On July 18, 1953, an 18-year-old truck driver from Tupelo, Mississippi named Elvis Presley walked into the Memphis Recording Service at Sun Records. He paid $3.98 to record a double-sided acetate, allegedly a belated birthday gift for his mother. Thus began not only an incredible singing career that changed the edifices of popular music, but […]
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Legendary composer John Williams' personal and professional relationship with director Steven Spielberg has yielded 30 film scores, including Oscar-winning soundtracks to JAWS (1975), E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and Schindler's List (1993), three of Williams' five Academy Award wins in a career that's seen more nominations than anyone currently alive and only less total than Walt Disney. But Williams' […]
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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. Pop goddesses, rock gods, one classic crooner and remixes aplenty are what you'll find this week! Mariah Carey, Rainbow (25th Anniversary Expanded Edition) (Columbia/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon) The Elusive Chanteuse's seventh album […]
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Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles in stores today! As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. David Bowie, Rock 'n' Roll Star (Parlophone/Rhino) 5CD/BD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada This new 5CD/1Blu-ray collection from the late David Bowie follows 2019's Conversation Piece (which shed light on […]
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More than a decade after becoming a sensation in both the U.K. and the U.S., Sam Smith's debut album is getting reissued for its 10th anniversary. In the Lonely Hour will be re-released August 2 as a 2CD set including a bonus disc of a dozen rare tracks, including guest collaborations and other singles. (A […]
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The Americana world was shaken in 2020 by the death of Justin Townes Earle, the talented country/folk/blues musician following in the footsteps of his father, alt-country hero Steve Earle. His songs were rich in guitar, organ and horns (the first two of which he'd played in his father's band) and featured evocative, personal lyrics inspired […]
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Chocolate and Cheese, arguably the most famous album from irreverent, eclectic rockers Ween, is getting revisited this year by Rhino for its 30th anniversary. Available August 2 as a triple vinyl or digital set, this new deluxe edition features the original remastered album from 1994 and a collection of 15 unreleased demos and outtakes. The […]
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For his seventh studio album, 1973's Foreigner, Yusuf a.k.a. Cat Stevens made a major departure. It was the first album solely produced and written by the artist, and his first to somewhat jettison his folk-influenced acoustic sound in favor of a more expansive R&B style. Stevens traveled to Kingston, Jamaica to record the LP, enlisting […]
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Well, hello, Louis! On July 12, Verve Records will release Louis in London on CD, vinyl, and digital formats. This previously unreleased performance was recorded live on the BBC on July 2, 1968 while the legendary musician and singer was riding high thanks to the chart-topping success in Great Britain of "What a Wonderful World." […]
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Richard "Dimples" Fields was one of the most unusual figures on the soul music landscape: a self-proclaimed feminist who portrayed himself as a two-timing ladies' man, whose quirky ballads were alternately earnest and humorous - sometimes uncomfortably so. Fields made his gambit for mainstream success under the patronage of Casablanca Records founder Neil Bogart. He […]
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