In olden days, a glimpse of stocking was looked on as something shocking! Now heaven knows, anything goes...Good authors, too, who once knew better words now only use four-letter words writing prose! Anything goes! When Cole Porter wrote "Anything Goes" in 1934, could he have had any idea that his commentary would prove just as relevant more than thirty years later, and indeed, even today? In 1967, three years after the esteemed songsmith's passing, the members of Harpers Bizarre unleashed
Cowboy in Sweden: Light in the Attic Preps Lee Hazlewood Retrospective, Plus Rare Stax Recordings of Wendy Rene Collected
Though he had many chapters in his career, there was only one Barton Lee Hazlewood. The man who famously taught Nancy Sinatra to “sing like a 16-year old who goes out with 45-year old truckers” also played a pivotal role in the career of Duane Eddy and produced hits by Dean Martin, Dino (Martin), Desi (Arnaz, Jr.) and Billy (Hinsche), and the Chairman of the Board himself. But Hazlewood continued to create works of both eccentricity and beauty long after he departed Reprise Records in the
Viva Morrissey! U.K. Singer's First Album and Single Gets Reissued
Inifintely brilliant, often fickle rock icon Morrissey is reissuing one of his most beloved albums this spring - but it's another one of those situations where fans are going to want to hold on to their old copies, too. Semi-official fansite True to You posted a news release today for a reissue of Viva Hate, Morrissey's debut solo album from 1988. Released just six months after the breakup of The Smiths and featuring longtime Smiths engineer/producer Stephen Street, Viva Hate was a
Soundtrack Spotlight: Intrada Uncovers Trolls, La-La Land Goes Ape
It's one of those rare weeks when more than one soundtrack reissue label puts out titles within days of each other, so there are four new and expanded sets to enjoy. Intrada has released two scores on CD for the first time. The first, Gil Melle's score to 1980's Borderline, is noted for its blend of traditional orchestral arrangements and mixing along with free-form, jazz-based music that took advantage of the full field of stereo sound. The film, a fictionalized account of U.S. border guards
Hits, in a Lifetime: Legacy Preps Compilation for Irish Folk Band Clannad
Everyone's going to feel a little Irish on St. Patrick's Day, but this year catalogue enthusiasts have a title to give them a little edge in terms of the country's music: The Essential Clannad, a double-disc set from Irish folk band Clannad. A family-based quintet, ormed in Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal (their name is shortened from "An Clann as Dobhair," or "the family from 'Dore") Clannad remain unique in that they are one of the most successful, natively Irish bands in Europe, often singing
Back Tracks: Whitney Houston
Music was in both the bloodline and the spirit of Whitney Elizabeth Houston (1963-2012). The native of Newark, New Jersey called Cissy Houston of The Sweet Inspirations her mom, while Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick were her beloved cousins. Aretha Franklin was a close family friend and honorary aunt. Following in her mother's footsteps, she began performing at Newark's New Hope Baptist Church, singing in the gospel choir as a featured soloist, and began to make inroads in the music
So Esoteric: Todd Rundgren's Lost "Disco Jets" and a Jim Capaldi Duo Coming Soon
Longtime Todd Rundgren fans are familiar with the renaissance man’s numerous genre excursions, from pop to rock and everywhere in between: psychedelia, soul, electronica, even metal. But comparatively fewer fans have heard Rundgren’s one and only full-blown excursion into disco. Shortly after completing 1976’s Faithful LP, the iconoclastic producer took the members of Utopia into the studio to create the album known as Disco Jets. Yet the album crafted by Willie Wilcox (drums), Roger Powell
The Need for Back-Up: Rock Hall Finally Inducts Classic Backing Bands
One of the many, many criticisms of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is their occasional neglect of certain bands in favor of other artists. From the first year of induction in 1987, when Smokey Robinson was inducted instead of all of The Miracles, it's been a legitimate concern. Today, the Hall attempted to alleviate some of that concern by announcing five such bands would be inducted alongside the five previously-announced members of this year's class. The additional bands are: The Blue
Katy Perry Will Do Anything for Another #1 Single, Reissues "Teenage Dream"
You'd think two Grammy nominations in 2012 and a tied record with one of pop music's biggest luminaries would be enough for Katy Perry. But the recently-divorced pop singer is treating herself to one last dessert with the March 27 release of Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection, an expanded edition of her hit 2010 album. Expectations were high for the 27-year-old Perry when Teenage Dream was released almost two summers ago. After a number of false starts in her musical career - an
Review: Frank Sinatra, "The Concert Sinatra" (2012)
There have been countless recordings of Frank Sinatra…but only one Concert Sinatra. So named for its full concert orchestra (and not for a live performance), the 1963 album remains a career triumph. It’s perhaps the pinnacle of Sinatra’s long association with conductor/arranger Nelson Riddle, a vivid display of the singer’s gifts as a dramatic actor, and the ultimate valentine to the American theatrical songbook. Make no mistake, The Concert Sinatra is serious symphonic music, and it’s back
Rock Round-Up: Expansions by KISS, Pantera on the Horizon
It's been great to say there's been no shortage of news from the catalogue world to report on at Second Disc HQ. For hard rock fans, reports have been coming in that two famed records will be joining the ranks of other expanded and remastered editions in the coming months. First up, one of the "open secret" titles of 2012, as reported last year: a deluxe edition of KISS' classic 1976 effort Destroyer. The iconic rockers released Destroyer in the wake of the release of concert album Alive! a
Bricks in the Wall: A Pink Floyd Teaser for Your Lunch Break
How excited are you for Pink Floyd's latest Immersion Edition, for the iconic double album The Wall? It's doubtful you're alone. The "Why Pink Floyd?" reissue campaign was one of 2011's highest-profile catalogue series, and - marbles aside - the Immersion Edition box sets of The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here were labors of love if ever any existed. So, as a treat while you count the days down until the box's February 28 release, Pink Floyd's YouTube account has posted this sneak
Touch the Sky: Four Classic Carole King Albums Reissued
When Carole King left Lou Adler’s Ode Records, the label that guided her in the transition from urban Brill Building queen to singer/songwriter/earth mother, it marked the end of an era. And how would the Tapestry weaver top the two distinct periods that had come before? King signed to Hollywood’s venerable Capitol Records label, and the title of her first LP for the label said it all: Simple Things. King’s final Ode LP, 1976’s Thoroughbred, had emphasized a return to nature in its cover
Walk, Don't Run: Sundazed Preps Stereo Remasters of Ventures Albums
The Band That Launched a Thousand Bands is now The Band That Launched Five New Reissues. Influential surf-rockers The Ventures will see the release of five classic albums for Dolton Records re-released in their original stereo mix from Sundazed Records. The albums - The Ventures Play Telstar and The Lonely Bull (1962), "Surfing" (1963) and 1964's (The) Ventures in Space, The Fabulous Ventures and Walk, Don't Run Vol. 2 - will all be released on limited edition colored vinyl (yellow, blue,
Gonna Take a Miracle: Deniece Williams Trio Coming From BBR and FTG
Let's hear it for Deniece Williams. By the time of her debut album in 1976, the resilient singer with the remarkable range had already recorded a Northern Soul favorite ("I'm Walking Away" on the small Lock Records label), performed with Minnie Riperton and Roberta Flack, and been a member of Stevie Wonder's versatile backing group Wonderlove. This is Niecy, on Columbia Records, was produced by Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire and Charles Stepney of Chess Records fame, and their
Greater Hits: Aretha/Arista
Welcome to our latest installment of Greater Hits, where we scour an artist's discography for compilations and pick the best one for your buck. Today focuses on Aretha Franklin's fascinating third chapter on Arista Records and the multitude of compilations that it's yielded. Just as I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, Aretha Franklin's sizzling 1967 album and first for Atlantic Records, was a shock to anyone who'd known her from her days singing solid if not transcendent soul on Columbia in
Tattoo You: Rolling Stones Digital Archive Unveils 1981 Concert
When the Rolling Stones opened the Stones Archive for business late in 2011 with the first-ever legitimate release of The Brussels Affair, it was greeted as somewhat of a mixed blessing. The Archive promised to be a place where fans of the World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band "can listen to unheard music, view unseen photographs and films, and look at rare merchandise. Fans have the opportunity to buy items such as signed lithographs, deluxe box sets, even personalised merchandise and tour gear
Review: Aretha Franklin, "Knew You Were Waiting: The Best of Aretha Franklin 1980-1998"
Aretha Franklin is serious about her royalty. Billed on her newly-activated Twitter account as "the undisputed Queen of Soul" (take that, Tina Turner!), Franklin doesn't take her title lightly. But for a brief period, the artist's credentials as reigning Queen of Pop were just as unimpeachable. When Aretha joined Arista Records in 1980, it was after five disappointing albums at Atlantic, none of which have ever seen the light of day on compact disc. On those LPs, producers as diverse as
The Hills of Yesterday: Henry Mancini, Charles Strouse Offer "Molly Maguires" Scores
A victim of the blacklist, director Martin Ritt (The Front, The Great White Hope and Norma Rae) felt passionately about using film to explore relevant social issues. So it would have been no surprise that he was taken with the story of the Molly Maguires, the Irish-American coal miners who formed a secret society (some might say, of terrorists) to fight their oppressive employers in 19th century Pennsylvania. Ritt enlisted an all-star cast including Sean Connery (still in his James Bond
Chicago Reissues Return From Friday Music, "Hot Streets" Kicks Off Campaign
On 1971’s Chicago III, one of the band's passionate anthems went, “I just want to be free…” But it took until 1978 for the band to be truly free, and that year’s Hot Streets was an album of firsts. The freedom largely came as a result of the group having severed its ties with longtime producer/manager James William Guercio; hence, Hot Streets was Chicago’s first album in many years not recorded at Guercio’s famed Caribou Ranch. It was also the first to lack a number in its title and first to
The Story of US: Shout! Factory Starts Series for '80s Music Fest (UPDATED 2/8)
Following a pair of DVD releases, Shout! Factory has announced the release of several performances on CD from the famous US Festival in California. Spearheaded by Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak, the US Festival intended to be a celebration of technology and culture, with a temporary stage and open-air venue paid for by Wozniak himself just for the purposes of the festival. (Initially called the Glen Helen Pavilion, the San Manuel Amphitheater, where the festival was held, remains the
Vinyl Experience: Jimi Hendrix Comes To Sundazed
Get ready to be experienced, again, on vinyl. Sundazed Music and Experience Hendrix have announced a new series of 7-inch vinyl singles, housed in picture sleeves, featuring music not before released in the single format. The first such single will arrive in April, and both sides will be taken from Hendrix’s incendiary BBC performances of 1967 (released on CD and vinyl LP by Experience Hendrix as BBC Sessions). Hendrix’s October 17, 1967 performance of Bob Dylan’s “Can You Please Crawl Out
Reissue Theory: Whitney Houston, "Whitney"
We remember Whitney Houston (1963-2012) and her timeless legacy of song. We're sharing this feature in her memory, and will return with a tribute to this musical legend, gone too soon. Welcome to another installment of Reissue Theory, where we focus on notable album and the reissues they could someday see. Today's entry: a 25th anniversary spotlight on one of the best dance-pop albums of any era, and a tribute to a powerhouse R&B voice. In a word: Whitney. Around this time in 2010,
Cherry Red Sets Off "Love Bomb" with Reissue of The Tubes' Final Capitol LP
It's no "She's a Beauty," but Tubes fans might be excited to know that the band's final album for Capitol, 1985's Love Bomb, is coming to CD with bonus tracks from Cherry Red Records. The Tubes were well known in the late '70s for their no-holds-barred live shows and sly songwriting, with a mind to skewer an increasingly saturated media landscape. As the 1980s dawned, however, The Tubes unexpectedly made moves to turn into a leaner, meaner, rock band. Two albums were cut with producer David
(Don't) Keep It Down: Hot Shot Expands 'Til Tuesday's Debut (UPDATED 1/27)
As promised, new U.K. reissue label Hot Shot Records is releasing an expanded edition of Voices Carry the 1985 debut album by pop group 'Til Tuesday, and it's now available to order. The album was the culmination of three years of hard work from the Boston-based band, comprised of Aimee Mann (vocals/bass), Robert Holmes (vocals/guitar), Joey Pesce (keyboards) and Michael Hausman (drums). In 1983, six months after forming, the band earned local acclaim for their song "Love in a Vacuum," which
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 391
- 392
- 393
- 394
- 395
- …
- 443
- Next Page »