Get On Board the Soul Train: The Sound of Philadelphia International Records Vol. 1 is the first in a series of box sets from the U.K.-based United Souls label, an imprint of Snapper Music, which will ultimately collect the entire Philadelphia International albums discography on CD. The slipcased, 8-CD/1-12″ single hardcover book-style set will feature the following eight albums, originally released between 1971 and 1973: Billy Paul, Going East (Philadelphia International Z 30580, 1971);
People All Over the World, Join Hands: United Souls Announces First Philadelphia International Records Albums Box Set, "Get On Board the Love Train"
Back in late January, we shared news of Philadelphia International Records' 50th anniversary plans. The centerpiece of the campaign announced by Sony Music's Legacy Recordings was a series of CD box sets presenting every PIR album in chronological order. Now, the first of those box sets is available for pre-order with a release date of May 28. Get On Board the Soul Train: The Sound of Philadelphia International Records Vol. 1 is a product of the U.K.-based United Souls, an imprint of
Wake Up Everybody: 50 Years of Philadelphia International Celebrated by Legacy Recordings, VMP, Snapper Music
Fifty years ago, the release of Billy Paul's Going East on LP and The Ebonys' "You're the Reason Why" on a 45 RPM single marked the birth of Philadelphia International Records. By 1971, co-founders Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff had already garnered significant chart success with their songs and productions for such artists as The Soul Survivors ("Expressway to Your Heart"), The Intruders ("Cowboys to Girls"), Archie Bell and the Drells ("(There's Gonna Be A) Showdown"), Lesley Gore, Dusty
A Few Words on Phil Spector (1939-2021)
"I'm feeling a range of different emotions right now. I feel a sigh of relief but emptiness too. Another chapter in my life has come to an end. A truly sad ending to a brilliant music pioneer. I will say, if it weren't for Phil, there would never be a Darlene Love." - Darlene Love "It's a sad day for music and a sad day for me. When I was working with Phil Spector, watching him create in the recording studio, I knew I was working with the very best. He was in complete control, directing
Like Someone In Love: Craft Recordings Launches New "Small Batch" Audiophile Vinyl Series With John Coltrane's "Lush Life"
Craft Recordings has announced a new series of specially curated and high-quality vinyl reissues: the Small Batch collection. It kicks off with a new pressing of John Coltrane's Lush Life, due February 19. Each limited edition release in the Craft Recordings Small Batch series is a deluxe affair, combining audiophile-approved mastering techniques, a special vinyl lacquering process, and stunning design - adding up to what the label promises is the highest quality listening experience. The
Midnight Rocks: Cherry Red, Esoteric Reissue Al Stewart's "24 Carrots," Collect Anthony Phillips' "Missing Links"
Periodically this month, we'll be looking at titles released in the latter part of 2020 that we either didn't cover, or only covered briefly, the first time around! We hope you enjoy this look at "some nice things we've missed." Scottish singer-songwriter Al Stewart released his first album in 1967 but didn't break into the lucrative American market until 1974's Past, Present, and Future (released 1973 in the U.K.). While that LP only peaked within the second half of the Billboard 200, the
Cherry Red, SoulMusic Round-Up, Part One: Labels Anthologize Solomon Burke, Esther Phillips' Complete Atlantic Recordings
In recent weeks, Cherry Red's SoulMusic Records imprint has launched a series of mini-box sets drawn from the Atlantic vaults including titles available now from Solomon Burke, Esther Phillips, Barbara Lewis, and Carla Thomas. Today we're looking at the releases from Burke and Phillips, while we'll next turn to Lewis and Thomas! The late Solomon Burke (who died in 2010 at the age of 70 or 74; reports vary) lived up to his moniker as The King of Rock 'n' Soul. SoulMusic's 3-CD set of that
In The Shuffling Madness: Jethro Tull's "Aqualung" Receives Audiophile Treatment from Analogue Productions
In the world of audiophile music, Analogue Productions is known for top-drawer reissues on both SACD and high-quality vinyl. In recent years, they have developed a new formula for their special pressings and pressed classic titles under the banner UHQR, or Ultra High Quality Record. Analogue recently announced the latest in its UHQR series: Jethro Tull's Aqualung, due October 16. The 1971 album is one of the progressive rock group's most beloved albums and also their best-selling. With FM
My Blue Heaven: Impex Preps Expanded Audiophile Reissue of "Sing and Dance With Frank Sinatra" on LP and SACD
Over the course of his long and storied career, Frank Sinatra made many game-changing moves. He released the very first pop long-playing record with Columbia's 1948 reissue of The Voice of Frank Sinatra, pioneered the concept album with In The Wee Small Hours at Capitol, founded his own independent record label (Reprise), and transformed the art of pop vocal performance. In 1950, the future Chairman of the Board released an album (then available as either a set of four 10" 78s or a single
That Old Feeling: UMe and Acoustic Sounds Team Up For New Audiophile Reissues From Verve's Vast Jazz Catalog
Verve Label Group and UMe have announced a new collaboration with the audiophile reissue label Acoustic Sounds that finds the team offering up what's said to be "definitive audiophile grade versions of some of the most historic and best jazz records ever recorded." It's set to launch this Friday, July 31, on August 28 with two classic duets albums: Stan Getz and João Gilberto's landmark Getz/Gilberto (featuring Astrud Gilberto) and the singular Louis Armstrong Meets Oscar
Field of Eternity: Cherry Red, Esoteric Reissue and Expand Anthony Phillips "Living Room Concert"
Cherry Red's Esoteric Recordings imprint has had a long relationship with composer/ex-Genesis guitarist Anthony Phillips including numerous reissues and last year's release of his latest album, Strings of Light. Now, Esoteric has reissued and expanded another treasured album from Phillips: his 1995 acoustic live set The "Living Room" Concert. The album was culled from Phillips' June 25, 1993 performance as part of the Living Room Concert Series on the U.S. public radio program Echoes. As
Ready or Not: Philly Soul Arrangements and Productions 1965-1978
This new anthology from Ace/Kent features 23 tracks produced and/or arranged (and/or written!) by legendary Philadelphia soul maestro Thom Bell from his earliest days at Cameo Parkway Records through the pivotal year of 1978 when he concluded work with The Spinners and returned to the Philadelphia International fold. Along the way, you'll hear songs from that group as well as The Delfonics, The Stylistics, Ronnie Dyson, New York City, Dionne Warwick, Johnny Mathis, The O'Jays, and many others.
Anything You Want: MoFi Gives Miles Davis and Iron Butterfly the Audiophile Treatment
Earlier this year, Mobile Fidelity announced a pair of remasters to add to their excellent Gain 2 Ultra Analog LP reissue series: one, an often lambasted psych-rock staple, the other a landmark in lushly orchestrated cool jazz. Though Iron Butterfly's In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida and Miles Davis' interpretations of Porgy and Bess couldn't be much further apart stylistically, they not only shine on their own merits, but when taken together, these 180-gram reissues demonstrate the breadth of MoFi's
Holiday Gift Guide Review: MoFi Gives the Audiophile Treatment to Dylan's "Blood on The Tracks" and J. Geils' "The Morning After"
Over the years, Mobile Fidelity has cemented itself as one of the leaders in the audiophile re-issue realm. From deluxe 45rpm box set affairs to more bare-bones remasters, the label has been known to go the extra mile to make every album sound its best. Two of their recent reissues have arrived at Second Disc HQ: the extravagant 45rpm One-Step remaster of Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks and the slimmed-down remaster of J. Geils Band's The Morning After. Both titles are sure to please that
Home for Christmas: Andy, Perry, Elvis, Doris, Johnny Team with Royal Philharmonic for New Holiday Album
The busy members of The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra are decking the halls with boughs of holly for their latest, all-star release. Christmas with The Stars and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, due as a digital-only title in the U.S. on Friday, November 29, brings the acclaimed orchestra together with some of the biggest names in the classic Columbia and RCA Victor constellations for newly-arranged symphonic versions of Christmas favorites. Featured artists include Elvis Presley, Tony Bennett,
Edge of the World: Run Out Groove Announces Sam Phillips' "Fan Dance" as Next Release, Voting Open for Next Month's Title
Run Out Groove has recently announced its latest limited-edition title. The winner of the last fan vote is singer-songwriter Sam Phillips' Fan Dance, her ninth studio album and first for Nonesuch Records. For its first worldwide release on vinyl, Fan Dance has been freshly remastered. It will be issued on 180-gram vinyl in a deluxe tip-on jacket with a booklet, and the lacquers will be cut at Sam Phillips Recording Studio (the other, Sun Records Sam Phillips, that is). It will be pressed and
Weavers of Dreams: Blue Note Expands Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series Through Fall
Back in February, we reported on Blue Note Records' Tone Poet Reissue Series, a new initiative by label president Don Was and audiophile jazz expert Joe Harley that presents detailed vinyl reissues of Blue Note classics and overlooked titles from the label's 80-year history. Each title is an all-analog affair, mastered from the original master tapes by Kevin Gray and pressed onto 180-gram vinyl at RTI, then housed in deluxe gatefold packaging. The first titles - Wayne Shorter's Etcetera and
Rhythm of My Heart: Rod Stewart Joins Royal Philharmonic For New Album, Two New Songs
Following in the footsteps of artists ranging from Aretha Franklin to The Beach Boys, Rod Stewart has announced a collaboration with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. You're in My Heart: Rod Stewart with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, like those other projects, takes classic vocals and pairs them with lush, newly-orchestrated accompaniment. Stewart is sweetening the pot, however, by premiering two new vocals: a duet of Motown favorite "It Takes Two" with Robbie Williams and a new solo track,
Wake Up Everybody: Cherry Red, SoulMusic Collect Classic Philadelphia International Albums from Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes
If you don't know Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes by now, Cherry Red and SoulMusic Records have just the right collection for you. Be for Real: The PIR Recordings (1972-1975) brings together the four albums recorded by the group for Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International Records on two CDs, plus a six-song bonus disc. Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes came to Gamble and Huff's newly-formed label in 1972 after having bounced from label to label including Landa, Arctic, and
More Sides: Phil Collins To Release Digital B-Side, Remix Collections
When Phil Collins' Take a Look At Me Now... reissue campaign commenced in 2016, some fans were understandably, justifiably sore at the exclusion of most of his rarest material - non-LP B-sides and remixes - in favor of unreleased demos or, more often, non-contemporaneous live material sitting next to the original albums on bonus discs. This month, Rhino will finally collect that much-coveted material - albeit in digital form - on two new compilations: Other Sides and Remixed Sides, due May
Etcetera (Tone Poet Audiophile LP Reissue)
This year marks the 80th anniversary of Blue Note Records, the legendary label that continues to deliver some of the most striking jazz music ever recorded. To mark the occasion, Joe Harley and Blue Note president Don Was have launched a new initiative called the Tone Poet Audiophile Reissue Series and they've included Wayne Shorter's Etcetera as one of the new titles. The new reissue is all-analog, mastered from the original master tapes, pressed onto 180-gram audiophile vinyl, and housed
Glamoured (Tone Poet Audiophile LP Reissue)
This year marks the 80th anniversary of Blue Note Records, the legendary label that continues to deliver some of the most striking jazz music ever recorded. To mark the occasion, Joe Harley and Blue Note president Don Was have launched a new initiative called the Tone Poet Audiophile Reissue Series and they've included Cassandra Wilson's Glamoured as one of the new titles. The new reissue is all-analog, mastered from the original master tapes, pressed onto 180-gram audiophile vinyl, and
Now He Sings, Now He Sobs (Tone Poet Audiophile LP Reissue)
This year marks the 80th anniversary of Blue Note Records, the legendary label that continues to deliver some of the most striking jazz music ever recorded. To mark the occasion, Joe Harley and Blue Note president Don Was have launched a new initiative called the Tone Poet Audiophile Reissue Series and they've included Chick Corea's Now He Sings, Now He Sobs as one of the new titles. The new reissue is all-analog, mastered from the original master tapes, pressed onto 180-gram audiophile
Contours (Tone Poet Audiophile LP Reissue)
This year marks the 80th anniversary of Blue Note Records, the legendary label that continues to deliver some of the most striking jazz music ever recorded. To mark the occasion, Joe Harley and Blue Note president Don Was have launched a new initiative called the Tone Poet Audiophile Reissue Series and they've included Sam Rivers' Contours as one of the new titles. The new reissue is all-analog, mastered from the original master tapes, pressed onto 180-gram audiophile vinyl, and housed in
Mellifluous Cacophony: Blue Note Celebrates 80th Anniversary With Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series
This year marks the 80th anniversary of Blue Note Records, the legendary label that continues to deliver some of the most striking jazz music ever recorded. In recent years, Joe Harley spearheaded an audiophile vinyl reissue series called Music Matters which included many Blue Note classics. Over a decade has passed since the inception of that project and now, Harley and Blue Note president Don Was have launched a new initiative called the Tone Poet Audiophile Reissue Series. The series