Phil Collins is taking his Jacket to the cleaners and coming back with a whole new cut. Following a similar recent deluxe set for Both Sides, the Genesis drummer/singer’s most commercially successful solo album, 1985’s No Jacket Required, is being revisited for its 40th anniversary in two new formats. There’s a new “Fully Tailored” 4LP set that offers a new half-speed master of the album, cut at Abbey Road Studios and pressed on 180-gram vinyl, along with three discs including all the live tracks and demos from a 2016 deluxe CD plus non-album sides and…
Baby I’m-A Want You: Elektra Celebrates 75 Years with Monthlong Initiative
Jac Holzman was still in college when he and pal Paul Rickolt each chipped in three hundred bucks to start a record company. That label, Elektra Records – so named for Greek mythology’s daughter of Atlas and Pleione, but with the “c” swapped out for a “k” – inaugurated its catalogue with the simply-titled New Songs, an album of poetry settings by composer-pianist John Gruen. Elektra soon shifted its emphasis to folk music, growing its discography with recordings by Theodore Bikel, Josh White, Judy Collins, Oscar Brand, and Tom Paxton before branching…
Party on the Patio: ZZ Top Doubleback on New Limited Vinyl Box from Rhino High Fidelity
ZZ Top are revisiting their biggest hitmaking days on vinyl. From the Top (1979-1990) is a new limited 5LP box set as part of Rhino’s High-Fidelity initiative, featuring new pressings of the Texas trio’s most pop-friendly material: Degüello (1979), El Loco (1981), Eliminator (1983), Afterburner (1985) and Recycler (1990). (it follows a similar set issued last year.) All vinyl masters have been cut from the original stereo tapes by Kevin Gray and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Optimal. The luxe package reproductions include glossy, heavyweight gatefold jackets plus new liner notes by author James Austin (with commentary throughout by…
Another Ticket: Eric Clapton, Roxy Music Classics Come to SHM-CD
And the SHMs just keep on coming! Following batches of Japanese pressings of albums by Paul McCartney, Quincy Jones and Sting, two more classic catalogues from Universal Music Group are getting reissued on the format this summer: the first decade-plus of album by Eric Clapton – available this Friday, July 4 – and five titles from Roxy Music, available later in the month on July 25. Clapton’s discs – 1970’s Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (recorded as part of Derek & The Dominos), his 1970 self-titled album, 1974’s 461 Ocean Boulevard, 1975’s There’s One…
So Long and Good Night: My Chemical Romance’s Breakthrough Gets a New Remix
“Long ago / Just like the Hearse you die to get in again…” With those dramatic words, most fans had their introduction to a new kind of emo band: New Jersey’s own My Chemical Romance. More than two decades after catapulting into the mainstream with 2004’s Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, the band have revisited it with a new expanded and remixed edition. Re-released by Reprise on June 6 and available on CD, vinyl and digitally, Three Cheers now features a striking new remix from original engineer Rich Costey and four unreleased bonus live…
Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years
John Fogerty is embracing his history with Creedence Clearwater Revival – and celebrating his acquisition of his own song publishing – on this new album of 20 classic CCR songs, on which he’s joined by his sons Shane and Tyler. Legacy features new recordings of such favorites as “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” “Proud Mary,” “Fortunate Son,” and “Bad Moon Rising,” all in what might be described as “John’s Versions.” Available on CD, LP, and digital/streaming. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Rapture of the Deep: 20th Anniversary Edition
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 3LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada A 20th anniversary edition of Rapture of the Deep, Deep Purple’s 18th studio album, offers a remix and resequencing of the album by Roger Glover, with two non-LP tracks (“MTV” and “Things I Never Said”) now added into the sequence. This was the second album from the band’s longest-tenured line-up, the “Mk. VIII” arrangement that joined Ian Gillan, Glover, and Ian Paice with former Rainbow keyboardist Don Airey (who replaced Jon Lord in 2002) and guitarist Steve Morse (a member since 1994, who’d worked with…
From the Beginning
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Amazon U.S. (White Clear) / Target (Black/Translucent Splatter + Sticker Sheet) / Walmart (Black Marbled) Mötley Crüe are going back From the Beginning with a new career-spanning compilation. The new CD or 2LP set includes more than a dozen singles and ke cuts from their heyday as one of glam metal’s biggest acts (“Smokin’ in the Boys Room,” “Girls Girls Girls,” “Dr. Feelgood,” “Kickstart My Heart”) all the way to modern-day releases like 2008’s…
Once Upon a Time: 40th Anniversary Edition
5CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Ruby Red LP (with “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” as bonus track: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada A reconfigured version of a Simple Minds box set released a decade ago will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band’s biggest international success, Once Upon a Time. This new 5CD edition offers the original 1985 album (featuring the singles “Alive and Kicking,” “Sanctify Yourself,” “All the Things She Said” and “Ghost Dancing”) alongside two discs of single edits, remixes and B-sides, and the 1987 concert album Live in the City of Light….
Balance: Expanded Edition
2CD/2LP/Blu-ray: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Van Halen’s catalogue is attaining further Balance with an expanded edition of the band’s final album recorded with second lead singer Sammy Hagar. The band’s 10th studio album is reborn as a 2CD/2LP/Blu-ray set offering the remaster featured in 2023 box set The Collection II, three studio rarities, eight unreleased live tracks, and a half-dozen music videos (including another live performance from the vault). Standalone 2CD and 2LP editions will be available as well; all vinyl features the complete album spread…
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I Predict a Riot: Kaiser Chiefs’ Breakthrough Debut Goes Deluxe for 20th Anniversary
Kaiser Chiefs’ debut album is going big for its 20th anniversary this summer, in a variety of formats. Employment will be available July 25 from UMR in a trio of physical formats. The newly remastered album, including the singles “I Predict a Riot,” “Modern Way” and “Everyday I Love You Less and Less,” will be pressed on both 3CD and vinyl formats with a bonus track, “Riot” B-side “Take My Temperature” and redesigned album artwork. The remainder of the 3CD set offers B-sides, compilation appearances, demos, remixes and live material from the…
Stand Inside Your Love: Smashing Pumpkins Revisit ‘Machina’ Duo in New Vinyl Box
The Smashing Pumpkins are revisiting the material that initially marked their final bow with a sprawling, unusual box set. 2000’s Machina/The Machines of God will be remastered and reissued on CD and double vinyl from UMe on August 22. Additionally, a new box set, Machina (Aranea Alba Editio), will offer a remixed and resequenced, 48-track quintuple-album drawing from Machina, its sequel Machina II/The Friends and Enemies of Modern Music and assorted B-sides, plus a further three LPs of 32 rarities and outtakes, with more than 30 tracks entirely unreleased. Now here’s where things get a little…
The Weekend Stream: June 28, 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. There’s new music from Sarah McLachlan, Public Enemy and Liam Finn, plus a new video to a one-hit wonder, a Record Store Day single gone digital, and tributes to musicians we lost this week. Peter Gabriel, In the Big Room (Real World) (Apple / Amazon) The legendary pop/rock voice has loosed a recording from his vault for larger public consumption: highlights from an intimate 2003 performance at his Real World…
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Hey! Ho! Let’s Go! Rhino Boxes Ramones Albums in Atmos on “1-2-3-4!”
Gabba gabba hey! Today, Rhino has unveiled a new box set bringing Ramones into a new frontier: that of immersive audio. 1!2!3!4! The Ramones Atmos Collection brings Queens’ favorite band into the realm of Dolby Atmos with new immersive mixes of their first four albums on Blu-ray Audio: 1976’s Ramones; 1977’s Leave Home and Rocket to Russia; and 1978’s Road to Ruin. Limited to just 2,000 copies, this set is available exclusively at Rhino.com and Warner Music’s international storefronts. The four-disc set features new Atmos remixes from original producer Craig Leon (Ramones)…
Release Round-Up: Week of June 27
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. Bruce Springsteen, Tracks II: The Lost Albums 1983-2018 (Columbia/Legacy) 7CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 9LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Lost and Found: Selections from the Lost Albums (Columbia/Legacy) 1CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada More than a quarter century after releasing his first major vault project, Bruce Springsteen is back with a sequel that’s even bigger. True to its name, Tracks II: The Lost Albums 1983-2018 promises not just a wealth of…
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That’s What Makes Us Humans Being: Van Halen’s ‘Balance’ Set for Deluxe Edition
Van Halen’s catalogue is attaining further Balance with an expanded edition of the band’s final album recorded with second lead singer Sammy Hagar. The band’s 10th studio album, released in 1995, will be reissued August 15 as a 2CD/2LP/Blu-ray set offering the remaster featured in 2023 box set The Collection II, three studio rarities, eight unreleased live tracks and a half-dozen music videos (including another live performance from the vault). Standalone 2CD and 2LP editions will be available as well; all vinyl features the complete album spread across three sides with an etching on…
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Alive and Kicking: Simple Minds Reissues Reconfigured ‘Once Upon a Time’ Box
A reconfigured version of a Simple Minds box set released a decade ago will be released this fall to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band’s biggest international success, Once Upon a Time. Available October 17, this 5CD edition offers the original 1985 album (featuring the singles “Alive and Kicking,” “Sanctify Yourself,” “All the Things She Said” and “Ghost Dancing”) alongside two discs of single edits, remixes and B-sides and the 1987 concert album Live in the City of Light. The discs will be packaged in three gatefold wallets alongside a booklet of liner…
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Paul is Live (on SHM-CD): Five New McCartney Titles Follow Nearly a Year of Additional Discs
What’s that he’s doing? Paul McCartney has been releasing much of his solo catalogue on SHM-CD since last year – and with a new batch about to be imported to record stores, this seemed like the right time to spotlight them all. Universal Music Group has not only gone in on high-quality SHM-CDs for release in Japan, but have recently been hyping them up for stateside collectors, releasing everything from out-of-print Quincy Jones titles to the first physical editions of a series of digital expanded editions of Sting’s solo albums. (If you’re…
Ultimate Hits
Blu-ray Audio: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. (Standard / Exclusive Art) / Amazon Canada 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. (Standard / Exclusive Art) / Amazon Canada 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Official Store (Green/White) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Rod Stewart’s Ultimate Hits offers the superstar’s most beloved solo hits from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, from “Maggie May” and “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” to “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” and “Young Turks”; “Forever Young” and “Downtown Train” to “Have I Told You Lately” and “Rhythm of My Heart.” The set will be available on four different formats with some distinct variants among them….
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On Their Way: Mötley Crüe Collect Their Hits ‘From the Beginning’
Mötley Crüe are going back From the Beginning this fall with a new career-spanning compilation. The new CD or 2LP set, available September 12, includes more than a dozen singles and key cuts from their heyday as one of glam metal’s biggest acts (“Smokin’ in the Boys Room,” “Girls Girls Girls,” “Dr. Feelgood,” “Kickstart My Heart”) all the way to modern-day releases like 2008’s Saints of Los Angeles and 2024’s Cancelled EP. The album closes with a new recording of the band’s famed power ballad “Home Sweet Home,” featuring duet vocals with Dolly Parton. (The…
From Japan to ‘Rapture’: Deep Purple Remix, Expand Albums from Mk. II and VIII Line-Ups
Two very different albums from Deep Purple’s long history will be remixed and reissued this summer: 1975’s Made in Japan and 2005’s Rapture of the Deep. Coming from Rhino on August 15 – 52 years since the first of the concerts represented on the original LP were staged – a new super deluxe edition of Made in Japan, spanning 5CD/1 Blu-ray or 10 LPs, offers new mixes by Steven Wilson of the original album and the complete trio of concerts it came from, complete with bonus encores and a few original single edits. The band’s…
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The Weekend Stream Extra: A Guide to ‘MTV Unplugged’ on Paramount+ (Part 5)
Welcome to a special Sunday feature of The Weekend Stream, which takes a look at one of MTV’s great live music programs thanks to a recent reissue of one of its best-known episodes. We’re running a five-part deep-dive on every episode of MTV Unplugged that’s currently streaming on the station’s parent streaming network Paramount+! (Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 can be read here, here, here and here.) The turn-of-the-millennium shot in the arm afforded to MTV by a big-budget teen-pop explosion and the channel’s eventual 20th anniversary in 2001 – growth not immediately deterred by the explosion…
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The Weekend Stream: June 21, 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 classic film score gets remixed for a major anniversary; a modern jazz great reunites two-thirds of a classic rock band; and it’s funny how time flies for Tears for Fears. All this, plus morsels of news on potential reissues from Bruce Springsteen and Duran Duran, and two tributes to singers we lost this week. John Williams, JAWS (Original Motion Picture Score – Remastered) (Back Lot Music) (Apple /…
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Release Round-Up: Week of June 20
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. Christopher Cross, Christopher Cross: Expanded Edition (Omnivore) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Omnivore will offer an expanded reissue of the self-titled debut album from Christopher Cross, the unforgettable 1979 release that became a commercial juggernaut and propelled the unlikely star to the music business’ upper echelon. The CD or 2LP release features 11 bonus tracks such as the rare non-album single “Mary Ann” and a…
To Cut a Long Story Short: Spandau Ballet’s Early Years Compiled for New Box
A new box set will trace the early years of U.K. New Wave icons Spandau Ballet – offering three formats in one package. Everything is Now – Vol. 1: 1978-1982 will collect albums, singles, live material, demos and videos from the group’s earliest period as a 6CD/Blu-ray/2LP set. The box will offer new vinyl pressings of the band’s first two LPs, Journeys to Glory (1981) and Diamond (1982); collections of 7″ and 12″ material from each album on CD; a rare full remix of Diamond issued on a 12″ box set edition of the album…
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