"For two-and-a-half years, I had the Friday night show at Bunjies Coffee Bar, and it became a residency for me," Al Stewart remembered in an interview with this author for the recent collection of his U.S. singles. "After a while, I got another residency right around the corner at a club called Les Cousins." The […]
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When Richard M. Sherman, one half of the legendary songwriting team The Sherman Brothers, passed away last month, The Second Disc was quick to pay tribute to all the duo's great works for Walt Disney films and elsewhere. But their most towering achievement is probably the song score to the whimsical Mary Poppins. This summer, to […]
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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. More EPs from Duran Duran, rarities from Alanis Morissette and a tribute to an '80s jukebox musical are part of the fun this Saturday morning! Duran Duran, My Own Way / Hungry […]
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In his too-brief life and vastly influential music career, Prince was known for every trait associated with genius: eclectic, kinetic musical ideas; a restless creative spirit; and of course, a mercurial side - known to change his own mind or direction at the slightest whims. In the eight years since his untimely passing, it seems […]
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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. Joni Mitchell, The Asylum Albums 1976-1980 (Rhino/Asylum) 5CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Rhino.com 6LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Rhino.com The Asylum Albums (1976-1980) arrives on 5 CDs, 6 LPs, and digital formats, completing the Asylum period […]
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Streaming might have rendered the greatest hits album a comparative rarity in today's discographies, but country quartet Little Big Town are bucking the trend, planning a new collection of popular singles (and a few re-recordings) ahead of a tour this fall. The Alabama foursome, comprised of singers Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet and Jimi […]
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Beloved Canadian rockers The Tragically Hip planned a year devoted to opening the archives (like a live set released for Record Store Day this spring) and celebrating the 40th anniversary of their founding. This fall, they'll put out a greatly expanded version of Up to Here, their first full-length album, originally released in 1989. Available November […]
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Michigan-born, Texas-raised John David Souther was one of the first artists signed to David Geffen and Elliot Roberts' groundbreaking Asylum label in 1971. His two albums for Asylum, John David Souther (1972) and Black Rose (1976), established the singer-songwriter's distinctive voice on such now-classic songs as "Faithless Love," "How Long," and "Simple Man, Simple Dream." […]
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"So Long, '60s," David Bowie proclaims on the first track of the new 5CD/1BD Parlophone box set Rock 'N' Roll Star. Strumming his 12-string at a San Francisco Holiday Inn, the future superstar was embracing the new decade and its immense possibilities: "I'll kick you in the ass, you rascal, you!" Its verse melody and […]
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Iconoclassic Records will celebrate the life of former Survivor and melodic rock singer Jimi Jamison with its second release of previously unreleased material this summer: a country-flavored recording from 2007, entitled Jimmy Wayne Jamison. For much of rock band Survivor's tenure - particularly a stellar run from 1984 to 1989 - Jimi Jamison was its voice: […]
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