Swing Out Sister burst onto the scene in 1986 with "Breakout." The first song on the group's first album, the sleek admonition reached the top ten on both sides of the Atlantic as well as the top of the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart. With Corrine Drewery's lead vocal soaring over a fizzy cocktail of funky bass, brash horns, bubbly synths, a sweet string arrangement, and a driving snare drum, "Breakout" bridged the gap between contemporary and retro. It launched Swing Out Sister to
The Weekend Stream: October 29, 2022
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. This week, it's a stuffed Halloween sack full of sweet rarities from INXS and Madonna, remixes of Frank Zappa and Bing Crosby, two completely unreleased 50-year-old albums and a brand-new spin on a Stephen Sondheim classic - and that's only half of it! INXS, Shabooh Shoobah (40th Anniversary
In Memoriam: Jerry Lee Lewis (1935-2022)
To the uninitiated, the biography of Jerry Lee Lewis in 2022 read like a list of rock tropes so basic you can't believe they all happened to one man. Born to a poor Louisiana family that included a lot of famous Southerners (including cousins Mickey Gilley and Jimmy Swaggart), Jerry Lee's parents mortgaged their farm to buy him a piano and hoped he would honor the Lord in song. What they got instead was a firebrand, whose boogie-woogie sensibilities galvanized and scandalized the
Review: The Beatles, "Revolver" (2022)
I took a ride, I didn't know what I would find there... George Harrison's snarling takedown of the "Taxman" opened The Beatles' Revolver with a powerful sting. The so-called Quiet Beatle took on the first-person role with the relish of (and a musical nod to) a Batman villain. Though 1965's folk-rock-influenced Rubber Soul had seen the Fab Four's songwriting grow by leaps and bounds, Revolver matched the songwriting strides with revelatory studio processes including ADT (Artificial Double
Release Round-Up: Week of October 28
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today! The Beatles, Revolver [Various Editions] (Apple/Capitol/UMe) 5CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 4LP + 7": Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 1CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 1LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Official Store (Picture Disc) The Beatles' seventh studio album - and the bridge
Fare Thee Well: Sony Music, Analogue Productions Reissue Two Harry Belafonte Classics
On March 1, 2022, Harry Belafonte turned 95 years old. Though the actor, singer, and humanitarian largely retired from performing in the early years of the twenty-first century, he's remained active with the causes near and dear to his heart. On November 5, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will honor this American legend with its Early Influence Award, a recognition previously bestowed on such musical heroes as Louis Armstrong, Nat "King" Cole, Woody Guthrie, Mahalia Jackson, and Hank Williams.
Try to Remember: Stage Door Brings Rare "The Fantasticks" Mexico City Cast Album to CD
On May 3, 1960, The Fantasticks opened at the tiny Sullivan Street Playhouse in New York's Greenwich Village. The intimate, eight-actor, two-musician musical by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt continued to light up the Sullivan Street stage until January 13, 2002 by which time it had earned the moniker "The World's Longest-Running Musical." Appropriately enough, the Playhouse closed along with the show- its 19th century Greek revival rowhouse home turned into glass-windowed luxury condominiums -
Do You Realize?? The Flaming Lips' 'Yoshimi' Turns 20 with Expansive Box Set
The Flaming Lips' Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots was the band's tenth album and perhaps their most successful, earning their only U.S. Gold record to date as well as a Platinum certification from the U.K.'s BPI. A loose concept album incorporating electronica, rock, pop, and hip-hop textures, Yoshimi saw the band continuing its inventive path while embracing accessibility. The album even inspired a stage musical in 2012, and now, its 20th anniversary is being celebrated with a deluxe box
Tired of Toein' the Line: Iconoclassic Premieres Rocky Burnette's "The Son of Rock and Roll" on CD
Jonathan "Rocky" Burnette made quite an impression in the family business. His father, Johnny Burnette, was the rockabilly hitmaker who notched such international hits as "You're Sixteen (You're Beautiful, and You're Mine)" and "Dreamin'" before tragically perishing in a boating accident in 1964; his uncle, Dorsey, was a member with Johnny of The Rock and Roll Trio and a recording artist in his own right on such labels as Imperial, Dot, Reprise, Motown, and Capitol before his own sad death at
The Weekend Stream: October 22, 2022
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 - including favorites from a late '80s U.K. pop queen and the quickest digital reissue ever. Sinitta, Sinitta! (Expanded Edition) / Wicked (Expanded Edition) (Sony Music U.K.) SInitta: iTunes / Amazon Wicked: iTunes / Amazon Though Sinitta Malone was born in Seattle, her biggest chart
Can't Keep It In: Cat Stevens Reissues "Catch Bull at Four" in 50th Anniversary Editions
Cat Stevens, today known as Yusuf, marked the 50th anniversary of his first three Island/A&M albums (1970's Mona Bone Jakon and Tea for the Tillerman, and 1971's Teaser and the Firecat) with a variety of releases including expansive super deluxe box sets. For 1972's Catch Bull at Four, the troubadour is taking a distinctly slimmed-down approach. On December 2, Island and A&M will reissue Stevens' classic album on CD, LP, and digitally, newly remastered from the original tapes but with
Release Round-Up: Week of October 21
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles in stores today! Lou Reed, Words and Music - May 1965 (Light in the Attic) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Black Vinyl LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Yellow Vinyl LP: Light in the Attic Store Cassette: Light in the Attic Store CD/2LP/7" Vinyl Deluxe Edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Light in the Attic Store Light in the Attic launches The Lou Reed
Keep On Sailing: Cherry Red Collects Iain Matthews' Plainsong on New Box Set
Cherry Red's Lemon imprint has anthologized the works of singer-songwriter Iain Matthews on previous releases including the 2019 rarities collection Orphans and Outcasts and this year's I Can't Fade Away: The Rockburgh Years 1978-1984. Now, Lemon is turning back the clock to Matthews' time in the band Plainsong with a new 6-CD box set. Following Amelia: The 1972 Recordings and More is, in essence, a generous 50th anniversary expanded edition of the original band's one and only album to be
She'll Be Thunder: Tina Turner's "Break Every Rule" Goes Deluxe in November
Last year, Parlophone revisited Tina Turner's 1989 triumph Foreign Affair in a deluxe edition. Now, the label is turning the clock back to 1986 for a similar presentation of the artist's equally incendiary Break Every Rule. The 1986 album will be reissued on November 25 as a 3CD/2DVD box as well as on vinyl and as a 2CD expanded edition. Break Every Rule followed Turner's 1984 solo breakthrough, the four-time Grammy-winning Private Dancer (itself reissued as a 2CD Deluxe Edition in 2015).
Come On Over: Olivia Newton-John's "Greatest Hits" Reissued, Remastered in Various Formats
Last month, Primary Wave delivered the second title in the label's ongoing Olivia Newton-John reissue program. The 2-CD edition of the late superstar's debut If Not for You not only presented a remastered version of the original LP but added a plethora of singles, B-sides, international recordings, outtakes, and the best of Olivia's performances with the group Toomorrow. This Friday, October 21, the series will continue with the first remaster of Newton-John's original 1977 Greatest
It Just Might Be a One-Shot Deal: Zappa's 1972 Chronicled on New CD/Blu-ray Box "Waka/Wazoo"
On the evening of December 10, 1971, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention had just encored with a performance of The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" at London's Rainbow Theatre when a so-called fan jumped onto the stage and pushed the bandleader some twelve feet into the orchestra pit. With injuries to his face, head, ribs, arm, and leg, Zappa was lucky to survive. He was forced into a near-yearlong period of convalescence in a wheelchair and leg brace, but he didn't stop creating or
A Big Enough Umbrella: 'Ghost in the Machine' Picture Disc Details a "Lost" Police Release
For most fans of The Police, the story of their penultimate album, 1981's Ghost in the Machine, is pretty cut and dried. But a forthcoming picture disc release hints at a road not taken for the beloved LP. On November 4, UMC will reissue the record with its "original" expanded track list that was apparently shortened at the last minute. In addition to the inclusion of three non-album tracks - the haunting tracks "I Burn for You" and "Once Upon a Daydream" (released on the soundtrack to
Journey Through the Past: Neil Young Expands "Harvest" For 50th Anniversary
Neil Young's fourth studio album, 1972's Harvest, was a landmark for the artist. His first and only No. 1 album in the U.S. and U.K. to date, it spun off his only U.S. No. 1 single to date with the ballad "Heart of Gold," and became the best-selling album in the U.S. of 1972 - only to remain the best-selling album in Young's ever-growing catalogue. The 2015 Grammy Hall of Fame inductee has received numerous reissues including a 2002 DVD-Audio presentation and a 2009 remaster as part of Young's
Hello There! Real Gone Prep Limited CD Box Set of Cheap Trick's 1977 Whisky Gigs
As the 1970s drew to a close, the world became well aware of the live concert power of Cheap Trick. The Rockford, Illinois quartet broke through in a big way thanks to their seminal At Budokan, recorded in Japan in 1978 and belatedly released stateside a year later, yielding a Top 10 hit in "I Want You to Want Me." The audience response on the record was undeniable - and still is in many ways - but there were lucky concertgoers who already knew thanks to some seminal American club gigs. As the
The Weekend Stream: October 15, 2022
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 - including a few surprise digital expansions from some '80s U.K. legends, holiday remixes, a lost fitness favorite and more! Sting, ...Nothing Like the Sun (Expanded Edition) (A&M/UMe) (iTunes / Amazon) This week marked the 35th anniversary of Sting's second solo album, and UMe
England Rocks: Demon Collects Ian Hunter's CBS Years on 2-LP Set
Ian Hunter departed from Mott the Hoople in 1974, having guided the band from hard rock to glam through seven studio albums and such hits as "All the Young Dudes," "Honaloochie Boogie," "All the Way from Memphis," "Roll Away the Stone," and "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll." Upon leaving Mott, Hunter jumped into a solo career that continues to this day, having produced nearly two dozen studio and live LPs. Now, Demon Music Group is celebrating one period of Hunter's career with a 2-LP
Release Round-Up: Week of October 14
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today! Frank Zappa, Zappa '75: Zagreb/Ljubljana (Zappa/UMe) (Zappa Official Store / Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Zappa '75: Zagreb/Ljubljana captures The Mothers' first and only concerts in Yugoslavia. Zappa referred to the dates as "The Mothers of Invention Yugoslavian Extravaganza," and the performances lived up to that mighty moniker. The shows were staged in Zagreb and
I Want It All: Queen's "The Miracle" Gets Super-Sized in Upcoming Box Set
Queen's thirteenth studio album, The Miracle, is coming back in a big way. On November 18, EMI (U.K.) and Hollywood Records (U.S.) will expand The Miracle into a 5CD/Blu-ray/DVD/LP box set adding alternate takes, demos, rough mixes, backing tracks, B-sides, and more. A 2-CD "highlights" edition will also be available as well as cassette and picture disc vinyl versions of the original album only. The marathon recording period commenced in December 1987 with the specter of Freddie Mercury's
Don't Be Afraid: Cherry Red, Esoteric Collect Keef Hartley Band's Complete Albums on "Sinnin' for You"
Drummer Keith "Keef" Hartley started his professional career rather auspiciously - replacing Ringo Starr in Rory Storm and The Hurricanes when Ringo was enlisted for duty with a certain fab foursome. Hartley went on to play with The Artwoods as well as with John Mayall before forming his own group. The Keef Hartley Band played at Woodstock and released six albums - five studio and one live - between 1969 and 1972 on Decca's "progressive" Deram imprint. Hartley would then release one solo LP
In Memoriam: Anita Kerr (1927-2022)
Tennessee native Anita Kerr (born Anita Jean Grilli) was only in her early twenties when her eight-voice choir achieved a spot on WSM Radio, venerable home of the Grand Ole Opry. Her weekly broadcasts led to a call to join "Mr. Country Music," Red Foley, in the recording studio for "Our Lady of Fatima." Foley's tune became a No. 16 Pop hit in 1950, and from there, Anita Kerr's career took off to the stratosphere. The Second Disc has just learned of the
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