When I look out my window, many sights to see….and when I look in my window, so many different people to be, that it’s strange…so strange… It’s once again the season of Donovan, in all his strange and beautiful colors. EMI U.K. has recently released a budget-priced compendium that should make for a solid primer on the Scottish troubadour. Breezes of Patchouli: His Studio Recordings 1966-1969 is a four-CD set bringing together Donovan’s five Mickie Most-produced albums of that period plus
Review: Margaret Whiting, "The Wheel of Hurt" and "Maggie Isn't Margaret Anymore/Pop Country"
When Margaret Whiting scored a No. 26 Pop/No. 1 Easy Listening hit with 1966's "The Wheel of Hurt," she was surrounded by the aura of a comeback. But the veteran songstress was only in her early forties. Three albums and a clutch of singles recorded for London Records between 1966 and 1970 proved that Whiting was most definitely still a contender. Now, the recordings from Whiting's London period have finally arrived on CD, filling in a major gap in the Margaret Whiting discography. Real Gone
"Queen on Fire" Repressed by Eagle Rock in May
Eagle Rock Entertainment will release a straight reissue of the double-DVD set Queen on Fire: Live At The Bowl next month. Originally released in 2004, Queen on Fire captured the band during their Hot Space tour in 1982 - specifically, the last date on the European leg of the tour, at the Milton Keynes National Bowl on June 5, 1982. In addition to the complete concert, Queen on Fire also included a bonus disc featuring portions from two other shows on the tour - four cuts from a set at
Hard-Core Troubadour: Steve Earle's Warner Bros. LPs, Unreleased Live Sets Boxed by Shout! Factory
After two straight country albums for MCA, Steve Earle made a major breakthrough with 1988's Copperhead Road, which fused his more roots-oriented stylings with elements of traditional rock and metal. Just as impressive, though, was his late '90s comeback after a prolonged period of inactivity, drug problems and incarceration. Three of Earle's albums from the latter half of that decade are coming back into print in a new box set from Shout! Factory. The Warner Bros. Years collects 1995's Train A
Review: The Sugar Shoppe, "The Sugar Shoppe"
Who was a proprietor of The Sugar Shoppe? Was it Thomas Andrews, architect of the Titanic? Was it Anthony Hope, the lovestruck sailor who befriended the murderous barber Sweeney Todd? Or was it Jesus himself? Well, actually it was all of the above, as The Sugar Shoppe was co-founded by none other than actor/singer Victor Garber years before his roles in Titanic, Sweeney Todd and Godspell (not to mention Alias, Argo, Assassins, Damn Yankees, and so many more). Garber joined singer,
Review: Shuggie Otis, "Inspiration Information/Wings of Love"
How to describe the career trajectory of Shuggie Otis? The son of Johnny Otis, the “Godfather of Rhythm and Blues,” Shuggie (born Johnny Alexander Veliotes Jr.) displayed prodigious talent on the guitar from an early age. He began performing with his father before he reached his teenage years, played for the likes of Al Kooper and Frank Zappa, and even joined with dad Johnny in 1969 for some off-color ribaldry as two-thirds of Snatch and the Poontangs. Otis then landed at Epic Records for a
Back To Montague Terrace (In Blue): Scott Walker's Early Solo Albums Are Remastered and Boxed
Upon the late 2012 release of Scott Walker's album Bish Bosch, U.K. newspaper The Guardian posed the question, "Were you hoping this might be the album that would see Scott Walker return to lush, beautiful balladry?" The answer: "Well, tough." Indeed, the iconoclastic singer-songwriter has pursued a defiantly singular path creating intense, nightmarish and never-uninteresting soundscapes on albums such as Bish Bosch. His work over the past two-plus decades has been removed, of course, from
Ring Their Bells: Anita Ward, Stephanie Mills, Fern Kinney, Donna Washington Reissued
In recent days, we’ve turned the spotlight on a quartet of classic soul reissues, two each from Big Break Records (Arthur Prysock’s All My Life and Caston and Majors’ self-titled Motown album) and SoulMusic Records (Nancy Wilson’s Can’t Take My Eyes Off You/Now I’m a Woman and Jerry Butler’s Love’s on the Menu/Suite for the Single Girl). But those are hardly the only recent releases from these two imprints of the Cherry Red Group. Big Break has offered two titles, both from 1979 and both with
That's Why God Made Harmonies: The Beach Boys, CSNY Plan Live CDs
If The Beach Boys are the all-time torchbearers for harmony, surely Crosby, Stills, Nash & (sometimes) Young aren’t far behind. Both of these legendary groups have recently announced live recordings of landmark concert engagements. When The Beach Boys’ acclaimed 50th Anniversary reunion tour concluded last September in London, the band’s triumph was marked by a note of sadness. Acrimony had once again arisen, and it appeared clear that the tour would likely be the last together for Brian
The Second Disc's Record Store Day 2013 Essential Releases
Raise your hand if you’ll be joining 2013 Ambassador Jack White tomorrow to celebrate Record Store Day 2013! Yes, on Saturday, April 20, independent record stores everywhere will offer an eclectic roster of limited edition releases of all kinds – most on vinyl, but some on CD, too. As usual, the labels participating in RSD ’13 have a number of surprises on the way, previewing future releases, revisiting past titles and even curating completely new packages. As is our tradition here, we’re
Henry Mancini's "Sunflower" Blooms From Quartet In Complete Edition
When producer Carlo Ponti and director Vittorio De Sica, both giants of Italian cinema, sought out Henry Mancini to score their 1970 film I Girasoli (or Sunflower, in English), the American composer jumped at the opportunity. Though creative differences between producer and director plagued the production of the film starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni, Mancini turned out one of his strongest, most romantic scores. Thanks to the team at Quartet Records, Mancini’s absorbing work on
Wind of Change: Scorpions to Expand "Crazy World"
Here's an upcoming catalogue title that lives up to its name: the Scorpions' 11th album, 1990's Crazy World, is getting the double-disc deluxe treatment from Universal's U.K. arm this summer. At the time of release, the German rockers had been playing together for more than 25 years, enjoying their greatest success internationally with the iconic "Rock You Like a Hurricane." But Crazy World actually spawned a bigger hit than that: "Wind of Change," a power ballad celebrating the end of the
Primus Are "Sailing" Anew with Expanded, Remixed Reissue
Funky rock pranksters Primus are Sailing the Seas of Cheese once again with a forthcoming deluxe edition of their major-label debut with a brand new mix. Anchored by vocalist/bassist Les Claypool, Primus' irreverent style combines the proggy sounds of Rush with the experimental nature and offbeat humor of Frank Zappa. Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane (who played with the band for a year in 1988 before rejoining in 2010, replacing longtime drummer Tim "Herb"
Get Down and Dirty: Three Albums From Metal Heroes Saxon Arrive From Edsel
Are you ready for a Solid Ball of Rock? Edsel Records has recently reissued the first three albums with which British heavy metal pioneers Saxon greeted the 1990s. Solid Ball of Rock (1991), Forever Free (1992) and Dogs of War (1995), all originally released on Germany’s Virgin label, have each been expanded with two bonus tracks for these new editions. Considered part of the same New Wave of British Heavy Metal that also included Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, Saxon made its debut in 1979
Soundtrack Watch: La-La Land Issues a "Challenge," Intrada Premieres Goldsmith, Bernstein, Jarre Classics
Here's some recent soundtrack news from the last month to keep you up to date on two of our favorite score labels: La-La Land and Intrada. La-La Land's released several archival scores in the past few weeks. First there was The Challenge, a film written by John Sayles and directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Scott Glenn and Toshirō Mifune as two unlikely partners tasked to obtain a rare sword in Japan. Jerry Goldsmith provided a fine action score for the flick; first released on
Dio's "Magica" Gets Deluxe Treatment in June
Dio's Magica album, released in 2000, is getting the deluxe treatment from the late singer's Niji Entertainment Group label. Long out-of-print and a favorite for fans, the album will be released in June as a double-disc set with rare studio extras and unreleased live tracks. Magica was a long time coming for Dio's core fan base, who'd seen him drift away from the more fantastical storytelling elements he'd become known for since his days in Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. Albums like Strange
Still Beating: Huey Lewis and The News Mark 30 Years of "Sports" with Expanded Set (UPDATED)
UPDATE (4/16/2013): Amazon's track list has further elaborated on the live bonus disc, and those who were less than thrilled with the contents may be even less so: only one recording is sourced from the Workin' for a Livin' Tour of 1983-1985. Most come from shows recorded from 1986 to 1989, and the album's last two tracks, "You Crack Me Up" and "Honky Tonk Blues," are represented as "newly recorded" versions on the bonus disc. We'll still be following this title closely, should anything
Release Round-Up: Week of April 16
Shuggie Otis, Inspiration Information/Wings of Love (Epic/Legacy) Nearly 40 years after Inspiration Information, Shuggie Otis' second and most recent LP, the R&B singer/songwriter/guitarist returns with a greatly expanded double-disc edition of that album featuring material recorded in the intervening years. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) David Bowie, Aladdin Sane: 40th Anniversary Remaster (EMI) Ziggy goes back to America in this newly-remastered straight reissue of the 1973
Kritzerland Expands Scores by Goldsmith and Newman
Kritzerland strikes gold with another pair of archival soundtracks, released earlier today. One is a resurrected reissue of a Jerry Goldsmith score - the label's first - and the other pairs two scores by Alfred Newman on one disc, one expanded and the other never before released. Breakheart Pass was a hearty Western adventure starring Charles Bronson as an undercover agent attempting to uncover a villainous plot aboard a steam train hurtling toward an Army post. Alistair MacLean of The Guns of
Rhino Flashback Revives Frankie Valli's Vintage "Hits" Compilation
It’s time for another 4 Seasons flashback, or Flashback, as the case may be. In January, Rhino’s budget Flashback imprint reissued two vintage compilations from the Jersey boys, 1965’s Gold Vault of Hits and 1966’s 2nd Vault of Golden Hits. Flashback is now turning its attention to the group’s lead singer, Frankie Valli, for a straight reissue of his 1978 solo compilation LP Hits due in stores on April 16. The man born Francis Castellucio in Newark, New Jersey had his first taste of solo
Gaslight Anthem Box Up Early Singles on Vinyl
New Jersey rockers The Gaslight Anthem are commemorating some of their early indie works by releasing a deluxe vinyl singles box set this summer. Anchored by singer/songwriter Brian Fallon, the band has deftly mixed a number of rock subgenres into one of the most-talked about acts on the rock scene today, from Clash and Replacements-esque punk to Pearl Jam's post-grunge output. But, whether by virtue of their New Brunswick, New Jersey roots or something else entirely, one name continues to be
Classic Campbell: BGO Brings Three Vintage Glen Campbell Albums to CD
The BGO label has continued its ongoing Glen Campbell reissue series by bringing three long-out-of-print albums to CD in one package. Following the late 2012 release of Try a Little Kindness/The Glen Campbell Goodtime Album/The Last Time I Saw Her, BGO has just brought together a trio of LPs originally released in 1972 and 1973: Glen Travis Campbell, I Knew Jesus (Before He Was a Star) and I Remember Hank Williams. Following the release of Campbell’s New Jersey-recorded Live album from 1969,
'Trane's "Sun Ship" Sails Anew
On the heels of yesterday's Sarah Vaughan set from Verve Select, we've got another upcoming title from the label for your enjoyment, too: an expansive edition of John Coltrane's Sun Ship LP. Recorded in 1965 but not released until 1971, years after Coltrane's death, Sun Ship was notable for several reasons: it was one of the only sessions for 'Trane's quartet (bassist Jimmy Garrison, drummer Elvin Jones and pianist McCoy Tyner) recorded without engineer Rudy Van Gelder, and it was one of the
Verve Select Offers "Divine" Selection of Sarah Vaughan LPs on CD
The latest from Verve Select, released earlier this week, is a collection of over a half-dozen vintage albums by jazz legend Sarah Vaughan on four discs. Divine: The Jazz Albums encapsulates Vaughan's first round on the Mercury label, after finding earlier success for the previous decade on first the Musicraft label (where she cut hit versions of "Tenderly" and "Nature Boy") and later for Columbia Records, a run characterized by contemporary pop balladry. Once signed to Mercury, she was
The Man From Utopia: Edsel Reissues Kasim Sulton's Solo Debut
This week, Todd Rundgren has released his most recent studio album, State. Edsel Records has recently given longtime Rundgren fans the chance to revisit the first solo LP from one of Todd’s longest-serving sidemen, Kasim Sulton. Edsel’s reissue of 1982’s EMI America album Kasim is available now. Sulton, a bassist and singer, joined Todd Rundgren’s Utopia for its fifth, longest-lasting incarnation. This four-piece Utopia line-up of Rundgren, Sulton, keyboardist Roger Powell and drummer John
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