’ undeservedly slipped by unnoticed, his ‘Life and Love’ (1979) added electronic drums and introspective songwriting…[Leon & New Grass Revival’s] accurately-titled, covers-heavy ‘The Live Album’ (1981) concluded Paradise with startling verve. Four stars. – MOJO, April 2026 A great collection of…

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Formats:

Leon Russell, Mary Russell

Genres:

Classic Rock, Country, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock

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The Weekend Stream: March 7, 2026

March 7, 2026 by Mike Duquette | 1 Comment

Welcome back to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc’s review of notable catalogue titles making digital debuts, plus new works from legacy acts and even some personally curated favorites. There’s new and old works from three of the best British white guys to ever do it, plus a boatload of Hugh Masekela treasures, a legendary punk session and plenty of exciting ’70s country nuggets. Sting, Mercury Falling (Expanded Edition) (A&M/UMe) (Apple / Amazon) For the 30th anniversary of Sting’s fifth studio album – a quirkier affair than previous, with tracks…

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Formats:

Genres:

Classic Rock, Country, Electronic, Everything Else, Jazz, Latin, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul, Rock

Tags:

Allan Rich, Blue Mitchell, Cy Coleman, Denny Davis & The Nashville Brass, Dickey Lee, Floyd Cramer, Fugazi, Godsmack, Hugh Masekela, Keith David, Peter Gabriel, Ringo Starr, Steve Albini, Sting, T Bone Burnett, The Choice Four, Willie Colon

Release Round-Up: Week of March 6

March 6, 2026 by The Second Disc | 11 Comments

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. Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, The Ultimate Collection (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada/ Real Gone Music) Real Gone delivers the definitive tribute to Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme with this 4-CD box set. Previously available only as a Public Television pledge incentive, The Ultimate Collection has been curated by David Lawrence and is thematically arranged by disc. It features highlights from Steve and Eydie’s…

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Formats:

Box Sets, CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl

Genres:

Classic Rock, Country, Folk, Jazz, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul, Rock

Tags:

Barbara Lewis, Ernie Hines, Ike and Tina Turner, John Pizzarelli, Klaus Nomi, Morrissey, Obituary, Peter Gabriel, Rainbow, Ritchie Blackmore, Squeeze, Static-X, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Talking Heads, The Donnas, The Staple Singers, The Tony Rice Unit, Wilson Pickett

Tell Me Something Good: Ace’s Songwriter Series Honors a Legend on ‘Black America Sings Stevie Wonder’

March 4, 2026 by The Second Disc | 3 Comments

Ace’s Songwriter Series and Black America Sings compilations always promise a good time, but their latest may have outdone them all: a hits and rarities packed tribute to the songs, sound and style of Stevie Wonder. Black America Sings Stevie Wonder, available March 27, collects 20 compositions by the Motown legend from across the pop and soul diaspora. From familiar tracks in less familiar versions to songs he gave others both on and off the label he was part of for more than half a century, there’s quite a bit to appreciate here,…

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Genres:

Pop, R&B/Soul

The Weekend Stream: February 28, 2026

February 28, 2026 by The Second Disc | 6 Comments

Welcome back to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc’s review of notable catalogue titles making digital debuts, plus new works from legacy acts and even some personally curated favorites. Nine Inch Nails returns to The Grid, plus a trio of soundtracks from an electronica icon, rarities from The New Christy Minstrels, Wynn Stewart, Vince Guaraldi and others, plus some tributes to artists we’ve lost and a TSD-related onstage production you don’t want to miss! Nine Inch Nails, TRON Ares: Divergence (The Null Corporation/Walt Disney Records/Interscope) (Apple / Amazon) A complete surprise…

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Genres:

Classic Rock, Country, Disco/Dance, Electronic, Funk, Jazz, Latin, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul, Rock, Soundtracks

“Once In a Lifetime: A Sammy Davis, Jr. Centennial Celebration” Returns to 54 Below

February 23, 2026 by The Second Disc | 1 Comment

He was an American original…He was one of the last great exponents of a disappearing art. He told me once, ‘The world doesn’t owe me anything, because I did it myself.’ – Tony Bennett [Sammy] literally could do everything and he just looked so good…I could only tap. – Gregory Hines I wish the world could have known Sam as I did. Sam never gave less than 100% when he was on stage, and he gave even more to those of us lucky enough to call him friend…It was a generous God who gave…

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Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul

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Sammy Davis Jr.

The Weekend Stream: February 14, 2026

February 14, 2026 by Mike Duquette | 1 Comment

Welcome back to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc’s review of notable catalogue titles (and some new ones, too!) making digital debuts. New remixes from James Brown and Tears for Fears, uncovered rarities from Peggy Lee, new songs from MUNA and Bleachers and a whole lotta Ween will keep you busy for the rest of the day! MUNA, “Dancing on the Wall” (Saddest Factory) (Apple / Amazon) One of pop’s best current bands is back for more! Queer-friendly trio MUNA have built a considerable fan base through catchy, electronics-and-guitar-driven albums –…

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Formats:

Genres:

Country, Disco/Dance, Electronic, Jazz, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul, Rock

Tags:

3 Doors Down, Bleachers, Cake, James Brown, Jim Reeves, MUNA, Miles Davis, Peggy Lee, Sananda Maitreya, Slave, Tears for Fears, Ween

Jive Talkin’: Bee Gees’ Extended Dance Mixes Reissued on New Box Set

February 12, 2026 by The Second Disc | 17 Comments

This morning, Universal unveiled a limited edition 4LP box set rounding up fourteen extended dance versions of Bee Gees classics. You Should Be Dancing: The 12″ Collection is available for pre-order now exclusively through the Bee Gees’ and Universal Music’s online storefront and is limited to 1,000 units only. It will ship on or around February 27. Alas, much like the last time the group’s extended mixes were reissued (2015’s Extended EP, on Rhino), this collection will be unavailable on compact disc. You Should Be Dancing features the original Disco Mixes of…

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Formats:

Box Sets, Vinyl

Genres:

Disco/Dance, Pop, R&B/Soul

Tags:

Bee Gees

NOW WITH LINKS! TSD, Cherry Red Collect Leon Russell’s Paradise Recordings on New Box Set

February 11, 2026 by The Second Disc | 5 Comments

By 1976, Leon Russell was already an industry veteran. The onetime Wrecking Crew pianist had already written and arranged hit singles for Gary Lewis and The Playboys, launched two record labels (Viva and Shelter), built his own recording studios, joined Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, served as the bandleader of Joe Cocker’s storied Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour, recorded his own hit albums, and written or co-written such instant American standards as “A Song for You,” “Superstar,” and “This Masquerade.” Tension with co-founder Denny Cordell led Russell to depart Shelter Records in…

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Formats:

Leon Russell, Mary Russell

Genres:

Classic Rock, Country, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock

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Landslide: Craft Recordings’ RSD Slate Features Fleetwood Mac Tribute, Miles Davis, Violent Femmes, More

February 10, 2026 by The Second Disc | 1 Comment

The Record Store Day rollout continues with a slate of titles arriving from Craft Recordings. The label’s nine offerings range from jazz (Abbey Lincoln, Miles Davis) to rock (Just Tell Me That You Want Me: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac, Violent Femmes) and soul (Stax: Killer B’s). All of these titles are due at brick-and-mortar independent stores on Saturday, April 18. Head over to RecordStoreDay.com for the complete list of participating stores in the U.S. and RecordStoreDay.co.uk if you’re in the U.K., and below you’ll find details for all of Craft’s releases! We’ve included the label’s…

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Formats:

Vinyl

Genres:

Jazz, Latin, R&B/Soul, Rock

Tags:

Abbey Lincoln, Fleetwood Mac, Markolino Dimond, Mayday Parade, Miles Davis, Record Store Day, The Tears, Various Artists, Violent Femmes

In Memoriam: LaMonte McLemore (1935-2026)

February 6, 2026 by Joe Marchese | 5 Comments

In an interview late last year with TSD, Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis, Jr., and Florence LaRue shared memories of their lifelong friend and co-founder of The 5th Dimension, LaMonte McLemore (1935-2026). “He loved music and he was a very accomplished photographer,” remembered Marilyn. “He knew Berry Gordy and did very well with his photography in Jet Magazine. If you ever look up Jet’s Beauty of the Week, he was always featuring the young black girls in Los Angeles. His work was good and Motown used him for some of their photography. LaMonte…

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LaMonte McLemore, The 5th Dimension

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Genres:

Pop, R&B/Soul

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Release Round-Up: Week of February 6

February 6, 2026 by The Second Disc | 1 Comment

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. Roberta Flack, With Her Songs: The Atlantic Albums 1969-1978 (Atlantic/Rhino, 2026) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Roberta Flack’s With Her Songs: The Atlantic Albums 1969-1978 brings together the late artist’s first eight studio albums in one compact 8CD package. Albums include First Take, Chapter Two, Quiet Fire, Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, Killing Me Softly, Feel Like Makin’ Love, Blue Lights in the Basement, and Roberta Flack. No bonus material is featured, but Discs 4-8 are newly remastered for this collection. …

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Formats:

Blu-Ray Audio, Box Sets, CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl

Genres:

Cast Recordings, Classic Rock, Funk, Jazz, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock, Soundtracks

Tags:

Bayete, Clifton Chenier, Jimmy Lewis, Leon Ware, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, NRBQ, Olu Dara, Roberta Flack, Sananda Maitreya, The Blasters, The Emotions, The Temprees, Yes

Let Him Run Wild: Rhino’s Record Store Day Slate Includes Brian Wilson, David Bowie, The Doors, Talking Heads, Black Sabbath, Joni Mitchell, More

February 4, 2026 by Joe Marchese | 8 Comments

Today’s the day! The Record Store Day list is here, ramping up anticipation for the annual event which takes place at brick-and-mortar stores on Saturday, April 18. As expected, Rhino is leading the RSD pack with a whopping slate of over 50 titles scheduled to arrive in independent shops everywhere. The label has brought out many of its heaviest hitters, including David Bowie, The Doors, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Grateful Dead, Rod Stewart, Talking Heads, and Brian Wilson, among others. Head over to RecordStoreDay.com for the complete list of participating stores (and…

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Formats:

Box Sets, Vinyl

Genres:

Classic Rock, Country, Disco/Dance, Folk, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock

The Weekend Stream: January 31, 2026

January 31, 2026 by The Second Disc | 11 Comments

Welcome back to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc’s review of notable catalogue titles (and some new ones, too!) making digital debuts. Looks like some well-known songwriters on each side of the Atlantic have something to say about current events; plus, unearthed tracks and reissues from The Cure, Sia and more. Bruce Springsteen, “Streets of Minneapolis” (Columbia) (Apple / Amazon) If you weren’t happy about TSD saying anything about ICE’s presence in Minneapolis in last Saturday’s column, you’re probably not going to like this. Hopefully one little angry protest song…

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Formats:

CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl

Genres:

Classic Rock, Country, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul, Rock

Tags:

Billy Bragg, Bruce Springsteen, Bryan Loren, Catherine O'Hara, Dion and the Belmonts, Judy Rodman, Karla Bonoff, Melissa Errico, Paul Weller, Sananda Maitreya, Sia, Sly & Robbie, The Cure, The Style Council

Release Round-Up: Week of January 30

January 30, 2026 by The Second Disc | 4 Comments

Welcome to our final Release Round-Up of January, with a selection of the new titles available today. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. The Monkees, The A’s, The B’s, and The Monkees (Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) The A’s, The B’s and The Monkees, at long last, brings together on 2 CDs all of the band’s commercial singles originally released between 1966 and 1970, from “Last Train to Clarksville” b/w “Take a Giant Step” through “Oh My My” b/w “I Love You Better.” It’s arranged with its 15 A-sides on…

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Formats:

Box Sets, CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl

Genres:

Classic Rock, Disco/Dance, Folk, Gospel, Jazz, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock, Soundtracks

Tags:

Beastie Boys, Blondie, Bob Dylan, Cream, Donna Summer, Freddie and The Dreamers, Howard Jones, Linda Ronstadt, Miles Davis, Patti Smith, Ramones, Sonic Youth, Talking Heads, Television, The Monkees

Highway of Diamonds: Black America Sings Bob Dylan

January 29, 2026 by Mike Duquette

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Bob Dylan’s impressive songbook is celebrated as part of Ace’s Black America Sings series for the second time (after 2010’s How Many Roads compilation). This set offers 20 takes on favorites from across the folk songwriter and Nobel Prize winner’s mighty catalogue as sung by such luminaries as The Staple Singers, Billy Preston, Natalie Cole, Harry Belafonte, Nina Simone, Solomon Burke, Merry Clayton and others, augmented by liner notes by Tony Rounce.

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Formats:

CD, Vinyl

Genres:

Folk, Gospel, R&B/Soul

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In the Mood for You: Ace’s ‘Highway of Diamonds’ Collects Black Voices Taking on Bob Dylan

January 29, 2026 by Mike Duquette | 4 Comments

Ace Records’ ongoing Black America Sings series gets a second helping of classic tunes by Bob Dylan on a new compilation available this week. Highway of Diamonds: Black America Sings Bob Dylan, available January 30 in Ace’s native U.K. (and a week later in America), offers 20 compositions from the Nobel Prize-winning songwriter recast for soul, blues and gospel acts including The Staple Singers, Nina Simone, Harry Belafonte, Billy Preston, Natalie Cole, Solomon Burke, Merry Clayton, Sarah Vaughan, Aaron Neville and more. The collection, available on CD or two LPs, includes informative song/track…

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Formats:

CD, Vinyl

Genres:

Folk, Gospel, R&B/Soul

Tags:

Aaron Neville, Bettye LaVette, Billy Preston, Bob Dylan, Cassandra Wilson, Harry Belafonte, Jimmy Scott, Merry Clayton, Natalie Cole, Nina Simone, Odetta, Sarah Vaughan, Solomon Burke, The Staple Singers

The Weekend Stream: January 17, 2025

January 17, 2026 by The Second Disc | 1 Comment

Welcome back to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc’s review of notable catalogue titles (and some new ones, too!) making digital debuts. New music from country and soul icons and a reissue of a big pop album for its 25th anniversary kick things off, plus some appealing odds and ends from other corners of the music world. Al Green, To Love Somebody (Fat Possum) (Apple / Amazon) The Hi Priest of Memphis soul issues his first bundle of tracks since 2008’s full-length Lay It Down, all of which are covers and…

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Formats:

Genres:

Cast Recordings, Country, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock

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Al Green, Dolly Parton, Ghost, Gloria Onitiri, Jennifer Lopez, Jim Reeves, Lainey Wilson, Miley Cyrus, Nick Miller, Queen Latifah

With Her Songs: The Atlantic Albums 1969-1978

January 16, 2026 by Joe Marchese

Roberta Flack’s With Her Songs: The Atlantic Albums 1969-1978 brings together the late artist’s first eight studio albums in one compact 8CD package. Albums include First Take, Chapter Two, Quiet Fire, Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, Killing Me Softly, Feel Like Makin’ Love, Blue Lights in the Basement, and Roberta Flack. No bonus material is featured. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Formats:

Genres:

R&B/Soul

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Release Round-Up: Week of January 16

January 16, 2026 by The Second Disc | No Comments

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. Various Artists, NOW Yearbook: Vault ’82 (NOW Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) The U.K.’s NOW line continues with another Vault installment spotlight hits of 1982 including The Who’s “Athena,” Elton John’s “Empty Garden,” Neil Diamond’s “Heartlight,” Billy Joel’s “Allentown,” Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City,” and much more from a cross-section of artists and genres. Out today in the U.K.; available next Friday in North America….

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Formats:

CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl

Genres:

Cast Recordings, Classic Rock, Jazz, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul, Rock

Tags:

Andrew Lloyd Webber, Gene Pitney, Miyosh, Rachel Zegler, Richard Marx, Rick Nelson, Rod Stewart, The Crystals, The James Hunter Six, Tim Rice, Van Morrison, Various Artists

Where Is The Love: Rhino Collects Roberta Flack’s First Eight Studio Albums in New Box

January 14, 2026 by Joe Marchese | 8 Comments

On February 10, Roberta Flack would have celebrated her 90th birthday. Though Flack passed away in February 2025, the occasion is being marked with a new box set from Rhino. With Her Songs: The Atlantic Albums 1969-1978 brings together the late artist’s first eight studio albums in one compact package. The 8CD set is due on February 6. With Her Songs kicks off with 1969’s First Take. Upon its expanded release in 2020 – still the only time an album of Flack’s has received a physical expanded edition – TSD wrote, “Recorded…

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