After listening to The Left Banke's two original albums, just reissued by Sundazed, I have only one question: what took so long? The group's recorded output was collected back in 1992 by Mercury on There's Gonna Be A Storm: The Complete Recordings 1966-1969. Besides getting my vote for Best Rhino Album Not Actually Produced By Rhino (Bill Inglot produced and Andrew Sandoval annotated...'nuff said!), the single disc compilation offers a remarkable view of the group that soared with 1966's
Review: Marvin Gaye, "What's Going On: 40th Anniversary Edition"
Close your eyes and think of your favorite childhood vacation destination. That familiar locale, perhaps a constant lake house where you dreamt of the perfect summer and did your best to achieve it. The silly family rituals, the bonds you made with others, the warm feeling that comes with those kind of memories. Now picture that same destination, revisited as a luxurious, all-expenses-paid package. There's not a worry in sight, no shortage of requests to be fulfilled by servers and staff - the
BREAKING NEWS! Great, Big, Beautiful Tomorrow Brings First Disney-Intrada Releases
71 years ago, a little cricket named Jiminy reassured children everywhere that "when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true" in Walt Disney's film Pinocchio. Well, the dreams of many film score collectors and Disney enthusiasts are indeed coming true thanks to tonight's announcement by Intrada Records. The California label, a 25-year veteran in the soundtrack business, put to rest weeks of rumors and tonight confirmed a new partnership with The Walt Disney Company. The inaugural title in
Gentle On His Mind: Two Early Glen Campbell Classics Reissued By BGO
It’s knowing that your door is always open and your path is free to walk/That makes me tend to leave my sleepin’ bag rolled up and stashed behind your couch… For nearly fifty years, many of us have opened our doors to Glen Campbell on record and on television. So it came as a shock that, just two months before the release of what’s being billed as his final studio recording, Campbell announced that he has been diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease. The beloved singer and
"Kryptonite" to Be Reissued - That's What I Said, Now
It appears 20th anniversary music reissues come in threes. Yesterday had words on Nirvana's Nevermind and U2's Achtung Baby; now, there's word from Legacy Recordings that August will see an expanded edition of...Spin Doctors' Pocket Full of Kryptonite. Sure, giggle all you want, but it's hard to deny that Spin Doctors had quite a moment in the sun in the early 1990s. Formed in New York City in the late '80s, Spin Doctors were initially known more for their jam-friendly live shows (often
Reissue Theory: Bette Midler, "The Divine Miss M"
Welcome to another installment of Reissue Theory, where we take a look at notable albums and the reissues they may someday see. Long before "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "From a Distance," Bette Midler was blazing a path like few others before or since with her blend of outrageous comedy, musical invention and pure showmanship. Yet despite a treasure trove of unreleased material, Midler's platinum debut, The Divine Miss M, has never been expanded on CD. What might such a reissue be
Review: Sam Cooke, "The RCA Albums Collection"
In 1963, RCA Victor dubbed its young star Sam Cooke “Mr. Soul” as the title of his latest LP. Today, few would argue with that appellation as we remember the roof- (and consciousness-) raising “A Change is Gonna Come,” the ultimate festive anthem “Havin’ a Party” or the bluesy R&B “Chain Gang.” But Mr. Soul, the album, offered a more complex portrait of the artist, offering “These Foolish Things,” “I Wish You Love” and “Cry Me a River” alongside Ahmet Ertegun’s “Chains of Love,” Johnny
All Eyez on Him: Tupac Catalogue Gets Digital Reissue for Rapper's 40th Birthday
He would have turned 40 this year - as of last week, in fact. His death nearly 15 years ago is still one of rap's greatest unsolved murders (and is still a hot topic). Now, Universal is digitally releasing five albums by Tupac Shakur this summer - their debuts in the digital realm. 2Pacalypse Now (1991), Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. (1993), his sole, self-titled album with the Thug Life collective (1994), Me Against the World (1995) and the posthumous R U Still Down? (Remember Me) (1997) will
Sinatra on Screen: Rare Dramatic Scores By Bernstein and Antheil Arrive From Kritzerland
When Frank Sinatra won the Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor for 1953’s From Here to Eternity, it was the “comeback” story of the year. As Sinatra was earning plaudits in Hollywood, he was also beginning the most significant chapter of his recording career at Capitol Records, recording his Capitol debut Songs for Young Lovers in November 1953. After his triumph as Maggio in From Here, Sinatra’s Hollywood career was riding high, as he embarked on a number of high-profile dramatic films.
Reissue Theory: Two for the Big Man
Welcome to another installment of Reissue Theory, where we focus on notable albums and the reissues they could someday see. As we wish a speedy recovery to one of rock's most beloved sidemen, we present a special look at a rare moment in the spotlight for the Big Man, Clarence Clemons. To many, the saxophone is just one of those embellishments that can can spice up a pop song or dull its taste. It's hard to deny, however, the tastiness of a tune garnished with the saxophone work of Clarence
Review: Paul McCartney, "The Paul McCartney Archive Collection: McCartney and McCartney II"
Paul McCartney is still on the run, as his just-announced concert tour of the same name attests. But one thing the former Beatle doesn’t have to run from is his own legacy. Last year he inaugurated The Paul McCartney Archive Collection with his 1973 Band on the Run, making the title available in multiple platforms and prices. The next two releases in the non-chronological series have just arrived, and though the formats are slightly tweaked, the same hallmark of quality is evident on the
Review: "Our Lives Are Shaped By What We Love: Motown's Mowest Story 1971-1973"
The sound is familiar but different. The harmony is spellbinding if a bit woozy. You've only given me a flower/I wish I had the whole bouquet... The track, led by acoustic guitar and gently funky percussion, is spare and raw. If I should ask you for an hour/Is there a chance that you would stay/And maybe spend the day? The falsetto is recognizable but eerily haunting. The song is "You're A Song (That I Can't Sing)" performed by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons for the album Chameleon, the
Review: Frank Sinatra, "Ring-a-Ding Ding!: Expanded Edition"
Ring-a-ding ding! It can be used as an adjective or an interjection. But when Frank Sinatra chose the expression to title his very first album for his very own label, it was simply an ecstatic expression of pure joy. Sinatra was no longer tethered to Capitol Records, the label at which he'd made history with a series of "concept" albums. He had the freedom to make some new history, his way, when he launched Reprise. And Ring-a-Ding Ding!, now reissued and remastered for its 50th anniversary
Another British Invasion From RPM: Ian and the Zodiacs, Katch-22 Reissued
The RPM arm of the U.K.'s mighty Cherry Red empire has had a busy 2011, recently highlighted by the first-ever collection of the young Dusty Springfield's recordings with The Lana Sisters. The label's latest titles shed light on two largely-overlooked bands to come out of England in the 1960s, Ian and the Zodiacs and Katch 22. The Best of Ian and the Zodiacs: Wade in the Water and Major Catastrophe: The Katch 22 Story are both in stores now, and have much to offer fans of Merseybeat, mod,
Miles Davis' "Tutu" Is Expanded and Remastered By Warner Jazz
1986's Tutu marked a rebirth for Miles Davis. It was his first album after nearly 30 years as a Columbia Records recording artist, and appeared on the Warner Bros. label. Producer Marcus Miller was Davis' chief foil, composing nearly every track and playing multiple instruments, while Jason Miles, George Duke, Paulinho da Costa and Michal Urbaniak all made appearances. Duke's "Backyard Ritual" was covered on the album as well as pop group Scritti Politti's "Perfect Way." Tutu was very much a
Memorial Day Special: The Andrews Sisters and the Sherman Brothers, "Over Here!"
We interrupt our regularly-scheduled Memorial Day hiatus to bring you this surprise holiday feature! It was 1972, but 1959 was all the rage. Grease was the word then, as it is now. The little musical from Chicago’s Kingston Mines Theatre had opened on Broadway where it would garner seven Tony Award nominations, run for a then- record-breaking 3,388 performances and spawn a massively successful film version. Grease was the toast of New York, launching the careers of Adrienne Barbeau, Barry
Carly Simon Goes For The Gold: "No Secrets" Coming In 24K
Only yesterday, we shared the speculation of our good buddies at MusicTAP that big things might be in store for the catalogue of Carly Simon. Well, we've got a start, just one day later! On June 21, Audio Fidelity will drop a remastered, limited 24K Gold edition of the songstress' third - and some say, best - album, No Secrets. 1971's Carly Simon announced a major new talent, offerings songs like the epic and hauntingly personal "That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be," the folk-rock
Welcome (Back) to the Club! Varese Announces New Archival Releases
After a lengthy hiatus, Varese Sarabande's CD Club has returned with a new batch of film score reissues, expansions and projects from the vault. Fans were starting to worry for the sanctity of the limited club releases throughout the year; there hadn't been a batch in six months, an unusual amount of wait time even after a year in which the label did great premieres and expansions of soundtracks from The Goonies, Family Plot, Star Trek (2009), Spartacus and others. But with a new batch
Wouldn't It Be Nice? "Pet Sounds" Coming to SACD
“I figure no one is educated musically ‘til they’ve heard [Pet Sounds],” Paul McCartney once said of The Beach Boys’ classic, released 45 years and one week ago on May 16, 1966. George Martin concurred: “Without Pet Sounds, Sgt. Pepper wouldn’t have happened.” Brian Wilson poured his musical heart into the album’s thirteen tracks; in less than thirty-five minutes, he delivered an entire spectrum of emotions in a song cycle of striking beauty and sensitivity. Pet Sounds may initially have been
Richard Thompson Box Highlights Rare Live Recordings
Universal's U.K. arm recently announced a four-disc box set highlighting Richard Thompson's many musical appearances on the BBC. The Live at the BBC box set features 61 tracks over three CDs and 19 video performances on a DVD. The first disc is devoted entirely to performances by Richard and Linda Thompson, including their three Peel sessions (portions of which were released on a 2004 reissue of their Hokey Pokey album in the U.K.) and a portion of a show from their beloved final tour (also
Who Loves Them? Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons Mix Hits, Rarities On New U.K. Comp
Could anyone have expected the resurgence of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons that occurred in 2005 when the musical Jersey Boys opened at the Virginia Theatre on Broadway? Suddenly, Valli’s profile was higher than it had been at any time since the mid-1970s, and today he continues to reap the rewards of the musical’s exposure in multiple cities in America, Canada, England and Australia. Collector’s Choice launched a comprehensive album reissue program in 2007 which was the best such
Foot Foot, Reissued: The Shaggs' "Philosophy of the World" Is Back!
Raise your hand if you’re a fan of The Shaggs. We know you’re out there. Frank Zappa called the band “better than The Beatles.” Kurt Cobain admired them as unwitting founders of the DIY/alternative movement. The New York Times proclaimed The Shaggs’ 1969 Philosophy of the World “maybe the best worst rock album ever made.” Lester Bangs called them an “anti-power trio,” while Rolling Stone chimed in that The Shaggs most resemble “lobotomized Trapp Family singers.” What to make of Dot, Betty
Ring-a-Ding Ding! 1961 Sinatra Debut For Reprise Is Remastered and Expanded
Shortly before Christmas 1960, Frank Sinatra entered the studio to record the tracks that would yield Ring-A-Ding Ding!, his inaugural release on the record label he founded, Reprise. As the company’s slogan went, Reprise albums were meant “to play and play again,” and boy, did Sinatra live up to his word! Ring-A-Ding Ding! is still one of the singer’s most beloved albums some fifty years after its March 1961 release, and Concord Records is marking the occasion on June 7 with a remastered
Review: Derek and the Dominos, "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs: 40th Anniversary Edition"
Size isn’t everything. Though Universal’s new super-deluxe box set of Derek and the Dominos’ Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (Polydor/Universal 0600753314326) is about as hefty as these packages come, the best of the box set could fit into a standard jewel case. The 40th anniversary collection includes (drum roll, please) 4 CDs, an audio DVD (though not DVD-Audio – more on that later), 2 LPs, a 48-page hardcover book, an art print, badges, pop-up artwork and a scratch-plate sticker. But
Music Club Deluxe U.K. Preps Double-Disc Compilations for Redding, Cross, Foreigner
Music Club Deluxe, part of the U.K.'s Demon Music Group, has prepped a trio of new budget-minded, double-disc sets for a few legendary artists. While there's nothing new on the forthcoming compilations by dearly departed soul legend Otis Redding, soft-rock maestro Christopher Cross and platinum-selling hard rock band Foreigner (and only one general rarity among any of the three - a non-LP B-side closing out the Foreigner set), their two-disc running times and decent price tag might be of
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