Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Rod Stewart, 1975-1978 (Warner/Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) A new vinyl box set collects remastered versions of Rod Stewart's breakthrough first four Warner Bros. albums - Atlantic Crossing (1975), A Night on the Town (1976), Foot Loose and Fancy Free (1977), and Blondes Have More Fun (1978) - and adds the bonus LP Encores 1975-1978 featuring ten outtakes, five of which have never been released in any format. Read more
Gary Louris was already a hero of the folk-rock revival when he released his first solo effort, Vagabonds. He's been a member of The Jayhawks since the release of their debut in 1986. With a knack for tight harmonies, honest and often melancholic songwriting, and deft instrumental skills, Louris and The Jayhawks have been among the leaders of the alt-country movement ever since. Louris was also a member of the supergroup Golden Smog, whose Down The Old Mainstream we reviewed last year. Despite