Sea Breeze: "Lush Exotica" Collects Four Early Albums from Arthur Lyman

By Joe Marchese | April 26, 2023 | 2 Comments

The title of the new collection from Cherry Red's Righteous imprint, Lush Exotica, conjures up images of tropical islands, palm trees swaying in the breeze, sun-drenched beaches, and Polynesian paradise.  Perhaps no artist provided a more vivid soundtrack to those images than Arthur Lyman.  The late vibraphonist and marimba player (1932-2002), born in Oahu, Hawaii, […]

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In Memoriam: Harry Belafonte (1927-2023)

By Mike Duquette | April 25, 2023 | 5 Comments

Can a song truly make change? In an increasingly complex, divided and uncertain world, it's a fair question that has no easy answers. As a child, though, I can tell you I believe the answer was yes. After all, there was Harry Belafonte's "Turn the World Around." It's funny to think that a song from […]

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Straight Into Love: Kenny Rogers' Posthumous "Life Is Like a Song" Coming in June

By Joe Marchese | April 25, 2023 | 2 Comments

Kenny Rogers released the 28th and final studio album of his lifetime with 2015's Once Again It's Christmas.  On June 2, UMe will celebrate the late superstar's musical legacy with a posthumous release featuring eight previously unreleased tracks and two rarities.  Life Is Like a Song, coming on CD, vinyl, and digital formats, has been […]

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Mind Go Wild: Zappa's 1970 "Hot Rats" Sequel "Funky Nothingness" Gets First Release

By Joe Marchese | April 24, 2023 | 5 Comments

In the pantheon of jazz-rock, Frank Zappa's 1969 LP Hot Rats is surely near the pinnacle.  The primarily instrumental album recorded by Zappa, multi-instrumentalist Ian Underwood, and the top tier of L.A.'s session musicians melded the compositional and improvisational sophistication of jazz with Zappa's gritty, searing, and blues-drenched electric rock style.  Recorded to 16 tracks […]

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The Weekend Stream: April 22, 2023

By Mike Duquette | April 22, 2023 | 2 Comments

Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing weekly review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there's plenty of great new/old music to usher you into the weekend. Follow up your Record Store Day with a few digital versions of the latest exclusive vinyl releases, plus rare live material […]

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