One of the potential hazards of being a music collector is that sometimes, if you're feeling adventurous, you spring for an all-too-dangerous impulse buy. I'm guilty of this all the time, especially when the music in question is cheap. Put me within 25 yards of a garage sale or a cutout bin at a supermarket and I'm probably going to walk away having bought at least one disc. Sometimes this strategy works out in my favor: a random purchase of Squeeze's Singles 45 and Under from my local ShopRite
Back Tracks: Tears for Fears
Not many people dig music from the 1980s. To a degree, I understand why. Sandwiched between the monstrous artistry of album-oriented rock bands of the '70s and the mainstream-busting advances of grunge and rap in the '90s, most of the music of the '80s was characterized by an emphasis on image (i.e.: MTV) and artifice (why hire a drummer when you can buy a Linn LM-1?). But a good song - whether it's a hit or not - will transcend its labels and packaging and hopefully turn into something you'll
Release Round-Up: In Case You Missed Them
Here are a couple of catalogue release tidbits, one that I'm certain is fairly new and a few stragglers I've neglected to mention thus far: Rhino has started taking pre-orders for The Prague Sessions, a new Peter, Paul and Mary compilation. The set features previously unreleased live versions of the folk group's best-known songs, backed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. Should be an interesting new way to hear these songs. On March 23, Eagle Records is releasing Live at Knebworth, a
Reissue Theory: Was (Not Was), "What Up Dog?"
I've got to be the only twentysomething I know that's this excited over Pick of the Litter 1980-2010, the new compilation by pop-funk band Was (Not Was). Quirky aficionados may know them for left-field, late-'80s hits like "Walk the Dinosaur" and "Spy in the House of Love." Others may know them as the band that put producers Don Was and David Was on the map (they would, either separately or together, work on such albums as Cosmic Thing by The B-52's, Nick of Time by Bonnie Raitt and Bob Dylan's
Monoliths
I've been listening to Pet Sounds a lot lately. Maybe it's the dreary weather; whenever I put on some Beach Boys things feel a bit sunnier. But it's a heck of a record (as I'm sure most of you know) - one of those rarified few that's hard to chop down entirely. It's also fascinating that it's one on a rather short list of pop albums that have supported its own box set. The sprawling The Pet Sounds Sessions, released in 1997, chronicles the process of the album through alternate mixes, outtakes,
J is Indeed for Jackson 5
Awhile back I'd posted on the existence of a "new" Jackson 5 title, J is for Jackson 5. My guess was that, like the similarly titled B is for Bob set done for Bob Marley, the CD would be a kid-friendly compilation of J5 tunes (not that they really recorded that many kid-unfriendly tunes). Thanks to an Amazon listing, my beliefs have been proven correct. The tracklist offers nothing new for J5 acolytes, unless you don't have any of the officially-released, now out-of-print Motown karaoke CDs.
Reissue Theory: Peter Gabriel, "Deutsches"
On this day 42 years ago, Decca Records released a single, "Silent Sun," by a new band, Genesis. It was the first single off From Genesis to Revelation, an album that would not be released until nearly a year later. Neither the single nor any material from that first album would resemble anything near the forms of Genesis we know and love today. The sound was less prog and more psychedelia, and the teenaged band members - lead vocalist Peter Gabriel, keyboardist Tony Banks, guitarist Anthony
Everybody Wants to Rule the World
When you're around kids, you often find themselves saying what they'd do if they were in charge. There would be no school, no bedtime, unlimited pizza, that sort of thing. Once you grow up those visions look more fanciful, but sometimes that sentiment sticks with you, no matter how much you bury it. I know I feel that way with the catalogue scene. Every day, every song, every trip to the record store spins off a dozen ideas in my head that I can't wait to share with anyone who will listen. And
And Don't It Feel Good
Some news is coming through the pipeline that a good chunk of the Katrina and The Waves discography is being reissued in honor of the 25th anniversary of "Walking on Sunshine," their biggest U.S. hit and one of those inescapable summer anthems. There's a lot of confusion surrounding these reissues (more on that in a minute), but these look pretty interesting, especially because of the material that's being released themselves. You see, before the smash success of Katrina and the Waves, the
Reissue Theory: Terence Trent D'Arby - "Introducing the Hardline According To..."
For many, one of the most salient points of reissuing and compiling popular music is to help listeners rediscover lost gems that may have fallen into the cracks. Ordinarily, one would not consider a debut record that sold 12 million copies, spun off three Top 40 hits and won a Grammy a "lost gem." And yet, it seems that at least one record, 1987's Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby, has earned such a strange distinction. Terence Trent D'Arby has always been something of
El Sonido de la Joven América
I've been waiting for this one for a long time: Hip-O Select is releasing a new compilation of classic Motown songs in a whole new way. Motown Around the World: The Classic Singles compiles 38 songs from the label as recorded in other languages for international markets. The Supremes, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, The Velvelettes, Smokey Robinson and Edwin Starr sing the songs you know and love (plus a few folk ballads native to other countries) in Italian, Spanish, French and
(Slightly) Turning Back the Clock
Today, Legacy releases a double-disc edition of Supernatural, the massive comeback album Santana released in 1999. Perhaps more than any catalogue reissue I've ever followed, there's something positively mind-boggling about seeing an album that's only a decade old - even one that's a successful, good listen - get the deluxe treatment. You see, while I have been passionate about reissues for much of my music-collecting life, I'm firmly a part of the generation that went from watching Britney
Reissue Theory: INXS, "Kick"
Take a look at the above image. It might not look too familiar if you live in the U.S. and have a working knowledge of the INXS catalogue. The famed Australian rockers have a vast three-decade career to their credit, most of which has appeared on subsidiaries of Warner Music Group through the years (notably Atco and Atlantic). Elsewhere, though, it's another story: in Europe, Mercury/Phonogram, owned by Universal Music Group, gets the rights to the work of Michael Hutchence and
Too Much Information
There's a few weeks to go until Legacy Recordings and Experience Hendrix LLC reprint the Jimi Hendrix catalogue. March 9 will see CD/DVD versions of four classic Hendrix albums as well as a new unreleased compilation, Valleys of Neptune, on store shelves. In preparation for the reissue, I've been acquainting myself with the ridiculously deep catalogue Hendrix left in his 27 short years on this Earth. And if music research could make me curl up and whimper, I'd have my arms around my knees by
Back Tracks: Marvin Gaye
Our Valentine's Day weekend preparation continues with a look back at the reissue prospects of Marvin Gaye, one of the finest soul voices of the century (and, in my opinion, one of the most heartbreaking losses in popular music). It's quite interesting that Gaye's catalogue, split about 90/10 between labels (Motown and Columbia), has been well-serviced by both. Chalk it up to the fact that one of his biggest hits, "Sexual Healing," was released on the latter label in 1983. Take a look at the
Voices, Another Sound
EDIT: Those who'd like to read the press release, which also has a neat note on the packaging of the reissues, can do so here. ORIGINAL POST: Duranies like me can breathe a sigh of relief: following the news that an April 13 release date has been confirmed for the deluxe reissue of Duran side-project Arcadia's lone album So Red the Rose (1985), our friends at Slicing Up Eyeballs have confirmed that EMI will release the other planned deluxe sets for Duran Duran (1981) and Seven and the Ragged
The (Aggravating) Sound of The Smiths
Today was the day that U.K. fans, elated from the grassroots success of making Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name" the 2009 Christmas No. 1 single, attempted to make lightning strike twice with a campaign for The Smiths' immortal "How Soon is Now?" Call me a spoilsport, but I have my doubts that the campaign is going to make the same kind of headway. The "Killing in the Name" incident was just right-place, right-time and had suitable fire underneath it (people will buy a single so
"Raw Power" to Melt Faces in April
Fans of The Stooges, get ready for a rush: Legacy Recordings is reissuing Raw Power, one of the most iconic pre-punk rock records of the 1970s. And hardcore fans are going to drool over the goodies that are coming their way. The standard set is going to be a two-disc Legacy Edition (you know, the ones in a double digipak with a slip case). On the first disc is the original album as originally mixed by David Bowie. This is a really big deal, as the last time Legacy reissued the record in 1997,
Barry's B's
It may be winter outside (especially in my neck of the woods - I live in one of those places labeled as a "snowpocalypse" or "snowmageddon" in the news), but in my heart it's always spring. And why not? It's always a good time of year for catalogue music, whether you're listening to it, buying it or (oh you lucky ones) working on it. And Valentine's Day is just around the corner, making it a great time here at The Second Disc to pen a few features on some great romantic hitmakers. One of my
Carnival of Sound is Coming!
Here's an exceptional treat for rock fans from Rhino Handmade: the first official release of Carnival of Sound, the legendary lost album from Jan & Dean. Intended for release in 1968, the psychedelic Carnival of Sound was the first material that Jan Berry worked on after his debilitating car accident in 1966. It was never released, but after much bootlegging and three years of research the record is ready for release. The new set features 15 finished tracks from the sessions (no official
Grant Us an Extension
The other day I was talking about how us catalogue fans can sometimes end up wanting that one missing track to add to our collections. I used the 45 version of Billy Joel's "Sometimes a Fantasy," which runs well past the fade-out on the LP, as an example. Interestingly enough, I realized that the track also adhered to another concept I realized I'm enamored of concerning music in general. When I was a kid, I was always interested in the idea of a fade-out. You'd be listening to a song, getting
Back Tracks: The Who
Were you left cold by The Who's straightforward, inoffensive performance at The Super Bowl last night? Did you hear will.i.am's pointless remix of "My Generation" and think about a time in which that song actually meant something? This installment of Back Tracks takes you through the deluxe editions of The Who's discography, so you can focus on the glory days and not Roger Daltrey's incredibly silly get-up. And take heart: The Who's back catalogue is probably one of UMe's grandest war horses.
Another Date Change: Bowie in April
Yet another move on the calendar: Decca/UMe's deluxe edition of David Bowie's first LP - that truly wacky effort on Deram Records - has been set for an April 6 release date, a month back from its intended March release. But those of you who can't wait long enough for the set - consisting of the original LP in mono and stereo as well as new mixes and BBC sessions not included on the collector's set The Deram Anthology from 1997 - note that Universal has already released the set in the U.K., so
Stayin' Alive
Those of you who were debating the merits of Mythology, the upcoming four-disc Bee Gees box set, now have a lot of time to decide to buy it. The box, originally slated for release last November before being pushed back to the spring, is now due on November 16, 2010. Update your calendars accordingly. The set is a retrospective look at the collective careers of the brothers Gibb, with one disc each devoted to Robin, Barry, Maurice and Andy Gibb. The track list (presented after the jump) features
New Release: Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, "Greatest Hits" (UPDATED FEB. 7)
Looks like Hip-O Select isn't the only label catering to the upcoming surge of interest in The Runaways. The influential girl-punk group's most famous member, Joan Jett, is prepping a new solo compilation set for release March 9, less than two weeks before the release of the new biopic of the band. The Amazon pre-order page - as of yet, one of the only public sources of info for the compilation (there's not even a mention on the official sites for Jett or Blackheart Records, her label) - has a