When it was first released in 1995, Liquid Swords, the acclaimed solo album from GZA of the immortal rap collective Wu-Tang Clan, was credited to its maker as "Genius/GZA." Nearly two decades later, with a deluxe edition forthcoming from specialty label Get On Down, it's hard to argue that. Liquid Swords came at a time when the Wu-Tang Clan, who'd turned many a head with their patchwork lyrical style, idiosyncratic sense of humor and straightforward look at urban life. Enter the Wu-Tang (36
Review: Omnivore's Legends of Music and Comedy, Buck Owens and Ernie Kovacs
In the pantheon of American comedy legends, you’d likely find Ernie Kovacs, the gifted, gone-too-soon (1919-1962) personality who carved out a niche in the early days of American television. Joining Ernie in that esteemed company might well also be Buck Owens (1929-2006), the influential guitarist and songwriter who made a second career out of joking, a-pickin’ and a-grinnin’ on the cornpone television variety show Hee Haw. However different these two gentlemen are, however, Omnivore
Soundtrack Bi-fecta: Goldsmith, Grusin and More Arrive from Intrada, FSM
After a quiet month for soundtracks, save the score reissue to little-seen art-house flick Star Trek: The Motion Picture, the past week has seen three releases from Intrada and Film Score Monthly readied for film music aficionados. Intrada's first title did an excellent job of satiating anyone's post-Trek desire for more Jerry Goldsmith; it's the unreleased, unused score to 1996's 2 Days in the Valley. A twisty thriller with a solid cast (Charlize Theron, Eric Stoltz, James Spader, Teri Hatcher
Positively 4th Street: Bob Dylan's First "Greatest Hits" Goes Gold
When Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits first appeared on record store shelves in March 1967, it was Dylan’s first offering since the previous year’s Blonde on Blonde double-LP opus and subsequent, well-publicized motorcycle accident. Although the 10-track Columbia Records set has since been superseded by numerous other compilations from the Bard of Hibbing, Dylan’s first ever Greatest Hits captures the moment in time when there was arguably no more influential songwriter. On July 3, the original Dylan
This Surely is a Dream: Marcy Playground Prep Rarities for New Compilation
While many music fans' knowledge of alt-rock band Marcy Playground begins and ends with their 1998 Top 10 hit "Sex and Candy," those who do follow the band will be excited to know the group's putting out a collection of rarities and outtakes this month. Lunch, Recess & Detention - named for singer/songwriter John Wozniak's "three things I was never late for" - is a 19-track compilation combining outtakes (including alternate takes of songs that appeared on the band's Shapeshifter (1999) and
For Your Pleasure: Roxy Music Unveil Massive Box Set, New Reissue Campaign (UPDATED 6/19)
Roxy Music, arguably the original New Romantics, are coming back in a big way on the catalogue side of things in 2012, with a new box set and additional surprises to follow. Primarily comprised of singer Brian Ferry, guitarist Phil Manzanera, keyboardist Brian Eno, saxophonist Andy McKay and drummer Paul Thompson (with an almost-consistently shuffling lineup during their active years, including England's greatest fill-in Paul Carrack of Ace, Squeeze and Mike + The Mechanics), Roxy combined the
Review: The Beatles, "Yellow Submarine" on Blu-Ray and DVD
Picture yourself in a boat on a river…with tangerine trees and marmalade skies… Now, picture the evocative imagery of The Beatles’ most mind-bending lyrics transferred to a silver screen world where imagination and wonder run rampant. The result might be something like the 1968 animated film Yellow Submarine. Out of print for some time on DVD, Yellow Submarine has just returned to DVD and Blu-Ray (5099962146098) in a painstakingly restored new edition from Apple Corps and
Short Takes: McCartney Readies "Rockshow," Rundgren's Live "Healing", Jay and the Americans' "Magic Moment" Revisited
As we kick off another week, we're catching up with a few news items that almost slipped between the cracks! Earlier this year, RockBeat and S'More Entertainment released Todd: Live, preserving on both CD and DVD editions a live performance by Todd Rundgren of his 1974 classic album Todd. But Todd only told half of the story! Joined by Utopia's Kasim Sulton (bass), The Cars' Greg Hawkes (keyboards), The Tubes' Prairie Prince (drums), Guitar Player Magazine's editor Jesse Gress (guitar),
Release Round-Up: Week of June 19
A quick heads-up to our fans: we've finally joined modern times and become an Amazon Associate. So if you click on any of our links and add to your collection, you'll be supporting The Second Disc in our quest to become the best catalogue music site around! The Ventures, The Ventures On Stage / Wild Things! / Super Psychedelics / Hawaii Five-O (Sundazed) Four classic Ventures albums, remastered on CD and LP. Bob Mould, Bob Mould / The Last Dog + Pony Show / LiveDog98 (Edsel) After the revelatory
Yes! They Might Be Giants to Reissue "No!"
In the late '80s and early '90s, They Might Be Giants earned a sterling reputation as one of the quirkiest bands around, creating hook-filled pop garnished with out-there lyrics and intricate, often unexpected arrangements. But as time goes on, how does one extend their musical legacy beyond the loyal fan base? John Linnell and John Flansburgh figured out a most intriguing way of doing so ten years ago this month: they released No!, an album of original songs written with children in mind. (The
Before We Forget: Slipknot to Release First Hits Compilation
In the past decade, Slipknot were one of the most iconic and unforgettable faces of alternative metal in America. Next month, they will celebrate their tenure with the release of their first greatest hits compilation. Though Antennas to Hell doesn't contain any new tracks - the band has allegedly put together only tentative recordings since the death of founding bassist Paul Gray in 2010 - it will showcase 19 of the band's "fan favorites, live classics and well-known radio hits," including
Review: Deluxe Editions from Everything But The Girl
The band’s name is Everything But The Girl, but the reissue campaign might as well be titled Everything But the Kitchen Sink. Over the course of four 2-CD sets, the Edsel label has crafted a comprehensive, definitive retrospective of Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt’s early years as merchants of cool, sophisticated and literate pop. EBTG’s first four albums, originally released on the Blanco Y Negro label, have each been granted the deluxe treatment with an additional disc of non-LP singles, B-sides,
Frankie Say "Sexmix" from ZTT; Rare Remixes Featured on New Compilation
The past few years has seen a flurry of catalogue activity from iconic U.K. label Zang Tuum Tumb. The ongoing Element Series, distributed by England's Salvo Music imprint, has seen artists from 808 State and Propaganda to Frankie Goes to Hollywood and The Art of Noise expanded and remastered in lavish double-disc packages. This summer, ZTT adds to the Element Series a compilation of rarities from the short but intricate discography of Frankie Goes to Hollywood. The quartet's "Relax" was one of
Contest: Would You "Like" to Win a "Graceland" Box Set?
Hey, we've said it a million times, but let's say it again: The Second Disc has some of the best readers out there. The idea that so many of you like catalogue music as much as Joe and I do, and the idea that so many of you come back to read our news and musings, day in and day out...well, it just makes me feel good. And we've done a solid job (we hope!) of reaching out to every fan old and new across the Internet, be it Facebook or Twitter or even in the comments section of the site. As I type
His Songs: Elton John "Classic Album Collection," Mash-Up Set Coming in July
Do you remember when rock was young? Many do remember the early days of the former Reginald Dwight, whose first major splash on the American charts was 1970's Elton John. Although that album was John's second, his 1969 debut Empty Sky wouldn't see U.S. release until 1975, at which point John was one of the biggest superstars on the planet. More than forty years after the release of Elton John, the now-Sir Elton's star still shines brightly, with 2010's The Union having earned him a Grammy
A Star Beyond Time: Talking "Trek" with Mike Matessino, Part 2
Captain's log, Stardate 2012.614. When last we left the crew of the starship Second Disc, they were interviewing renowned soundtrack producer Mike Matessino, whose work on La-La Land's triple-disc expansion of Jerry Goldsmith's score to Star Trek: The Motion Picture may be the most vivacious and definitive single soundtrack presentation in a career brimming with many projects. Our interview with Matessino was lengthy, and the two-hour interview was bound to take up more than one post. Why the
Review: The Supremes, "The Supremes at the Copa"
The building on New York’s East 60th Street might between 5th and Madison Avenues might not have looked like much from the outside. But within the walls of 10 E. 60th, it was a different story altogether, as that address housed the fabled Copacabana. Lyricist Fred Ebb asserted of New York City itself, “If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere,” but he could have been writing of The Copacabana. And Berry Gordy wanted to make it there. More accurately, the Motown Records chief wanted
Cool, Cool Summer: New Bananarama Compilation Due in July
Ironically, with news of the Stock Aitken Waterman/PWL box set also comes news of one of the SAW team's most prolific collaborators: U.K. girl group Bananarama, who are celebrating their 30th anniversary with a new CD/DVD compilation. The band initially consisted of childhood friends Keren Woodward and Sara Dallin and schoolmate Siobhan Fahey. The trio's mutual interest in tomboyish fashion and the burgeoning post-punk scene - leading to early gigs opening for The Jam and Iggy Pop and early
Burn, Baby, Burn: The Trammps Go "Definitive" From Music Club Deluxe
At the crossroads of silky Philadelphia soul and pulse-pounding disco, you’d likely find The Trammps. Hailing from the City of Brotherly Love, The Trammps earned their immortality when the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack included their hit “Disco Inferno.” But that classic track is only one small part of the vocal group’s story, which is now being retold by Demon Music Group’s Music Club Deluxe label on the 2-CD, 34-track The Definitive Collection. Boasting recordings from Atlantic, Buddah
Never Gonna Give You Up: Iconic Pop Production Team Stock Aitken Waterman Celebrated with New Box Set
It may have been the "flavor of the month" as European '80s pop went, but the distinctive sounds of Stock Aitken Waterman and the PWL label was one heck of a flavor, earning a rather generous compilation/box set treatment, Pete Waterman Presents The Hit Factory: Soundtrack to a Generation in the U.K. this summer. Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman began working for Waterman's PWL production company in 1984, specializing in Hi-NRG dance music by U.K. pop artists like Hazell Dean and Dead
Review: The Association, "The Complete Warner Bros. and Valiant Singles Collection"
“Everyone knows” the answer to the musical question of Who’s trippin’ down the streets of the city / Smilin’ at everybody she sees? But here’s another one: what’s the record label reaching out to capture a moment, bendin’ down to give us a rainbow? Everyone (at least everyone reading The Second Disc!) knows it’s Now Sounds. The Cherry Red-affiliated label has recently released the latest in its ongoing series of deluxe reissues of The Association’s catalogue, and it’s the most impressive
Release Round-Up: Week of June 12
Dean Martin, Collected Cool (UMe) Can you believe this is the first ever domestic, career-spanning Dino box set, pallies? And just in time for Father's Day. Sugar, File Under: Easy Listening - Deluxe Edition (Edsel) The last Sugar LP, expanded with B-sides, the live album The Joke is Always on Us, Sometimes, and a DVD of videos and live footage. Gilbert O'Sullivan, Southpaw: Deluxe Edition / A Stranger in My Own Back Yard: Deluxe Edition (Salvo) The latest in Salvo's ongoing expansion
Return to Pepperland: We Have A "Yellow Submarine" Blu-Ray Winner!
We have a winner! Congratulations to Robbie Mercy of Clanton, Alabama! Robbie is the recipient of a brand-new, restored Blu-Ray release of The Beatles’ 1968 animated classic Yellow Submarine, courtesy of our friends at EMI and Apple! Robbie was one of many entrants who correctly answered this question: One of the screenwriters of Yellow Submarine received an Academy Award nomination as writer of the highest-grossing film in the United States of 1970. Name the writer and the smash hit
Freak Out! Zappa Family Trust Strikes Deal For Reissue Of 60 Albums From Universal, Roll-Out Begins In July
The numbers and dates may have changed, but we can now finally confirm the news that has long been circulating, both here and elsewhere, that Frank Zappa's catalogue is headed to Universal Music Enterprises (UMe). According to the Zappa Family Trust's press release, a global license and distribution deal will see the reissue of 60 Zappa albums, beginning with a group of 12 (not 18, as previously believed) that will roll out on July 31. Throughout a long career that produced more than 60 albums
Two Miracles! Classics from Motown Group Make CD Debut
What does it sound like when one of Motown's most famous lead singers of the '60s does the unthinkable and amicably parts from his group? For the first time on CD, fans are about to find out, with the release of The Miracles' Renaissance and Do It Baby albums on the Hip-O Select label this month. Longtime Miracles frontman and legendary singer Smokey Robinson had a hankering to walk away from his group for awhile, not due to infighting but his own multitude of commitments. His wife and
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