Carly Simon's self-titled debut album arrived on Elektra Records in the spring of 1971, nestled in the label's discography between singer-songwriter Paul Siebel's Jack-Knife Gypsy and folk band Farquahr's eponymous LP. Carly wasn't quite a stranger to the music business, having recorded three albums for the Kapp and Columbia labels with her sister Lucy as The Simon Sisters, but her solo debut augured for a major talent. She was signed by the label's founder, Jac Holzman, beginning an association
Review: The Monkees, "Headquarters: Super Deluxe Edition"
It didn't take long for The Monkees to realize that they'd experienced a level of success far beyond their wildest dreams. Far from being mere actors on a television show portraying a band, they'd been thrust in front of capacity crowds in stadiums, arenas, and large auditoriums - a de facto band that, in reality, wasn't yet calling the shots on their own careers and music. That changed when Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, and Peter Tork demanded creative freedom from impresario Don
The Year In Review: The 2022 Gold Bonus Disc Awards, From A to Z - Part Two
Happy 2023! Welcome, friends, to The Second Disc's 13th Annual Gold Bonus Disc Awards! A lot has happened in the last twelve months, but as we look to a new year with optimism and a hopeful spirit, we recognize the many roles music has played in our lives. With that spirit in mind, The Second Disc wishes to recognize 2022's cream of the catalogue music crop - those exemplary reissues and box sets, big and small, that proved to be truly outstanding for music lovers worldwide. Despite the
Release Round-Up: Week of October 14
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today! Frank Zappa, Zappa '75: Zagreb/Ljubljana (Zappa/UMe) (Zappa Official Store / Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Zappa '75: Zagreb/Ljubljana captures The Mothers' first and only concerts in Yugoslavia. Zappa referred to the dates as "The Mothers of Invention Yugoslavian Extravaganza," and the performances lived up to that mighty moniker. The shows were staged in Zagreb and
From L.A. to Bakersfield: Omnivore Celebrates California Music Heroes Dean Torrence and Buck Owens on New Collections
This fall, Omnivore will be revisiting the back pages of two California artists with whom the label has become associated: Dean Torrence and Buck Owens. Back in 2017, Omnivore issued Filet of Soul Redux: The Rejected Master Recordings from Jan Berry and Dean Torrence, the innovative surf-rock duo and Beach Boys pals who transformed the sound of SoCal pop. But Dean was always much more than "just" one-half of that pioneering musical pair. As a graphic designer, Torrence won the Grammy Award
The Weekend Stream: March 12, 2022
Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing weekly review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there's plenty of great new/old music to discover! Georgia Satellites, Lightnin' in a Bottle: The Official Live Album (Cleveland International/Rhino) (iTunes / Amazon) Recorded at Cleveland club Peabody's at the end of 1988 - two years after their only hit, the No. 2 smash "Keep Your Hands to Yourself," had fallen off the charts - this blistering set showcases
Release Round-Up: Week of March 11
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the titles arriving in stores today! Grateful Dead, Road Trips Vol. 1 No. 4: From Egypt with Love (Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) A little over a month after playing a concert on the desert grounds surrounding the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Grateful Dead returned home to San Francisco for a five-show stint at Winterland. The band brought along a slide show of their Egyptian stand
Tell Me Again: Tomorrow's Real Gone Vinyl Slate Includes Irma Thomas and Soundtracks to Two Nora Ephron Romantic Comedies
Tomorrow, March 11, sees a new batch of Real Gone Music vinyl titles hitting store shelves. Among the trio is a lost album by Irma Thomas and a pair of soundtracks to Nora Ephron rom-coms. Two of the releases are making their vinyl debuts. First up is Full Time Woman: The Lost Cotillion Album from Irma Thomas. Thomas, known as "The Soul Queen of New Orleans," was born approximately 50 miles from that city in Ponchatoula, Louisiana in 1941. As a child, she sang in church choir and began
Holiday Gift Guide Review: Joni Mitchell, "Joni Mitchell Archives Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968-1971)"
Last evening in Washington, DC, Joni Mitchell joined the 44th class of Kennedy Center Honorees alongside Bette Midler, Berry Gordy, Lorne Michaels, and Justino Diaz. The singer-songwriter who has blurred the lines of folk, pop, rock, and jazz was celebrated by friends and admirers including Brandi Carlile, Herbie Hancock, Ellie Goulding, Norah Jones, Brittany Howard, Dan Levy, and Cameron Crowe. President Joe Biden, also in attendance, had earlier summed up the thoughts of many when he
In Memoriam: Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021)
October 1999: It was a crisp fall afternoon when I first met Stephen Sondheim. Working on a production of his 1965 musical Do I Hear a Waltz? at New Jersey's George Street Playhouse, I was asked to greet the great man at the train station and accompany him back to the theatre. "Mr. Sondheim!" I called as I extended my hand to the familiar figure heading my way. "I'm Joe from the theatre!" His look suddenly turned to one of concern, and his response took me aback: "Are you okay?" I paused,
In Memoriam: Keith Allison (1942-2021)
The Second Disc mourns the loss of singer-songwriter-musician-producer Keith Allison, 79, best known for his time as a member of Paul Revere and The Raiders. The Texas-born singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist had already toured with artists including Ray Peterson and The Crickets when he was plucked from the audience at the Whisky A' Go-Go and groomed for stardom on the weekday music show Where the Action Is. In a classic case of "right place, right time," busy session musician
Release Round-Up: Week of June 4
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Rod Stewart, 1975-1978 (Warner/Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) A new vinyl box set collects remastered versions of Rod Stewart's breakthrough first four Warner Bros. albums - Atlantic Crossing (1975), A Night on the Town (1976), Foot Loose and Fancy Free (1977), and Blondes Have More Fun (1978) - and adds the bonus LP Encores 1975-1978 featuring ten outtakes, five of which have never been released in any format. Read more
Oh What a Night for Love: Mint Audio Continues Peter Skellern Anthology Series with "The Complete Island and Mercury Recordings"
When Mint Audio Records left Peter Skellern on The Complete Decca Recordings, the British singer-songwriter-pianist had completed his 1972-1975 tenure at Decca Records after three studio albums and one odds-and-ends collection. Now, Mint has continued the Skellern story with the release of a new 3-CD set, The Complete Island and Mercury Recordings, covering 1975-1982 via six full albums and a handful of bonus tracks. This beautiful anthology chronicles his path from singer-songwriter to
From Hollywood to Veracruz: Van Dyke Parks Teams with Verónica Valerio For New EP
Over the course of a career spanning more than half a century, Van Dyke Parks has collaborated with Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson, Ry Cooder, Little Feat, Bonnie Raitt, and Silverchair; penned the legendary SMiLE with Brian Wilson; re-teamed with Wilson for the subsequent concept albums Orange Crate Art (recently reissued by Omnivore Recordings) and That Lucky Old Sun; played the accordion on The Beach Boys' chart-topping "Kokomo;" and even arranged Baloo the Bear's famous ode to "The Bare
Feelin' Groovy: Cherry Red, El Collect Harpers Bizarre's "Complete Warner Bros. Recordings"
When Harpers Bizarre made their debut on Warner Bros. Records in spring 1967, they joined an eclectic roster of pop stars (Petula Clark, The Association), folksingers (Chad Mitchell, Peter Paul and Mary), comedy titans (Bob Newhart, Allan Sherman), MOR artists (The Anita Kerr Singers, Rod McKuen), and one forward-thinking psychedelic rock band (Grateful Dead). The group defied easy categorization, and over the course of four albums merged pop, MOR, rock, and even dashes of folk and comic whimsy
Release Round-Up: Week of March 19
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Neil Young, After the Gold Rush: 50th Anniversary [Vinyl + 7" Box] (Reprise) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) This 50th Anniversary remastered edition of Neil Young's classic album was released on CD in December; now the vinyl version arrives. The set includes two different recordings of the outtake "Wonderin'" on the bonus 45. The A-side was recorded in March 1970 in Topanga (previously heard on Archives Vol. 1) while the B-side is
Propinquity: 7a Records Announces Micky's "Dolenz Sings Nesmith" For May Release
Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith have shared a musical journey together since 1966 when The Monkees first hit the NBC airwaves and the group's chart-topping debut album arrived in stores on the Colgems label. When COVID-19 unexpectedly struck one year ago, Dolenz and Nesmith were preparing to take to the road once again for An Evening with The Monkees; once the virus rendered that impossible, Dolenz got to work on a celebration of his dedicated friend's classic songs. The result is Dolenz
Release Round-Up: Week of February 19
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Zappa: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Zappa Records/UMe) 3CD/Digital: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 5LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP/Digital Highlights: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada UMe and Zappa Records offer a soundtrack release for director Alex Winter's documentary film about the iconoclastic artist. The 68-track collection is out today on CD and has been available digitally, while the
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
The Year In Review: The 2020 Gold Bonus Disc Awards, From A to Z
Happy 2021 and welcome to The Second Disc's 11th Annual Gold Bonus Disc Awards! The past year has presented any number of unprecedented challenges. But music has filled a more important role than ever, providing solace, comfort, and escape in a time unlike any other. With that spirit in mind, The Second Disc once again wishes to recognize 2020's cream of the catalogue music crop - those exemplary reissues and box sets big and small that proved to be truly outstanding for music lovers
Soundtrack Watch: Everybody's Talkin' About Quartet's Score Reissues
As we approach the end of 2020, soundtrack labels are working overtime to put out some great archival score presentations. Not to be ignored this time of year is an impressive line-up from European label Quartet Records: last week they announced three incredible expanded releases and a new re-recording. Additionally, they recently issued another two expanded releases that are absolutely worth fans' time. Those recent releases are a pair of acclaimed scores from 1990: Jerry Goldsmith's work on
It's Not Unusual: Run Out Groove Reissues Halestorm, Fear Factory, Belly on Deluxe Vinyl
As the year winds to a close, Run Out Groove is keeping busy as ever. The label has recently announced upcoming titles from Halestorm, Fear Factory, and Belly. Ten years ago, Philadelphia band Halestorm recorded a hometown show. The Atlantic Records release Live in Philly 2010 features Lzzy Hale [vocals + guitar], Arejay Hale [drums], Joe Hottinger [guitar], and Josh Smith [bass]. The band has performed with such varied and top-tier artists as Eric Church, Joan Jett, Avenged Sevenfold,
It Must Be Love: New Box Set Celebrates Labi Siffre's Solo Work
Back in 2015, Demon Music Group's Edsel label revisited five albums from British singer-songwriter Labi Siffre in a series of expanded editions. The reissues showcased the timelessness of his writing and the versatility of his performances. Now, Edsel has returned to the Siffre discography to complete it. My Song is the new 9-CD box set bringing together those five previously reissued albums and bonus tracks along with four more to paint a full portrait of Siffre's artistry. Despite a
The Walrus and Me: "Looking Through a Glass Onion" Collects Pop-Psych Beatles Covers
Let me take you down... The Beatles' songs were so sturdy and well-crafted that artists such as Matt Monro and Ella Fitzgerald became early adopters. But from the start, John, Paul, George, and Ringo's contemporaries had been just as likely as the older generation to mine their songbook. As the sixties continued and the Beatles ushered in the shift from pop to rock (minus the "and roll"), similarly youthful artists brought their own increasingly adventurous spins to the lads' material.
Release Round-Up: Week of September 11
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Reba McEntire, Rumor Has It: 30th Anniversary Edition (MCA Nashville) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Exclusive Orange Vinyl: Wal-Mart Reba McEntire expands her 1990 album in a new anniversary edition with two bonus tracks on CD (an acoustic take of Bobbie Gentry's "Fancy" recorded at the Ryman Auditorium and a dance remix of the song by Dave Audé) and one on vinyl (the acoustic
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