“Yesterday’s Gone”: the song by folk-pop duo Chad and Jeremy opens the first of the six discs comprising Cherry Red and RPM’s new box set Fab Gear: The British Beat Explosion and Its Aftershocks 1963-1967. It’s a most appropriate opener, as yesterday really was gone for an entire generation of artists swiftly rendered obsolete by the emergence of The Beatles. As the box eloquently explains, the Fab Four “in name, song, band structure, image, defined this new Beat music…Until 1967, when The Beatles reinvented pop again with Sgt. Pepper’s, Beat music –…
Release Round-Up: Week of June 8
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! Johnny Mathis, Close to You/Love Story: Expanded Edition (Second Disc/Real Gone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music continue their journey through Johnny Mathis’ seventies catalogue with this expanded, remastered two-fer of Mathis’ 1970 and 1971 albums. Close to You finds the singer reinterpreting hits by Bacharach and David, Antonio Carlos Jobim, The Beatles, and even Santana, while Love Story has songs from Goffin and King, Paul Williams, and Henry Mancini. Three bonus tracks round out this 1-CD…
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Waiting For the Gift of Sound: Parlophone to Release Three David Bowie Reissues including CD Debut of Rare 1978 Concert and Two Vinyl Exclusives
Parlophone is continuing its series of David Bowie reissues. The label has just announced a trio of projects due June 29: the CD and digital debut of Welcome To The Blackout (Live London ’78), previously only available on vinyl for this year’s Record Store Day, and a pair of vinyl exclusives for brick-and-mortar record shops. All three titles come from the period covered in last year’s Bowie box A New Career in a New Town: 1977-1982, which saw Bowie release two acclaimed albums, work in television and film and embark upon…
The Second Disc’s 2018 Record Store Day Must-Haves
Welcome to our annual rundown of Must-Haves for this year’s Record Store Day event! Once you’re through reading, let us know what you’re most looking forward to picking up tomorrow at your favorite local independent retailer! Our list features just a sampling of our favorites from our friends at Legacy Recordings, Varese Sarabande, Rhino Records, Real Gone Music, Demon Music Group, Walt Disney Records, Omnivore Recordings, and more! Joe’s kicking things off with five essential picks (in alphabetical order)! The Beau Brummels, Bradley’s Barn [Expanded Edition] (Run Out Groove) Before Abbey Road…
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Let It Rain: Universal Celebrates Eric Clapton, Mick Ronson with Soundtracks Featuring Beatles, Bowie, More
2018 is already shaping up to be a great year for music documentaries; one such movie, Elvis Presley: The Searcher, recently debuted on HBO to rapturous notices. Soundtracks to two more probing films are on the way from Universal On June 8, the label will deliver both Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars and Beside Bowie: The Mick Ronson Story. No single compilation can successfully capture the entirety of Eric Clapton’s remarkable career, though many from various labels have tried. Life in 12 Bars takes a different approach, featuring 32 tracks on…
Release Round-Up: Week of April 13
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! David Bowie, Changestwobowie (Parlophone) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada David Bowie’s 1981 compilation spanning the period between Hunky Dory and Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) returns to print for the first time in three decades in a newly remastered edition. Its ten tracks include “Starman,” “Oh! You Pretty Things,” single versions of “Fashion,” “Ashes to Ashes,” and “D.J.,” and more. Available on CD, DD, and LP. The first LP run only will be…
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Record Store Day 2018: The Best of the Rest
We’ve already filled you in on the upcoming Record Store Day releases from Legacy Recordings, Rhino, and Real Gone Music, but there’s still much more on offer from many of our other favorite labels! Here’s a selection of “the best of the rest” to be released in brick-and-mortar independent record stores on Saturday, April 21! ABBA, Summer Night City (Polydor) (2000 copies) (Record Store Day UK) (Quantity TBA) Clear/yellow-splatter 7-inch release of ABBA’s 1978 non-LP single Baby Huey, The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend (Run Out Groove) (3,350 copies) Run Out…
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Welcome to the Blackout: Three David Bowie Titles Announced for Record Store Day
If you’re saving up for any of the exclusive vinyl titles available at the final David Bowie Is exhibition in Brooklyn announced earlier this week, make a little more space in the budget for the trio of Bowie titles announced for this year’s Record Store Day (April 21, 2018). A host of rare and unreleased material will be made available on these discs, including an unreleased live show and a different version of the first rarity we heard from the Bowie camp this year. First up is Welcome to the Blackout, a…
Waiting in the Wings: Three Vinyl Exclusives Join Final ‘David Bowie Is’ Installation in New York
David Bowie Is, the stellar worldwide exhibition offering an unprecedented deep dive into the world of one of rock’s greatest icons, is making its final bow this year, opening this Friday (March 2) at the Brooklyn Museum in New York and running there through July 15. A trio of exclusive vinyl titles, made available at the exhibition’s shop, were announced today, offering color variants of two rare releases and a live mini-album with several unreleased tracks. First up is a reissue of “Time,” the third single from Bowie’s 1973 masterwork Aladdin Sane….
Release Round-Up: Week of February 23
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! Various Artists, Concert for George [Various Formats] (Craft Recordings) 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2CD/2DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2CD/2BD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 4LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2CD/2DVD/2BD/4LP Limited Online Exclusive Box Set: George Harrison Shop The star-studded 2002 concert celebration of the life of George Harrison – featuring Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, and other luminaries – returns in a variety of formats (with some previously unreleased music and bonus features) from…
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More Ch-Ch-Changes: Parlophone Reissues David Bowie’s “Changestwobowie,” “Aladdin Sane”
Following the 40th anniversary reissue of David Bowie’s Changesonebowie in 2016, Parlophone is readying a CD, LP and DD edition of its 1981 followup: Changestwobowie. This will arrive on April 13, to be followed a week later by a special 45th anniversary vinyl edition of the artist’s seminal Aladdin Sane. Changestwobowie returns to CD after a three-decade absence. Originally released on LP in 1981 and on CD in 1985 by RCA, it features 10 songs spanning the period between Hunky Dory (1971) and Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) (1980), including single versions…
Put On Your Red Shoes: Parlophone Releases a Demo of “Let’s Dance,” Bowie’s Biggest Hit
To commemorate what would have been David Bowie’s 71st birthday, Parlophone has unveiled a previously unreleased gem from the vaults: the singer’s original demo for “Let’s Dance,” recorded with guitarist/producer Nile Rodgers. As both devoted and casual fans know, “Let’s Dance,” from Bowie’s 15th studio album of the same name in 1983, marked a sea change for the enigmatic performer. Having pushed the envelope dabbling in glam, disco and alternative rock during the late ’60s and ’70s, Bowie – armed with a new, lucrative record deal on EMI – was keen on…
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Release Round-Up: Week of January 5
Welcome to the first Release Round-Up of the new year! David Bowie, Beauty and the Beast [7-Inch Vinyl Single] (Parlophone/Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) David Bowie’s series of 40th anniversary series continues with the picture-disc release of “Beauty and the Beast” from Heroes, backed with a live version of “Blackout” from Berlin’s Deutschlandhalle on May 16, 1978. The A-side boasts a photo of Bowie from Japan 1977, while the flip has him in NYC in 1978. Natalie Dessay and Michel Legrand, Between Yesterday and Tomorrow (Sony Classical) CD: Amazon…
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Review: David Bowie, “A New Career in a New Town: 1977-1982”
I. Art Decade Keep Up with David’s Changes, read an insert from the David Bowie Fan Club packaged in original pressings of the artist’s 1977 album Low and painstakingly replicated on the edition included in the new 11-CD (or 13-LP) box set A New Career in a New Town 1977-1982. Indeed, it was no small feat to follow the restless artist’s many transformations. 1975’s Station to Station saw the formal introduction of The Thin White Duke, a nattily-dressed but rather unpleasant fellow; who would the chameleonic musician become next? A New Career,…
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Release Round-Up: Week of September 29
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! David Bowie, A New Career in a New Town (1977-1982) (Parlophone) 11CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada / Amazon U.K. 13LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada / Amazon U.K. The third release in Parlophone’s series of chronological box sets dedicated to the music of David Bowie, A New Career in a New Town (1977-1982) closes the book on the legendary artist’s RCA career. It follows 2015’s Five Years (1969-1973) and 2016’s Who Can I Be Now? (1974-1976), offering material from five major studio and live albums: Low (1977), “Heroes” (1977), Stage (1978), Lodger (1979) and Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) (1980). Low, “Heroes” and Lodger are, of course, referred to as the “Berlin”…
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Berlin and Beyond: Third Bowie Box Set Announced
The newest career-spanning David Bowie box set chronicles the icon as he ends the ’70s with some of his most experimental work yet, adding rarities to spare. A New Career in a New Town (1977-1982) follows 2015’s Five Years (1969-1973) and 2016’s Who Can I Be Now? (1974-1976), offering material from five major studio and live albums: Low (1977), “Heroes” (1977), Stage (1978), Lodger (1979) and Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) (1980). Low, “Heroes” and Lodger are, of course, referred to as the “Berlin” trilogy, wildly creative, celebrated and cutting edge albums…
Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere: Ace Collects Shel Talmy Productions From The Who, David Bowie, More
An advertisement reprinted in Ace Records’ splendid new collection Making Time: A Shel Talmy Production reads, “Artistes Shel Talmy Has Recorded: The Kinks, The Bachelors, The Who, Chad and Jeremy” and so on. Add to that list Manfred Mann, The Creation, The Fortunes, Trini Lopez, Lee Hazlewood, and a certain David Bowie, and you have an idea of the scope of this first-of-its-kind collection dedicated to the work of the producer-engineer-impresario. Though born in Chicago, Talmy made his name in British pop and rock, and this collection features some of his spectacular…
Release Round-Up: Week of June 16
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! David Bowie, Cracked Actor: Live in Los Angeles 1974 (Parlophone/Rhino) (Amazon U.S./ Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Cracked Actor: Live in Los Angeles 1974 is the first authorized release of Bowie’s Philly Dogs Tour show at Los Angeles’ Universal Amphitheatre, from September 1974. First released earlier this year on vinyl only, some of this performance was featured in Alan Yentob’s BBC documentary also known as Cracked Actor. The original tapes for this show were finally brought together last November, and they have been newly mixed by Tony Visconti. Note that…
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From Lulu, With Love: Edsel Reissues Bowie Collaboration and More
Lulu’s first album promised Something to Shout About, and indeed, throughout a career now spanning six decades, the Scottish pop singer has always delivered with her full-throated, soulful belt. In 1972, Lulu wrapped up her tenure at Atco Records – in which she reinvented herself in full southern soul mode – and signed to Wes Farrell’s RCA-distributed Chelsea label. At Chelsea, she released two albums: 1973’s Lulu and 1976’s Heaven and Earth and the Sky. Both of those LPs have just returned to CD on a single-disc two-fer from Edsel. Wes Farrell…
Oh! You Pretty Things: Two David Bowie Releases Premiere On Record Store Day (UPDATED 5/11: CD Edition Coming!)
UPDATE (5/11/2017): While Bowie’s official site maintains that no additional vinyl will be pressed, Cracked Actor: Live in Los Angeles 1974 will be released as a 2CD set on June 16. The limited edition digipak (to be replaced later by a jewel case edition) includes a 12-page booklet with notes from the original LA Amphitheatre show program and a Rolling Stone article about the shows, written by Richard Cromelin and published October 10, 1974. Neither of these appeared in the vinyl set. This 2CD set can be ordered from Amazon U.S. and Amazon…
Ten Years Strong: The Second Disc’s 2017 Record Store Day Must-Haves
Welcome to our annual rundown of Must-Haves for this year’s Record Store Day event! Once you’re through reading, let us know what you’re most looking forward to picking up tomorrow at your favorite local independent retailer! Our list features just a sampling of our favorites from our friends at Legacy Recordings, Varese Sarabande, Rhino Records, Walt Disney Records, Real Gone Music, Omnivore Recordings, and many more! Mike’s kicking things off… This year’s Record Store Day offerings include some excellent archival live releases and a couple cool looking packages I wouldn’t mind adding…
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Release Round-Up: Week of February 24
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! George Harrison, The Vinyl Collection (Apple/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) George Harrison – The Vinyl Collection includes newly-remastered editions of 13 albums, from Wonderwall Music (1968) to the posthumously released Brainwashed (2002). Each album has been remastered at Capitol Studios from the original tapes and pressed onto 180-gram vinyl. The albums are all packaged in replica sleeves, and the entire set comes in one sturdy slipcase.While all of the LPs will be available individually, the box set will also contain exclusive 12-inch…
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Release Round-Up: Week of February 10
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! Bon Jovi, The Albums (Island/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Bon Jovi’s The Albums includes all 14 of the group’s studio efforts, from 1984’s blistering-glam self-titled debut to the just-released This House is Not for Sale, the first album without longtime guitarist Richie Sambora. Eleven of these albums have hit the Billboard Top 10 since 1986’s chart-topping breakthrough Slippery When Wet; of those, six of these albums (includingThis House is Not for Sale) have hit No. 1. The box will also include frontman Jon Bon…
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Look Up Here, I’m In Heaven: David Bowie’s Final Recordings Reissued on CD and Vinyl EPs
Last October, the original New York cast recording of David Bowie and Enda Walsh’s musical Lazarus arrived on compact disc, vinyl, and digital download, with each format including a bonus EP of Bowie’s four new songs from the musical. “Lazarus” was, of course, already familiar from its inclusion on the artist’s highly acclaimed final studio album Blackstar. The cast recording premiered three more tracks penned for the show from the Blackstar sessions: “No Plan,” “Killing a Little Time,” and “When I Met You.” On February 24 (CD), April 21 (vinyl) and May…
Don’t You Wonder Sometimes: Bowie’s “Sound and Vision” Gets Picture Disc In February
On February 10, Rhino Records and Parlophone will continue the long-running series of David Bowie 7″ vinyl picture disc singles with the release of “Sound and Vision” in time for the classic song’s 40th anniversary. “Sound and Vision” was released almost forty years ago to the day of this reissue – February 11, 1977 – in the United Kingdom from Bowie’s Low, the first album in the artist’s storied Berlin Trilogy created in collaboration with co-producer Tony Visconti and Brian Eno, among other fine musicians. The title gained further notoriety as the…
