My Eyes Have Seen: Odetta, The Weavers, Joan Baez, More Featured on Vinyl Me, Please’s “Anthology: The Story of Vanguard”

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 was formed in 1950 by Maynard and Seymour Solomon as a classical label and later moved into jazz.  The Solomons dived headfirst into the flourishing folk music scene…

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The Second Disc’s Picks for Record Store Day Black Friday 2019

​From all of us here at Second Disc HQ to all of you, we hope you’ve enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving in the company of beloved family and friends. Record Store Day Black Friday is now almost upon us, so we thought we’d spotlight a few particularly exciting releases arriving to your local brick-and-mortar record shop! Here’s our round up of RSD BF must-haves!  We’re kicking off with Sam’s list, and then we’ll follow with Randy and Joe’s! Aretha Franklin, The Atlantic Singles Collection 1968 (Atlantic/Rhino) Last year, fans were treated to a singles…

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It Could Happen To You: Seven Black Friday Titles Coming From Craft

It’s that time of year again! On Friday, November 29, independent retailers everywhere will celebrate Record Store Day’s annual Black Friday event, featuring a wide array of exclusive, limited edition releases. Craft Recordings has announced its eclectic slate, encompassing classic folk, jazz, salsa, pop, shoegaze, and more. Without further ado, here’s Craft’s lineup, with descriptions and track listings provided by the label! Look for all of these fine titles at your favorite independent music retailer on Black Friday! Jazz Dispensary: The Dank D-Funk Blend (Prestige) 180-gram green-marbled vinyl): The newest installment in…

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In The Tower of Song: Leonard Cohen Covers Collected on “Hallelujah,” New Ace Records Compilation

With his acumen for gripping poetry, inimitable baritone, and trademark Spanish-influenced fingerpicking, Leonard Cohen married his talents for poetry and song-craft to create some of the most enduring music of the singer-songwriter era and beyond. Like every great songwriter, Cohen’s work continues to inspire an array of cover versions. Sure, there’s the million-and-one covers of “Hallelujah,” but even before the 1967 release of his debut Songs of Leonard Cohen, early supporters like Judy Collins and Buffy Sainte-Marie helped propel his words into the public consciousness. Years later, Cohen reflected on the joys…

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The Smell of Incense Fills Your Room: Craft Recordings Announces New Psychedelic Rarities Collection, “Poppies”

Following their announcement of a Record Store Day color-vinyl edition of the title, Craft Recordings have unveiled further details about their new compilation of hard-to-find gems from the psychedelic era, entitled Poppies: Assorted Finery from the First Psychedelic Age. In addition to the orange-vinyl RSD version, which will be in independent shops on April 13, Poppies will also be released on CD and on digital download platforms on April 19. The 13-track collection – the first in a series of themed compilations – brings together psychedelic rock and pop rarities from the…

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