It wasn't so long ago that high-resolution audio formats like SACD and DVD-Audio were shelved alongside CDs at major retailers such as Best Buy, Barnes and Noble and Borders. Yet with today's retail landscape perhaps irrevocably altered (and still evolving and shrinking, thanks to the likely-imminent liquidation of Borders), those formats have been consigned to niche shoppers. For those who discovered high-rez and 5.1 audio late, the best source for many releases has been eBay, often at
In Case You Missed It: UFO Lands in Budget Box from EMI
The latest of EMI's ongoing budget box sets should be of particular interest for fans of early hard rock group UFO: a vault-vacuuming set of the band's early material for Chrysalis Records. UFO are now a respectable name among rock and metal fans, but the band's early experimental material for Beacon Records only earned them modest success in other parts of Europe and Asia. When the band added 18-year-old former Scorpions guitarist Michael Schenker to the group, however, a cleaner but no less
George Harrison Film "Living in the Material World" To Premiere This Fall; CD Promised With DVD/BD Combo Pack
George Harrison famously titled his 1973 album Living in the Material World, and as the follow up to his All Things Must Pass, the former Beatle chronicled his ongoing exploration to define himself on both the physical and spiritual plains. But now that title (also a song on the album) takes on a new resonance as the name selected for Martin Scorsese's much-anticipated documentary on the life of Harrison. Living in the Material World has been confirmed for release this autumn, and it will
Cash, Buffett Kickstart Their Way to Vinyl Reissues
A while back, The Second Disc reported on a reissue of a power-pop record, Cotton Mather's Kon-Tiki, financed entirely through Kickstarter. It was a considerable success, certainly enough to make one think about the viability of using the project-funding website to eke out a niche in the big-enough world of music reissues. Now, there's another reissue-heavy project from another label hitting the site, and it's certainly cool enough to merit a mention over here. 180 Gram Records, an audiophile
Deep Purple Reissues, Live Material Coming from Eagle Rock
Eagle Rock's recent release of Deep Purple's Phoenix Rising documentary, which collected some previously unseen footage of 1975/1976's Mk. IV tour in Japan, is being followed up by no less than seven reissues of the band's early studio and live material. Next Tuesday, the label will release remastered and expanded editions of the band's first three albums, Shades of Deep Purple, The Book of Taliesyn and Deep Purple. Each will feature the same bonus tracks - mostly outtakes and live material -
Big Break's Full Summer Slate Includes Isleys, Pointers, Prince Partners
The fine folks at Big Break Records have got another large batch of new titles for release in the U.K. on July 25, and we figured now was a good time to share not only the track lists and details with you, but look ahead at some of the huge titles they're prepping for next month. There are a few really great, underrated titles from some big-name acts in next week's batch, including expansions of The Isley Brothers' Between the Sheets (1983) and I Can See Clearly Now (1972) by Johnny Nash. But
UPDATE: Hello, Louis! Massive 10-CD Armstrong Box Coming From Universal [NOW WITH FULL TRACK LISTING!]
Call him Pops. Call him Satchmo. Call him Loo-ie. But under any name, Louis (Loo-is) Armstrong was an American original. Miles Davis said, "You can't play anything on a horn that Louis hasn't played." Bing Crosby described him as "the beginning and end of music in America" and Leonard Bernstein stated that "every time this man puts his trumpet to his lips...he does it with his whole soul." Recent, acclaimed biographies by Terry Teachout and Ricky Riccardi have shed light on this
La-La Land's "Golden Child" Ready to Order
La-La Land's newest title, a three-disc expansion of The Chosen One, is ready to order. By now you already know the story behind this new release (a sort-of fake-out following La-La Land's scheduling shift ahead of Comic-Con), so it's worth noting instead the kind of music we're dealing with on this set. Barry's epic, James Bond-esque score was largely rejected by the producers for Michel Colombier's atmospheric, synth-heavy score. But elements of Barry's work did figure into the movie, not
Review: Tony Bennett, "The Best of the Improv Recordings"
Clive Davis had made his mind up. According to his autobiography, he considered Tony Bennett’s career “in jeopardy” by the late 1960s and felt that “new vitality was needed.” As recently-appointed head of the venerable Columbia Records, Davis brought that new vitality to the label, but at what price? In actuality, Tony Bennett's contributions to the storied label were more vital than ever as the 1960s came to an end. He was carrying the torch for unassailable adult pop with sophisticated
Soundtrack Round-Up: Reissues and Premieres from Varese, Intrada and More
Why should La-La Land and Intrada/Disney have all the fun? We've got five new soundtrack catalogue titles for your perusal from Varese Sarabande, Intrada and BSX Records. The wares range from the golden age of film composition (with two heavyweights of the film score world collaborating on a special score restored as a strictly limited title) to an underrated gem of a horror soundtrack from last year. Varese Sarabande released two intriguing limited edition titles for release in the wee hours
Invasion of the Return of the ICON Series
You know, it took some time, but Universal's ICON series is really coming into its own. What began as a limply-packaged, uber-budget-oriented series of single-artist compilations - not a patch on the label's previous 20th Century Masters and Gold series - is really emerging into something unique. It's just a shame it took this many tries to work out the kinks. Ha ha ha! Who am I kidding? The newest batch of ICON titles, due for release next Tuesday, July 19, is boring. You have a compilation by
La-La Land's Comic-Con Surprise Goes Back to the Final Frontier
La-La Land Records is full of surprises. They teased an amount of titles for the San Diego Comic-Con this year, but announced that four of the potential titles had all fallen victim to various delays. So they announced a three-disc expanded edition of the soundtrack to The Golden Child and, fans assumed, would play it by ear from there. Then, on Friday afternoon, the label shocked the soundtrack world by announcing there was one title coming for Comic-Con that they hadn't even hinted at. And
Nick Lowe Welcomes You To "Kippington Lodge"
Before he taught us that it was cruel to be kind, and even before he first wondered “what’s so funny ‘bout peace, love and understanding?,” Nick Lowe was one fourth of the groovy lite psych-pop outfit by the name of Kippington Lodge. The group, however, was short-lived, and morphed into pub-rock pioneers Brinsley Schwarz, folk/country/rockabilly revivalists. Cherry Red’s RPM label is now giving fans the chance to listen to the complete recorded output of Kippington Lodge for a window into
Bobby Charles' "Homemade Songs" Become Handmade Project
Rhino Handmade has announced their latest title, to be released toward the end of summer. Appropriately, it's a hot, swampy one: an expanded edition of Bobby Charles' 1972 debut album for Bearsville Records. While he's best known as the songwriter of "See You Later Alligator" and "Walking to New Orleans," Charles cut his first solo album in Woodstock, New York with the help of an all-star team that included Dr. John, David Sanborn and four-fifths of The Band. The set's bonus material features 25
Two, Rolling Stoned: Taylor and Trower Classics Coming From Iconoclassic
One of the most buzzworthy music events of 2010 undoubtedly was Mick Taylor reuniting on disc with The Rolling Stones to contribute new guitar parts to their expanded Exile on Main Street. Even years after leaving the Stones, Taylor remains beloved for his contributions to such classic albums as Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers and of course, Exile. Iconoclassic Records has announced a project sure to excite fans of the incendiary axeman with the July 26 reissue of his solo 1979 album, Mick Taylor.
You Don't Mess Around With Jim: Croce Classics Arrive In The U.K.
When Jim Croce died in September 1973, the victim of a tragic plane crash, he was only 30 years old. He truly was in the prime of his career, riding the wave of the singer/songwriter movement with his sensitive, personal brand of storytelling. Croce's vivid songs were alternately upbeat and sorrowful, introspective and AM radio-ready. Before his death, Croce only recorded four proper studio albums, the first in collaboration with his wife Ingrid. Those remaining three albums, originally released
"Lonely" No More: Lost Motels Album to Be Released in August
One of the most desired unreleased records of the New Wave era will finally receive an official release, nearly three decades after it was put on the shelf. The Motels' Apocalypso was rejected for its lack of commercial appeal by Capitol Records, which accidentally led the band to a path of brief fame in the 1980s...but it's going to be fun to wonder "what if?" with this set. In 1981, The Motels - lead singer Martha Davis, guitarist Tim McGovern, keyboardist/saxophonist Marty Jourard, bassist
Content with Content: Thoughts on Catalogue Titles and Retail Exclusives
Last week, there was a sort-of funny tempest in a teapot reported by The Los Angeles Times over pop singer Beyoncé's latest album, 4. The paper reported that fans were unhappy with the seemingly low stock of deluxe editions of the album at Target, the chain that was carrying the special version exclusively, as well as problems with the bonus content (an online-exclusive music video, streamed through a special portion of the singer's website when unlocked with the bonus disc) was not available
Suddenly...Cherry Pop Reissues and Expands Two Billy Ocean Albums
If you're sharing the same dream to see Billy Ocean's catalogue get some deluxe treatment, next Tuesday is your day: Cherry Pop is reissuing two of Ocean's mid-'80s pop smashes with bonus content. These will be the Cherry Red label group's second and third reissues for Ocean, following Big Break's expansion of 1982's Inner Feelings back in March. The Trinidad-born, England-raised Ocean enjoyed early success in the late '70s on the GTO label. His first single, 1976's "Love Really Hurts Without
Whole Hall and Oates: Famed Duo's Complete Atlantic Years Collected
Daryl Hall and John Oates made their first significant dent on the pop charts with 1976's "Sara Smile," released on RCA Records. "Rich Girl" followed as their first No. 1 single in 1977, and a few short years later, they were proclaimed the most successful duo in rock history thanks to an amazing string of ubiquitous pop singles: "Kiss on My List," "Private Eyes," "Maneater," "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" and so on. But those who only know Hall and Oates from those remarkable 1980s
Release Round-Up: Week of July 5
Erasure, Wonderland / The Circus: Deluxe Editions (EMI) Vince Clarke and Andy Bell's first two albums, expanded with bonus B-sides and remixes across two CDs and DVDs full of live footage. (Official site) Jim Capaldi, Dear Mr. Fantasy: The Jim Capaldi Story (Universal U.K.) The late Traffic legend is memorialized in a four-disc box set. (Official site) Paul McCartney, Driving Rain (MPL/Concord) Another Macca remaster, this one of Paul's 2001 album. No frills, but I imagine "Freedom" will
Elmer Bernstein Classic "Drango" On Deck From Kritzerland
Had Sweet Smell of Success been the only film score written by Elmer Bernstein in 1957, the composer’s place in the pantheon would have been all but assured. Yet Bernstein remarkably found time to score four other motion pictures that very same year. The soundtracks to two of those pictures, Fear Strikes Out and The Tin Star, were reissued earlier this year by Kritzerland. A third, Drango, was announced on Monday, July 4 as the latest release from the veteran stage and screen specialist
July 4 Special Reissue Theory: "1776: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack"
Happy 4th of July! Welcome to another installment of Reissue Theory, where we take a look back at notable albums and the reissues they could someday see. In 1969, a Broadway musical about a most unlikely subject became the toast of New York. Three years later, a movie mogul in the twilight of his years shepherded it to the big screen, and while the film has lived on, its soundtrack album has all but disappeared. Today's Reissue Theory, pulled from The Second Disc archives, imagines a
Back Tracks: Sly and The Family Stone
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G861C3J9ms] Today being the Fourth of July, there are few better reasons to give a spin to Sly and The Family Stone's Greatest Hits, arguably one of the best single-artist compilations in pop history. Those danceable grooves will get you moving at any barbecue, family reunion, pool party or whatever you might be celebrating this holiday weekend. But revisiting Sly has another purpose as of late: to get set up for one of the most unexpected comebacks in
Friday Feature: "The Transformers: The Movie"
That crunching, crashing sound you hear is another Transformers movie rolling out into theaters. The series' third installment, Dark of the Moon, features Autobots and Decepticons yet again pummeling each other into scrap metal with the fate of the Earth at stake. While it remains to be seen - at least by this author - if the new film is any worse than the abhorrent Revenge of the Fallen from 2009 (which featured an enemy with a crotch made of wrecking balls, hereafter referred to as
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