With the Collector's Choice Music label in a state of flux and no new releases on the horizon, disappointment is in the air. One of the most acclaimed series created at Collector's Choice in recent years is The Bing Crosby Archive. With the cooperation of Crosby's family and access to his personal collection, executive producer Gordon Anderson spearheaded a deluxe series of expanded reissues restoring the legendary artist's album catalogue to print. While no formal announcement has been made by
Don't Know Why It Is At All: Universal Releases New Aerosmith Compilation
Aerosmith hasn't released an album of new material since 2004 (and that was a covers record, so the last album of original material was in 2001). Recent affairs between Steven Tyler and Joe Perry have veered toward acrimony, after Tyler injured himself on tour and began insisting his desire to work on "Brand Tyler" (i.e.: a solo album); this ultimately manifested itself into a gig replacing Simon Cowell as a judge on American Idol, a gig that has been bizarre but not disastrous. It would not be
Tom Waits Has Other Sonic Problems
Tom Waits' voice may not be for everyone, but there were bigger problems than that to notice on the recent repressings of his first four albums on red vinyl from Rhino. The reissues, put out several months back, have been plagued with sporadic problems that seem to lie with the mastering or transfer onto vinyl. Fortunately, Anti- Records has begun an exchange program and promised their customers that these problems will be corrected and avoided for future vinyl reissues of the Waits
Reissue Theory: Aretha Franklin, "Sweet Passion: The Lost Atlantic Years"
Welcome to another installment of Reissue Theory, where we reflect on great albums and the reissues they could someday see. Aretha Franklin began her groundbreaking stint at Atlantic Records in 1967 and it wasn’t long before a legendary star was in the ascendant. Yet the final chapter of Aretha’s Atlantic story has been all but forgotten. Today’s Reissue Theory takes us back to 1974 as we revisit the “lost albums” of Aretha Franklin. There are plenty of adjectives that can be used to describe
Legacy Provides Relief for Japan
Now here's a surprise. iTunes, in concert with the major record labels, put together a 38-song compilation called Songs for Japan, the proceeds of which would go to relief funds for the ongoing crises in Japan following a massive earthquake and tsunami that left the country in a state of peril. And now, Amazon has a listing for the compilation on CD from Legacy. (This two-disc set actually omits some of the tracks heard on the iTunes version, namely tracks by Madonna and David Guetta.) While
Cherry Red Fills in Gaps for April
The Cherry Red label group has been insanely busy in recent weeks prepping expanded and remastered albums for consumption in England. We've already seen new releases from their Now Sounds, Big Break and Soul Music labels, but April will see a few other worthy titles for your consideration on the Cherry Red, Cherry Pop, El and Iron Bird labels. First up is a reissue of How Long: The Very Best of Ace, one of the surprisingly few career-spanning sets by pub-rockers Ace. The band's brief brush with
Another Round of "ICON" Track Lists (UPDATED 4/4)
UPDATE 4/4: We now have confirmation on the track lists for each set! Original post: Next week, another batch of ICON compilations will be released by Universal Music Group. This is particularly interesting, considering that all of the track lists for these upcoming sets have yet to be revealed. Indeed, pre-order links on Amazon and other sites don't even have all of these track lists, or cover art, finalized. (This is doubly ironic considering another batch of ICON titles is slate for May,
Ventura Highway, Revisited: America Offers Re-Recorded "Hits"
Buyer, beware! Eagle-eyed music browsers may have noticed a new title from America, the 1970s hitmakers behind such soft rock radio perennials as “Sister Golden Hair,” “Ventura Highway,” “I Need You,” and of course, the deathless “A Horse with No Name.” America Records released Hits: 40th Anniversary Edition last week, and buyers could be forgiven for thinking it was another repackage of History: America’s Greatest Hits. Seven of the twelve tracks on each compilation are identical. It would be
Giving Them The Best That He Got: Warwick, LaBelle, Bailey Featured on Skip Scarborough Anthology
Skip Scarborough (1944-2003) may not have ever gained the name-brand recognition of some of his songwriting peers. But the man born Clarence Alexander Scarborough penned some of the most instantly recognizable classics in the soul music pantheon. Anita Baker's "Giving You the Best That I Got," The Friends of Distinction's "Love or Let Me Be Lonely" and Earth Wind & Fire's "Can't Hide Love" are just three of Scarborough's most memorable compositions. The latter went on to be recorded by
Release Round-Up: Week of March 29
Derek and The Dominos, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs: 40th Anniversary Edition (Polydor/UMe) Unbeknownst to us at Second Disc HQ, a lot of weird stuff has been going on with this deluxe edition. It seems that, for whatever reason, the 2-CD edition of this set is retailing only at Best Buy until April 26, at which point it'll be released more widely. No extra material seems to be present, just a lengthy lead time in terms of exclusivity. Weird, man. And of course there's that super-deluxe
Ella Goes to Japan in New Verve Select Release
You got to love it when discoveries like these are made: Verve Select has delivered on their Twitter tease from last week with the announcement of a previously-unreleased set of Ella Fitzgerald in Japan. 'S Wonderful: Ella in Japan showcases the First Lady of Song in rare form over two nights with the Roy Eldridge Quartet in Tokyo in 1964. There are some great bits of historical importance here, including Ella's first recordings with pianist Tommy Flanagan and a jam session between the quartet
Review: "Inner City: The Original Broadway Cast Recording"
"I look around and what do I see? Nothing's the way it used to be..." In 1969, Eve Merriam bluntly took aim at violence, racism, corruption and poverty in her ironic collection of verse, Inner City Mother Goose. Controversial from the outset, Merriam's Mother Goose became one of the most banned books in the country. Enter visionary theatre director Tom O'Horgan. Having replaced Gerald Freedman for Hair's move uptown in 1968, O'Horgan was well known for his experimental flair. Julian Barry's
Reissue Theory: Duran Duran, "Medazzaland" and "Pop Trash"
Welcome to another installment of Reissue Theory, where we focus on notable albums and the reissues they may someday see. With a new album by Duran Duran receiving deserved critical acclaim, let's take a look back at the band's years as a trio in the late '90s and see what gold could stand to be dug up from the vaults. As current electro-pop music goes, all you need now is All You Need is Now. Duran Duran's 13th studio album was first released independently (through the band's new Tapemodern
Kickstarting a New Reissue Project
(Note: I was remiss by not initially thanking Thierry Côté for linking to this story on Twitter. Thanks!) In the early days of remasters and reissues, the best way for an album to get expanded was to be a critical and commercial success. As time went on, that thankfully wasn't always the case; reissues could serve as critical reappraisals or reminders of undersold gems by popular performers. Gradually, as the majors tightened their belts, independent labels were on hand to continue work on
Short Takes: "Beauty and the Beat" Expansion, Another Wainwright Box, The Truth is Out There
The Go-Go's iconic Beauty and the Beat (1981) will be expanded in May by EMI, reports the band's official site. The band, which recently announced a summer tour to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the chart-topping album (which featured Top 20 single "Our Lips Are Sealed" and No. 2 hit "We Got the Beat"), will see several versions of the album, including a hot-pink vinyl edition and a double-disc set on CD featuring a vintage live set. Loudon Wainwright III's 40 Odd Years box set is due from
Rare Cinema Treasures from Barry, Addison and Sarde Coming Soon
Film score collectors are among the most insatiable music purchasers, but luckily, there’s frequently a steady stream of releases. Three new and exciting titles have just been announced. Direct from Los Angeles on the estimable Kritzerland label comes Phillipe Sarde’s score to Roman Polanski’s 1986 film Pirates. A continent away in Spain, the Quartet Records label has been growing an impressive library of soundtracks, and the label has recently announced two new additions: John Barry’s 1965
Happy Birthday, Lady Soul: Aretha Franklin Turns 69 Today!
Today, March 25, is Aretha Franklin’s birthday, and she’s celebrating in high style. After being treated in November for an undisclosed ailment, the newly-trim Queen of Soul has announced a May 19 return to performing at the Chicago Theatre. This announcement came on the heels of Tuesday’s release of Legacy’s lavish 12-disc box set, Take a Look: Aretha Franklin Complete on Columbia, collecting all of her pre-Atlantic recordings for the storied label. We couldn’t allow Franklin’s birthday to go
Review: Various Artists, "Manhattan Soul: Scepter, Wand and Musicor"
Tomorrow evening, New York’s Broadhurst Theatre will be filled with the sounds of soul. The new Broadway musical Baby, It’s You! will begin previews on March 26, bringing to the stage the story of New Jersey housewife Florence Greenberg (portrayed by Tony Award winner Beth Leavel) and her mighty musical empire founded in 1959. Greenberg, a pioneering woman in a field then dominated by men, nurtured the careers of The Shirelles and Dionne Warwick, among others, shepherding the songs of Carole
Review: "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack"
Close your eyes for a moment and pretend you're on Jeopardy! The answer: "This 1963 widescreen epic opened Hollywood's Cinerama Dome." The question: "What is It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World?" Raise your hand if you got it right! Yes, Mad World, as we'll abbreviate it for expediency's sake, is this author's epic film to end all epic films (sorry, Ben-Hur!) and certainly one of the only Hollywood epic comedies! While the designation "all-star" has been applied before and since, perhaps no film
Coming to a Record Store Near You...
Mark your calendars if you haven't already, music fans: April 16 is the fourth annual Record Store Day! What started as a small declaration of independence for brick-and-mortar, mom-and-pop record stores in the face of industry decline has blossomed into a worldwide celebration with goodies provided by major and independent labels. And because lots of record store fans are also big into catalogue stuff like you and me, a lot of the RSD exclusives focus on reissues or anniversary repressings in
Wait for It, Wait for It, Give It Some Time: Howard Jones Box Delayed to April
If you've ordered the upcoming Howard Jones box set featuring remastered versions of his first two EPs plus a bonus disc of rare and unreleased remixes, you have more time to savor the anticipation than originally expected. While the set was due to ship at the end of March, a manufacturing error which necessitated a disc repress resulted in the box's ship date being pushed back to April. As of this reporting, no one is to blame. Jones' label, Dtox Records, put this statement out on their news
And Now...Along Comes The Association, Expanded and Remastered!
UPDATE 3/24: The track listing on this release has been amended slightly. You can find it after the jump, of course. What makes the perfect pop song? The ingredients, of course, vary. In a weighty tome that can easily be viewed through a cynical lens today, Herb Hendler (of Capitol Records’ publishing arm Beechwood Music) offered How to Write a Contemporary Song to prospective songwriters in 1967. He included a worksheet where one could ask a number of questions of his or her favorite song: Is
Here They Come...Monkees Reissues Coming from Friday Music
Monkees fans didn't have a lot to complain about in 2010; Rhino Handmade released acclaimed box sets dedicated to the band's albums The Birds, The Bees and the Monkees and Head, while Micky Dolenz paid tribute to Carole King with his solo King for a Day. The news got even better as 2011 began, with Dolenz, Davy Jones and Peter Tork confirming the rumored plans that they would reunite for a 45th anniversary Monkees tour. (Michael Nesmith, as expected, chose to sit the May/June/July tour out.) Yet
Short Takes: Sade Compilation Coming, More Nirvana on Record Store Day, Star Trek Box Split Up, More Live Ella Forthcoming
Epic/Legacy will release The Ultimate Collection by Sade on May 3. Intended to tease the band's long-awaited summer tour, the set will feature tracks from all the band's albums, from 1984's Diamond Life to 2010's Soldier of Love, and will feature three unreleased tracks, including a new remix of Solider track "The Moon and the Sky" featuring rapper Jay-Z. Those who pre-order the set through the band's official site will get exclusive access to ticket pre-sales for recently-announced dates
Depeche Mode Go Backward, Forward on Remix Set
It's always a killer prospect when a band still manages to go strong with over a dozen albums under their belt. Depeche Mode are one such ensemble, with 2009's Sounds of the Universe proving that the band is as fresh as they ever were some three decades ago. Their newest project, however, sees them dipping into the vaults for an expansive remix set, and longtime fans of the band will have reason to be excited. Remixes 2: 81-11, to be released in June, will cover the band's catalogue in remix
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