Few artists have transformed the landscape of jazz music in quite the same way as Keith Jarrett. Over the course six decades, Jarrett revolutionized piano music as a sideman to Miles Davis, Charles Lloyd, and others, and as a bandleader in his own right. But some of his most captivating recordings present him alone onstage, building thrilling and beautiful pieces that are entirely improvised. One need only look toward his stellar run of ECM recordings releases - among them The Köln Concert
Let the Sunshine In: Music on Vinyl Reissues Expanded Edition of "Hair"
Ready to head back to the dawning of the Age of Aquarius? Hair, from composer Galt MacDermot and librettist-lyricists Gerome Ragni and James Rado, made quite a splash Off-Broadway in 1967, but when it moved uptown under the avant garde direction of Tom O'Horgan, it was an immediate, shocking sensation. The original Broadway production of "the American tribal love rock musical" would ultimately run for 1,750 performances and inspire three Broadway returns, but the reach of the pro-peace,
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
Sweetheart of the Sun
Real Gone will reissue Sweetheart of the Sun, the final album to date by The Bangles, on vinyl. The 2011 album saw Susanna Hoffs and Debbie & Vicki Peterson team up with Matthew Sweet, who produced the effort. (Sweet and Hoffs had previously teamed as Sid & Susie for the Under the Covers series of albums.) Together, they take a look back at the sound of the Laurel Canyon scene of the '60s and '70s, with the same inspired harmonies and perky arrangements that became The Bangles'
Song Sung New: Neil Diamond Unveils Symphonic Album "Classic Diamonds"
Classic Diamonds: That's how Neil Diamond is billing his new collection of recordings with The London Symphony Orchestra. Due on November 20 from Capitol Records, Classic Diamonds features the singer-songwriter's new recordings of 13 beloved hits. Unlike many previous artists' releases with symphony orchestras, Neil's collection features newly-recorded vocals as well as the orchestrations. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London as well as Diamond's own California studio, the album has
Waiting for the Sun: The Doors' "Morrison Hotel" Goes Deluxe in October
The Doors went back to basics when they checked into Morrison Hotel for their 1970 studio album. The band's fifth LP, it's now being reissued by Rhino on October 9 as a 2-CD/1-LP 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition. This release follows the label's similar reissues for The Doors' first four albums including The Soft Parade which expanded their sound to include orchestration. Morrison Hotel got them back to blues-rock in striking fashion. The box set features original engineer Bruce Botnick's
Life in the Fast Lane: Eagles' "Live from The Forum" Airs This Sunday, Comes to CD, LP, DVD, BD
When Glenn Frey passed away in 2016, many wondered about the future of the Eagles. Happily, the band persevered and celebrated Frey's legacy with the addition of his son Deacon to the lineup as well as country superstar Vince Gill. This Sunday, ESPN will give fans a taste of the "new" Eagles with the broadcast of Live from The Forum MMXVIII. The special is culled from three performances at Inglewood, California's Forum on September 12, 14, and 15, 2018 during the band's North American tour.
Sun City: Artists United Against Apartheid
Little Steven returns the long out-of-print Sun City to CD in Bob Ludwig's remaster previously available only on vinyl. The all-star affair benefiting The Africa Fund features Pat Benatar, Ruben Blades, Bono, Jackson Browne, Ron Carter, Clarence Clemons, Jimmy Cliff, George Clinton, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Bob Geldof, Daryl Hall, Herbie Hancock, Eddie Kendricks, Darlene Love, John Oates, Bonnie Raitt, Joey Ramone, Lou Reed, David Ruffin, Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Pete
Sunshine and Shadows: Cherry Red, Esoteric Reissue '60s NY Psych Band Ars Nova on New 2-CD Set
In Latin, ars nova translates to new art - and that's precisely what the band of the same name was seeking to conjure on two albums originally released in 1968 and 1969. Now, Cherry Red Group's Esoteric Recordings imprint has reissued both of Ars Nova's LPs - Ars Nova and Sunshine and Shadows - on one 2-CD set entitled Fields of People: The Atlantic and Elektra Recordings 1968-1969. The group was the brainchild of recent Mannes College musical conservatory graduates Wyatt Day
Thunder Sun: Lost Tapes From Fingerstyle Guitarist Robbie Basho Collected by Real Gone Music
A lost session from a revered acoustic guitarist, Robbie Basho, is set to arrive April 3 from Real Gone Music. Songs of the Great Mystery: The Lost Vanguard Sessions adds a new chapter to the man's work that's sure to stun fans and new initiates, too. On the Mount Rushmore of innovative acoustic guitar players, you'd likely find John Fahey, Leo Kottke, Michael Hedges...and one Robbie Basho. Though he never rose to the same prominence as Kottke or Fahey (who signed Basho to the Takoma
Woodstock: Sunday, August 17, 1969
First released by Real Gone Music on "new dawn" blue vinyl, this new re-press of Jefferson Airplane's Woodstock set will be pressed on a "vibrating" violet color variant. As one of the first acts to sign on for the festival, Jefferson Airplane embraced the spirit of the event from the start, but the band's Saturday night closing set was delayed to Sunday morning due to the rain that seemingly would never retreat. The Airplane was up all night waiting for the OK to go onstage - which didn't
Here Comes the Sun: Beatles' "Abbey Road" Turns 50 with Multi-Format Reissues
Once there was a way to get back home... It was fifty years ago today that The Beatles were photographed on the zebra crossing outside EMI's Abbey Road studios. Soon, it would become the most identifiable of all crosswalks as it graced the cover of the album named after that storied location: Abbey Road. When it was released on September 26, 1969 in the U.K., Abbey Road shot straight to No. 1 and eventually became the fourth best-selling album of the decade there. Upon its U.S. release one
Woodstock: Sunday, August 17, 1969
Just in time for the festival's 50th anniversary, Real Gone Music brings Jefferson Airplane's complete Woodstock performance (issued on CD in 2009) to vinyl for the very first time. The 3-LP set will be pressed on "new dawn" blue vinyl, and decked out with Henry Diltz's photographs and Richie Unterberger's liner notes.
Make Your Own Sweet Sunshine: Davy Jones' "Live in Japan" Arrives on CD/DVD and LP from 7a Records
7a Records is heading to Davy Jones' locker...or more accurately, his vault, as the label has announced its most extensive project yet. The late Monkee's Live in Japan is a remarkable and comprehensive collection of both of Jones' officially released (and long-unavailable) Japanese concert albums in their best sound yet, plus numerous singles and rarities from the early 1980s. The set, due on August 2 in two formats, paints a vivid portrait of Jones' solo work during the period prior to The
UPDATED WITH ORDER LINKS: Let The Sunshine In: Rhino Celebrates Woodstock Era With "Summer of '69" Vinyl Reissue Series, New Woodstock Compilations
On the heels of their announcement of the expansive Woodstock 50 campaign, Rhino has announced a new series celebrating The Summer of '69: Peace, Love, and Music. Beginning on July 9, the campaign will feature a three-week-long roll-out of limited-edition vinyl releases of classic recordings from the Woodstock era by the likes of Van Morrison; The Monkees; Grateful Dead; Crosby, Stills & Nash; and many more. These LPs will be available in participating brick-and-mortar stores only. Online
Soul and Inspiration: Dawn Eden Goldstein Pens Memoir "Sunday Will Never Be the Same"
The world of rock and roll has seen many amazing journeys, but few like Dawn Eden Goldstein's. Using the pen name of Dawn Eden, Goldstein carved out a niche in the 1990s as a rock historian. As the concept of the deluxe CD reissue took hold, she contributed essential liner notes to albums by artists including Harry Nilsson, The Hollies, and The Seekers, and wrote for publications such as Billboard and The Village Voice. But Goldstein was a seeker herself. Born into a Jewish family, she found
New Sunrise: Simple Minds Celebrates 21st Century Albums with "Rejuvenation 2001-2014" CD/DVD Box
Simple Minds' Rejuvenation 2001-2014 - previously released on LP in 2018 - is now available as a 7CD/1-DVD box set, courtesy of Edsel. The set boasts expanded versions of five of the band's 21st century albums: Neon Lights (2001), Cry (2002), Black and White 050505 (2005), Graffiti Soul (2009) and Big Music (2014). Fans can expect 25 bonus tracks, as well, including the hard-to-find covers set Searching For the Lost Boys, which was previously a bonus disc housed with Graffiti Soul. There's
A Long Night Spent With You: Taking Back Sunday Celebrates 20th Anniversary on New Compilation "Twenty"
Taking Back Sunday is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year and to mark the occasion, they have embarked on a tour and are releasing a career retrospective collection. Out today from Craft Recordings, the simply-titled Twenty gathers nineteen songs from the band's career and adds in two new studio recordings. The alternative rock band was formed in Long Island, New York by guitarist Eddie Reyes in 1999. The line-up has fluctuated a bit over the years but the main members over the
Sunny Day: Warner Licenses Sesame Street Catalog for Digital, Streaming, and Future Physical Reissues
Warner Music Group and Sesame Workshop have recently announced a joint effort that marks the relaunch of Sesame Street Records, the label that released over 60 classic originalSesame Street albums from 1970 to 1984. To celebrate 50 years since the program first aired, the extensive Sesame Street music catalog, including original titles and newer collections from Golden Music, Koch and Sony Wonder, has finally joined the streaming age. As of this writing, a whopping 119 titles--many previously
The Groove Is Gonna Get You: Sunset Blvd. Celebrates Ben Sidran with Live Anthology
It's fair to say that Ben Sidran has had a career unlike any other. The author of five books, record label proprietor, radio and television host, singer, songwriter, pianist, teacher, and eternal hipster has played as part of The Steve Miller Band (and co-wrote "Space Cowboy"), produced records for Mose Allison, Rickie Lee Jones, and Diana Ross, and performed with Van Morrison and Georgie Fame. Along the way, he's recorded for Capitol, Blue Thumb, Arista, A&M, and Windham Hill. Sidran
Review: The Doors, "Waiting for the Sun: 50th Anniversary Edition"
Upon its release in July 1968, some might have found the title of The Doors' third album, Waiting for the Sun, to be ironic. After all, Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, and John Densmore, were hardly ever in pursuit of anything remotely sunny. But the album, with its rather bucolic cover shot, most certainly struck a chord with listeners in the year between The Summer of Love and Woodstock. Waiting for the Sun became the band's only No. 1 album, and included the No. 1 single "Hello,
The Sun Won't Set: Vocalion Reissues Quadraphonic Sondheim, Herrmann, Waxman on SACD
In recent months, the U.K.'s Dutton Vocalion label has reissued a number of rare quadraphonic mixes on SACD, including titles from Poco, Johnnie Taylor, The Guess Who, The Hues Corporation, Rick Derringer, Art Garfunkel, and more. The label has just announced its slate for September, highlighted by the SACD debut of the quad mix of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music and two film score releases from movie maestro Charles Gerhardt. All of Vocalion's quadraphonic SACDs are hybrid discs,
The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)/Song Sung Blue: Expanded Edition
Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music have paired two 1972 albums from the legendary Johnny Mathis as an expanded 2-CD set. Both albums were produced by Jerry Fuller and make their standalone CD debuts here. The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) had not only Mathis' rendition of the hit popularized by Roberta Flack but also classics introduced by The Stylistics ("Betcha by Golly Wow"), America ("I Need You"), and The 5th Dimension ("(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All") as well as
Soul and Inspiration: Second Disc Records, Real Gone Music Continue Johnny Mathis Series with Expanded "The First Time," "Song Sung Blue," and "Me and Mrs. Jones"
Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music are proud to continue the journey through the catalogue of the legendary Voice of Romance, Johnny Mathis, on October 7 with the two latest additions to our ongoing series. First up is an expanded 2-CD release comprising both of the artist's classic albums originally released in 1972: The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) and Song Sung Blue. These teamed Mathis with renowned producer Jerry Fuller (Gary Puckett and The Union Gap, The Knickerbockers, Mark
A Sunday Feeling: Jethro Tull's Debut "This Was" Expanded For Its 50th Anniversary with New Stereo and Surround Mixes
As Jethro Tull celebrates their 50th anniversary this year, the band has already give their fans several reissues beginning with a deluxe version of Heavy Horses in February and a pair of compilations in May. But that's not all, because Parlophone/Rhino has just announced a new 3-CD/1-DVD deluxe edition of the group's debut album This Was, due on November 9. After playing their first show under the name Jethro Tull in February, 1968, the group got into the studio to record their first album