The story of Sondra "Blinky" Williams has long been shrouded in mystery. The soulful singer came to Motown Records in 1967 following stints at Vee-Jay and Atlantic, bringing her passionate and powerful deep soul sound to Hitsville, USA. Despite recording dozens of tracks between 1968 and 1973, only a small handful saw release: a mere four 45s plus an album of duets with Edwin Starr, two live cuts, and a couple of one-off recordings, including a key moment on the best-selling soundtrack of Lady
The Sweetest Sounds: Matt Monro's Greatest Hits Paired With Lost Session on "Stranger In Paradise"
From bus driver to national treasure, London-born Matt Monro's success story is one for the ages. From his humble beginnings, the man that even Sinatra effusively praised would go on to become a global superstar. In his time, the crooner, with his rich baritone, sold upwards of 150 million records; worked with the likes of John Barry, Quincy Jones, Sir George Martin, Nelson Riddle and Michel Legrand; and released 13 top 50 U.K. singles. Now, a new chapter of the Matt Monro story has been
Let 'Em Show You What It's All About: UMe Bows Rare Quad Mix of The Jackson 5's 'Greatest Hits' On Vinyl
A half century after The Jackson 5 became a blockbuster R&B/pop act, UMe is reissuing their first greatest hits album on vinyl - with a special twist. The quintet's Greatest Hits is back on LP October 25, utilizing a stereo fold-down of a rare quadraphonic mix issued only in Japan in 1975. That mix featured alternate vocals and instrumentation on some tracks, making this release a true new way to hear some of the group's biggest hit songs. And what an incredible run of hits it was! The
Review: Chris Stamey and The ModRec Orchestra, "New Songs for the 20th Century"
Chris Stamey has taken many unpredictable paths in a long career, whether as a member of the dB's, a solo artist, a producer, or a sideman. But his latest project might be his most unpredictable yet. New Songs for the 20th Century, credited to Stamey and the ModRec Orchestra and newly released by Omnivore Recordings, is a sprawling double-album love letter to traditional (read: pre-rock and roll) vocal pop with a heavy jazz emphasis. Written, arranged, mixed, and produced by Stamey, these
Look Around: Real Gone Announces Limited Vinyl Reissues Featuring Rain Parade and The Vulcans
Real Gone Music has recently announced two new vinyl reissues coming out this Friday, September 13. One is from the Paisley Underground genre and the other is an experimental effort combining reggae and electronic music. First up, is Rain Parade's Emergency Third Rail Power Trip. The band was part of the Paisley Underground movement in 1980s California which combined psychedelia with vocal harmonies, owing a debt to artists like The Byrds and Love from the 1960s. The Bangles are the
Yes I Will: NRBQ Invites Listeners to "Turn On, Tune In" With New Multimedia Collection of Radio Performances
For five decades, NRBQ have created groundbreaking music that traverses genres, forms, and styles. While their studio albums and compilations can attest to their many transformations, it's on the stage where NRBQ's music truly thrives. Today, Omnivore Recordings released Turn On, Tune In, a two-disc, CD/DVD set that captures the band - Terry Adams (keyboards/vocals), Scott Ligon (guitar/vocals), Casey McDonough (bass/vocals) and John Perrin (drums) - live on Sirius XM's The Loft and onstage at
An American Trilogy: Morello Reissues Glen Campbell's Three Atlantic Albums on New 2-CD Set
Glen Campbell joined Capitol Records in 1962, remaining with the label through 1981. At Capitol, Campbell released almost 40 albums, picking up six Grammy Awards and scoring such indelible hits as "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Wichita Lineman," "Galveston," "Rhinestone Cowboy," "Country Boy (You Got Your Feet in L.A.)," and "Southern Nights." Campbell followed up his remarkable two decades at Capitol by signing to Atlantic Records' new country-oriented Atlantic America imprint. Cherry Red's
Release Round-Up: Week of September 6
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Miles Davis, Rubberband (Warner/Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Rhino has unearthed a lost album recorded by Miles Davis in 1985-1986 prior to his label debut Tutu. The LP has been completed by original co-producers Randy Hall and Zane Giles with Davis' nephew Vince Wilburn, Jr., who played drums on the album sessions. Ledisi and Lalah Hathaway have been enlisted to complete the vocal tracks. Available on CD, 2-LP vinyl,
Made In Heaven: Freddie Mercury's Solo Works Celebrated on "Never Boring" Box Set
The title of Hollywood Records/Mercury Records' upcoming box set dedicated to Freddie Mercury's solo works certainly has an apt title: Never Boring. The late Queen frontman used his solo recordings to explore the realms of pop, rock, and even opera as a singer and songwriter. Due on October 11 from Hollywood in the U.S. and Mercury in the rest of the world, the 3CD/BD/DVD Never Boring has been compiled and produced by longtime Queen collaborators and Bohemian Rhapsody soundtrack co-producers
The Show of Our Lives: Classics from Caravan Collected on "The Decca/Deram Years"
Among the most beloved purveyors of the "Canterbury Sound" - that particular strand of psychedelic British rock - is the boundary-pushing ensemble, Caravan. The band was formed in Canterbury in 1968 (from the remnants of the soul group The Wilde Flowers) and at various times included Pye Hastings on guitar and vocals, Richard Sinclair on bass guitar and vocals, Dave Sinclair on keyboards, and Richard Coughlan on drums. By the following year, the band had secured a contract with Decca and were
In the Heat of the Morning: New 5-CD Box Set Collects David Bowie's 1968-1969 Recordings
David Bowie fans have been waiting with bated breath to discover what would comprise the next in the series of annual box sets dedicated to the late superstar's remarkable career. Yet rather than directly follow up last year's Loving the Alien (1983-1988), Parlophone has announced a trip back in time to the late 1960s. Conversation Piece, a 5-CD box set (also available digitally), will be released on November 15. The collection traces Bowie's development as a songwriter and performer
What's the Frequency, Kenneth? Craft Recordings Preps 25th Anniversary Box of R.E.M.'s "Monster"
Craft Recordings has announced a Monster of a celebration for the 25th anniversary of R.E.M.'s ninth album. November 1 will see the arrival of Monster in various physical and digital formats, all newly remastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound. Monster found the band branching out to explore new sonic avenues, with bolder, louder guitars, minimal overdubs, and spare arrangements supporting lyrics frequently sung from the POV of different characters. Bolstered by the success of the lead
Open My Eyes: Purple Pyramid Collects "The Complete Nazz"
Todd Rundgren has struck up a fertile relationship with Cleopatra Records in recent years, with the label issuing a number of audio and video titles (including Utopia's Live at the Chicago Theatre and the Box O' Todd) as well as the artist's memoir The Individualist. Now, Cleopatra's Purple Pyramid imprint has issued The Complete Nazz, a 3-CD survey of Rundgren's early band, with all three of Nazz's albums plus 30 previously issued bonus tracks. Todd Rundgren and bassist Carson Van Osten
New Beginnings: Esoteric Reissues, Expands Strawbs' "Deadlines"
Strawbs' Deadlines, by the numbers: It was the band's first album on Clive Davis' Arista label, last album of the 1970s, third album produced or co-produced by Jeffrey Lesser (Rupert Holmes, Loudon Wainwright III, Barbra Streisand), and only album to feature the four-piece line-up of Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert, Chas Cronk, and Tony Fernandez. It's recently been expanded by Cherry Red's Esoteric Recordings arm as a 2-CD/1-DVD clamshell box set featuring numerous bonus tracks and a complete
Review: Craft Latino Invites You To Take A Far-Out Trip With "Fania Goes Psychedelic"
Get ready for a freak-out, because Craft Recordings has announced a new 15-song compilation of experimental and far-out treasures from the legendary Latin music label Fania! Entitled Fania Goes Psychedelic, this crate-digger's fantasy is part of Craft Latino's ongoing celebration of the influential imprint that became a home to the Latin-soul fusion "boogaloo" tunes that were coming out of the barrios. Originally founded by musician Johnny Pacheco and lawyer Jerry Masucci in 1964, the label
Sugar Man, Won't You Hurry: Classic Rodriguez Albums Return to Vinyl, CD, and Digital
Sixto Rodriguez, known professionally by his last name alone, was something of an enigma before Malik Bendjelloul's Academy Award-winning documentary Searching For Sugarman presented Rodriguez to the mainstream once again. Rodriguez's two Sussex Records releases - 1970's Cold Fact and 1971's Coming From Reality - became cult classics once more in the wake of the film's release. Last Friday, August 30, after years out of print, the two titles returned to vinyl, alongside CD and digital
Only Love Can Conquer Hate: Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On Live' Gets Standalone Release With New Mix
A classic live performance by Motown legend Marvin Gaye is being released for the first time on its own this fall. What's Going On Live features one of Gaye's only performances in the wake of the immortal 1971 album, recorded at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. in the spring of 1972. At the time, Gaye had not performed live in four years, and, before recording What's Going On, had struggled with depression after the passing of his close friend and duet partner, Tammi Terrell. "I
Release Round-Up: Week of August 29
Here's your Release Round Up for the week ahead. Various Artists, Country Music -- A Film By Ken Burns: The Soundtrack (Legacy Recordings) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) 5CD: 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 1CD: Walmart.com Filmmaker Ken Burns has tackled many subjects over the years, from the Civil War to baseball. His documentaries have garnered numerous awards over the years.
UPDATE WITH NEW RELEASE DATE: Lost For Words: Pink Floyd Looks Back on Gilmour Era In 'The Later Years: 1987-2019'
EDIT: Due to production and logistical delays, the deluxe box set of 'Pink Floyd The Later Years' and the digital equvalent will be released on December 13, 2019. The highlights 2-LP / 1 CD package and the digital equivalent will keep the release date of November 29, 2019. In a move that's sure to please fans of latter-day Pink Floyd, the band has announced a new, 18-disc multimedia box set due on December 13. The Later Years: 1987-2019, which celebrates the band's David Gilmour-led
Mo' Onions: Real Gone Collects '60s Sides of Booker T. and The MG's on "Complete Stax Singles, Vol. 1"
Few instrumental groups have had as profound an impact on the popular music landscape as Booker T. and the MG's, whose Stax sides from the '60s defined the sound of the label. From Booker T. Jones' inimitable Hammond organ sound and Steve Cropper's masterful Telecaster work, to Al Jackson's solid and steady beats and the always-in-the-pocket bass lines of Lewie Steinberg (replaced in 1965 by the talented Donald "Duck" Dunn), the band's influence continues to be felt in every slice of visceral
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y! Cherry Red, 7Ts Collect Bay City Rollers on "The Singles Collection"
The A-side of the first Bay City Rollers single was, appropriately enough, "Keep On Dancing." The Scottish band's cover of the Gentrys oldie became a top ten hit on the U.K.'s Bell Records, and earned the Rollers a slot on Top of the Pops. The best was still yet to come, however, and the band would keep listeners dancing for roughly a decade. The Rollers' ascent to superstardom is chronicled on a recent 3-CD clamshell box set from Cherry Red's 7Ts imprint. The Singles Collection is a tour
Leave It All to Me: Sinatra's "My Way" Gets 50th Anniversary Reissue, "Sings Alan and Marilyn Bergman" Arrives in October
Get ready to celebrate the eternal Chairman of the Board with a pair of releases due October 11 from Capitol Records/UMe and Frank Sinatra Enterprises. Last week, the labels announced a 50th anniversary edition of Sinatra's 1969 LP My Way, available on CD, digital, and LP; and an all-new compilation entitled Sinatra Sings Alan & Marilyn Bergman, also on all three formats. Originally issued on the Reprise label in March 1969, My Way was Sinatra's second consecutive foray into the world of
Omnivore Recordings Round-Up: Big Star's "In Space" Reissue and A Pair of Mister Rogers Albums On the Way
Omnivore Recordings has a reputation for being one of the most diverse reissue labels around. What other label could be home to Big Star and Mister Rogers? Well, omnivorous listeners have reason to delight, as Omnivore has announced new reissues from both legendary talents due for release in October! It's been more than fifty years since the celebrated children's show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood first aired, yet Fred Rogers' name remains in the public eye thanks in no small part to the
Review: Expanded Reissues of Renaissance's "Live at Carnegie Hall" and "Novella"
Esoteric Recordings, the progressive rock arm of Cherry Red, has built a reputation for excellent reissues of prog classics, some once-overlooked and others legendary favorites. Among those landmark recordings that have received the Esoteric treatment is Renaissance's Live at Carnegie Hall. The 1976 release became one of the defining live albums of the decade and has recently been newly remastered and expanded to a 3-CD set as part of the label's ongoing Renaissance reissue series. Live at
All Aboard! Ozzy Osbourne's Solo Works Collected In Massive Box Set
The one and only Ozzy Osbourne has announced a brand-new, career-spanning vinyl box set entitled See You On the Other Side, and it's the wildest celebration of the madman of rock and roll yet. The 24-LP box set, due on November 29, features 16 albums on 150-gram multicolored vinyl. Every Ozzy Osbourne studio album is accounted for, from Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman to the more recent Black Rain, Down to Earth, and Scream. Those last three are making their U.S vinyl debut on the box
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