Welcome to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc's review of notable catalogue titles (and some new ones, too!) making digital debuts. This week, there's rare jazz, country, pop standards and gospel, plus remixes of a Madonna hit and one of the most unexpected Disney covers you'll ever hear. Madonna, Who's That Girl EP (Warner/Rhino) (iTunes / Amazon) ¿Quién es esa niña? Madonna's international chart-topping 1987 single - the title track to her first soundtrack album from
Soundtrack Watch: Intrada Heats Up 'Backdraft,' Kickstarts 'Abbott and Costello' Recording; La-La Land Expands 'Last Action Hero' and 'Heavy Metal'
Leave it to Intrada and La-La Land to cook up some appropriately blazing soundtrack reissues in recent weeks! Intrada has expanded an early classic by Hans Zimmer, bowed a selection of re-recordings of TV work by Jerry Goldsmith, and is prepping another re-recording project to crowdfund; meanwhile, La-La Land (in addition to releasing the only John Williams score to a Steven Spielberg film without a soundtrack) has expansions of works by Elmer Bernstein and Michael Kamen. Quite the selection of
OUT TOMORROW! SoulMusic, The Second Disc Collect The Spinners' 1979-1984 Atlantic Years on New Box Set
The Spinners - a.k.a. John Edwards, Henry Fambrough, Bobbie Smith, Billy Henderson, and Pervis Jackson - were at a crossroads when longtime producer-arranger-conductor Thom Bell confirmed that he would no longer be working with the group. Where would they go next? Tomorrow, June 28, SoulMusic Records and The Second Disc chronicle the next chapter of The Spinners' illustrious career with a new 7-CD box set. Keep on Keepin' On: The Atlantic Years (Phase Two: 1979-1984) picks up where last
"Les Cousins: The Soundtrack to Soho's Legendary Folk and Blues Club" Features Paul Simon, Nick Drake, Cat Stevens, Al Stewart
"For two-and-a-half years, I had the Friday night show at Bunjies Coffee Bar, and it became a residency for me," Al Stewart remembered in an interview with this author for the recent collection of his U.S. singles. "After a while, I got another residency right around the corner at a club called Les Cousins." The Greek Street venue was a focal point of the London folk scene. Nick Drake, Cat Stevens, Alexis Korner, John Renbourn, and a young American named Paul Simon all passed through its
It's a Jolly Holiday: 'Mary Poppins' Vinyl Box Announced for 60th Anniversary
When Richard M. Sherman, one half of the legendary songwriting team The Sherman Brothers, passed away last month, The Second Disc was quick to pay tribute to all the duo's great works for Walt Disney films and elsewhere. But their most towering achievement is probably the song score to the whimsical Mary Poppins. This summer, to celebrate the film's 60th anniversary, Disney will release a limited edition vinyl box set collecting the film's original soundtrack, rare archival material and no less
The Weekend Stream: June 22, 2024
Welcome to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc's review of notable catalogue titles (and some new ones, too!) making digital debuts. More EPs from Duran Duran, rarities from Alanis Morissette and a tribute to an '80s jukebox musical are part of the fun this Saturday morning! Duran Duran, My Own Way / Hungry Like the Wolf / Save a Prayer / Rio EPs (Parlophone/Rhino) My Own Way: iTunes / Amazon Hungry: iTunes / Amazon Save a Prayer: iTunes / Amazon Rio: iTunes /
Purple Drain: What's Going On with the Prince Estate?
In his too-brief life and vastly influential music career, Prince was known for every trait associated with genius: eclectic, kinetic musical ideas; a restless creative spirit; and of course, a mercurial side - known to change his own mind or direction at the slightest whims. In the eight years since his untimely passing, it seems the custodians of his affairs have got the mercurial part right, and that sometimes seems about it. A series of surprising successes and near-misses today in
Promised Land: 'Memphis' Box Set Celebrates Elvis' Connection to a Legendary Rock City
On July 18, 1953, an 18-year-old truck driver from Tupelo, Mississippi named Elvis Presley walked into the Memphis Recording Service at Sun Records. He paid $3.98 to record a double-sided acetate, allegedly a belated birthday gift for his mother. Thus began not only an incredible singing career that changed the edifices of popular music, but a relationship with Tennessee's second most-populous city - one that would last the rest of his life. This summer, a new box set from Legacy Recordings will
Mr. Look-So-Good Is Back! Cherry Red, Robinsongs Collect Richard "Dimples" Fields' Boardwalk, RCA Albums
Richard "Dimples" Fields was one of the most unusual figures on the soul music landscape: a self-proclaimed feminist who portrayed himself as a two-timing ladies' man, whose quirky ballads were alternately earnest and humorous - sometimes uncomfortably so. Fields made his gambit for mainstream success under the patronage of Casablanca Records founder Neil Bogart. He brought the soul man onto his eclectic Boardwalk Records roster alongside such artists as Joan Jett, Ringo Starr, Carole Bayer
Summer Song: Real Gone's June Slate Includes Live Music from Fanny Plus More from Israel Vibration, Smoking Popes, and Stina Nordenstam
Real Gone's slate for June has an international flavor to it featuring recordings from Germany and artists from Jamaica and Sweden. All four of these projects are hitting store shelves tomorrow, June 7. Read on for all of the details. First up is Live on Beat Club '71-'72 from Fanny. When Richard Perry signed the group to Reprise in 1969, they became the first all-female rock band signed to a major label. The foursome (June Millington - guitar, Jean Millington - bass, Alice De Buhr -
Good Lovin': Massive Rascals Collection Offers Group's Entire Atlantic Catalogue, Plus Unreleased Tracks
A new collection from Now Sounds offers a most comprehensive look at blue-eyed soul band The Rascals. It's Wonderful: The Complete Atlantic Studio Recordings, released May 31, offers expanded editions of the group's seven studio albums issued between 1966 and 1971, including four albums in stereo and mono mixes and a selection of bonus tracks including single versions and 14 unreleased studio recordings. Produced and mastered by Alec Palao, the set includes a new essay on the group by Richie
You Can't Start a Fire Without a Spark: Arthur Baker on the 'Born in the U.S.A.' Dance Remixes
On June 4, 1984, Bruce Springsteen released Born in the U.S.A., his seventh studio album, and kicked his career into an unpredictable new gear. Augmenting his well-loved classic rock style and haunted lyricism with polished production and accessible pop melodies, the Jersey icon struck gold, platinum and diamond with Born in the U.S.A.: it was the best-selling album of 1985 (it was certified 17x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2022), spun off seven Top 10 singles on
Edsel Box Set Round-Up: "SAM: The Sound of New York City," "Sean Rowley Presents Guilty Pleasures: 20th Anniversary"
When brothers Hy and Sam Weiss passed in 2007 and 2008, respectively, the Romanian-born immigrants to Brooklyn were eulogized as the last of the golden age record men. The Weiss brothers formed their first record label in 1949; in 1953, they launched Old Town Records which Hy would take on as his own in 1956. Many of Old Town's classic hits are still favorites today, such as The Capris' "There's a Moon Out Tonight," Billy Bland's "Let the Little Girl Dance," and "Remember Then" by The Earls.
Back Tracks: Split Enz
It's always a good time when Neil Finn has something to say. The legendary New Zealand singer-songwriter has been making the rounds promoting Gravity Stairs, the newly released album from Crowded House - and in an hourlong chat with countryman Zane Lowe for Apple Music, he said some exciting things for fans of Finn's first band Split Enz, which he was a part of with his older brother Tim. "There's various things happening with Split Enz at the moment, which I'm really happy about," he
In Memoriam: Richard M. Sherman (1928-2024)
Joe and Mike would like to share a few words on the remarkable life and music of Richard M. Sherman. Mike starts things off with a look back at Richard and his brother Robert's extraordinary achievements. Since the first whistles came from Mickey Mouse's lips in Steamboat Willie, the work of Walt Disney and his media empire has been inexorably tied with music. From lilting tunes in early animated and live-action features ("Heigh-Ho," "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes," "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah")
The Weekend Stream: May 25, 2024
Welcome to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc's review of notable catalogue titles (and some new ones, too!) making digital debuts. This week has another rare track by Prince, promo for the new Beach Boys documentary, a powerful new remix by a legendary diva and more! Prince, "Silver Tongue" (NPG/Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon) A third Musicology-era rarity has landed digitally, following "United States of Division" and "Magnificent." "Silver Tongue" was a "virtual B-side" to
Self Expression: Lou Christie's "Gypsy Bells" Collects Rare, Unreleased Columbia Sides
There are many great mysteries in pop music. How the heck did Lou Christie move from MGM to Columbia in the wake of "Lightnin' Strikes" and "Rhapsody in the Rain" and all but disappear? is certainly one of them. Earlier this year, Ace Records attempted to answer this question with Gypsy Bells: Columbia Recordings 1967, a compendium of the released and unreleased material recorded by the Italian-American falsetto singer during his short and rocky tenure with the label. Expectedly, it's a
PRE-ORDER UPDATE: SoulMusic, The Second Disc Team to Celebrate The Salsoul Orchestra on New Box Set
Last Christmas, The Second Disc teamed with SoulMusic Records and Cherry Red for The Salsoul Orchestra's Christmas Jollies: The Extra Jolly Edition, celebrating the best-selling album in the entire Salsoul catalogue. On May 31, we'll follow that set up with It's Good for the Soul: The Vince Montana Years (1975-1978), the definitive, first-ever box set collecting The Salsoul Orchestra's groundbreaking albums produced, arranged, and conducted by Vincent Montana, Jr.! U.S. customers: pre-orders
Life's Like This: Avril Lavigne Announces Greatest Hits Collection
For more than two decades, Avril Lavigne has been a purveyor of punk-flavored pop. Could she make it any more obvious? The answer is yes: ahead of a summer tour, she's releasing her first, career-spanning greatest hits album. The 20-track set hits stores June 21, smack in the middle of a global trek that kicks off tomorrow at Texas' Ford Center at the Star and stretches through September, making stops across North America and Europe (including festival stops at Pinkpop, Glastonbury and
Journey to Nutopia: John Lennon's 'Mind Games' Set for Expansion This Summer
John Lennon's fourth solo album Mind Games will receive a deluxe box set this summer packed with new mixes of the album's contents as well as a dozen unreleased outtakes. Available July 12, the 6CD/2BD box will take a new, immersive look at Lennon's sessions at New York's Record Plant in the summer of 1973, a turbulent time that resulted in a somewhat divisive effort in his post-Beatles discography. Included in the set are many assemblies of the original 12-track album, produced by Lennon and
Go Insane: Lindsey Buckingham's Early Solo Albums Collected in New Box Set
Lindsey Buckingham's earliest solo works are getting a box set from Rhino this summer. True to its name, 20th Century Lindsey will feature remastered versions of the three albums the Fleetwood Mac singer/guitarist issued during the 20th century - 1981's Law and Order, 1984's Go Insane and 1992's Out of the Cradle - plus a newly compiled disc of eight rarities. The set showcases Buckingham's restless creative spirit that fueled a good portion of Fleetwood Mac's discography, blossoming into
What's So Funny: Cherry Red, Lemon Collect Brinsley Schwarz Albums on "Thinking Back"
Brinsley Schwarz, the band, may be best-remembered today as the launching pad for singer-songwriter Nick Lowe and as a prime exemplar of the U.K. pub rock scene. The band's studio albums, though, reveal diverse influences and a vibrant sound that more than holds up today. In recent months, Cherry Red's Lemon Recordings imprint brought together the band's seven albums plus more than 60 bonus tracks on the whopping 7-CD box set Thinking Back: The Anthology 1970-1975. Guitarist Brinsley
Makes Me Feel Fine: Rhino's New Quadio Batch Includes Seals and Crofts, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, Hot Tuna
Not long after the release of Joni Mitchell's Quadio box set - making her the third artist to have an entire Quadio box dedicated to her, after Chicago and The Doobie Brothers - Rhino has just announced the fourth round of Blu-ray titles in the four-channel surround format Donny Hathaway's Extension Of A Man, Hot Tuna's Burgers, Roberta Flack's Killing Me Softly, and Seals & Crofts' Summer Breeze are all available now, as newly remastered from the original four-channel quadraphonic master
Release Round-Up: Week of May 3
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today! As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Belinda Carlisle, Decades Vol. 3: Cornucopia (Edsel) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Edsel continues its chronological collections of Belinda Carlisle's albums with this Cornucopia. The 4-CD book-style box starts off with two discs of mostly "orphaned" tracks released largely between 1987 and 2021: B-sides, non-album
So Much To Say: Real Gone's May Slate Includes Elaine Brown, Tweet, and Thomas Newman
Real Gone's May slate is hitting store shelves tomorrow, May 3, and we've got all the details of the trio of releases below. First up is the vinyl reissue of Elaine Brown's Seize the Time - Black Panther Party from 1969. Brown has been an activist for most her life and became the first and only Chairwoman of the Black Panther Party in 1974, appointed by Huey Newton. She first joined the Party in 1968 after having worked at the newspaper Harambee and being a representative at the Black
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