If you've been waiting for expanded remasters from Scottish alternative band The Blue Nile, congratulations! Also, sorry to bear some bad news. The Blue Nile, a trio consisting of non-traditional musicians Paul Buchanan (vocals/guitar/synthesizers), Robert Bell (bass) and Paul Joseph Moore (synthesizers), have an origin story almost as unusual as their musical direction. The group formed their own label, Peppermint Records, to distribute debut single "I Love This Life" in 1981; eventually, RSO
Soundtrack Round-Up: More Kong, Eastwood, Zimmer Highlights from Intrada, La-La Land
If you thought Film Score Monthly's reissue of the score to King Kong (1976) was as big as it gets for soundtracks lately, allow us to show you the newest releases from Intrada and La-La Land - one of which features the giant ape himself! Ten years after toppling off the World Trade Center to his apparent death, King Kong Lives - also produced by Dino de Laurentiis and directed by John Gullermin - reveals the giant ape is in fact alive, kept under a medically-induced coma while scientists
The Second Disc Interview: Keeping the Beat with Gerry Galipault of Pause & Play!
He's humbly suggested he's doing his part to save the music business, but Gerry Galipault is doing something even more important: keeping it fun. On this date 15 years ago, Galipault started Pauseandplay, a simple-but-effective online resource for just about any music release - physical or digital; brand-new or catalogue; vinyl or DVD - that you could dream of. Coupling a tireless work ethic (the result of years of work in the journalism field) with a unique, positive voice, Pauseandplay -
Special EPCOT 30th Anniversary Reissue Theory: "The Official Album of Walt Disney World - EPCOT Center"
Welcome to another installment of Reissue Theory, where we reflect on notable albums and the reissues they could someday see. Today, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Epcot at Walt Disney World with a look back at its first and only Official Album! "There’s a great, big, beautiful tomorrow/Shining at the end of every day/There’s a great, big, beautiful tomorrow/Just a dream away…" Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman may have written those words, but Walt Disney lived them. Less than
All the Love in the World: Dionne, Aretha Classics Are Remastered by BBR
The eighties aren't traditionally remembered as a halcyon period for classic soul. R&B eventually took on new meaning as it splintered into hip-hop, rap and urban genres that were as integral to their day as street-corner doo-wop and soul were to their own. Big Break Records, a Cherry Red imprint, has long been committed to rediscovering perhaps-neglected works by some of the biggest names in soul and R&B, and a particularly fascinating series of recent reissues has turned its
Nobody Does It Better: James Bond Turns 50, Capitol Celebrates with New CD Anthology
When Sean Connery first uttered the immortal words “Bond…James Bond” fifty years ago in the film Dr. No, the template for the long-running movie series was already set. That soon-to-be-signature phrase was joined in the film by a piece of music that would quickly rival those three words for familiarity. John Barry’s arrangement of “The James Bond Theme” not only helped cement the silver screen icon of 007 but virtually became a genre unto itself, that of spy music. The spy film craze may have
Review: The Jackson 5, "Come and Get It: The Rare Pearls"
Be honest: when Michael Jackson died, you probably expected a lazy river of material from the catalogue labels that govern his catalogue - both Legacy Recordings, which control Jackson's adult recordings on Epic, and Universal Music Enterprises, the executors of the Motown library. By and large, we've experienced just that. 2009 saw the expanded re-release of The Jackson 5's Christmas album; I Want You Back! Unreleased Masters, a 11-track compilation of outtakes; and Epic's This is
Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio? "The Ramones Heard Them Here First" Arrives
Ace Records is cheering “Gabba gabba hey!” with the recent release of The Ramones Heard Them Here First, an overview charting the influences behind New York’s seminal punk pioneers. Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy didn’t exactly try to hide their inspirations when they included a cover of Chris Montez’ 1962 hit “Let’s Dance” on their debut long-player Ramones in 1976 and over the years, they continued to tip the hat to rock and roll heroes from The Ronettes to The Beach Boys. The new
Love Is (Still) The Message: MFSB Classic Expanded and Remastered by Big Break
There was clear irony in Bart Forbes’ cover artwork for MFSB’s Love is the Message. The 1973 album showed off Philadelphia International Records’ hallowed house band at its smoothest, espousing the gospels of peace, love, tolerance and unity. The cover illustration, however, depicts a skull clad in a military helmet, a mushroom cloud, a swastika, death, a howling dog, a Klansman and a grief-stricken man among its disturbing images. This was heady stuff, but then again, Kenneth Gamble and Leon
In Case You Missed It: Edsel's Mega-Release Slate
The recent release slate from U.K. super-reissue label Edsel is what we at Second Disc HQ like to call "an embarrassment of riches." You've seen our giveaways over the past few weeks highlighting some of the best expanded discographies Edsel's had to offer this year: Suede, The Beat, Sugar, Everything But the Girl and Jimmy Somerville, to name just five. Then there've been other expansions, like the recent Aztec Camera reissues, and neat compilations on the Music Club Deluxe sister label. Can
From Doris Day to David Peel: Real Gone Slate Includes Rare Apple Records Album, Mathis at Mercury, Como Christmas and More!
The holiday season must be upon us, for Real Gone Music has announced its Christmas-themed offerings – but that’s not all! The enterprising label has two offerings with Apple Records ties (one actually from the Apple catalogue!), the complete singles of a soul legend, a counterculture classic, a distinctly non-counterculture classic, and well…just read on about the rest! First up, four more of Johnny Mathis’ long-unavailable Mercury Records LPs are arriving on CD for the first time! (Read
Reviews: The Jimmy Somerville Reissues - Bronski Beat, The Communards and Solo Somerville
The more things change… The old adage has never been more shockingly true than when it comes to the music of Jimmy Somerville. Throughout an uncompromising career, Somerville has deftly blurred the lines between politics and music, deploying his piercing falsetto to sing eloquently of social ills against a dance-pop backdrop. Somerville came to prominence in 1984 as a member of Bronski Beat, a group of three young gay men who were determined to make their mark despite the social climate in
No Hate, No Fight, Just Excitation: Classic Queen Concert Coming to Theaters, Home Formats
Queen are bringing their unique kind of magic to movie theaters everywhere with a recently resurrected European concert, and it's no surprise that the project is coming to audiovisual formats this November. Hungarian Rhapsody: Live in Budapest captures Freddie Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor on the famed Magic Tour that surged through Europe in the summer of 1986. Having proven their live energy still knew no bounds the summer before, at Wembley Stadium for Live Aid, the tour -
'80s Expansion Watch: Deluxe Sets Planned for Heaven 17, Level 42
Two more expanded editions of titles by English '80s pop bands are due in the next month "across the pond," as they say. Heaven 17's debut LP Penthouse and Pavement, released in 1981 and reissued for its 30th anniversary last year, established themselves as a socially-conscious but still danceable band with singles like the famously banned-by-the-BBC "(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang." But with sophomore album The Luxury Gap, singer Glenn Gregory and keyboardists Ian Craig Marsh and
Mamma Mia! ABBA's Self-Titled Album Gets Deluxe Treatment in Europe
The never-ending supply of ABBA reissues, expansions and other catalogue ephemera - which was just added to by the release of a new compilation in Europe, rendering our Back Tracks post on the matter even further obsolete - is going to get even bigger with an impending expanded release of the group's self-titled LP this winter. ABBA, the Swedish quartet's third album, was perhaps the first of the group's to enjoy lasting international exposure. While singles "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do,"
With a Song in Their Hearts: Supremes' "Symphony" is Latest Expansion from Hip-O Select
Hip-O Select's latest release is quite literally "so inviting, so exciting": The Supremes' 1966 LP I Hear a Symphony is the latest in the girl group's discography to get the deluxe treatment. The year before, Motown founder Berry Gordy was shocked by the soft chart placement of his Supremes' latest effort, "Nothing But Heartaches." The single "only" placed just one spot under the Billboard Top 10 - but it was still a blow for Gordy, who'd seen his onetime "no-hit" trio enjoy a run of five
Review: Michael Jackson, "BAD 25"
Well, they say the sky's the limit and to me, that's really true...But, my friend, you have seen nothing! Just wait 'til I get through... Those words would likely have sounded like pure hubris had they emerged from any singer other than Michael Jackson. He threw the gauntlet down not just to his fellow musicians, but to himself, with the 1982 smash Thriller. Still recognized today as the best-selling album of all time, Thriller spawned seven Top 10 singles, received eight Grammy Awards, and
"Would You Believe" Carmen McRae's Funky Soul-Jazz Classic is Back from BBR?
1976’s Can’t Hide Love, recently reissued by Big Break Records, wasn’t jazz singer Carmen McRae’s first venture into contemporary territory. Like so many other interpretive vocalists who had begun their careers in a pre-Beatles world, McRae found herself adopting an “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” credo towards the increasingly prevalent rock genre, which had itself recently dropped the “and roll” to create a whole new sound. 1967’s Atlantic release For Once in My Life adventurously saw
Weekend Wround-Up: Barbra Streisand Joined by Bennett, Wonder, Krall on DVD and BD; Pixar Compiles More "Favorites"
On February 11, 2011, Barbra Streisand joined some illustrious company, including Bono, Brian Wilson, Aretha Franklin and her “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” duet partner, Neil Diamond. That was the evening Streisand was recognized as the MusiCares Person of the Year, following in the footsteps of those above-named artists. Streisand was a natural candidate for the honor, as the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences annually bestows it upon an artist with significant artistic
King Crimson, Jethro Tull Prepare Super Deluxe Box Sets For "Larks' Tongues" and "Thick as a Brick"
The Super Deluxe stakes continue to be raised with the announcement of two more mega-boxes due before 2012 is out: (greatly!) expanded editions of King Crimson’s 1973 Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, and Jethro Tull’s 1972 Thick as a Brick. Both albums were the fifth studio effort of their respective bands, both are landmarks of the progressive rock genre, and both are being revisited with new 5.1 surround mixes crafted by Steven Wilson. The Porcupine Tree founder was also behind the recent remixes of
Pretty Paper: Willie, Elvis, Luther, John Denver, More Collect Holiday Best on "Classic Christmas Album" Releases
Sleigh bells ring – are you listening? Legacy Recordings certainly hopes you are, as a bounty of new holiday-themed collections is coming your way. The first Classic Christmas Album arrived last year, a compilation of Christmas favorites from Tony Bennett (including a previously-unreleased version of “What Child is This?”). More titles are on the horizon to make spirits bright this year, and we have details on five of them to share right now, with more news to come! On October 2, Legacy will
Review: Emerson, Lake and Palmer, "Emerson, Lake and Palmer" and "Tarkus" Expanded Editions
Ooh, what a lucky man I am! Chances are you will be, too, if you’ve been anticipating the just-launched series of deluxe reissues from Emerson, Lake & Palmer, available now from Razor and Tie in the U.S. and Sony Music internationally. It’s back to the very beginning for the progressive rock supergroup, with 1970’s eponymous debut and 1971’s Tarkus both having been revisited in 2-CD/1-DVD editions as you’ve never heard them before. Keith Emerson (organ/synthesizer/piano), Greg Lake
Review: The Knack, "Rock and Roll is Good for You: The Fieger/Averre Demos"
Before there was The Knack, there was Doug Fieger and Berton Averre. The former was a Detroit native and a member of the band Sky, the latter a working musician from the San Francisco Bay Area. They began collaborating in 1973, beginning an odyssey that would reach its first milestone six years later when the sensibly-titled Get the Knack on Capitol Records reportedly became the fastest-selling debut album since Meet the Beatles. But before “My Sharona” took Fieger, Averre, Bruce Gary and
Ace Offers Front Row Seat to a "Musical Revolution" with Vanguard Box; Unreleased Dylan Track Included
A vanguard is, by definition, a position at the forefront of new ideas or developments. And in the fertile musical stomping ground of the early 1960s, some of the newest, most avant-garde ideas were being espoused on the Vanguard Records label. Yet these so-called radical, even “dangerous” thoughts were being espoused in forms so traditional, they might have seemed as old as time. Vanguard dived headfirst into the flourishing folk music scene in 1956 with The Weavers at Carnegie Hall, bravely
Cast Your Fate to the Wind with New "Very Best of Jazz" Collections From Brubeck, Evans, Guaraldi, More
What makes a legend most? When it comes to the legends of jazz, Concord Music Group has that answer for you. Earlier this year, Concord launched The Very Best Of, a new series of "Jazz 101" collections designed at an affordable price point. These compact sets might introduce new fans to daunting catalogues, or offer longtime fans a compact sampler of a favorite artist. The first wave of titles arrived for Miles Davis (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor saxophone), Sonny Rollins (tenor
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