Carole Bayer Sager knew "that's what friends are for" long before she wrote the song of the same name. The former Carole Bayer was already a hitmaking lyricist before graduating high school, thanks to the Mindbenders' No. 2 hit "A Groovy Kind of Love." The song was written by Bayer and Toni Wine before both women hit the ripe old age of 18. Following more hit tunes with the likes of the Monkees and Neil Sedaka, and even a Broadway musical (1970's Georgy, with music by George Fischoff), she
"Hats" Off (Sort of) to Two Expansions of Blue Nile LPs
If you've been waiting for expanded remasters from Scottish alternative band The Blue Nile, congratulations! Also, sorry to bear some bad news. The Blue Nile, a trio consisting of non-traditional musicians Paul Buchanan (vocals/guitar/synthesizers), Robert Bell (bass) and Paul Joseph Moore (synthesizers), have an origin story almost as unusual as their musical direction. The group formed their own label, Peppermint Records, to distribute debut single "I Love This Life" in 1981; eventually, RSO
Soundtrack Round-Up: More Kong, Eastwood, Zimmer Highlights from Intrada, La-La Land
If you thought Film Score Monthly's reissue of the score to King Kong (1976) was as big as it gets for soundtracks lately, allow us to show you the newest releases from Intrada and La-La Land - one of which features the giant ape himself! Ten years after toppling off the World Trade Center to his apparent death, King Kong Lives - also produced by Dino de Laurentiis and directed by John Gullermin - reveals the giant ape is in fact alive, kept under a medically-induced coma while scientists
Release Round-Up: Week of October 2
Barry Manilow, Elvis Presley, Kenny G, Willie Nelson, John Denver, Luther Vandross, The Classic Christmas Collection (Legacy) Oh my goodness, it really is almost sort of kind of close to Christmas, yes? Legacy's getting your seasonal fix early with new compilations full of cheer (and, in a few cases, some harder to find Yuletide songs and tracks licensed from non-Legacy albums). Dion, The Complete Laurie Singles / Shoes, 35 Years: The Definitive Shoes Collection / David Cassidy, Romance / The
Brownie Box, Ruffin Reissue Are Latest from Hip-O Select
Two new releases from Hip-O Select are on the horizon: one closing the book on a trumpeting legend at a beloved jazz label, and one reissue spotlighting one of Motown's most underrated voices. First, the Motown news: David Ruffin's self-titled, unreleased LP is coming back to the CD format. David was intended for release in 1971 and featured songwriting and production from the brightest stars on the roster at the time, including Henry Cosby co-writes "Each Day is a Lifetime" and "I Can't Be
Who's Ready for Two Live Releases from Legendary U.K. Rockers?
If you're sitting out next year's tour from The Who (this time centered on playing Quadrophenia in its entirety) but you still want to experience them live somehow, you're in luck, thanks to two upcoming catalogue titles for the holiday season. Coming from Geffen/UMe on November 6, there's the first-ever standalone release of Live at Hull. The band's incendiary performance at Kingston Upon Hull on February 14, 1970 was considered by the group to be one of their best performances on the tour in
Born on the Bayou: "Ultimate Collection" Compiles Live, Studio Creedence Clearwater Revival
With just seven albums released over a four-year period between 1968 and 1972, Creedence Clearwater Revival managed to tap into the roots of rock and roll with songs like “Down on the Corner,” “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” “Bad Moon Rising,” “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” Fortunate Son,” and of course, “Proud Mary.” All of those songs, and more, will be appearing on CCR’s 3-CD set Ultimate Creedence Clearwater Revival: Greatest Hits & All-Time Classics, due on November 6 from Fantasy
Special EPCOT 30th Anniversary Reissue Theory: "The Official Album of Walt Disney World - EPCOT Center"
Welcome to another installment of Reissue Theory, where we reflect on notable albums and the reissues they could someday see. Today, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Epcot at Walt Disney World with a look back at its first and only Official Album! "There’s a great, big, beautiful tomorrow/Shining at the end of every day/There’s a great, big, beautiful tomorrow/Just a dream away…" Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman may have written those words, but Walt Disney lived them. Less than
Return of the 5 O'Clock Hero: Universal Goes Big with The Jam's "Gift" Box
As the 1980s began, it seemed all of England was moving and shaking to the eclectic sound of The Jam. Paul Weller, Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler started The Jam as an "angry young man" punk band, but stumbled upon something more: a revival of mod culture in the U.K. and an increasing stable of diversely-recorded chart hits. While 1982 saw the release of their biggest album to date, The Gift, and a string of seven consecutive Top 10 hits (including two No. 1s) stretching back from the previous
All the Love in the World: Dionne, Aretha Classics Are Remastered by BBR
The eighties aren't traditionally remembered as a halcyon period for classic soul. R&B eventually took on new meaning as it splintered into hip-hop, rap and urban genres that were as integral to their day as street-corner doo-wop and soul were to their own. Big Break Records, a Cherry Red imprint, has long been committed to rediscovering perhaps-neglected works by some of the biggest names in soul and R&B, and a particularly fascinating series of recent reissues has turned its
Completely Fab: Beatles Remasters, Debut Single Coming to Vinyl (UPDATED)
The wait is over. This holiday season, vinyl enthusiasts and Beatlemaniacs everywhere will finally have a chance to hear 2009's long-awaited Beatles remasters on 180-gram vinyl. All of the albums in The Fab Four's official discography - 1963's Please Please Me and With The Beatles, 1964's A Hard Day's Night and Beatles for Sale, 1965's Help! and Rubber Soul, 1966's Revolver, 1967's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and the U.S. Magical Mystery Tour LP, 1968's self-titled "White Album,"
Nobody Does It Better: James Bond Turns 50, Capitol Celebrates with New CD Anthology
When Sean Connery first uttered the immortal words “Bond…James Bond” fifty years ago in the film Dr. No, the template for the long-running movie series was already set. That soon-to-be-signature phrase was joined in the film by a piece of music that would quickly rival those three words for familiarity. John Barry’s arrangement of “The James Bond Theme” not only helped cement the silver screen icon of 007 but virtually became a genre unto itself, that of spy music. The spy film craze may have
Lana Del Rey Goes to "Paradise" on New Expansion
Hey, remember Lana Del Rey? The pouty-lipped, perpetually dazed young lady responsible for some vaguely ineffectual chamber pop and the most histrionic vortex of critical backlash of the year - possibly of the nascent century? Back when we weighed in on her, we did so because there was talk of reissuing some of her early independent works through her contract with Interscope. Well, it looks like we are indeed getting a reissue from the erstwhile Lizzy Grant, and holy cow, you guys. Her
Review: The Jackson 5, "Come and Get It: The Rare Pearls"
Be honest: when Michael Jackson died, you probably expected a lazy river of material from the catalogue labels that govern his catalogue - both Legacy Recordings, which control Jackson's adult recordings on Epic, and Universal Music Enterprises, the executors of the Motown library. By and large, we've experienced just that. 2009 saw the expanded re-release of The Jackson 5's Christmas album; I Want You Back! Unreleased Masters, a 11-track compilation of outtakes; and Epic's This is
In Memoriam: Andy Williams (1927-2012)
It's tempting to say "they don't make 'em like they used to," but truth to tell, they never made 'em quite like Andy Williams. Howard Andrew Williams, the favorite son of Wall Lake, Iowa, died yesterday at the age of 84, having valiantly fought bladder cancer. But Williams leaves behind a rich and reassuring legacy of music and entertainment that recalls a gentler time in American life, of huckleberry friends and caroling out in the snow. If any popular singer defined Christmas in the
Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio? "The Ramones Heard Them Here First" Arrives
Ace Records is cheering “Gabba gabba hey!” with the recent release of The Ramones Heard Them Here First, an overview charting the influences behind New York’s seminal punk pioneers. Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy didn’t exactly try to hide their inspirations when they included a cover of Chris Montez’ 1962 hit “Let’s Dance” on their debut long-player Ramones in 1976 and over the years, they continued to tip the hat to rock and roll heroes from The Ronettes to The Beach Boys. The new
Love Is (Still) The Message: MFSB Classic Expanded and Remastered by Big Break
There was clear irony in Bart Forbes’ cover artwork for MFSB’s Love is the Message. The 1973 album showed off Philadelphia International Records’ hallowed house band at its smoothest, espousing the gospels of peace, love, tolerance and unity. The cover illustration, however, depicts a skull clad in a military helmet, a mushroom cloud, a swastika, death, a howling dog, a Klansman and a grief-stricken man among its disturbing images. This was heady stuff, but then again, Kenneth Gamble and Leon
In Case You Missed It: Edsel's Mega-Release Slate
The recent release slate from U.K. super-reissue label Edsel is what we at Second Disc HQ like to call "an embarrassment of riches." You've seen our giveaways over the past few weeks highlighting some of the best expanded discographies Edsel's had to offer this year: Suede, The Beat, Sugar, Everything But the Girl and Jimmy Somerville, to name just five. Then there've been other expansions, like the recent Aztec Camera reissues, and neat compilations on the Music Club Deluxe sister label. Can
Release Round-Up: Week of September 25
Glen Campbell and Jimmy Webb, In Session (Concord) The legendary songwriter and equally legendary country superstar join forces for two 1988 television broadcasts, joined together on one DVD and accompanied by a CD of the programs' musical selections! Campbell's only recording of Webb's "Sunshower" can be found here, among other gems. For those of you anticipating the arrival of In Session today, it appears that this title has been delayed until October 9! You can read more about it here.
Maybe Our Luck Has Changed: "Kong" Remake is Latest Deluxe Title from FSM
It all began with a lie - a very impressive, very big one. On November 30, 1975, New York Times readers were treated to a full-color advertisement for producer Dino de Laurentiis' latest film project: a modern retelling of King Kong. "One year from today, Paramount Pictures and Dino de Laurentiis will bring to you the most exciting original motion picture event of all time," trumpeted the ad copy, blissfully ignorant of the true original, stop-motion-animated ape that ascended the Empire State
The Magnificent Bernstein: "The Rat Race" Premieres on CD
Elmer Bernstein’s back! Kritzerland celebrated its landmark 100th release last year with the world premiere of Bernstein’s complete soundtrack to Summer and Smoke, and in 2012, his score to Walt Disney Productions’ The Black Cauldron has seen release from Intrada alongside a reissue of Amazing Grace and Chuck from Varese Sarabande. Now, Kritzerland is returning with another Bernstein bonanza, his 1960 score to the drama The Rat Race, in a limited edition of 1,200 units. Garson Kanin (Born
It's Good to Be the King! Shout! Factory Preps "The Incredible Mel Brooks" with Rare Audio and Video Treats
Mel Brooks has been called many things…but doesn’t “incredible” have a nice ring to it? The fine folks at Shout! Factory clearly think so, anyway. The inimitable, indefatigable and yes, incredible, auteur is being celebrated this November 13 with a 5-DVD/1-CD box set that’s unlike any other yet dedicated to Brooks. Unlike past boxed collections, this one doesn’t feature any of Brooks’ beloved films. Instead, it sheds light on those movies with an array of rare material including
From Doris Day to David Peel: Real Gone Slate Includes Rare Apple Records Album, Mathis at Mercury, Como Christmas and More!
The holiday season must be upon us, for Real Gone Music has announced its Christmas-themed offerings – but that’s not all! The enterprising label has two offerings with Apple Records ties (one actually from the Apple catalogue!), the complete singles of a soul legend, a counterculture classic, a distinctly non-counterculture classic, and well…just read on about the rest! First up, four more of Johnny Mathis’ long-unavailable Mercury Records LPs are arriving on CD for the first time! (Read
Reviews: The Jimmy Somerville Reissues - Bronski Beat, The Communards and Solo Somerville
The more things change… The old adage has never been more shockingly true than when it comes to the music of Jimmy Somerville. Throughout an uncompromising career, Somerville has deftly blurred the lines between politics and music, deploying his piercing falsetto to sing eloquently of social ills against a dance-pop backdrop. Somerville came to prominence in 1984 as a member of Bronski Beat, a group of three young gay men who were determined to make their mark despite the social climate in
Massive Attack's Debut Getting New Remix, Remaster for November Release
The debut LP from trip-hop pioneers Massive Attack is about to get a bit more massive in the U.K. this year, with a remixed, remastered deluxe edition due in November. Blue Lines, originally released in 1991, was a watershed moment for British dance music. Before "trip-hop" was an actual subgenre repeated in music magazines, the Bristol-based trio of Robert "3D" Del Naja, Grant "Daddy G" Marshall and Andrew "Mushroom" Vowles helped forge its sonic identity as Massive Attack. As members of
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