Soundtracks

Popular Standards/Vocal, Soundtracks

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Blu-Ray, Box Sets, CD, DVD, Digital Download, Vinyl

Genres:

Classic Rock, Country, Funk, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Soundtracks

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Art Pepper, Bob Marley, Chicago, Glen Campbell, Kiki Dee, Pretenders, The Alan Parsons Project, The Box Tops

Review: Judy Garland, “Swan Songs, First Flights: Her First and Last Recordings”

February 10, 2015 by Joe Marchese | 15 Comments

“Forget your troubles, come on, get happy!” exhorts the song by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler. Ruth Etting, “America’s Sweetheart of Song,” introduced the anthem in 1930 as the finale of Broadway’s short-lived The Nine Fifteen Revue. But as soon as a svelte Judy Garland performed the song against a painted backdrop of white clouds on a pink sky for 1950’s MGM musical Summer Stock, “Get Happy” belonged to no one else. After all, Koehler’s lyrics could have been written for Garland, epitomizing her can-do spirit in the face of adversity with…

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Reviews

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Box Sets, CD

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Judy Garland

One Little Spark: New Label Launches With Kate Bush, Ben Folds, Laura Nyro, “The Sound of Music”

February 10, 2015 by Joe Marchese | 3 Comments

With its upcoming roster boasting titles from Kate Bush, Ben Folds Five, The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Laura Nyro and Julie Andrews, the new audiophile label Analog Spark is pulling out all the stops for its debut this spring. Yesterday, Razor & Tie announced the launch of Analog Spark, a new imprint which will focus on reissued releases on both 180-gram vinyl and SACD. Razor & Tie co-owners Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam commented, “We’re very excited about the launch of Analog Spark and the reissue of this important historical music. These albums…

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SACD, Vinyl

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Jazz, Pop, Rock, Soundtracks

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Ben Folds Five, Julie Andrews, Kate Bush, Laura Nyro, The Dave Brubeck Quartet

Release Round-Up: Week of February 10

February 10, 2015 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

Mike + The Mechanics, Living Years: Deluxe Edition (Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) This Deluxe Edition of Mike + The Mechanics’ 1988 album arrives in the U.S. with a second disc featuring “The Living Years 2014″ and live tracks culled from the band’s 1989 tour. Read our full coverage here. Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Complete Columbia Singles (Friday Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) Friday Music has repackaged Collectors’ Choice Music’s 2010 three-disc collection of the complete Columbia singles output of the legendary band (“Kicks,” “Hungry,” “Just Like Me”)….

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Blood Sweat & Tears, Eddie Money, Engelbert Humperdinck, Judy Garland, Kylie Minogue, Mario Lanza, Melissa Manchester, Mike + The Mechanics, Paul Revere and The Raiders, Steve Tyrell

Formats:

Box Sets, CD, SACD, Vinyl

Genres:

Classical/Opera, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, Rock, Soundtracks

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Wish Upon a Star: Walt Disney Records’ Legacy Collection Revisits “Pinocchio”

February 9, 2015 by Joe Marchese | 1 Comment

Just last month, Walt Disney Records celebrated the 75th anniversary of Fantasia by releasing a new addition to the label’s Legacy Collection with a 4-CD reissue of the original soundtrack to that film. However, Fantasia is not the only Disney classic to turn 75 this year. 1940 was a pretty good year for the animation studio, as the classic Pinocchio also saw release during those twelve months. On February 10, 2015 (almost to the day the film premiered three-quarters of a century ago: February 7, 1940), Walt Disney Records will release The…

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Cliff Edwards, Leigh Harline, Ned Washington, Paul Smith

Glen Campbell – I’ll Be Me: Soundtrack

January 27, 2015 by Joe Marchese

Big Machine Records releases the 10-song soundtrack to the documentary film Glen Campbell – I’ll Be Me, including two versions of the Oscar-nominated “I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” live performances by Glen of “Wichita Lineman” and “A Better Place,” and more, including music by The Band Perry and Campbell’s daughter Ashley. This first physical release of the soundtrack expands upon the originally-released 5-track EP.

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Country, Soundtracks

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The Legacy Collection: Pinocchio

January 22, 2015 by Joe Marchese

The classic 1940 animated film Pinocchio celebrates its 75th anniversary in style with this Legacy Collection volume featuring the complete original soundtrack on Disc One, plus three newly-recorded “Lost Chords” and five bonus tracks performed by Cliff Edwards, a.k.a. Jiminy Cricket.

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Something Good: Legacy Expands “The Sound of Music,” Classic Soundtrack Also Comes to SACD and Vinyl

January 21, 2015 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

The hills are alive again! On March 10, Legacy Recordings will reissue RCA Victor’s chart-topping 1965 soundtrack to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s five-time Academy Award-winning The Sound of Music in a new 50th anniversary edition to coincide with the golden anniversary release on Blu-ray. Collectors will note that expanded CD reissues of the classic musical soundtrack starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer are as inevitable as raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens; editions have arrived in time for the beloved film’s 35th, 40th and 45th anniversaries. But this 50th anniversary release –…

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Blu-Ray, Box Sets, CD, SACD, Vinyl

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Julie Andrews, Rodgers and Hammerstein

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The Sound of Music: 50th Anniversary Edition

January 21, 2015 by Joe Marchese

To mark its 50th anniversary, Legacy expands the classic 1965 film soundtrack to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music with previously unissued material, bringing it up to 27 tracks on one CD.

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Release Round-Up: Week of January 20

January 20, 2015 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

Jellyfish, Bellybutton and Spilt Milk (Omnivore) Bellybutton: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. Spilt Milk: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. Here are the deluxe editions that fans of the cult ’90s pop revivalists have been waiting for! A total of 51 bonus tracks are spread across these freshly-remastered reissues of Jellyfish’s two studio albums. Look for Joe’s review later today! Universal Togetherness Band, Universal Togetherness Band (Numero Group) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) The Numero Group has excavated eight tracks, recorded between 1979 and 1981, from a soulful Chicago collective that may be the…

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Formats:

Blu-Ray, CD, DVD, Vinyl

Genres:

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

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Jellyfish, King Crimson, Red Garland, Tony Bennett, Universal Togetherness Band

All This and World War II

January 19, 2015 by Joe Marchese

Culture Factory presents a limited edition mini-LP replica edition on CD of the soundtrack to the 1976 documentary film featuring an all-star array of musicians performing Beatles songs. Previously available on CD from Hip-o Select, the double-disc album includes tracks by Elton John, Jeff Lynne, The Bee Gees, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Rod Stewart, Leo Sayer, Peter Gabriel and more!

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Classic Rock, Pop, Soundtracks

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Varese Vintage Round-Up: Label Reissues Seals and Crofts, Danny Elfman, Bill Medley, More

January 15, 2015 by Joe Marchese | 1 Comment

Today, we’re spotlighting a number of reissues you might have missed from the Varese Sarabande label which arrived in the final weeks of 2014! The 1977 coming-of-age drama One on One starred young Robby Benson as high school basketball star Henry, who must overcome obstacles – both romantic and academic – to get through his freshman year of college. The score was provided by Charles Fox (“Happy Days,” “Ready to Take a Chance Again”) who also collaborated on a number of songs for the movie with Paul Williams. The film’s songs were…

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Classic Rock, Pop, Rock, Soundtracks

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Bill Medley, Brian Wilson, Danny Elfman, Malo, Mark-Almond, Paul Williams, Riot, Seals and Crofts, Shawn Phillips, Trevor Rabin

Release Round-Up: Week of January 13

January 13, 2015 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

The Legacy Collection – Fantasia Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Walt Disney Records) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) This 4-CD presentation of Walt Disney’s animated masterwork features both the Leopold Stokowski and Irwin Kostal recordings of the complete score, plus bonus material, in a deluxe hardbound format. Johnny Winter, Remembrance – Volume One (Friday Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. ) Friday Music celebrates the late, great Johnny Winter with this new set licensed from his estate. Disc One culls tracks from the artist’s Live Bootleg Series, and Disc 2 presents the first-time CD release of…

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Classical/Opera, Soundtracks

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Classic Rock, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, Soundtracks

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Elvis Costello, Johnny Winter, Neal Hefti, Woody Allen

The Legacy Collection: Fantasia

January 9, 2015 by Joe Marchese

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Wonderful World of Disney: “The Legacy Collection: Fantasia” Coming Soon

January 9, 2015 by Joe Marchese | 1 Comment

When considering the history of Walt Disney Studios, Mickey Mouse is always front and center. Lovably scrappy Mickey became a breakout smash with 1928’s Steamboat Willie, setting the company on the path to becoming the all-encompassing entertainment conglomerate it is today. The character himself, however, has had several ups and downs over the years. One of these down periods was during the late 1930s when Walt Disney felt that Mickey wasn’t reaching the same heights of popularity he had previously. To remedy this, Disney decided to go back to the format of…

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Leopold Stokowski

The Year In Reissues: The 2014 Gold Bonus Disc Awards

December 30, 2014 by Joe Marchese | 10 Comments

Welcome to The Second Disc’s Fifth Annual Gold Bonus Disc Awards! As with every year’s awards, our goals are simple: to recognize as many of the year’s most essential reissues and catalogue titles as possible, and to celebrate as many of those labels, producers and artists who make these releases happen in an increasingly-challenging retail landscape. The labels you’ll read about below have, by and large, bucked the trends to prove that there’s still a demand for physical catalogue music that you can purchase in brick-and-mortar stores. And from our vantage point,…

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Formats:

Box Sets, CD

Genres:

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

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Al Kooper, Billy Joel, Blood Sweat & Tears, Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Dimitri Tiomkin, Donna Loren, Frank Sinatra, Pugwash, Salsoul Orchestra, Tony Hatch

Release Round-Up: Weeks of December 23 and December 30

December 23, 2014 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

Well, these are incredibly light weeks for new releases! Thankfully, the Kritzerland and Audio Fidelity labels have stepped up with a quartet of titles to close out 2014 on a high note! Cy Coleman, John Kander, Harvey Schmidt and Charles Strouse, Classical Broadway (Kritzerland) (available for pre-order now) Kritzerland remasters this 1992 album (originally released on the Bay Cities label) featuring classical compositions from four of Broadway’s most legendary composers including Cy Coleman (Sweet Charity, Barnum), John Kander (Cabaret, Chicago), Harvey Schmidt (The Fantasticks, 110 in the Shade) and Charles Strouse (Annie, Bye…

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CD, SACD

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Cast Recordings, Classic Rock, Pop, Soundtracks

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Blood Sweat & Tears, Charles Strouse, Cy Coleman, Harvey Schmidt, John Kander, Patrick Williams, The Guess Who

Cherry Red’s él Label Revisits Henry Mancini, Esquivel and Piero Piccioni On New Anthologies

December 18, 2014 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

The latest crop of titles from Cherry Red Group’s él label criss-cross the globe from the U.S.A. to Mexico to Italy with releases from American legend Henry Mancini, bandleader Esquivel, and composer Piero Piccioni. Fans of Henry Mancini’s cool jazz and lounge stylings are the target audience for Playboy Themes, a collection of the great maestro’s music recorded between 1958 and 1962. This 28-track compilation takes in both Mancini’s own compositions as well as those he recorded by others. The title is derived from the Cy Coleman (Sweet Charity, Barnum) song interpreted by…

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Jazz, Soundtracks

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Esquivel, Henry Mancini, Piero Piccioni

Release Round-Up: Week of December 15

December 15, 2014 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

The Kinks, Anthology 1964-1971 (BMG/InGrooves, 2014) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) Producer Andrew Sandoval (the recent The Monkees: Super Deluxe Edition) helms this kink-sized 5-CD kollection of hits, demos, interviews, alternate mixes, session outtakes, 25 previously unavailable tracks, an exclusive 7-inch single and copious, new liner notes! Dionne Warwick, Finder of Lost Loves: Expanded Edition (Arista/Funky Town Grooves) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) This 2-CD edition of Warwick’s 1985 album features a bonus disc with 12 additional tracks – three rare single versions and nine previously unreleased recordings, including the Barry Gibb-produced Heartbreaker outtake “Broken…

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Classic Rock, R&B/Soul, Rock, Soundtracks

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Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Stephen Sondheim, Sting, The Kinks, The Manhattans, Trip Shakespeare

Release Round-Up: Week of December 2

December 2, 2014 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

B.J. Thomas, Home Where I Belong/Happy Man (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) B.J. Thomas, You Gave Me Love/Miracle (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) Linda Jones, The Complete Atco-Loma-Warner Bros. Recordings (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. ) The Five Stairsteps, Our Family Portrait/Stairsteps (Expanded Twofer Edition) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. ) The Unforgiven, The Unforgiven (Expanded Edition) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. ) Cowboy, 5’ll Getcha Ten (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) Grateful Dead, Dick’s Picks Vol. 14—Boston Music Hall 11/30/73 & 12/2/73 (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) Theodore Bikel, Theodore Bikel’s…

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Blu-Ray, Box Sets, CD, DVD

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Cast Recordings, Classic Rock, Country, Folk, Gospel, Pop, R&B/Soul, Soundtracks

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Leonard Bernstein, Pixies, The Five Stairsteps, The Moody Blues, Three Dog Night, Todd Rundgren

Give ‘Em a Spin: The Second Disc’s Essential Back to Black Friday 2014 Release Guide

November 27, 2014 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

Yes, it’s that time of year again. Thanksgiving is here, and with each Thanksgiving comes another Black Friday, the day for consumers to start off the holiday shopping season on a mad, frenetic note. This year is just in the latest one in which numerous retailers in the U.S. have made headlines by blackening Thursday, or Thanksgiving Day itself, with sales starting on the holiday. So many might give thanks that the folks behind Record Store Day are waiting until the traditional Friday for the second of their twice-yearly events. In keeping with tradition,…

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Vinyl

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Jazz, Pop, Rock, Soundtracks

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Miles Davis, Record Store Day, Run-D.M.C., Wham!

Klaatu Rising: Bernard Herrmann’s “The Day The Earth Stood Still” Returns To CD

November 26, 2014 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

Klaatu barada nikto. With those three words, Helen Benson (Patricia Neal) saved the world from certain destruction at the hands of the eight-foot robot Gort in the 1951 classic The Day the Earth Stood Still. Director Robert Wise’s film remains one of the most chilling and effective Cold War-era films, wrapping its plea for peace in a compelling, documentary-style sci-fi narrative. Chief among its assets was a score by maestro Bernard Herrmann (Psycho, Taxi Driver). Herrmann’s intense, exciting themes will soon be reissued on CD by Kritzerland in a newly-remastered edition which…

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Bernard Herrmann

Release Round-Up: Week of November 24

November 24, 2014 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

Simon and Garfunkel, The Complete Albums Collection (Columbia/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) This 12-CD box includes all five of Simon & Garfunkel’s stereo studio albums released between 1964 and 1970, newly remastered from first-generation analog sources plus first-time remasters of The Graduate soundtrack and 1981’s The Concert in Central Park; 1972’s Greatest Hits album (which contained some unique performances unavailable elsewhere); and the live concert albums from 1967, 1969 and 2004, as first released in 2002, 2008 and 2004, respectively. The Velvet Underground: 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition (UMe) 6-CD Super Deluxe Box: Amazon U.S….

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Bing Crosby, Bryan Adams, Neil Diamond, Simon and Garfunkel, The Velvet Underground

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Box Sets, CD

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Classic Rock, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, Soundtracks

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It’s A Happy New Year with Real Gone Music’s January Slate

November 18, 2014 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

Real Gone Music is saying “Happy New Year!” a couple of months early with the announcement of the label’s January 6 slate of releases. This customarily eclectic batch is highlighted by the classic soul of The Main Ingredient and Jackie Moore, blue comedy from Redd Foxx, two otherworldly soundtracks from the films of cult filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky (on both LP and CD!), and more live jam-band greatness from Grateful Dead. Real Gone’s press release, with full details on each title, follows! LOS ANGELES, CA – One of the ironies of the career…

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Jackie Moore, Redd Foxx, The Grateful Dead, The Main Ingredient

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Classic Rock, R&B/Soul, Soundtracks

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Release Round-Up: Week of November 17

November 17, 2014 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

Henry Mancini, The Classic Soundtrack Collection (RCA/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) The Classic Soundtrack Collection features 18 of Mancini’s most memorable soundtrack albums for RCA, Columbia and Epic Records on nine CDs, spanning the period between 1960’s High Time and 1978’s Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?, and adds bonus material from vocalists including Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams and, on a previously unreleased track, Julie Andrews. Johnny Mathis, The Global Albums Collection (Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) A Columbia artist since 1956, Johnny Mathis departed his label home just once –…

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