A forthcoming two-for-one set from Robinsongs will chronicle the last works of funk legends Rufus - including their powerful final bow with singer Chaka Khan. The label will release the 1983 studio album Seal in Red and live/studio hybrid Stompin' At The Savoy - Live as a 2CD set on March 14. The set will feature new liner notes by Lois Wilson of MOJO as well as three bonus tracks, including single versions of "Take It to the Top" and the smash hit "Ain't Nobody," as well as a rare remix of the
A "Souvenir" from Sony Music Japan: An Expansion of Billy Joel's 'Streetlife Serenade'
Here's a belated 50th anniversary present for Billy Joel fans: a new, Japan-exclusive collector's edition of his third studio album, 1974's Streetlife Serenade. Available February 19, this lavish deluxe version - which follows a similar package for its predecessor Piano Man last year - includes many similar extras. The 7" cardboard packaging includes lyrics and liner notes in English and Japanese (including a CD-sized replica of the original booklet that came with the Japanese LP), replicas
Just Like Paradise: David Lee Roth's Solo Works Remastered for New Box Set
Diamond Dave's got a whole new shine, thanks to a forthcoming box set from Rhino. David Lee Roth's The Warner Recordings 1985-1994, coming February 21, will include the four LPs (and one EP) the iconoclastic singer released outside of his concluding tenure as the vocalist for Van Halen. All of the albums have been newly remastered, and will be available at general retailers as a 5CD set. (Rhino's official store will exclusively carry a vinyl version.) Roth's solo career began four decades ago
Quartet's First Film Music Release of 2025 is Barry, Barry Good
As if the feast of John Barry expanded film scores, from James Bond to Out of Africa, hasn't been exciting enough, Quartet Records kicked off the new year with the announcement of more rarities from the celebrated British composer. The label has issued The Polydor Years, a 3CD collection that brings together re-recordings of classic themes, unique arrangements and original music released on albums, singles and compilations in the mid-'70s in Europe. 1972's The Concert John Barry, 1974's Play
Rhino's 2025 Start Your Ear Off Right Campaign Features Fleetwood Mac, Ramones, Rush, More
We've already filled you in on details of Rhino's upcoming live release from WAR, but that's not all coming from the label. Rhino's annual Start Your Ear Off Right vinyl campaign has already commenced at independent retailers and select Barnes and Noble locations. This year's slate encompasses releases from Dream Theater, Ramones, Fleetwood Mac, ZZ Top, Grateful Dead, Rush, and others. Below, you'll find the complete list of SYEOR titles due this month, including those which arrived last
1974: Kimono My House & Propaganda
1974 was a particularly prolific year for Sparks, with the Mael brothers releasing two LPs: Kimono My House and Propaganda. Now, Edsel has reissued them both in a deluxe 3-CD set in 7-inch packaging. Sparks made quite an impression on the U.K. audience, with "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" from Kimono reaching No. 2 on the Singles Chart and becoming the No. 30 hit of the year. They would follow it up with "Amateur Hour" from the same LP and then "Never Turn Your Back on Mother
Holiday Gift Guide Review: Alice Cooper, "Muscle of Love: Deluxe Edition"
Rare is the album that's better remembered for its packaging than its contents. But that may well be the case with the band Alice Cooper's seventh (and final) album, 1973's Muscle of Love. As it followed the Platinum-certified international chart-topper Billion Dollar Babies, hopes were high for the LP. It was greeted by lukewarm critical assessments, though, and "merely" reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200 and No. 34 on the U.K. Albums Chart. As such, it was inevitably considered a
It Had Better Be Tonight: Quartet Records Celebrates Henry Mancini with "Pink Panther" Premiere Plus "Darling Lili" and More
April 16, 2024 marked what would have been the 100th birthday of Henry Mancini (1924-1994). With over 125 films and 90 albums to his credit (not to mention television shows, stage productions, and more!), the late composer's richly melodic music is still very much a part of the American cultural tapestry. Spain's soundtrack specialist label Quartet Records wasn't about to let the Mancini centennial go unnoticed. The label has delivered four new Mancini releases just in time for the holidays,
Whistlin' Tunes That You Know: Rhino Launches 'Reserves' Audiophile Series with Allen Toussaint and Eddie Hazel
Rhino has announced the launch of new audiophile vinyl series: Rhino Reserves. The series kicks off on January 31, 2025 as part of the label's annual Start Your Ear Off Right campaign available exclusively through Rhino.com and select retail outlets (typically independent record stores and Barnes & Noble locations) with Allen Toussaint's Southern Nights and Eddie Hazel's Game, Dames, and Guitar Thangs. Going forward, each Rhino Reserves title will be pressed locally by the California-based
Mellow as a Shower on a Summer's Day: SoulMusic Celebrates Nancy Wilson on "You're as Right as Rain: The Capitol Albums 1970-1980"
For over 20 years, Nancy Wilson was a mainstay of the Capitol Records label. Deftly blending jazz, pop, soul, and rhythm and blues, the late chanteuse's distinctive tone anchored collaborations with the illustrious likes of Billy May, George Shearing, Cannonball Adderley, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, Thom Bell, Eugene McDaniels, and numerous others. A sprawling new box set from Cherry Red's SoulMusic Records in association with The Second Disc brings her second decade with Capitol into sharp
The Last Word: Real Gone's First November Releases Include 30th Anniversary Edition of Mary Chapin Carpenter's "Stones In The Road" Plus Misery Signals, The Unfolding
As usual, Real Gone's first releases in November are an eclectic bunch. The label is releasing the 30th anniversary edition of a contemporary country classic album, a psychedelic exploitation record from the 1960s, and a 20th anniversary edition of a metalcore album. Read on for more details for these releases all hitting store shelves tomorrow, November 15. In 1994, Mary Chapin Carpenter was at the pinnacle of country music. The singer-songwriter's fourth album for Columbia, Come On Come
I Just Found Out: Robert Gordon's Expanded, Remastered "Rock Billy Boogie" Arrives on Friday from 7a Records
This Friday, 7a Records celebrates a late, great rockabilly revivalist with the expanded reissue of Rock Billy Boogie from Robert Gordon on both 180-gram vinyl and CD. The 1979 album, featuring the lead guitar of Chris Spedding, marked Gordon's major label breakthrough and remains perhaps his finest (half) hour on record. Far more so than many of the so-called "new Elvises" that cropped up, the Maryland native captured the young Presley's rebel spirit and joyful swagger. He had musically
Welcome to Shepherd's Bush
The Rolling Stones have long been famed for their "secret shows." One of those intimate gigs took place on June 8, 1999 when Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Charlie Watts, and company took the stage at the Shepherd's Bush Empire, a 1903 music hall in the West London suburb. In front of an 1,800-capacity crowd including such luminaries as Anita Pallenberg, Pete Townshend, Jerry Hall, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and Bob Geldof, the World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band strutted their stuff
Super Sequel Soundtracks Are La-La Land's Black Friday Focus for 2024
Before announcing their typically grandiose year-end slate of archival soundtrack titles, there were rumblings in the film score fan community that La-La Land - whose release schedule offered everything from Star Trek to James Bond to the first Steven Spielberg-John Williams collaboration in 2024 - might do things a little differently. It turns out those rumors were correct: ahead of their usual Black Friday blowout, the label has instead announced three titles approved for license from major
Shattered: The Rolling Stones' 1999 Shepherd Bush Gig Arrives in November from Mercury Studios
The Rolling Stones have long been famed for their "secret shows." One of those took place on June 8, 1999 when Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Charlie Watts, and company took the stage at the Shepherd's Bush Empire, a 1903 music hall in the West London suburb. In front of an 1,800-capacity crowd including such luminaries as Anita Pallenberg, Pete Townshend, Jerry Hall, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and Bob Geldof, the World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band strutted their stuff just days
Alice Cooper's 'Muscle of Love' Has Never Been Sold Before (Like This)
Alice Cooper's final album - well, the final album with Cooper's original band of the same name - is getting a deluxe treatment this year. Available on 2CD/Blu-ray and pink double vinyl exclusively at Rhino.com, 1973's Muscle of Love gets expanded with unreleased alternate versions of every track on the album and lengthy, track-by-track liner notes by writer Jaan Uhelszki, drawing from new interviews with Cooper and his surviving bandmates (rhythm guitarist Michael Bruce, bassist Dennis
OUT TOMORROW! SoulMusic Records, TSD Collect Blue Magic on "Stop to Start: The Atco and WMOT Recordings"
Throughout 2024, SoulMusic Records has teamed with The Second Disc to celebrate the sound of Philadelphia with a number of comprehensive box sets: The Salsoul Orchestra's It's Good for the Soul: The Vince Montana Years (1975-1978); Double Exposure's My Love Is Free: The Salsoul Recordings (1976-1979); First Choice's Love Having You Around: The Gold Mind Recordings (1977-1980); Loleatta Holloway's We're Getting Stronger: The Gold Mind/Salsoul Recordings (1976-1982); and Spinners' Keep on Keepin'
Listen to the Music: Rhino's New Batch of Quadio Titles Includes Doobie Brothers, Jefferson Starship, J. Geils Band, Foghat
Rhino's ongoing series of Quadio four-channel surround releases on Blu-ray Audio Discs has already presented a host of classic albums by the eclectic likes of Joni Mitchell, Bette Midler, Bread, Chicago, Seals and Crofts, Spinners, Randy Newman, and many others. Today, the label announced a new batch with three returning artists (The Doobie Brothers, Jefferson Starship, J. Geils Band) and one band new to Quadio (Foghat). Each of the four discs, currently available exclusively from Rhino.com,
Discs for Groovy Children: Hendrix, Whitney Houston, Rage Against the Machine Lead Legacy's Record Store Day Black Friday Slate
Legacy Recordings has prepped an eclectic state of mostly classic rock and hip-hop titles to be released on vinyl for Record Store Day Black Friday. The long-running spinoff event to the big April bonanza takes place November 29 at participating independent outlets - and below is an alphabetical look at what Sony Music's catalog arm will be releasing. More than 50 years after her tragic passing, singer Janis Joplin continues to find new fans - and Legacy's first Black Friday title highlights
Fairy Tale: Cherry Red, Grapefruit Reissue Rock Cult Classic from Amazing Blondel Predecessor Methuselah
Before founding progressive folk group Amazing Blondel, John Gladwin and Terry Wincott played in various musical units and styles. After honing their skills in beat, blues, R&B, soul, and even California-inspired psychedelic harmony pop, the British duo turned their sights to harder rock and changed their band's name from The Gospel Garden (inspired by both The 5th Dimension's Jimmy Webb-penned opus The Magic Garden and the 1963 recording of the Langston Hughes stage adaptation Black
Listen to the Music: Rhino's Rocktober Slate Features Doobie Brothers, Yes, Fleetwood Mac, Monkees, More
Rhino's annual Rocktober campaign - this year encompassing 43 limited edition colored vinyl reissues of rockers both classic and contemporary - kicked off on October 4 with titles from Black Sabbath, Bush, Deep Purple, Devo, The Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac, The Monkees, Stone Temple Pilots, and more. Next, on October 18, the collection will grow to include releases from Ramones and The Velvet Underground. The slate concludes on October 25 with The Cars, Foghat, Iron Butterfly, and more,
Songs Our Mummy Taught Us
What do Frankenberry, Richard Hell, a cat named Sloopy, and Bill Haley and His Comets have in common? You can find out with Real Gone Music and Second Disc Records' first-ever reissue of the long-lost Halloween classic Songs Our Mummy Taught Us! This one-of-a-kind, super-rare LP was the creation of voiceover artist Bob McFadden-best-known as the voice of Frankenberry, the Thundercats' pal Snarf, Cool McCool, and countless others-and the mysterious "Dor," otherwise known as singer-songwriter
Love Will Save the Day: Whitney Houston's First South African Concert Set for Release in November
The power of Whitney Houston's live performance - in service of a celebration of international freedom - will be chronicled in a new album and film release from Legacy Recordings. The label, in collaboration with Houston's estate, will release The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban) on November 8, a CD and double vinyl release chronicling Whitney's first of three concerts in South Africa in the fall of 1994 - just a few short months after the first democratic election was held in the
Step Right Up: SoulMusic Records, TSD Celebrate Blue Magic on "Stop to Start" Box Set
Throughout 2024, SoulMusic Records has teamed with The Second Disc to celebrate the sound of Philadelphia with a number of comprehensive box sets: The Salsoul Orchestra's It's Good for the Soul: The Vince Montana Years (1975-1978); Double Exposure's My Love Is Free: The Salsoul Recordings (1976-1979); First Choice's Love Having You Around: The Gold Mind Recordings (1977-1980); Loleatta Holloway's We're Getting Stronger: The Gold Mind/Salsoul Recordings (1976-1982); and Spinners' Keep on Keepin'
Paul Robeson's Glorious Voice Gets Its Due on New Box Set
As an actor, singer, linguist and political thinker, Paul Robeson was one of the most accomplished Black men in America. A newly-released box set will finally give him the attention his work deserves. Voice of Freedom: His Complete Columbia, RCA, HMV and Victor Recordings is a lavish 14CD box set that serves at the definitive account of Robeson on record: a key figure of the Harlem Renaissance whose expressive bass-baritone preserved scores of American spirituals and folk songs, and a