Despite the challenges facing the music business amid the COVID-19 pandemic, there are some bright spots. On March 20, indie music service Bandcamp waived their share of revenue on all sales for 24 hours, allowing artists and labels to support themselves even more robustly. Thanks to impressive results ($4.3 million spent on music and merch, 15 times an average Friday's revenue), Bandcamp repeated the strategy not once, but thrice: the first Fridays of each month (May 1, which raised $7.1
Release Round-Up: Week of June 5
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Frank Sinatra, Nice 'n' Easy: 60th Anniversary Edition (Capitol/UMe) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada LP (Remixed Album Only): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Capitol Records, Frank Sinatra Enterprises, and UMe have a 60th anniversary edition of Frank Sinatra's classic 1960 album arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle. For the occasion, the album has been completely remixed and features three bonus tracks: the
Cash Money Records Preps Instrumental Compilation, Vinyl Due Later This Month
Last week, Cash Money Records founders (and New Orleans natives) Bryan "Birdman" and Ronald "Slim" Williams donated $225,000.00 to help the COVID-19 relief effort. Their donation was intended to help residents of the Big Easy pay their rents as they continue to cope with the devastation of the virus. Indeed, a social conscience has always been at the forefront of Cash Money's ethos; the donation was the Williams' second such contribution for coronavirus relief. Every year, they also sponsor
Let's Twist Again: The Legendary Cameo-Parkway Catalogue Is Celebrated With New Digital Collections
You just can't sit down when one of those Cameo-Parkway classics comes on the stereo. Cameo Records - launched by Kal Mann and Bernie Lowe, the team that penned the Elvis hip-shaker "Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear" - and its sister label Parkway dominated the pop charts from 1958 to 1967 with dance crazes like "The Twist" and "The Wah-Watusi" as well as hits by the likes of Bobby Rydell, The Orlons, The Dovells, Dee Dee Sharp, Don Covay, Evie Sands, and of course, Twist king Chubby Checker. Now,
Release Round-Up: Week of May 29
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Ronnie Milsap, The Best of Ronnie Milsap (Craft Recordings) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) The Best of Ronnie Milsap gathers up 12 of the artist's biggest hits from his first tenure at RCA, including "It Was Almost Like a Song," "Any Day Now," and "What a Difference You've Made in My Life." Craft's parent company, Concord Music, acquired the rights to 16 of Milsap's RCA albums from between 1977-2006 last year, and this is the first
Staple Singers Expanded Editions
Let's Do It Again: Original Soundtrack - Expanded Edition (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) - released 6/5 Pass It On: Expanded Edition (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) - released 6/5 Family Tree: Expanded Edition (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) - released 6/26 Unlock Your Mind: Expanded Edition (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) - released 6/26 Omnivore Records is reissuing and expanding four classic albums from The Staple Singers from their
Outlaw [Red Vinyl]
Real Gone reissues an album of political protest from onetime soul balladeer Eugene McDaniels ("A Hundred Pounds of Clay," "Tower of Strength," "Point of No Return"). Outlaw left no doubt as to McDaniels' association with political resistance. In fact, legend has that members of President Nixon's administration were so offended with the material that they took it up with Atlantic Records, urging the label to cease their association with McDaniels. Fifty years on, in a new period of civil
Intimate Connection [Red Vinyl]
Long a favorite of electro-funk connoisseurs, New York-based Kleeer recorded half a dozen acclaimed albums for Atlantic. One of their most enduring LPs is Intimate Connection, which Real Gone Music is reissuing on "red telephone" color vinyl. With production by famed CTI alum Eumir Deodato, the dancefloor-ready grooves found throughout the album have influenced countless musicians in the last 35 years. In fact, Tupac Shakur not only sampled the album's title track (find it on 1995's
A Hot Summer Night [Various Formats]
CD/DVD: Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada link TBD 2-LP Colored Vinyl: Amazon U.K./ Amazon Canada Driven by the Music brings this classic concert from Donna Summer to CD/DVD and LP. It was recorded on August 6, 1983 as part of Summer's Hard for the Money tour at the then-recently opened Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa, California. In front of over 18,000 fans, Summer performed material from the new album (the smash "She Works Hard for the Money," "Woman," "Unconditional Love" with Musical
State of Independence: Donna Summer Live Set Comes to CD, DVD, LP in July
Following its career-spanning Encore box set celebrating late superstar Donna Summer, Demon Music Group's Driven by the Music imprint will be bringing one of the diva's classic concerts to multiple formats. A Hot Summer Night will be issued on July 10 in both CD/DVD and 2-LP colored vinyl formats. The concert was recorded on August 6, 1983 as part of Summer's Hard for the Money tour. The She Works Hard for the Money album had just been released a couple of months earlier, in June, but Summer
Baby He's a Star: 'Prince and The Revolution: Live' Comes To Streaming and Download
The Prince Estate made quarantine a little more tolerable this week when they announced that Prince and The Revolution: Live, the 1985 concert film reissued as part of the Purple Rain deluxe package in 2017, was receiving a limited stream on YouTube, to raise money and awareness for the World Health Organization's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Though the concert will eventually disappear from the video service, the memory will live on thanks to a surprise digital-only premiere of the
Release Round-Up: Week of May 15
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Frank Sinatra, Nice 'n' Easy: 60th Anniversary Expanded Edition (Capitol/UMe) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada LP (Remixed Album Only): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Capitol Records, Frank Sinatra Enterprises, and UMe have a 60th anniversary edition of Frank Sinatra's classic 1960 album arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle. For the occasion, the album has been completely remixed and features three bonus tracks:
Go For It: Real Gone Music Set to Reissues Cult Classics From the '70s and '80s in June
Real Gone Music is winding back the clock a few decades with reissues that are sure to please crate-diggers. First, on June 12, the label will release two mid-'80s cult classics - Kleeer's Intimate Connection and the Predator soundtrack. Fiftieth anniversary reissues of Eugene McDaniels' Outlaw and Fanny's self-titled debut will follow on June 26. Long a favorite of electro-funk connoisseurs, New York-based Kleeer recorded half a dozen acclaimed albums for Atlantic. One of their most
Supertonic: Mixes
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Crystal Clear Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada For the legendary Diana Ross, it's clear that there truly ain't no mountain high enough. The superstar made chart history earlier this year when "Love Hangover 2020" reached the top position on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart - making it her fourth consecutive No. 1 remix of a song that had previously been No. 1 on the Hot 100 in its original version. Now, that record-setting
Ready or Not: Philly Soul Arrangements and Productions 1965-1978
This new anthology from Ace/Kent features 23 tracks produced and/or arranged (and/or written!) by legendary Philadelphia soul maestro Thom Bell from his earliest days at Cameo Parkway Records through the pivotal year of 1978 when he concluded work with The Spinners and returned to the Philadelphia International fold. Along the way, you'll hear songs from that group as well as The Delfonics, The Stylistics, Ronnie Dyson, New York City, Dionne Warwick, Johnny Mathis, The O'Jays, and many others.
Stone Crush on You: Light in the Attic Collects Memphis Soul from 1977-1987
Light in the Attic is at it again with another exercise vault-digging that may well be the definitive word on Memphis' soul scene of the late-'70s and '80s. Stone Crush: Memphis Modern Soul 1977-1987 is now available in an array of configurations. Each documents the modern soul scene of Bluff City's post-Stax years. Available on CD, double vinyl, or a special 2LP/7" set, Stone Crush is a labor of love from collectors/DJs Daniel Mathis and Chad Weekly that's over a decade in the
In Memoriam: Little Richard (1932-2020)
The stupid but true thing to start off with is there was nothing "little" about him. I was born in 1987, a year after Richard Penniman was officially canonized as one of rock and roll's true pioneers, inducted into the first class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. From that point through the early '90s, he got to enjoy some unlikely fruits of becoming an elder statesman that aren't typically afforded to many at this stage in their careers. In 1986, his song "Great Gosh A'Mighty," from the
Ready or Not: Ace Sets Release for Thom Bell Anthology featuring Mathis, Warwick, Spinners, Stylistics, More
After having previously celebrated two of his musical inspirations - Burt Bacharach and Teddy Randazzo - with their own volumes, Ace's Songwriters and Producers series is turning its attention to legendary soul maestro Thom Bell. On June 26, the label's Kent imprint will release Ready or Not: Philly Soul Arrangements and Productions 1965-1978. As the title indicates, all 23 tracks were either produced or arranged (or both!) by the multi-hyphenate musician-composer-producer-arranger-conductor who
Let's Do It Again: Omnivore Preps Four Remastered Staple Singers Albums For June
Today, more than 25 years after their final performance together, The Staples Singers are synonymous with gospel and soul music of the highest order. Roebuck "Pops" Staples, daughters Cleotha, Mavis, and (sometimes) Yvonne, and son Pervis raised their voices in song to celebrate the Lord, but also to crusade for civil rights and share musical messages of power and positivity around the world. In the 1960s, the group transitioned from pure gospel and blues to soul and R&B, setting the stage
Message in the Music: Craft Recordings Celebrates Legacy of Stax's Gospel Truth Records
Craft Recordings is celebrating the Gospel Truth with a new reissue campaign dedicated to that Stax Records imprint. Every week, the label drops a digital reissue of a Gospel Truth title culminating in the vinyl, CD, and digital release in September - Gospel Heritage Month - of a newly-curated singles collection. Various digital playlists and lyric videos will also be unveiled throughout the course of the series. Stax chief Al Bell launched Gospel Truth in 1972, working in close coordination
Walking in Rhythm: Robinsongs Collects Best of Donald Byrd and The Blackbyrds on "The Jazz Funk Collection"
Donald Byrd was well-versed in the art of reinvention. The trumpeter/bandleader began his career as a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers while still pursuing his master's degree at the Manhattan School of Music. Upon graduating from both institutions, Byrd played with John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk, and a host of jazz's finest leaders. By 1958, he was leading his own quintet. But in the years to come, the sound of music would shift radically. Byrd would change with it. His
I'm Coming Out: Diana Ross' "Supertonic: Mixes" Collects Chart-Topping Remixes
For the legendary Diana Ross, it's clear that there truly ain't no mountain high enough. The superstar made chart history earlier this year when "Love Hangover 2020" reached the top position on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart - making it her fourth consecutive No. 1 remix of a song that had previously been No. 1 on the Hot 100 in its original version. Now, that record-setting remix is coming to CD, clear vinyl LP, and digital formats along with Miss Ross' other three recent chart-toppers
Ske-Dat-De-Dat: The Spirit of Satch
Dr. John's final studio album, 2014's Ske-Dat-De-Dat: The Spirit of Satch, celebrated the legendary Louis Armstrong as only the Night Tripper and his friends could do. Now, it's returning from The Last Music Company in a new vinyl pressing. The album features reimaginings of classic Armstrong songs from the good Doctor and guests including Ledisi, Bonnie Raitt, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Shemekia Copeland, Arturo Sandoval The McCrary Sisters, Terence Blanchard, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and
Everybody Needs a Thrill: Tracks From Prince's 'Live At The Aladdin' Released Digitally
Nearly four years after Prince's passing, The Artist's work still lives on. Next Tuesday, on the anniversary of his passing, CBS will air a tribute concert recorded earlier this year, and Legacy Recordings' next wave of CD and vinyl reissues, covering The Rainbow Children and One Nite Alone... eras, will release next month after being delayed due to the COVID-19 situation. (Don't forget, we're also doing a live listen to Around The World In a Day this afternoon at 5 p.m. EST!) Now, ahead of
What a Wonderful World: Dr. John's "Ske-Dat-De-Dat" Tribute to Louis Armstrong Returns to Vinyl
The late Mac Rebennack, a.k.a. Dr. John, frequently drew on the classic sounds of New Orleans as he conjured his own musical voodoo. Appropriately enough, his final studio album was a tribute to one of the most significant figures to ever emerge from the Crescent City. 2014's Ske-Dat-De-Dat: The Spirit of Satch celebrated the legendary Louis Armstrong as only Dr. John and his friends could do. Now, it's returning from The Last Music Company in a new vinyl pressing on June 5, one day before the
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