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. Rosanne Cash, The Essential Rosanne Cash (Rumble Strip) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) After a website-exclusive release, The Essential Rosanne Cash hits retail today. This newly-curated set brings together 40 of Cash's most treasured recordings - half from her tenure on Columbia Records and the other from mostly
Just Like Paradise: David Lee Roth's Solo Works Remastered for New Box Set
Diamond Dave's got a whole new shine, thanks to a forthcoming box set from Rhino. David Lee Roth's The Warner Recordings 1985-1994, coming February 21, will include the four LPs (and one EP) the iconoclastic singer released outside of his concluding tenure as the vocalist for Van Halen. All of the albums have been newly remastered, and will be available at general retailers as a 5CD set. (Rhino's official store will exclusively carry a vinyl version.) Roth's solo career began four decades ago
Like a Beast: W.A.S.P. Box Set Coming to CD from Madfish
After not one but two pressings on vinyl over the last two years, Madfish Music will release their collection of heavy metal band W.A.S.P.'s major label material on CD this month. The 7 Savage 1984-1992 collects all six of the L.A. shock rockers' studio and live releases for Capitol Records, along with a newly-compiled assortment of 15 non-LP tracks (three more than the equivalent disc in the vinyl box). The slipcased set also features a CD-sized version of the 60-page hardcover book that
Hold On to What We've Got: Bon Jovi Expands 'Slippery When Wet'
After celebrating their debut album with a deluxe edition last year, Bon Jovi will offer similar treatment to their biggest album: 1986's Slippery When Wet. The New Jersey rockers' third LP will be reissued February 28 in a variety of formats including a 2CD expansion with seven bonus tracks (nearly all of which are previously unreleased) as well as a picture disc, cassette and - novelty alert! - a clear vinyl pressing filled with liquid. Everything aside from the 2CD is limited in quantities
In Memoriam: Peter Yarrow (1938-2025)
When Bob Dylan famously took the stage at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival and "plugged in" - an event dramatized at the climax of the Golden Globe-nominated film A Complete Unknown - the friendly face serving as emcee tried mightily to calm the fiercely divided crowd. Though his screen time in director James Mangold's film is minimal, Nick Pupo makes an impression as that beleaguered host: one Peter Yarrow, of Peter, Paul, and Mary. The folk trio was part of the same managerial stable as Dylan
Quartet's First Film Music Release of 2025 is Barry, Barry Good
As if the feast of John Barry expanded film scores, from James Bond to Out of Africa, hasn't been exciting enough, Quartet Records kicked off the new year with the announcement of more rarities from the celebrated British composer. The label has issued The Polydor Years, a 3CD collection that brings together re-recordings of classic themes, unique arrangements and original music released on albums, singles and compilations in the mid-'70s in Europe. 1972's The Concert John Barry, 1974's Play
It Might Have Been: Neil Young Premieres Lost Album "Oceanside Countryside" in February
Last September, Neil Young unveiled his biggest Archives collection yet. The third volume encompassed 17 CDs and five Blu-rays, boasting 15 previously unreleased songs, 121 previously unreleased tracks, and 11 full-length films (four of which were also previously unissued). On February 14, the musical iconoclast dips into Archives Vol. III - with a twist, naturally - for the premiere vinyl release of his once-lost album, Oceanside Countryside. Oceanside Countryside was recorded from May to
Rhino's 2025 Start Your Ear Off Right Campaign Features Fleetwood Mac, Ramones, Rush, More
We've already filled you in on details of Rhino's upcoming live release from WAR, but that's not all coming from the label. Rhino's annual Start Your Ear Off Right vinyl campaign has already commenced at independent retailers and select Barnes and Noble locations. This year's slate encompasses releases from Dream Theater, Ramones, Fleetwood Mac, ZZ Top, Grateful Dead, Rush, and others. Below, you'll find the complete list of SYEOR titles due this month, including those which arrived last
Southern Part of Japan: Archival Live Album from War Due Soon
Following some heavy-duty offerings from West Coast funk masters War, including an expansion of The World is a Ghetto and a box set of latter-day studio work for last year's Record Store Day Black Friday - Rhino kicks off 2025 with a release of previously unheard live material from the band's tour of Japan, more than half a century ago and featuring the band's classic line-up. Live in Japan 1974 will be available worldwide as a 2CD or 2LP set on February 5. The set includes 14 tracks (three
The Weekend Stream: December 21, 2024 - and a Merry Discmas to All!
Welcome to 2024's final edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc's review of notable catalogue titles (and some new ones, too!) making digital debuts! With no Release Round-Up this Friday and a few weeks of peace and quite from (and for!) us until 2025, we've got a few more treats for you under the tree from Wham!, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Miles Davis, Archie Bell & The Drells and so much more! Wham!, Last Christmas (Epic/Legacy/Sony Music U.K.) (iTunes / Amazon) For
Holiday Gift Guide Review: Joni Mitchell, "Archives: Volume Four (1976-1980)" and "The Asylum Albums (1976-1980)"
Earlier this year, Joni Mitchell brought her now-famous Joni Jam shows to the Hollywood Bowl for two sold-out evenings. A little more than 45 years ago, Mitchell closed out her North American tour with a series of shows some fifteen minutes away from the Bowl at the Greek Theatre; a selection from that concert closes the fourth volume of the Joni Mitchell Archives series of box sets. The Bowl shows proved another triumph for the artist who's now widely recognized for the innovations that
Holiday Gift Guide Review: 'Dearly Beloved: A Prince Celebration'
The holidays are a time of good cheer and gratitude, where we all (in theory) come together to share in a common joy. There has not been a lot of common joy if you're a Prince fan; we don't need to re-litigate it more than we did this summer, but it's worth noting that the quest to make intriguing, posthumous Prince projects under the current estate organization has maybe gotten worse than when we published our editorial. But there have been celebrations of The Purple One that honor his
Holiday Gift Guide Review: Alice Cooper, "Muscle of Love: Deluxe Edition"
Rare is the album that's better remembered for its packaging than its contents. But that may well be the case with the band Alice Cooper's seventh (and final) album, 1973's Muscle of Love. As it followed the Platinum-certified international chart-topper Billion Dollar Babies, hopes were high for the LP. It was greeted by lukewarm critical assessments, though, and "merely" reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200 and No. 34 on the U.K. Albums Chart. As such, it was inevitably considered a
Eternity: Cherry Pop Reissues Sheena Easton's "No Sound But a Heart"
Following the deluxe 2CD expansion of Do You earlier this year, Cherry Pop has continued its upgrade and overhaul of Sheena Easton's discography with a remastered vinyl edition of her 1987 album No Sound But a Heart. For her eighth album and final set with EMI, Easton turned to the prevailing "multiple producers" approach so prevalent in the 1980s. As those producers included Narada Michael Walden, Phil Ramone, Nick Martinelli, and Keith Diamond, the Scottish singer was in good hands on 1987's
Soundtrack Watch: Intrada's Last 2024 Score Reissues Include 'Out of Africa,' 'The Old Man and the Sea' and More
If the holidays are a time to release the biggest archival film scores on CD, Intrada certainly got the memo! Among their last reissues of 2024 include an expanded version of an Oscar winner by John Barry, a premiere release of a Maurice Jarre favorite, a reissue of a stalwart album by Jerry Goldsmith and a new recording of a beloved work from Dimitri Tiomkin - plus a soundtrack to a documentary on one of the better-known songwriters/scorers of the '70s. While Barry certainly gets accolades
It Had Better Be Tonight: Quartet Records Celebrates Henry Mancini with "Pink Panther" Premiere Plus "Darling Lili" and More
April 16, 2024 marked what would have been the 100th birthday of Henry Mancini (1924-1994). With over 125 films and 90 albums to his credit (not to mention television shows, stage productions, and more!), the late composer's richly melodic music is still very much a part of the American cultural tapestry. Spain's soundtrack specialist label Quartet Records wasn't about to let the Mancini centennial go unnoticed. The label has delivered four new Mancini releases just in time for the holidays,
Holiday Gift Guide Review: Steve Martin, 'Steve in a Box'
At this point in time, CD box sets have been a going concern (especially around the holidays) for nearly 40 years. Thousands of them have been released, and with the unexpected shift toward listening on vinyl (who'd have thought?) and digital (particularly streaming, which has a near-total grasp on music consumption today), you've got to have a really strong angle to encourage fans to part with some extra money and add new titles to their shelves. What more can be done? you (and sometimes we at
The Weekend Stream: December 14, 2024
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. We've got Christmas cheer from The Damnwells and Jody Miller, a Record Store Day reissue from Tegan and Sara, mid-'70s fun from The Flying Burrito Brothers to Freddie Prinze and a new spin on a John Williams classic. Plus, a way to help a dear friend and collaborator of the TSD team. The Damnwells, Xmas Eve (Poor Man/Pasadena Records) (iTunes
Release Round-Up: Week of December 13
It's Friday the 13th, but it just might be your lucky day for reissues! Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the titles available today. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Luther Vandross, Never Too Much: Greatest Hits (Epic/Legacy) 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada In conjunction with a new documentary film, Legacy Recordings issues a new double-disc anthology of the
Meet Danny Wilson! Cherry Red Revisits Scottish Pop Heroes in New Box Set
One of the most underrated pop acts of the late '80s will get the deluxe treatment in a new box set coming from Cherry Red next year: Scottish pop trio Danny Wilson. Complete Danny Wilson, due out February 28, will live up to its name across five discs comprising the band's two studio albums - Meet Danny Wilson (1987) and Bebop Moptop (1989) - along with two discs of B-sides and rarities and a live show featuring several unreleased performances. The set was assembled with the participation of
Whistlin' Tunes That You Know: Rhino Launches 'Reserves' Audiophile Series with Allen Toussaint and Eddie Hazel
Rhino has announced the launch of new audiophile vinyl series: Rhino Reserves. The series kicks off on January 31, 2025 as part of the label's annual Start Your Ear Off Right campaign available exclusively through Rhino.com and select retail outlets (typically independent record stores and Barnes & Noble locations) with Allen Toussaint's Southern Nights and Eddie Hazel's Game, Dames, and Guitar Thangs. Going forward, each Rhino Reserves title will be pressed locally by the California-based
And If the Sun Comes Up Tomorrow: Hootie & The Blowfish Plan New Box Set
More than 30 years after enjoying one of the most successful debut albums of all time, Hootie & The Blowfish will kick off 2025 with a new career-spanning box set on Rhino Records. The Atlantic Years 1994-2003, available January 25, brings together all four studio albums the quartet recorded for the label in their first decade - the chart-toppers Cracked Rear View (1994) and Fairweather Johnson (1996), Musical Chairs (1998) and their self-titled 2003 effort - plus the 2000 covers
Holiday Gift Guide Review: 'Mary Poppins: 60th Anniversary Collection'
I. In Every Job That Must Be Done, There is An Element of Fun When you're a child - no matter where you're from, or how perceptive you may be about such things - it's easy to get a sixth sense about something you watch or read and just feel is different from the rest of what you've watched or seen. The Wizard of Oz is that way for many people. So too is Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers' series of books about a magical nanny that was adapted into a colorful musical film by Walt Disney Studios in 1964.
Touchin' The Wind: Iconoclassic Expands Dwight Twilley's "Scuba Divers" with Long-Lost "Blueprint" Sessions
Iconoclassic Records is ushering in 2025 with the newest addition to its ongoing Dwight Twilley reissue series - and this one's a doozy, with a whopping 25 tracks (eleven of which are previously unreleased). On January 31, the label will reissue the late artist's 1981 album Scuba Divers as Scuba Divers: Blueprint Edition, with the subtitle nodding to Twilley's much-coveted unreleased album. Twilley, the singer-songwriter's first solo album following two acclaimed albums with The Dwight
The Weekend Stream: December 6, 2024
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. Elton John's most recent recording gets a remix, plus some rare Prince-produced '90s R&B, a comeback track from one of 2010s pop's most underrated performers, and some Christmas curios you'll have to hear to believe. There's even a tearjerker music video from...Coldplay? Check it all out! Elton John, "Never Too Late" (Acoustic Version)