Ellen Foley is back with a vengeance. The singer-actress who shared the microphone with Meat Loaf on Bat Out of Hell's immortal "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" has one of the smallest yet choicest discographies in rock: just three albums between 1979 and 1983 on which she was joined by such collaborators as Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson, Vini Poncia, and The Clash's Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon, and Joe Strummer; and a 2013 "comeback" LP. But Foley was hardly ever away. She flourished
Bingo! Cherry Red, Robinsongs Celebrate The Whispers on 4-CD Anthology
The story of The Whispers began in Los Angeles circa 1963 when two groups - The Scott Twins and The Eden Trio - came together to share in their love of doo-wop and sweet street-corner sounds. Named The Whispers by Dore Records' Lou Bedell, the group released a string of singles in the 1960s before landing at New York's Janus Records in 1970. Two years later, they released their first album on Janus, beginning a string of almost two dozen LPs - eight of which hit the U.S. R&B top ten and
Review: Joni Mitchell, "The Reprise Albums (1968-1971)"
Joni Mitchell fiercely announced her independence with "I Had a King," the haunting soliloquy which opens her 1968 debut album, Song to a Seagull. "I can't go back there anymore," she proclaimed. "You know my keys won't fit the door/You know my thoughts don't fit the man. They never can...they never can..." The song is bold, wise, and flecked with a graceful equanimity as the singer declares her freedom both from a husband who "lives in another time" and the societal constraints of the day.
The Second Disc Guide to Record Store Day Drop 2 TOMORROW!
Once again, Record Store Day here in the U.S. looks a little - make that a lot - different this year. The usual offerings have been split among two dates in 2021 with Drop 1 having taken place on June 12 and Drop 2 happening tomorrow, July 17. Every retailer is handling the Drop a bit differently thanks to the necessary accommodations for social distancing, smaller crowds, and better safety precautions. So please check in with your favorite store to find out more information. Below, you'll
All I Want: Joni Mitchell Releases "Blue 50" EP with Unreleased Tracks, "Archives Vol. 2" Arrives in October
Fifty years ago tomorrow -June 22, 1971 - Joni Mitchell released Blue. The singer-songwriter's fourth studio album, Blue was raw, intense, emotional, beautiful, moving, and hugely influential. In short, it was the kind of album that only comes along once a generation - if that. Mitchell recently discussed its legacy with filmmaker-journalist Cameron Crowe for The Los Angeles Times. She observed, "The most feedback that I got was that I had gone too far and was exposing too much of myself. I
Who Would Have Dreamed: Kritzerland Reissues More Cole Porter, Maltby and Shire Musical "The Sap of Life"
Today we're looking at two upcoming releases from the Kritzerland label. Kritzerland is continuing its series of Ben Bagley's Revisited titles with the third entry dedicated to the music and lyrics of Cole Porter. The Peru, Indiana native was among the most sophisticated tunesmiths of an era brimming with them. The master of wordplay also overflowed with melody, and Ben Bagley dedicated numerous releases to exploring the lesser-known side of his song catalogue from the cast recording of his
Betcha by Golly Wow: Cherry Red, SoulMusic Collect Phyllis Hyman's Albums Discography In New Box Set
"Phyllis sat right in my class. I can still see the pigtails." In a 2016 interview with The Second Disc, Thom Bell shared his earliest memories of the late Phyllis Hyman (1949-1995). The songwriter-arranger-conductor-producer would cross paths numerous times over the years with his childhood friend: first via Phyllis' hit recordings of his "Betcha By Golly Wow" and "Loving You - Losing You," and later, his own productions and songs for her. "She was a lonely individual," observed Thom,
Rhythm of the New-Born Day: Cherry Red Revisits, Expands Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat"
Surely one of the most unlikely hits of 1976-77 was Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat." An atmospheric tale of romance in a faraway place with Casablanca name-checks of Humphrey Bogart and Peter Lorre, the song propelled the British singer-songwriter to the top of the pops: No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 (and even higher, No. 4, in Cash Box) and No. 8 AC as well as No. 31 in the U.K., his only chart appearance there. Following its expanded reissue late last year of Stewart's 24 Carrots, Cherry
In Memoriam: Jim Steinman (1947-2021)
Turn around, bright eyes... Baby, we can talk all night, but that ain't getting us nowhere... You took the words right out of my mouth...Oh, it must have been while you were kissing me! I would do anything for love...but I won't do that. Rock and roll dreams came through time and time again for Jim Steinman (1947-2021). This singular artist - a composer, lyricist, librettist, producer, musician, singer, and storyteller - merged rock with a powerful theatricality. His songs for
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
Waltz in Orbit: Sir George Martin's Space-Age Electronica Receives Limited Edition Reissue
Throughout his extraordinary career, the late George Martin produced everything from comedy records to musical cast recordings, leaving his mark in every genre. His versatility, of course, found full flower in his collaborations with The Beatles. Now, a fascinating early project of the producer-composer-arranger-executive is coming to light in a special, limited edition release. In early 1962, Martin teamed with Maddalena Fagandini of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop to record a pair of
Not Far Down to Paradise: Christopher Cross Collects "The Complete Works" on 13-CD/1-LP Box Set
Forty years ago, Christopher Cross set sail on a musical journey that has continued unabated to the present day. His self-titled debut was released in the waning days of December 1979, spinning off three smash hit singles in 1980 ("Ride Like the Wind," the Pop No. 1 "Sailing," and AC chart-topper "Never Be the Same") and netting a whopping five Grammy Awards. Cross became the first artist in the awards' history to pick up Record, Album, and Song of the Year along with Best New Artist. While
Holiday Gift Guide Review: The Free Design, "Butterflies Are Free: The Original Recordings 1967-72"
"Sorry - only one group like this to a generation," renowned engineer-producer Phil Ramone wrote on the back cover of The Free Design's 1968 sophomore album You Could Be Born Again. After over 50 years, The Free Design are still a singular group, difficult to pigeonhole. Their gentle, even childlike style has frequently landed them in the sunshine pop genre, but that match was never quite right: not only were they from New York, but their sound lacked the brightness and even brashness that
We'll Be Together: Sting Preps New Duets Collection
While known as a singular performer - even his stage name is one word - Sting's next album is a collection of (mostly) previously released collaborations with other artists. But don't expect Duets to be a simple compilation of hits: only three of these tracks are from the former Police frontman's studio albums (four, if you count deluxe editions). Everything else is from Sting's guest appearances on albums by others and the occasional soundtrack appearance. Highlights include his 1999 hit
Demon Reissues Thom Bell-Produced New York City's "I'm Doin' Fine Now"
Doo-wop veterans John Brown, Tim McQueen, Edward Schell, and Claude Johnson came together as New York City, hoping that the name of their new vocal quartet would reflect the melting pot that inspired it. "We feel personally that a group should be able to sing anything from the lowest, dirtiest blues," Brown wrote in the sleevenotes of New York City's 1973 debut LP, "through spirituals, right up through pop to the heaviest kind of music." I'm Doin' Fine Now, originally issued on Chelsea Records
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.
The Second Disc's Guide To Record Store Day Drop 2, September 26!
2020 has been a bit of a rollercoaster and Record Store Day 2020 is no exception: once scheduled in April, it moved forward a few months, and is now spread out across three Saturdays in the summer and fall. The Record Store Day Drop in August proved a success and round two, set for tomorrow, September 26, is sure to please fans of all genres and eras. It's a diverse list full of exciting releases that you can only find through your local brick-and-mortar record store (or through their online
Here Comes My Baby: Cherry Red Collects The Tremeloes' "Complete CBS Recordings"
When they signed to CBS Records in 1966, The Tremeloes were seeking a second act. Founded as a beat group in 1958, the Dagenham band fronted by Brian Poole scored numerous hits on the U.K. Singles Chart including covers of "Twist and Shout," "Candy Man," "I Want Candy," and "Do You Love Me," the latter of which reached No. 1. But when Poole left the group that bore his name in 1966, his bandmates found themselves at a crossroads. Yet they pressed onward, and a move from Decca to CBS yielded
A Hundred Million Miracles: Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Flower Drum Song" Reissued on Vinyl, Hi-Rez Digital
Flower Drum Song occupies a unique position in the Rodgers and Hammerstein canon. The 1958 musical wasn't one of the duo's timeless hits (Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, The Sound of Music). Nor was it one of their three commercial misses (Allegro, Me and Juliet, Pipe Dream). Instead, when considering the R&H oeuvre, it resides somewhere in between. It played 600 performances, and yielded a successful London production, a couple of bona fide classic songs, a
Review: Andrew Gold, "Lonely Boy: The Asylum Years Anthology"
The Asylum Records discography of pop polymath Andrew Gold has been well-addressed in the CD era - first via international CD reissues, then individual expanded editions on the U.S. Collectors' Choice label, and an all-encompassing set in 2013 from the U.K.'s Edsel label. But one thing had eluded Gold: a bona fide box set. Cherry Red and Esoteric Recordings have delivered with Lonely Boy: The Asylum Years Anthology, a 6-CD/1-DVD compendium celebrating the late artist (1951-2011) with
See a Little Light: Bob Mould Plans 'Distortion' Box Set, Vinyl Reissue Series
Looking for a way to celebrate Bob Mould ahead of his next album, Blue Hearts, due next month? British label Edsel is joining forces with the punk icon to collect nearly everything he's ever released into a new CD box set. Distortion 1989-2019, available October 2, offers 24 discs of Mould's work after the dissolution of seminal hardcore outfit Hüsker Dü. It features all his studio albums credited to himself, '90s power trio Sugar and even dance-oriented side projects LoudBomb and Blowoff,
Release Round-Up: Week of July 31
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Paul McCartney, The Paul McCartney Archive Collection: Flaming Pie [Various Formats] (MPL/Capitol/UMe) 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Deluxe 5CD/2DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Super Deluxe 5CD/2DVD/4LP: Paul McCartney Online Shop 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 3LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada The Paul McCartney Archive Collection returns with a new volume dedicated to Macca's
A Second Disc Interview: TJ Lubinsky Shares Details on New "Rock, Pop, and Doo Wop" DVD Set
"Be My Baby." "Can't Take My Eyes off You." "Stand by Me." "You Don't Own Me." Songs such as these not only defined the era in which they were first written and performed, but continue to resonate today. They're just four of the classic songs included on an upcoming 7-DVD set from Treasury Collection that serves as a definitive concert anthology of classic American R&B music. Rock, Pop, and Doo Wop has been curated by executive producer and director TJ Lubinsky from his acclaimed onstage
Review: Whitney Houston, "Whitney Houston: 35th Anniversary Edition"
Whitney Houston wasn't yet 22 years old when Arista Records released her self-titled debut album on Valentine's Day, 1985. Overseen by executive producer Clive Davis, Whitney Houston anticipated every style the singer would explore in her subsequent discography. 35 years later, nearly every song is a recognized classic and a cornerstone of the late singer's career. Vinyl Me, Please, in association with Legacy Recordings and Arista, has just revisited Whitney Houston in a beautiful new 2-LP box
Dreamsville: Andy Williams' "Cadence Albums" Box Available Now from Edsel
Though born in the small town of Wall Lake, Iowa, Howard Andrew Williams always had his sight on the stars. From a young age, he sang with his older brothers Bob, Don, and Dick - first in church, then on local radio. While their father was a railroad worker, he encouraged his sons' showbiz dreams as they "graduated" on the airwaves from Des Moines to Chicago to Cincinnati. It wasn't long before word reached Hollywood of the brothers' potential, and upon moving there in 1943, they were rewarded
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