Doris Day made quite a splash in 2011 when My Heart, her first album of primarily original material in some seventeen years, entered the British album charts with a Top 10 placement. The singer, actress and animal rights activist turns 88 today, April 3. Day remains greatly beloved around the world, and our coverage of My Heart quickly became one of The Second Disc’s most-visited articles since our inception in January 2010. Now, two new releases are looking back on her rich musical legacy.
Review: Tom Northcott, "Sunny Goodge Street: The Warner Bros. Recordings"
Extra! Extra! Lost Folk Singer Found! His name is Tom Northcott, and had things turned out a little differently, he might be remembered in the same breath as Joni Mitchell or Gordon Lightfoot, fellow Canadian troubadours. After founding the Tom Northcott Trio, he headed for California during perhaps the most fertile period ever for creative, boundary-breaking musical exploration, the mid-1960s. Northcott opened for The Who, The Doors and Jefferson Airplane, and was signed to Warner Bros.
Shining Like a "Ruby": Kaiser Chiefs to Release New Compilation
Indie rockers the Kaiser Chiefs are set to release their first career-spanning collection, Souvenir: The Singles 2004-2012, this summer. The Leeds-based quintet formed in 1996 under the name Parva, and released one album on Beggars Banquet's short-lived Mantra label. After their label shuttered, they rebuilt from the ground up, writing new, New Wave and punk-inspired songs under the Kaiser Chiefs moniker (named for the South African football club). Their buzzworthy live sets got them a deal
In Case You Missed It: Join the (Music) Club!
If you're a British compilation hunter or fan of imports, it's tough to go wrong with Demon Music Group's Music Club Deluxe label. The relatively inexpensive double-disc sets the label turns out might look simple or quickly assembled, but they're in fact often packed with a few rarities for your buck. In recent weeks, Music Club Deluxe has issued a half-dozen compilations, all for '80s pop/rock artists. You likely know their hits, but there are some great album cuts, B-sides and remixes to go
The Road to Tarkio: Brewer and Shipley's Debut "Down in L.A." Remastered and Expanded By Now Sounds
Oklahoma-born Michael Brewer and Ohio native Tom Shipley found fame on Missouri's mythical Tarkio Road, thousands of miles away from Hollywood's La Brea Avenue and the headquarters of A&M Records. But before they took one pivotal toke over the line into stardom, Brewer and Shipley recorded an album for Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss' label that couldn't have been recorded at any other time and place than Los Angeles, circa 1967-1968. Down in L.A. was almost entirely written by Brewer and
Review: Frankie Avalon, "Muscle Beach Party: The United Artists Sessions"
By the time of 1964’s Muscle Beach Party, Philadelphia-born Frankie Avalon had already racked up some 31 hits on the U.S. Billboard charts, including two at Number One, “Why” and “Venus.” On the urging of his Chancellor Records mentor Bob Marcucci, Avalon had welcomed the 1960s by diversifying his talents into film, appearing opposite John Wayne in The Alamo and Walter Pidgeon in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. 1963’s Beach Party, however, was something else altogether. Directed by William
Bring Back That Lovin' Feelin': Righteous Brothers' Philles Albums Arrive on CD...In Japan!
It’s time to get Righteous…at least if you’re in Japan, that is, or willing to shell out big bucks from an import retailer. Though they have eluded U.S. CD release to date, The Righteous Brothers’ three long-players from Phil Spector’s Philles label will be reissued on April 3 as limited edition SHM-CDs from Universal Music Japan. 1965’s You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ and Just Once in My Life, as well as 1966’s Back to Back, are all anchored by key Spector-produced tracks. The remaining
Review: Randy Vanwarmer, "Warmer/Terraform" and "Beat of Love/The Things That You Dream"
Bespectacled singer/songwriter Randy Vanwarmer became one of the unlikeliest radio heroes of the late 1970s when his gentle ballad “Just When I Needed You Most” began its ascent up the Billboard chart amidst an onslaught of disco (“I Will Survive,” “Hot Stuff”) and New Wave (“Heart of Glass”). Vanwarmer’s bittersweet memory of a long-gone lover hit a nerve with listeners looking for an escape from the dance floor. Although the song would qualify him as a one-hit wonder, Vanwarmer continued to
Don't Pass Him By: Get Acquainted With Paul Korda's "Passing Stranger"
If you don’t know the name of Paul Korda, you might have reason to be grateful that the compilers at RPM Records do! Korda’s story is one dotted with familiar personages: P.P. Arnold, Roger Daltrey, Chris Spedding, Madeline Bell, Doris Troy, Andrew Loog Oldham, Onnie McIntyre and Alan Gorrie (Average White Band), Vic Smith (The Jam) on the musical side, Cat Stevens and even Johnny Depp on the personal side. Korda’s career has taken him from the original West End cast of Hair (alongside Paul
Release Round-Up: Week of March 26
Most new music comes out today in the U.S., so here's a look at what to expect! Frankie Avalon, Muscle Beach Party: The United Artists Sessions / The Tubes, Young and Rich/Now / Rick Springfield, Beginnings /Clint Eastwood, Rawhide's Clint Eastwood Sings Cowboy Favorites (Real Gone) Real Gone's offerings include rarities from Frankie Avalon in the '60s, some remasters of early albums by Rick Springfield and The Tubes and a vinyl edition of Clint Eastwood's album for the Cameo-Parkway
The Wait is Over: My Bloody Valentine Reissue Classic Albums, Compile EPs
A great news day at Second Disc HQ gets even greater with the announcement that Sony Music's U.K. arm is prepping reissues of My Bloody Valentine's classic Isn't Anything and Loveless albums, bringing a three-year journey to an end in May. As our friends at Slicing Up Eyeballs can tell you, retailers first reported remasters of the iconic shoegaze albums, released in 1988 and 1991, back in 2009. They've been rescheduled and delayed no less than nine times since then, leaving fans to wonder if
Review: John Cale, "Conflict and Catalysis: Productions and Arrangements 1966-2006"
Catalysis (ca-tal-y-sis): The action of a catalyst, especially an increase in the rate of a chemical reaction. With his induction into Ace Records’ Producers series, John Cale joins an esteemed group including Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Sly Stone, Phil Spector and Burt Bacharach. If Cale isn’t always thought of in the same breath as those giants, it’s simply because his career has been so diverse, encompassing writing, performing and arranging for artists ranging from The Stooges to
Unsung No More: Funky Town Grooves Expands the Ray Parker, Jr. Catalogue
If you've watched the critically-acclaimed TV One series Unsung, which acts as a more in-depth Where Are They Now?/Behind the Music-type program for R&B artists including Alexander O'Neal, Sheila E., DeBarge and Atlantic Starr, you know that Ray Parker, Jr. is far more than just the man behind the iconic theme to "Ghostbusters." The singer/songwriter/producer/guitarist has a ridiculously long list of great session and production work, and managed to walk away from the major labels before he
Intrada Rescues "White Fang" from the Wild
Intrada's latest releases were supposed to be a double shot of Disney, but changes in the label's schedule have yielded just one new title for this week: the first release of the multifaceted score to 1991's live-action Disney flick White Fang. Based on Jack London's novel of the same name, White Fang told the tale of a Yukon explorer (Ethan Hawke) and the wolfdog he befriends. The acclaimed film's music was conducted primarily by two very different composers: an orchestral old hand in Basil
Keep On Dancing: Elvis, Dusty, The Wicked Pickett All Appear on "Memphis Boys"
Just last year, Ace Records' Kent imprint issued a definitive 3-CD survey of Fame Studios, the Muscle Shoals, Alabama home of many of the greatest soul records ever committed to vinyl. Over in Tennessee, however, another joyful noise was arriving courtesy of the musicians at Memphis, Tennessee's American Studios. Ace is celebrating the multifaceted sounds of Chips Moman and Don Crews' American Studios with the new Memphis Boys: The Story of American Studios, a 24-track tribute featuring such
Guitars A Go-Go: "Fender: The Golden Age" and Jerry Cole's "Psychedelic Guitars" Celebrated by Ace
If you've got guitars on the mind, look no further than a pair of new releases from those compilation experts at the Ace label! Fender: The Golden Age 1950-1970 (Ace CDCHD 1315) is a new 28-track anthology that manages to be both comprehensive and the tip of the iceberg, where the famous guitar is concerned! A new companion to the 2010 book of almost the same name (Fender: The Golden Age 1946-1970 by Martin Kelly), this set offers a rare chance to appreciate both the talent on the record label
In Case You Missed Them: EMI Budget Boxes from Robin Trower, Kevin Ayers
In the past few months, EMI has released or announced more of their budget box sets which collect swaths of complete albums and rare tracks over multiple, low-frills discs. In particular, today we spotlight two such sets from two virtuosic British musicians. In February, the label released Farther On Up the Road: The Chrysalis Years 1977-1983 by Robin Trower. The London-born Procol Harum guitarist cut a steady amount of solid blues-based albums after leaving the "Whiter Shade of Pale" band in
Contest: Win Meat Loaf's "Hell in a Handbasket"
The weather is warming up around Second Disc HQ, and as our way of celebrating, we're giving away a "hot" disc from our friends at Legacy Recordings. Released in Australia last fall and in stores in the U.S. today, Hell in a Handbasket is the 12th and latest album by rock icon Meat Loaf. Produced by Meat Loaf's longtime lead guitarist Paul Crook, the disc features 12 new recordings (including a cover of The Mamas & The Papas' "California Dreamin'") and guest appearances by Public Enemy's
Ring Them Bells: Liza Minnelli's Triumphant "Live at the Winter Garden" Expanded For CD Premiere
Liza Minnelli turns 66 today, and could rightfully relax, look back and celebrate over six decades in show business. But the daughter of Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli, who made her first onscreen appearance as a baby in 1949's MGM extravaganza In the Good Old Summertime, has never been one to rest on her considerable laurels. Minnelli is still touring, recording and doing what she does best: entertaining, whether on the big screen (Sex and the City 2), the small screen (Arrested
City In His Head: Todd Rundgren's Utopia Reissues Continue From Edsel
Todd Rundgren’s tenure at Albert Grossman’s Bearsville Records label took him from his days as a singer/songwriter/self-described Runt in 1970 through his cutting-edge avant garde experiments, both solo and with his band Utopia, culminating in 1985’s A Cappella, rejected by the label and eventually released on Warner Bros. instead. The U.K.’s Edsel label has recently completed its catalogue overhaul for Rundgren, including the entirety of his tenures at Bearsville and Warner. The most recent
Wear Your Love Like Heaven: New "Essential Donovan" Arriving From Legacy
I’m just mad about Donovan, and while I don’t know whether Donovan’s mad about me, you just might be mad about The Essential Donovan! Though a single-disc compilation of that name arrived from Epic Records and Legacy Recordings in 2004, the 2012 edition does it one (or a few, actually) better. Slated for April 17, the new Essential Donovan coincides with Donovan Leitch’s long-overdue induction next month into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It features 36 songs on two discs, including every
Soundtrackus Maximus: "Ben-Hur" Gets Five-Disc Expansion by FSM
UPDATE: After selling through its initial pressing of 2,000 in two weeks, Film Score Monthly has pressed another 2,000. As label head Lukas Kendall cheekily explained, "I NEED THE MONEY!" Original post: One of Hollywood's greatest film scores and one of the catalogue world's greatest soundtrack labels have finally, excitedly joined forces to produce a definitive box set edition of the Oscar-winning soundtrack William Wyler's classic Ben-Hur. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Ben-Hur, released in 1959 (and
Eight More ICON Sets for You to Briefly Consider
What you will see after the jump are eight more of Universal's generic ICON titles, released this past Tuesday. There are two country acts, two Motown acts, two Motown compilations, one from Dean Martin and one from pop/rock band Fall Out Boy. A stranger collection you'll rarely find. I'd give a halfhearted recommendation to the Motown ones if you want to spend a little money on someone who has the distinct displeasure of never having heard any Motown song, ever. If you have more money to spend,
Carefree Highway: Rhino Offers Rare "Moments" With Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Lightfoot’s stands at Toronto’s Massey Hall have become a cherished tradition over the past forty years, with the Canadian troubadour having taken the stage more times than any other artist in the Hall’s 117 year history. Last May 25, 2011, Lightfoot performed his 150th concert there, and as he prepares for this year’s stand in November, Rhino Records is reminding fans of his rich legacy there with the April 17 release of Massey Hall Moments - All Live. Why not just plain Live?
In Case You Missed It: Five Times the Fun for Fats
Ace Records has released its final volume of singles recorded by Fats Domino for the Imperial label. The aptly-titled The Imperial Singles Volume 5: 1962-1964 features 26 tracks - including two rarer LP-only bonus tracks - taken from the end of Domino's impressive run with Imperial label. While this era was nowhere near the commercial success of the late '50s and early '60s - only "Jambalaya (on the Bayou" and "You Win Again" were Top 40 hits - Fats' work here clearly proves why he's an elder
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