The feature-length documentary Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me opens today at New York’s IFC Center and on Friday at Los Angeles’ Nuart Theatre. In conjunction with its release, Omnivore Recordings has recently unveiled a soundtrack album collecting 21 previously unissued songs from the legendary Memphis band. Rare is the cult band that actually lives up to its legend. Yet, with each listen - time after time, year after year - Big Star not only meets the hype, but surpasses it. Chances are, if
Trip on the Sunset Strip: Kim Fowley's "Complete Imperial Recordings" Arrive From Tune In Records
It’s never been easy to describe Kim Fowley in just a word or two. Fowley is a producer, a songwriter, an actor, a manager, a publisher, a raconteur, and a promoter – both of himself and of various other acts. Gray Newell, writing the liner notes for Tune In Records’ new Fowley anthology, adds a few more words: “musical maverick, Svengali of Sunset Strip, Son of Frankenstein, Lord of Garbage, King of the Creeps, Underground animal, rock ‘n’ roll survivor, Living Legend.” Fowley’s career has
Move It On Over: Rounder to Reissue First Two Albums by George Thorogood and The Destroyers
Even before "Bad to the Bone" solidified his place in the pop culture canon, George Thorogood was a journeyman rocker with a distinctive voice and a knack for good old-fashioned blues. This month, fans will have a chance to rediscover the earliest part of his career, when Rounder Records remasters and reissues the first two albums by George Thorogood and The Destroyers. When the Destroyers' self-titled album was released by Rounder in 1977, Thorogood was a Delaware-born guitarist making a name
Release Round-Up: Week of July 2
CHIC and Various Artists, Nile Rodgers Presents The CHIC Organization: Up All Night - The Greatest Hits (Rhino U.K.) This new double-disc compilation, featuring hits from CHIC, Sister Sledge, Debbie Harry and more, might be the best Nile Rodgers-centric compilation in its price range. (Amazon U.K. / Amazon U.S.) Blood Sweat & Tears, Rare, Rarer & Rarest / Joe Farrell Quartet, Joe Farrell Quartet / Herbie Hancock, Treasure Chest / Sha Na Na, The Night is Still Young (Wounded Bird) A
This Is It: Michael Jackson's Epic Years Newly Compiled with Bonus Tracks for iTunes Initiative
More than four years following his death, Michael Jackson’s presence is still felt. Every night on Broadway, the young Michael is conjured onstage in Berry Gordy’s sprawling Motown: The Musical. Cirque du Soleil's new Michael Jackson ONE is ensconced at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay. His brothers, The Jacksons, are continuing their successful Unity Tour this summer. And, alas, hardly a day goes by when news media outlets aren't reporting on Jackson’s family in and out of the courtroom. Yet
If Music Be The Food Of Love: Fleetwood Mac's "Then Play On" Joins "1969-1972" Box Set In August
For many, the story of Fleetwood Mac begins with 1975’s self-titled album. But that album, which introduced Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks to the group’s line-up, was in fact the band’s tenth. Long before locking into the L.A. pop-rock sound epitomized by “Say You Love Me” or “Over My Head,” the Mac had already experienced a number of transformations, from its blues-based roots to folk, rock and even a retro rockabilly style. On August 20, Reprise Records will revisit that early period
John Williams Welcomed to Kritzerland with Complete "Missouri Breaks" Soundtrack
In 1976, John Williams was between Oscars – for Jaws and Star Wars, to be exact. The year was filled with great film scores from the future legend – among them, Family Plot, Black Sunday and Midway. Another of his fine works during America’s bicentennial year was for Arthur Penn’s western The Missouri Breaks, headlined by Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson. The actual score tracks heard in the United Artists picture have never been released, either on LP or CD; Williams re-recorded his
Isn't It Rich: Masterworks Broadway Reissues Sondheim's "A Little Night Music" Soundtrack, Plus Rare Monk, Coward
Where are the clowns? Following the release last month of Clownaround, one of the rarest cast recordings of all time, Masterworks Broadway is again sending in the clowns. In August, the label will deliver the long-awaited reissue of the film soundtrack to Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music with Elizabeth Taylor following in the footsteps of Glynis Johns, Frank Sinatra and Judy Collins and singing “Send in the Clowns.” A Little Night Music will be expanded with previously unreleased
Intrada Readies Silvestri's "Fandango," Rare Warner TV Efforts
This week's latest releases from Intrada showcase a forgotten TV show of the '60s and an early highlight for a then-little-known 20th century composer. Fandango was, in its own way, one of the more impressive films of 1985. Directed by a first-timer (Kevin Reynolds) from the basis of his thesis film at the University of Southern California (the original of which found a fan in Steven Spielberg, whose Amblin Entertainment produced the film), the film revolved around a group of college friends
Fire In Her Heart: Madleen Kane's Disco Classic Returns From Gold Legion
Madleen Kane’s 1978 debut albums played on words for its title, Rough Diamond. But there was nothing too rough about the album’s sleek disco grooves or about the fashion model-turned-singer at its center. In 2011, the Gold Legion label reissued Rough Diamond on CD with three bonus tracks. Its follow-up, 1979’s Cheri, has just recently been given the Gold Legion treatment with one bonus cut of its own. Born in Sweden to a Swedish mother and American father, Madleen Kane found her first
Echo & The Bunnymen's Deluxe Debut Making Its Way to Vinyl
Fans of Echo & The Bunnymen might want to check out a new release from the independent Weatherbox label: a new, expanded double-vinyl pressing of the post-punk legends' debut LP Crocodiles. Met enthusiastically by critics on both sides of the Atlantic upon release, Crocodiles set the framework for what would be considered the classic sound of Echo & The Bunnymen: dark lyrics and brooding vocals from frontman Ian McCulloch, jagged string work from guitarist Will Sergeant and bassist Les
Stax, Motown, Chess Go Country with Second Volume of "Where Country Meets Soul"
Ace’s first volume of Where Country Meets Soul arrived late last year, proving that those two venerable genres intersect more often than one might think. After all, many of the most enduring records in both styles revolve around the vagaries of heartbreak, so the fine folks at Ace’s Kent imprint brought together 23 tracks from artists well-versed in the torrid ways of love: Solomon Burke (“He’ll Have to Go”), Percy Sledge (“Take Time to Know Her”), Clarence Carter (“Set Me Free”), Esther
Review: The Three O'Clock, "The Hidden World Revealed"
Could it be time, once again, for The Three O’Clock? The California group took its place alongside the likes of The Bangles and Dream Syndicate as part of the “Paisley Underground” movement of eighties rockers who looked to the sixties’ psychedelic pop and folk-rock scenes for inspiration. In fact, the band’s bassist/lead vocalist Michael Quercio is said to have even coined that evocative name. Between 1982 and 1988, The Three O’Clock recorded one LP for Frontier Records, two for I.R.S., and
"Windy: A Ruthann Friedman Songbook" Explores The Solo Side of The Songwriter
A look at the intense visage of Ruthann Friedman on the cover photograph of Now Sounds’ Windy: A Ruthann Friedman Songbook reveals those “stormy eyes that flash at the sound of lies,” but a listen to the sounds within shows the artist spreading her “wings to fly above the clouds.” For here is an entire disc’s worth of never-before-heard pop nuggets, crafted with a delicacy and beauty to match that photo. Windy, of course, is so named, of course, for The Association’s 1967 No. 1 hit penned by
Numero Group Uncovers The Pioneering Electronic Soundscapes of Iasos' "Celestial Soul Portrait"
The expert crate-diggers at Numero Group have recently offered up one of its most adventurous releases – the Celestial Soul of the single-named musician Iasos (pronounced ya' sos). Before the genres of ambient and New Age were classified as such, the Greek-born musician was experimenting with electronic instruments to create the “Paradise Music” now being reissued by Numero in the anthology Celestial Soul Portrait. Born in Greece in 1947 but a U.S. resident since 1951, Iasos moved to
Release Round-Up: Week of June 25
The Beatles, Help! (Blu-Ray Disc) (Capitol/Apple) The Fab Four's second film gets the hi-def disc treatment. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) The Three O'Clock, The Hidden World Revealed (Omnivore) Early works by power-pop legends The Three O'Clock shine on this new compilation, featuring cuts from their early works on Frontier Records and 10 unreleased tracks. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Omnivore) Released on
Gimme Some Lovin': Cherry Red Distills Spencer Davis Group's Live, Studio Tracks on "Keep On Running"
Between 1964 and 1968, Birmingham’s Spencer Davis Group charted seven U.K. Top 40 hits (including two No. 1s) and two in the U.S. Top 10. Although the R&B band was short-lived, songs like “Gimme Some Lovin’,” “Keep On Running” and “I’m a Man” remain classic rock staples today. A collection of odds and ends has just been released by Cherry Red Records as part of its PressPlay series. The label describes the PressPlay initiative as offering “the perfect introduction to the music of its most
A Beacon in the Pale of the Night: Nik Kershaw's "The Riddle" to Be Expanded in August
Following a recent expansion of his beloved (in the U.K.) debut album, Universal Music Group will offer the double-disc treatment to Nik Kershaw's sophomore effort The Riddle this summer, SuperDeluxeEdition reports. The monumental success of 1983's Human Racing, with its singles "Wouldn't It Be Good" and "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" reaching No. 4 and No. 2 on the U.K. charts, respectively, meant a need to produce a great follow-up. Kershaw delivered with The Riddle, thanks to its
Start Them Up: Rolling Stones' Catalogue Newly Compiled for iTunes
Who says one of the oldest and biggest rock bands in the world can't keep their digital presence somewhat fresh? The Rolling Stones this week unveiled a revamp of their 50-year catalogue on iTunes, including two new digital box sets that collect the majority of their standard discography. While the Stones' catalogue has long been part of the digital music service, they're the latest act to reintroduce their albums in "Mastered For iTunes" format. While tireless physical music enthusiasts might
Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun: Red Temple Spirits' Post-Punk Albums Return To CD
Words like “unique” and “singular” are thrown around far too often, but they truly apply to the Red Temple Spirits. The Los Angeles quartet, described in 1989 by one pundit as “enigmatic,” recorded two albums in the waning days of the 1980s, Dancing to Restore an Eclipsed Moon and If Tomorrow I Were Leaving for Lhasa, I Wouldn’t Stay a Minute More... The post-punk group toured in 1990, and even gained airplay on MTV, but before 1992 was out, Red Temple Spirits had gone quietly into the night.
Phyllis Hyman's "Goddess of Love" Is Revisited By SoulMusic Records
Phyllis Hyman sure looked like a Goddess of Love on the cover of her 1983 album of the same name. Now, the striking and statuesque former fashion model’s fourth and final album for Arista Records is back. It's just been reissued by Cherry Red’s SoulMusic imprint in an expanded edition that boasts two more tracks than Reel Music’s 2010 release. In a quest to find Hyman a degree of commercial success commensurate with her great talent, Clive Davis paired her with different producers for each
Review: "Woody Guthrie at 100! Live at the Kennedy Center"
The new CD/DVD set is entitled Woody Guthrie at 100! Live at the Kennedy Center, but in fact, Woody never made it past 55. This document of an altogether lively concert program from a wide assortment of admirers proves, however, that his music has not only lasted ‘til 100, but will likely survive us all. This is a celebration, yes, but a celebration with a conscience. A strong thread of morality and social awareness ran through all of Guthrie’s songs, as he believed music could make a
Review: ZZ Top, "The Complete Studio Albums 1970-1990"
"My friends, they all told me Man there's somethin' gonna change your life..." -ZZ Top, "Brown Sugar" I hate to play favorites, but from day one, I've been a fan of Legacy Recordings' "complete albums" concept. The slick packaging of an artist's classic albums in one package, with nicely-crafted mini jackets, replicated label art on disc and the always promising idea of bonus content is often too good to pass up. I'm probably not the typical target buyer - really, when am I ever - but as
Reviews: Eddy Arnold, "Complete No. 1 Hits" and David Allan Coe, "Texas Moon"
When 1965’s “Make the World Go Away” entered the Pop Top 10, it was unusual, even for those heady days of pop diversity. The singer, Eddy Arnold, had first signed to RCA Victor in 1943. The Musicians’ Union’s strike prohibited the young vocalist from recording until it was settled in December, 1944, but when Arnold finally entered WSM’s radio studios to record four songs, he was making history. His session was the first for a major label to be held in Nashville, Tennessee. His star was soon
Release Round-Up: Week of June 18
Patty Duke, Don’t Just Stand There/Patty / Sings Songs from Valley of the Dolls/Sings Folk Songs (Time to Move On) (Real Gone Music) All four of Patty's United Artists albums released on a pair of two-fers, including 1968's unreleased Sings Folk Songs. The Supremes, Cream of the Crop / Love Child / I Hear a Symphony / Join the Temptations / Sing Holland-Dozier-Holland / Supremes A Go-Go (Motown MS 649, 1966) (Culture Factory) A bunch of Supremes classics - six albums from 1966's The Supremes
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