In 1971, Cat Stevens, a.k.a. Yusuf Islam, built upon the success of his first two albums for Island Records (U.K.) and A&M Records (U.S.) with Teaser and the Firecat. Featuring three of the singer-songwriter's most beloved songs - "Peace Train," "Moonshadow," and an adaptation of the hymn "Morning Has Broken" - Teaser became his first U.K. and U.S. top five chart entry, reaching No. 2 on both charts. Following last year's 50th anniversary deluxe reissues of Mona Bone Jakon and Tea for the
Once again, Record Store Day here in the U.S. looks a little - make that a lot - different this year. The usual offerings have been split among two dates in 2021 with Drop 1 having taken place on June 12 and Drop 2 happening tomorrow, July 17. Every retailer is handling the Drop a bit differently thanks to the necessary accommodations for social distancing, smaller crowds, and better safety precautions. So please check in with your favorite store to find out more information. Below, you'll
Cameron Crowe, in association with Universal Music, has done the (near-) impossible. On July 9, the writer-director will revisit the soundtrack to his 2000 instant classic Almost Famous in greatly expanded, near-complete form, including five - yes, five! - Led Zeppelin songs plus tracks by other typically difficult-to-license artists including Simon and Garfunkel, The Who, Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, David Bowie, and Stevie Wonder. That's not to mention new Rock and
1970 was a defining year for pop music, and few stars ascended to quite the same heights as Cat Stevens, whose Mona Bone Jakon and Tea For the Tillerman re-introduced the songwriter and singer to audiences. Gone are the production excesses of his late-'60s pop recordings. Here, Stevens' songs are stripped-down as he looks inward and embraces a soulful sound. Fifty years on, these two albums have been revisited by Yusuf through his aptly titled Cat-O-Log Records imprint, in coordination with
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Cat Stevens, Mona Bone Jakon: 50th Anniversary Edition (A&M/UMe) 4-CD/Blu-ray/LP/12″ Box: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2-CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Cat Stevens, a.k.a. Yusuf, revisits 1970's Mona Bone Jakon with a new, 50th anniversary edition available in a host of formats. The 4-CD/Blu-ray/LP 50th anniversary
On the heels of his acclaimed Tea For The Tillerman ² album, Yusuf/Cat Stevens will once again look back on his landmark 1970 albums with two new box sets arriving from A&M/UMe on December 4. Hitting shelves that day will be 50th anniversary editions of Mona Bone Jakon and Tea For The Tillerman. Released within 7 months in 1970, these albums saw Stevens redefining his sound. Following a battle with tuberculosis and a lengthy stay at in the hospital, Stevens had begun looking inward,
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! John Coltrane, Giant Steps: 60th Anniversary Edition (Rhino) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada John Coltrane's 1960 Atlantic debut was entitled Giant Steps, and indeed, that's what the saxophonist took on this groundbreaking album. Intense, dark, probing: the color of his saxophone was all his own. Rhino is celebrating 60 years of Giant Steps with a multi-format anniversary edition
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Paul McCartney, The Paul McCartney Archive Collection: Flaming Pie [Various Formats] (MPL/Capitol/UMe) 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Deluxe 5CD/2DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Super Deluxe 5CD/2DVD/4LP: Paul McCartney Online Shop 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 3LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada The Paul McCartney Archive Collection returns with a new volume dedicated to Macca's
As the COVID 19 outbreak continues to impact our lives, it's heartening to know that some things are returning to some semblance of "normal," or as close as we can get to it during this unpredictable impasse. As we previously reported, Record Store Day has been split into three standalone "RSD Drop" days, occurring on August 29, September 26, and October 24. That's not the only thing changing this time around. It's been reported by Georgia-based shop Comeback Vinyl that the organization is
There was something special going on in the music scene in 1970, a certain alchemy that resulted in countless perfect albums that continue to stop listeners in their tracks. Two such albums - Cat Stevens' Tea For the Tillerman and Dave Mason's Alone Together - are among those that remain fresh all these years later. So imagine the surprise when Mason and the artist now known as Yusuf each announced they'd be revisiting their classics with Tea For the Tillerman 2 and Alone Together Again,
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Donna Summer, Encore (Crimson Productions) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) The ultimate Donna Summer box set, Encore bring together the late superstar's complete albums on 33 CDs, including 8 discs of 7″ and 12″ mixes, single edits, non-album cuts, and other rarities. It totals a staggering 329 tracks, truly the most comprehensive tribute to Summer ever collected. Christian John Wikane provides the new liner notes. The set is
Here at Second Disc HQ, we've been thrilled by the news of amazing releases coming from all the labels this Record Store Day 2020, and UMe's slate of 20+ titles is no exception. With a new definitive vinyl edition of Paul McCartney's debut, a tenth-anniversary celebration of Ellie Goulding's Lights, a Cat Stevens rarity making its vinyl debut, an expanded Elton John, a reissue of an impossible-to-find CTI Jazz album, and many more, fans will want to line up bright and early to secure their
In 1967, Cat Stevens released his first albums: Matthew & Son and New Masters. On March 13 in the U.K. (March 27 in the U.S.), Decca and UMC will press up new issues of these classics, on vinyl for the first time since 1982. Each features restored artwoek and newly "de-mixed" re-enhanced mixes prepared at Abbey Road Studios. Using the studio's proprietary technology, remix engineers were able to "enhance the original vocals and [help] amplify the bass," thus breathing new life into such
UPDATE: It's been nearly a year since our initial coverage of the Cat Stevens Back To Earth box set featuring a new remaster done at Abbey Road and a wealth of rare audio and visual material. Since then, lots of changes have affected how the box will reach listeners. Now that Pledge Music is out of the equation, BMG and their new Cat-O-Log division will release the elaborate set more conventionally on April 10. The box won't have all the bells and whistles described last year - just the discs
"Cat Stevens super deluxe edition box set" -- those are words that for years have been relegated to the "in my wildest dreams" wish list of super fans worldwide. But now, to the surprise of Cat enthusiasts everywhere, those words can soon be placed on your shopping list, as Yusuf (formerly Cat Stevens), Cat-O-Log/BMG, and Pledge Music have announced an extensive reissue of his 1978 album Back To Earth. The title will be re-issued in an array of formats and bundles. Standard 1-CD and black
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! The Doors, The Singles (Elektra/Rhino) 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada / Amazon U.K. 2CD/1BD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada / Amazon U.K. Vinyl box set: Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada / Amazon U.K. Singles compiles all 20 of the singles from The Doors' official discography. This not only includes every A and B-side from their core studio albums, but several albums recorded and released after the passing of frontman Jim Morrison, including