"Everything means nothing, if I ain't got you..." The refrain was inescapable in 2003, when Alicia Keys' instant classic "If I Ain't Got You" dominated the radio and reached a cross-section of audiences that had rarely been seen before. The track is a highlight among many on her second album, The Diary of Alicia Keys. The chart-topping, Grammy-winning album defied the concept of the sophomore slump. It stayed on the Billboard Albums listing for 88 weeks and has been certified 5x-Platinum
Gettin' Together: Cherry Red, Grapefruit Collect Tommy James and The Shondells' Roulette Recordings
Ohio-born, Michigan-raised rocker Tommy James fronted some of the 1960s' most indelible hits, including "I Think We're Alone Now," "Mony Mony," "Crystal Blue Persuasion," "Sweet Cherry Wine," and the chart-topping "Hanky Panky" and "Crimson and Clover." Combining garage rock attitude with pop polish, Tommy James and The Shondells' recordings are still beloved staples of oldies radio today. Now, all of those hits and more are returning to CD in a new 6-disc box set from Cherry Red's Grapefruit
Revolting Children: Broadway Records Expands "Matilda: The Musical" for Vinyl Premiere
When Matilda: The Musical opened at Broadway's Shubert Theatre in April 2013, it was greeted by ecstatic reviews. The New York Times' Ben Brantley proclaimed it "the most satisfying and subversive musical ever to come out of Britain." Variety's Gordon Cox called it "an explosion of joy," and Elisabeth Vincentelli in the New York Post admonished readers that "for once, you can believe the hype." Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin's musical based on Roald Dahl's 1988 novel ran on Broadway for almost
We'll Be Together: Sting Preps New Duets Collection
While known as a singular performer - even his stage name is one word - Sting's next album is a collection of (mostly) previously released collaborations with other artists. But don't expect Duets to be a simple compilation of hits: only three of these tracks are from the former Police frontman's studio albums (four, if you count deluxe editions). Everything else is from Sting's guest appearances on albums by others and the occasional soundtrack appearance. Highlights include his 1999 hit
Toasts of the Town: Stage Door Reissues, Expands David Heneker's "Jorrocks" Musical on CD
Composer-lyricist David Heneker (1906-2001) remains best known today for his joyful score to the 1963 West End musical Half a Sixpence which transferred to Broadway in 1965, yielded a 1967 film version, and inspired a 2016 London revival. But Heneker wrote numerous other musicals with equally tuneful scores including Charlie Girl (1965), Phil the Fluter (1969), and Jorrocks (1966). Now, the latter is coming to CD from Stage Door Records with an expanded release of its 1966 London Studio Cast
Spill The Wine: Rhino Reunites with Avenue Records, Announces Record Store Day Black Friday Reissue of WAR's "Greatest Hits"
After ten years away, Avenue Records has reunited with Rhino Entertainment, bringing recordings from WAR, Eric Burdon, Jimmy Witherspoon, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Redbone, Circle Jerks, Funkadelics, New Riders Of The Purple Sage, and more back to the imprint of Warner Music. Central to the new worldwide deal are WAR's complete master recordings dating back decades, beginning with the band's first album Eric Burdon Declares "WAR" - which introduced listeners to the band's irresistible blend
UPDATE: General Retail Edition, Repressed Deluxe Edition of "Neil Young Archives, Volume 2: 1972-1976" Confirmed for March 5
UPDATE 11/12/2020: It's been a long time since Neil Young released his last Archives box set. In the intervening 11 years since Neil released Archives, Volume 1: 1963-1972, fans have endlessly speculated what might be on Volume 2 - or if it might happen at all. As our readers probably know by now, Neil Young Archives, Volume 2: 1972-1976 is a go, with a limited-edition box set arriving next Friday, November 20. A digital edition will also be available on Neil Young Archives and all major digital
Release Round-Up: Week of November 13
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Elton John, Jewel Box (EMI/UMe) 8CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Deep Cuts 4LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Rarities & B-Sides 3LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada And This Is Me... 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Elton John is reaching deep into the vault with Jewel Box, a new, super-sized collection of rare and unreleased material. The British pop legend's deep dive into his
Review: Joan Armatrading's Self-Titled Album Shines on Intervention's Vinyl Reissue
Back in 2018, we wrote about an upcoming vinyl reissue of Joan Armatrading's self-titled album on Intervention Records. (It was actually your author's very first post on The Second Disc!) Intervention had been making a name for themselves as the new kid on the block of audiophile labels. This imprint has since become known for its attention to detail, commitment to superior audio, and deluxe presentations. We were no doubt thrilled to hear what was to come. Well, after a slight pause,
Reggae Pressure: Doctor Bird Reissues, Expands Classics from Delano Stewart, The Reggae Strings
Cherry Red's Doctor Bird imprint has reliably delivered Jamaican reggae and ska sounds from the vaults of Trojan Records. Today we're looking at two of its recent releases. First things first: the smiling woman on the cover of Delano Stewart's Stay a Little Bit Longer, to the left, is not the artist but rather a model. Winston Delano Stewart is the male singer of '60s rocksteady group The Gaylads, formed in Kingston, Jamaica when Stewart and his singing partner Harris "B.B." Seaton decided
It's Not Unusual: Run Out Groove Reissues Halestorm, Fear Factory, Belly on Deluxe Vinyl
As the year winds to a close, Run Out Groove is keeping busy as ever. The label has recently announced upcoming titles from Halestorm, Fear Factory, and Belly. Ten years ago, Philadelphia band Halestorm recorded a hometown show. The Atlantic Records release Live in Philly 2010 features Lzzy Hale [vocals + guitar], Arejay Hale [drums], Joe Hottinger [guitar], and Josh Smith [bass]. The band has performed with such varied and top-tier artists as Eric Church, Joan Jett, Avenged Sevenfold,
Picture On The Wall: John Mayall's Early Years Collected on 35-CD Box Set, "The First Generation: 1965-1974"
In the pantheon of British blues music, few have had as much influence as John Mayall. As the leader of The Bluesbreakers in the '60s and '70s (and through to today), he's sought out and nurtured talented musicians who'd go on to become as legendary as Mayall himself. Indeed, the roster of future legends that passed through the ranks of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers is immense. John McVie, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Paul Butterfield, Aynsley Dunbar, Mick Taylor, Keef Hartley, and Jack Bruce all
It Must Be Love: New Box Set Celebrates Labi Siffre's Solo Work
Back in 2015, Demon Music Group's Edsel label revisited five albums from British singer-songwriter Labi Siffre in a series of expanded editions. The reissues showcased the timelessness of his writing and the versatility of his performances. Now, Edsel has returned to the Siffre discography to complete it. My Song is the new 9-CD box set bringing together those five previously reissued albums and bonus tracks along with four more to paint a full portrait of Siffre's artistry. Despite a
Jump They Say: David Bowie's "Brilliant Live Adventures" Series Continues with "No Trendy Réchauffé (Live Birmingham '95)"
Last month, Parlophone Records announced Brilliant Live Adventures, a new series of releases from the late David Bowie collecting six rare and previously unreleased live albums from the 1990s to be released in limited-edition, one-time pressings on both CD and vinyl. The first three albums have all been promised for release before Christmas, with the remaining trio due early in 2021. Ouvrez Le Chien (Live Dallas '95) was the first volume; today, the second has been announced. No Trendy
Design As Reduction: Brian Eno's Soundtrack Work Anthologized On "Film Music 1976-2020"
Brian Eno and UMe have recently announced the release of Film Music 1976-2020 . This first-ever compilation of Eno's film and television soundtrack work brings together highlights from five decades of music, including seven tracks previously unreleased in an audio-only format . Digital configurations will be released on November 13 while CD and 2-LP editions are set to arrive on January 22, 2021. Multi-instrumentalist and composer Eno has long been associated with film music, starting in 1970
Bandcamp Friday for a Cause: System of a Down Reunite to Raise Awareness for Armenia
We're only sharing one release for Bandcamp Friday today - but it's a good one: rock band System of a Down has released their first new music in 15 years for a cause they've supported their entire lives. The new tracks "Protect the Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz" mark the first time the quartet has released music since the albums Mezmerize and Hypnotize in 2005. The group went on a hiatus less than a year later, which ended in 2011 with a series of festival
Release Round-Up: Week of November 6
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Elvis Costello and The Attractions, Armed Forces: Super Deluxe Edition (UMe) uDiscoverMusic Store: black / color Elvis Costello is revisiting his 1979 album in super-sized format. Armed Forces arrives today as a deluxe, slipcased 9-disc vinyl set with three 12-inch LPs, three 10-inch LPs, and three 7-inch singles including 23 previously unreleased live tracks and the complete contents of the previous Rhino/Edsel deluxe edition (with many
No Sign of Weakness: Nickel Creek's Landmark Early-Oughts Albums Get the 45rpm Double Vinyl Treatment
It's been 20 years since the Grammy Award-winning Americana trio Nickel Creek released their celebrated self-titled album. To mark the occasion, Craft Recordings are set to reissue that album alongside This Side (2002), and Why Should the Fire Die? (2005). The audiophile-quality albums will be pressed at 45rpm onto 180-gram vinyl and available on black vinyl and artist webstore-exclusive color variants. It's all happening tomorrow, November 6! The Americana trio Nickel Creek formed in 1989
Cherry Red, RPM Get "Right Back Where We Started From" With New '70s Female Pop Collection
Cherry Red's long-running RPM imprint announced earlier this year that 2020 would be its final year of operations - but that hasn't kept RPM from going out with a bang. One of the final titles to arrive from the imprint, Right Back Where We Started From, is a joyous 3-CD celebration of Female Pop and Soul in Seventies Britain. The title is drawn from Maxine Nightingale's irresistibly bouncy 1975 single, a top ten entry in the United Kingdom and a top five in the States. Not every track on
Going, Going, Gone: Kritzerland Premieres John Barry and Alan Jay Lerner's "Lolita, My Love" on CD, Reissues Ben Bagley's "Irving Berlin Revisited"
Kritzerland has just announced two new titles today! A musical version of Vladimir Nabokov's 1955 novel Lolita hardly seemed like typical fare for the Broadway stage. Yet Alan Jay Lerner - lyricist-librettist of My Fair Lady, Camelot, and Paint Your Wagon - envisioned just that. Lolita had already been adapted by Nabokov himself for director Stanley Kubrick's 1962 film starring Sue Lyon, James Mason, Shelley Winters, and a scene-stealing Peter Sellers, but the author gave his blessing to
Ace Round-Up, Part One: Helen Shapiro's "Face the Music" Collects Rare 1967-1984 Singles
Welcome to today's first installment of our Ace Records Round-Up featuring a number of the label's latest titles! Helen Shapiro sang her way into the hearts of Britons as a teenager. Inspired by the success of Alma Cogan, Helen was just 14 when she scored a No. 3 hit on the U.K. Singles Chart with "Don't Treat Me Like a Child." The same year of 1961, she charted not one but two No. 1 singles, "You Don't Know" and "Walkin' Back to Happiness." Soon, she was appearing in films and appearing
How Far They've Come: Matchbox Twenty Celebrate Two Decades with Vinyl Box
Matchbox Twenty is looking back with a new box set. On November 20, the band will release the simply-titled 20, a new 7-LP vinyl collection containing all five of their studio albums plus Exile on Mainstream Revisited, a "reimagined" version of the 2007 compilation Exile on Mainstream now featuring numerous rare tracks making their first appearance in the vinyl format. The box includes: Yourself or Someone Like You (1996); Mad Season (2000; 2 LPs, new to vinyl); More Than You
Whatcha Gonna Do for Me: Average White Band Releases "On the Strip: The Sunset Sessions," Reissues "Cupid's in Fashion"
The opening track of Average White Band's new/old release On the Strip: The Sunset Sessions couldn't have a more apropos title: "Let's Go Round Again." Following a successful run of albums with producer-arranger Arif Mardin, the funky big band outfit was re-establishing itself. 1979's Feel No Fret was a self-produced affair on which the band was joined by co-producer Gene Paul; it yielded hit singles in "Atlantic Avenue" and a revival of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Walk on By." For a
Short Takes, Holiday Edition: "Beetlejuice" Offers Demos, Anne Murray Collects Christmas Favorites
Halloween might be over, but the party still continues: Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Legend has it that if you say his name three times, the demon - introduced on screen by Michael Keaton and then on Broadway by Alex Brightman - appears before you. While Beetlejuice: The Musical had its New York run curtailed by COVID-19 after 366 performances, you can't keep a good demon down. The Ghostlight Records cast recording starring Brightman, Sophia Anne Caruso, Rob McClure, Leslie Kritzer,
What's New, Pussycat? Tom Jones' Decca Years Collected on New 17-CD Box
Way back on May 26, 2016, The Second Disc reported on Tom Jones' The Complete Decca Studio Albums Collection, then set for a September 2, 2016 release. Alas, the 15-CD release didn't materialize that fall. But this story has a happy ending. Sir Tom has announced on Facebook that the hefty box - now counting 17 discs, with two CDs comprising an expanded version of the 2020 digital-only rarities set Hide and Seek: The Lost Collection - will finally arrive on November 20 with over 200 tracks and
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