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/ R&B/Soul

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

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

Real Gone "Goes Crazy" With December Releases From The Dictators, Nat King Cole, King Curtis, More

October 13, 2015 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Dictators Go Girl Crazy

Real Gone Music has just announced its December release slate, and the label is closing out 2015 with as dizzyingly eclectic a line-up as ever - from the proto-punk clamor of The Dictators to the velvet vocals of Nat "King" Cole.  Real Gone previews its December 4 offerings on Record Store Day - Black Friday, November 27, with a special 10" EP from The Dictators featuring previously unreleased tracks unavailable anywhere else!  Then, the following week comes an expanded edition of the band's The

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul, Rock Tags: Grateful Dead, Jeremy Spencer, King Curtis, Nat King Cole, The Dictators

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

Stax of Wax: Ace Mines Stax Records For New Anthology, Isaac Hayes and David Porter Reissues

October 8, 2015 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Solid Stax Sensations

Ace Records has recently celebrated the enduring legacy of Stax Records with a trio of exciting releases from some of the label's leading lights.  The Isaac Hayes Movement's 1975 Disco Connection makes its first ever CD appearance, joined by Hayes' songwriting partner David Porter's equally rare 1970 ...Into a Real Thing in a newly-expanded edition.  Ace tops it all off with Ian Levine's Solid Stax Sensations, a revelatory collection showcasing the varied sides of the Stax label family. It's

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: David Porter, Isaac Hayes, Various Artists

Singles...Driven By The Music

October 6, 2015 By

Donna Summer Driven

Complementing last year's albums box set, Driven by the Music releases a new 24-CD singles box set from the late, great Donna Summer featuring all of the singles originally released on Geffen Records and Atlantic Records from the albums 'The Wanderer', 'Donna Summer', 'Cats Without Claws', 'All Systems Go', 'Another Place and Time' and 'Mistaken Identity'.  Also included is a Bonus 4-track CD featuring remixes, which although were on the Club/DJ circuit, have not been previously available

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Formats: Box Sets, CD Genre: Disco/Dance, R&B/Soul

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

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

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: Dr. John, "The Atco/Atlantic Singles 1968-1974"

September 29, 2015 By Joe Marchese 2 Comments

Dr. John Singles

Dr. John's most famous single was titled "Right Place Wrong Time," but the one and only Mac Rebennack has certainly found himself in the right place at many a right time.  One particularly halcyon period of the funky New Orleans piano man's long career is captured on Omnivore Recordings' essential new collection of The Atco/Atlantic Singles 1968-1974 (OVCD-149). Though the 22 U.S. and U.K. singles included on this collection represent Dr. John's earliest years as a solo artist under that

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Categories: Reviews Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Allen Toussaint, Dr. John

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

More Love: High Moon Reissues, Expands Arthur Lee and Love's Rare "Reel to Real"

September 22, 2015 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Love Reel to Real

High Moon Records, the label behind the recent releases of Love's Black Beauty and Gene Clark's Two Sides to Every Story, has announced its next title.  On November 27, High Moon will reissue Love's 1974 album Reel to Real as a newly-expanded Deluxe Edition in the following formats: Expanded CD packaged in a deluxe custom digipak with a full-color, 32-page booklet; LP pressed on high-quality RTI vinyl with full-color, 28-page LP-sized booklet; LP includes download card for high-quality

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Digital Download, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, R&B/Soul Tags: Arthur Lee, Love

Tell It All: Ashford and Simpson's "Come As You Are" Continues BBR's Reissue Series

September 22, 2015 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Ashford and Simpson Come As You Are

The husband-and-wife team of Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson needs no introduction; the classic R&B and pop songbook has been shaped by the duo's compositions including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)," "Let's Go Get Stoned," "California Soul" and "Solid (As a Rock)."  Big Break Records has recently been celebrating Ashford (1941-2011) and Simpson (born 1946) in a major way - with a definitive expanded reissue

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Ashford and Simpson

Release Round-Up: Week of September 18

September 18, 2015 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Grateful Dead Definitive Live

Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up including a couple of spectacular new box sets, one acclaimed soundtrack, numerous reissues and anthologies, and the return of a few beloved artists! a-ha, Hunting High and Low: 30th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition (Warner Bros./Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) The 1985 debut from a-ha gets super-sized with Rhino's upcoming 4-CD/1-DVD edition.  Disc One has the original, remastered album, while Disc Two boasts 25 demos, Disc Three has 15

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Categories: Release Round-Up Formats: Blu-Ray, Box Sets, CD, Digital Download, DVD, Vinyl Genre: Cast Recordings, Classic Rock, Folk, Jazz, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul, Rock Tags: a-ha, Brian Wilson, Darlene Love, David Gilmour, Dr. John, Elyse Weinberg, Erroll Garner, Grateful Dead, Judy Collins, Keith Richards, Otis Redding, Patti LuPone

Uh Huh Yeah! New Release Explores The Roots of Earth, Wind & Fire

September 17, 2015 By Mike Duquette 1 Comment

Salty Peppers La La Time

A new digital album explores little-known soul trio The Salty Peppers, best known as the elements of one of the best soul bands of the 1970s: Earth, Wind & Fire. In 1969, Maurice White, the drummer in the Ramsey Lewis Trio, struck out on his own on the Chicago music scene first as a songwriter and then as the drummer in a new quartet of his own creation. With two friends, keyboardist/bassist Don Whitehead and singer Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead, White would found a trio, The Salty

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Categories: News Formats: Digital Download Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Earth Wind and Fire, The Salty Peppers

New "Casino Classics" Box Features Northern Soul From Jackie Trent, Tommy Hunt, Gloria Jones, Len Barry

September 15, 2015 By Joe Marchese 3 Comments

Casino Classics

When American soul great Tommy Hunt first approached the Wigan Casino in Wigan, England to celebrate the nightclub's second anniversary on September 27, 1975, his first reaction was decidedly mixed.  He recalled in 2013, "When I got to Wigan, I refused to go in!  It scared me because it looked so rough!  I'd been playing these fabulous clubs.  When I looked at the outside, I said to the driver, 'you must be at the wrong place.'  He said, 'Tommy, wait 'til you get inside.'  When I walked in

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Categories: News Formats: Box Sets, CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Gloria Jones, Jackie Trent, Len Barry, Reparata and the Delrons, The Ramsey Lewis Trio, Tommy Hunt, Various Artists

The Magic of Christmas

September 14, 2015 By

Soulful Strings Christmas

The Soulful Strings (members of the Chess/Cadet label house band, including flautist Lennie Druss, guitarist Phil Upchurch, bassist/cellist Cleveland Eaton and harpist Dorothy Ashby) made seven albums, but the most beloved may well be 1968's The Magic of Christmas.  The group's highest-charting record (#35), it has never appeared on CD until now!  Gene Sculatti provides the liner notes for this R&B-infused holiday classic.

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Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul

Come On In Love (Expanded Edition)

September 14, 2015 By

Jay Dee Come On In Love

Barry White produced and Gene Page arranged this 1977 lost classic from Jay Dee, a.k.a. Earl Nelson of Bob and Earl ("Harlem Shuffle"), a.k.a. Jackie Lee ("The Duck")!  Real Gone Music's Expanded Edition includes two bonus tracks, both sides of the "Strange Funky Games and Things" single featuring the single edit and a long instrumental version under the name "Games and Funky Things."  Gene Sculatti provides the new liner notes.

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Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul

Love and Affection: More Motown Girls

September 14, 2015 By

Love and Affection More Motown Girls

Ace follows up its Finders Keepers - Motown Girls CD with a second volume dedicated to the ladies of Hitsville, USA.  This time, the Ace team has excavated a full 25 previously unreleased tracks from artists including Brenda Holloway, Barbara McNair, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, the Lewis Sisters and LaBrenda Ben!

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Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul

Do You Hear What I Hear?: Legacy Adds Four New Entries to "Classic Christmas Album" Series

September 10, 2015 By Randy Fairman 7 Comments

Earth Wind and Fire Classic Christmas

Legacy Recordings is getting into the Christmas spirit this year by continuing its Classic Christmas Album series.  On October 2, four new entries will be released featuring artists who had their biggest successes in the '70s (Earth, Wind & Fire), '80s (a various artists compilation), '90s (Sarah McLachlan) and 2000s (Celtic Thunder). The majority of the material on these compilations is of a relatively recent vintage.  The exception is The Classic Christmas '80s Album which obviously

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Everything Else, Pop, R&B/Soul Tags: Celtic Thunder, Earth Wind and Fire, Sarah McLachlan, Various Artists

Greatest Hits (Quadraphonic SACD)

September 9, 2015 By

Sly Greatest Hits SACD

Audio Fidelity brings the original quadraphonic (4.0 surround) version of Sly and the Family Stone's Greatest Hits to SACD, featuring numerous variations from the songs' familiar stereo versions.  The album will play in stereo on the standard CD layer (playable on all CD players) on this hybrid SACD.

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Formats: SACD Genre: R&B/Soul

Release Round-Up: Week of September 4

September 4, 2015 By Joe Marchese 2 Comments

Doors Full Circle and Other Voices

The fall is almost upon us - which means some of the most exciting release weeks of the year are just around the corner!  We hope you've checked out Ted's farewell to the sounds of summer, because we're kicking off September right here with a new release from Second Disc Records - as well as goodies from The Doors, Eydie Gorme, Micky Dolenz, Peter Frampton, Pugwash, and many more!  To our U.S. readers, we wish you a safe and happy Labor Day weekend filled with great new (and old)

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Categories: Release Round-Up Formats: Box Sets, CD, Digital Download Genre: Classic Rock, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul, Rock, Soundtracks Tags: Al Kooper, Dean Martin, Eydie Gorme, Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, Paul Simon, Peter Frampton, Pugwash, Spooner Oldham, The Doors, The Monkees, Wilson Pickett

I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times): Ted's Big Summer '15 Wrap-Up!

September 4, 2015 By Ted Frank 1 Comment

The Muffs

The summer's winding down and so Ted Frank, our resident maven of all things eclectic, is looking back on his favorites from the past few months, from reissues to future classics of all genres!   We hope you make some new discoveries as you enjoy the Labor Day weekend! As the boys of summer's mettle is currently being put to the test, here are some favorite releases - new and old - from the past couple of summer months that have staying power and could perfectly score those few remaining

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Digital Download, Vinyl Genre: Cast Recordings, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rap/Hip-Hop, Rock, Soundtracks Tags: Ann Peebles, Elyse Weinberg, The Beastie Boys, The Muffs, Wilco

Review: "Groove and Grind: Rare Soul '63-'73"

September 3, 2015 By Joe Marchese 3 Comments

Groove and Grind

Got a few spare hours?  You'll definitely want to put some time aside for a new box set that just might get you up and dancing... The four packed CDs comprising RockBeat Records' Groove and Grind: Rare Soul '63-'73 (ROC-CD-3255)- that's 112 songs, most of which have never previously appeared on CD - add up to one of the most exhaustive rare soul archives in the CD era, and one which you'll want to spend hours and hours exploring.  As accompanied by a 112-page book with Bill Dahl's copious,

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Categories: Reviews Formats: Box Sets, CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Various Artists

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