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. Some classic and modern women heroes of country start things off, along with some rare alt-rock, an expanded classic of metal and more. Brenda Lee, Too Many Rivers / New Sunrise / L.A. Sessions / Even Better (MCA Nashville) Rivers: Apple / Amazon Sunrise: Apple / Amazon L.A. Sessions: Apple / Amazon Even Better: Apple / Amazon UMe successfully took advantage of the seasonal popularity of Brenda Lee’s…
The Weekend Stream Extra: ‘Power Ballad’ Could Be the Song That Saves You
Ahead of our usual Weekend Stream coverage, Mike takes a look at a new soundtrack to a very special film that starts its theatrical run today: Power Ballad, from writer/director John Carney. The film is now playing in New York and Los Angeles, expanding to wider release next Friday, June 5. Some of the best filmmakers make a mark by turning variations on a theme around and around, like the rotation of a record player. John Ford mythologized the American West; Alfred Hitchock dialed into anxiety and suspense like no other; Steven Spielberg…
The Weekend Stream: May 24, 2026
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. Rare George Michael remixes, late period a-ha and more Andy Partridge demos are kicking off another great week of streaming tunes – including three new soundtracks from theme park attractions! George Michael, “Monkey” (Columbia/Legacy) (Apple / Amazon) The latest of the Faith-era digital EPs is here, and it’s a corker: these 1988 remixes of “Monkey” by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis helped…
In the Dark of the Night: Wang Chung’s ‘To Live and Die in L.A.’ Soundtrack Gets Expanded
A much-anticipated ’80s soundtrack reissue is finally coming – even if it’s taking a different shape from what might have been expected. Interscope Records will release a new deluxe edition of To Live and Die in L.A., the beloved soundtrack to William Friedkin’s 1985 neo-noir film, as performed by pop duo Wang Chung. The set will be greatly expanded from the outset, offering a newly sequenced version of the original eight-track album featuring two bonus recordings (one of which is unreleased) as well as a further eight bonus tracks, five of which are,…
John Williams and “The President’s Own,” Vol. 1 & 2
For the first time on a widely available physical format, this 2CD set captures two thrilling performances in which Oscar-winning composer John Williams conducts the United States Marine Band in 2003 and 2008. The set (first released as a longer, free download and first pressed on CD by the ensemble as a concert giveaway in 2023) also includes “For The President’s Own,” an original musical tribute to the Marine Band penned by the Maestro and recorded with them in 2013.
Sound the Bells! Two Rare John Williams Concerts Coming to CD in June
A pair of unique concerts conducted by the legendary John Williams are making their way in print on CD for their widest release yet. Prolific classical label Naxos will issue John Williams and “The President’s Own” Vol. 1 & 2 on June 19, consisting primarily of two sets where Williams led the United States Marine Band, endeavors quite different in makeup to the usual philharmonic and symphony orchestras he’d conduct for the screen and (until recently) in concert. The first took place at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C….
The Weekend Stream: May 16, 2026
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. This week has a collection of outtakes from one of the greatest albums ever made, a breezy theme song to a popular web series, fantastic new film scores, an unheard recording from Peggy Lee and a frankly stunning amount of songs about horses. Plus our tributes to those we lost recently, and a cool arts-related documentary project worthy of your…
A Second Disc Interview: Talking “The Sherman Brothers Album” and “Richard and Me” with Kritzerland’s Bruce Kimmel
Writer, director, composer, lyricist, producer, and Kritzerland head honcho Bruce Kimmel had a long and beautiful friendship with Richard M. Sherman, one-half of the legendary Sherman Brothers songwriting team. Last year, Bruce unveiled Richard and Me, a new memoir chronicling their friendship. Now, he’s ready to unveil The Sherman Brothers Album as it was meant to be heard. Bruce produced the original sessions for the album 25 years ago but didn’t get the opportunity to see the album to fruition – leading to an unfortunately missed opportunity for fans of the duo…
The Weekend Stream: April 25, 2026
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. Some of our favorites lead this pack: an archival Prince single, a new Duran Duran song, a vintage George Michael EP, outtakes from The Beach Boys, demos from Andy Partridge – and plenty more where that came from. Prince, “With This Tear” (NPG/Legacy) (Apple / Amazon) Last Tuesday, the 10th anniversary of Prince’s death, The Artist’s estate released the latest posthumous…
The Second Disc’s Guide to Record Store Day 2026
Tomorrow, Record Store Day is once again upon us! And it wouldn’t be a RSD without The Second Disc chiming in with our annual RSD Guide featuring some of our favorite picks. As always, it wasn’t easy for us to narrow ’em down, so we’d like you to sound off on your hoped-for titles, too! Looking for the nearest shop? Visit RecordStoreDay.com in the U.S., RecordStoreDay.co.uk in the U.K., and RecordStoreDayCanada.ca in Canada for the complete list of participating stores. Without further ado, Mike, Joe, and Randy have a handful of the titles upon which…
The Weekend Stream: April 11, 2026
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. Another George Michael single is redelivered, XTC demos get delivered and a reinvented video game dance classic enters the arena – plus a whole lot of oddities and buried treasure from 1976! George Michael, Faith (Single) (Columbia/Legacy) (Apple / Amazon) The second of George Michael’s Faith singles to be delivered to digital with the original covers and B-sides is the effortlessly classic title…
Michael: Songs from the Motion Picture
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP (Black Vinyl): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP (Clear Vinyl): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP (Translucent Black Ice Vinyl): Independent Record Stores Cassette: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 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). With just a baker’s…
The Weekend Stream: March 21, 2026
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. Two eras of Madonna, early INXS and plenty of new cuts for country, folk and rock lovers are all in the mix! Madonna, Into the Groove / Hung Up (Remixes) / Sorry (Remixes) / Jump (Remixes) / 4 Minutes (feat. Justin Timberlake & Timbaland) (Remixes) / Celebration (Remixes) EPs (Warner/Rhino) “Groove”: Apple / Amazon “Hung Up”: Apple / Amazon “Sorry”: Apple / Amazon “Jump”: Apple / Amazon “4 Minutes”: Apple…
Release Round-Up: Week of March 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. Aerosmith, Aerosmith: Legendary Edition (UMe) 5LP: Official Store (Fan Pack with satin bomber jacket) 4LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 3CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 1CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 1LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Official Store (fan pack with T-shirt) The Bad Boys from Boston return to where it all began with a deluxe edition of their 1973 debut album, which featured “Mama Kin,” “Make It” and eventual Top 10 hit “Dream On.” This…
We Bid You Goodnight: Mondo Reissues “The Grateful Dead Movie” Soundtrack on Massive Vinyl Box
By 1974, the members of Grateful Dead had grown tired of the touring grind as well as of the difficulties brought on by the massive Wall of Sound system. The band’s October 1974 hometown shows at San Francisco’s Winterland culminating in the October 20, 1974 performance known as “The Last One.” And indeed it was, in a sense, as the Dead didn’t return to regular touring for roughly eighteen months. The band hit on the idea of filming the Winterland shows so, in essence, if they weren’t touring, the concert still could. …
Working Day and Night: Michael Jackson Biopic Yields New Compilation
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,…
The Weekend Stream: February 28, 2026
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…
The Weekend Stream: February 21, 2026
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. This week we’ve got one of the biggest rock bands in the world making a surprise statement on current events, some ’80s covers from a current synthpop favorite, rarities and remixes that’ll make you want to hit your local mall, and so much more! U2, Days of Ash (Island) (Apple / Amazon) Not long after Bruce Springsteen and Billy Bragg each…
Man on the Run (Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Morgan Neville’s newest documentary, which receives a limited theatrical engagement before landing on Prime Video, details how Paul McCartney found new life after the break-up of The Beatles with his new group Wings. On the documentary’s streaming release date, a companion album will include favorites (and a rarity or two) taken from the Wings albums that have been reissued as part of Paul’s Archive Collection series – plus three previously unreleased tracks, including “Gotta Sing Gotta Dance,” the live Rockshow version of “Live…
Oh, My Word! “Doctor Who: The Wheel in Space” Arrives on Vinyl
While fans around the world are impatiently waiting for the return of Doctor Who on Christmas 2026, Demon Music Group is keeping the time-traveling hero busy on records. The label recently announced the upcoming Record Store Day release of The Rescue, a 1965 story starring William Hartnell as The First Doctor, and has just released another classic serial to vinyl: The Wheel in Space. The Wheel in Space originally aired over six episodes from April 27, 1968–June 1, 1968. It is the final serial of Doctor Who’s fifth season and stars Patrick…
The Weekend Stream: February 7, 2026
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 tracks from old favorites, deep cuts, good causes, a fun recent Grammy winner, and the triumphant return of The Muppets? What more could you possibly ask for?! The Muppets, The Muppet Show Theme (2026) (Walt Disney Records) (Apple / Amazon) It’s time to play the music! The Muppet Show made a triumphant return to television this week: a special episode that aired on ABC and Disney+, produced by…















