Miles Davis’ upcoming centennial will be honored in part with a reissue of a box set collecting some of his greatest live recordings: seven sets at Chicago’s Plugged Nickel nightclub with his second great quintet line-up, recorded just before Christmas 1965. The near-mythic The Complete Live At The Plugged Nickel 1965 was originally released in full by Sony Music in Japan in 1992, after two 1976 Japan-only LPs offering a small sample of the performances. (Those LPs were released as one set in America in 1982, with a disc of alternates, Cookin’ At the…
Q’s Cues: New ‘Écoutez Le Cinéma’ Box Celebrates the Music of Quincy Jones
When Rhino released Q: The Musical Biography of Quincy Jones – a 4CD, 74-track collection – in 2001, it was a valiant attempt to tell a story that was still being written. The gifted bandleader, composer and producer, who passed away at the age of 91 in 2024, had an enduring way with sound, be it jazz, pop, R&B, rock or even film and television scoring. His decades of work with the 20th century’s greatest luminaries made him a tremendous (if controversial) raconteur, with countless stories to tell and luminaries to work alongside….
Impossible Dreamer: Joni Mitchell Collects “Joni’s Jazz” on New Box Set
What is jazz? The question has been debated often, but now we know how Joni Mitchell might answer. On September 5, the legendary singer-songwriter’s Archives series continues with its first themed compilation, appropriately entitled Joni’s Jazz. These 61 selections – available on 4 CDs or 8 LPs – draw from nearly every core album in the Mitchell discography with just a couple of exceptions (Clouds, Ladies of the Canyon) and reflect the breadth of the artist’s immersion into the jazz idiom in all its many varied forms. Last year, in her liner…
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Oooh, This I Need: Adam Mattera Talks ‘Dearly Beloved: A Prince Songbook’
Last year, The Second Disc had nothing but good things to say about Dearly Beloved: A Prince Songbook, Cherry Red’s triple-disc tribute to the music of Prince. The set told a story of The Artist’s massive impact on pop, rock and soul by way of songs he gave others to record and a galaxy of genre-bending covers. In a year of considerable challenges in Prince fandom, it was a veritable oasis in a desert. Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of speaking with Adam Mattera, the curator and producer of Dearly Beloved. For…
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Blues, Classic Rock, Country, Disco/Dance, Electronic, Funk, Gospel, Jazz, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rap/Hip-Hop, Rock
The Second Disc’s Guide to Record Store Day Black Friday 2024
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. (And with plenty of delicious food, too!) Now, Record Store Day’s annual Black Friday event is upon us, so we’re spotlighting a dozen of the most eagerly anticipated releases arriving to your local independent brick-and-mortar record shop! Here are our personal picks for RSD BF must-haves; visit Record Store Day’s official website for a list of participating retailers. Happy Listening, and have a great…
Rhino’s Record Store Day Black Friday Lineup Includes Phil Collins, Doors, Grateful Dead, Joni Mitchell, Steve Martin, Yes, More
TSD kicks off our look at this year’s Record Store Day Black Friday releases, due at participating independent record stores on November 29, with a packed slate coming from Rhino. With over 20 titles, Rhino has brought out the heavy hitters including The Doors, Joni Mitchell, Grateful Dead, Yes, Stevie Nicks, Todd Rundgren, and more. And that’s not all. There are special treats for fans of animation classic (The Carl Stalling Project) and contemporary (The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie) and a picture disc from comedy legend Steve Martin. Visit here for a list…
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Vive Le Miles! Eighth Volume of ‘Bootleg Series’ Spotlights Davis’ Second Quintet in France
Two years after its last entry, Legacy Recordings revives the Miles Davis Bootleg Series with a deep dive into some early ’60s live recordings that showcase the birth of his second great quintet. Miles in France 1963 & 1964: The Bootleg Series Vol. 8 brings together five sets on six CDs or eight LPs: three performances from the Festival Mondial du Jazz in the summer of 1963 and two performances over a day at the Paris Jazz Festival in October 1964. (The 1964 material – which features the unbeatable line-up of Davis…
Joy in Repetition: Cherry Red’s ‘Dearly Beloved’ Pays Tribute to Prince, the Songwriter
Between the muted 40th anniversary celebration of Purple Rain and the bizarre drama over an estate-sanctioned Netflix documentary on his life and career, Prince fans could probably use a win lately. A new compilation from Cherry Red looks like it might finally offer one. Dearly Beloved – A Prince Songbook is an unexpectedly robust-looking 3CD set that will pay tribute to the Minneapolis icon as a songwriter – one whose classic hits have become pop standards, with so much talent overflowing from his person that he penned more than a few massive hits…
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Refugee of the Roads: Joni Mitchell’s Latest Archives Box Takes Listeners to the End of the ’70s
Rhino’s Joni Mitchell Archives series has been dependably running since 2020, offering alternating box sets featuring troves of unreleased material from the folk legend and remastered versions of the album eras they cover. With the most recent box collecting her last four albums for the Asylum label – Hejira (1976), Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter (1977), Mingus (1979) and the live Shadows and Light (1980) – today’s new announcement closes that same chapter, offering hours of unreleased live and studio material tied to those records. Joni Mitchell Archives Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980), released October 4, will feature six CDs…
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The Weekend Stream: July 13, 2024
Welcome to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc’s review of notable catalogue titles (and some new ones, too!) making digital debuts. This week, there’s rare jazz, country, pop standards and gospel, plus remixes of a Madonna hit and one of the most unexpected Disney covers you’ll ever hear. Madonna, Who’s That Girl EP (Warner/Rhino) (iTunes / Amazon) ¿Quién es esa niña? Madonna’s international chart-topping 1987 single – the title track to her first soundtrack album from the film of the same name, which she also co-starred in – is now available as…
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The Weekend Stream: April 21, 2024
Welcome to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc’s review of notable catalogue titles (and some new ones, too!) making digital debuts. This week’s super-sized post-Record Store Day lineup includes more: more remixes, more covers, more Mancini and yes, more Taylor Swift. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Taylor Swift, The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology (Republic) (iTunes / Amazon) Can you really call this a reissue? Pop’s most ubiquitous A-lister whipped fans into a frenzy by announcing her 11th studio album shortly before picking up her fourth Grammy Award for…
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The Weekend Stream: September 2, 2023
Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there’s plenty of great new/old music to float you into the weekend. It’s a full ’80s revival this week, including a rare Duran Duran track and some live cuts from Squeeze,and – whether you’re ready for it or not – a batch of Christmas catalogue titles. Duran Duran, Ball and Chain (Tape Modern/BMG) (iTunes / Amazon) Duran Duran are back in a big way this fall, set to release the album…
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The Weekend Stream: August 26, 2023
Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there’s plenty of great new/old music to float you into the weekend. Today, some Marvin Gaye classics get rediscovered and one of rock’s greatest drummers turns his band’s classics into a global party – plus rare tracks from Ariana Grande, Doris Day and another collection of rare ZTT remixes! Marvin Gaye, Let’s Get It On (Deluxe Edition) / You’re the Man (Expanded Edition) / The Originals, The Very Best of The…
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Hooray for Hollywood: New Box Set Celebrates 100 Years of The Hollywood Bowl with Sinatra, Bernstein, Doors, Newman, Dudamel, More
2022 marks 100 years of The Hollywood Bowl. The famous amphitheater nestled in the Hollywood hills has hosted luminaries of every genre of music from classical to rock in its instantly familiar bandshell (actually two bandshells, as the first one from 1929 was demolished in 2003 and replaced with a larger model). The Bowl has been featured in movies including the original A Star Is Born, Double Indemnity, Xanadu, and Beaches and cartoons starring Bugs Bunny, Tom and Jerry, and The Pink Panther. Now, its resident orchestra – the prestigious L.A. Philharmonic…
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The Weekend Stream: May 7, 2022
Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing weekly review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there’s plenty of great new/old music to discover! Truly something for everyone this week, from classic rock to live jazz and folk to…Christmas albums? Whitesnake, Greatest Hits (2022 Remix) (Rhino) (iTunes / Amazon) Ahead of their farewell tour, David Coverdale has yet again revisited the Whitesnake catalogue through a series of remixes, this time pertaining to most of the songs that were on the band’s 1994 greatest hits collection. There’s…
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The Second Disc’s Guide To Record Store Day Black Friday 2020
Today’s Black Friday shopping will likely look a little different thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. But one thing will remain the same: Record Store Day’s yearly event. It’s been a packed year with RSD Drops in the months of August, September, and October. Now, they’re going out with a bang. Labels big and small will release limited-edition vinyl with the collector in mind. Whether you’re after new music from legends, reissues of sought-after recordings, or unreleased rarities from the vault, you’ll be covered. These releases are available only from independent, brick-and-mortar record…
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We’ll Be Together: Sting Preps New Duets Collection
While known as a singular performer – even his stage name is one word – Sting’s next album is a collection of (mostly) previously released collaborations with other artists. But don’t expect Duets to be a simple compilation of hits: only three of these tracks are from the former Police frontman’s studio albums (four, if you count deluxe editions). Everything else is from Sting’s guest appearances on albums by others and the occasional soundtrack appearance. Highlights include his 1999 hit “Desert Rose,” recorded with Algerian rai singer Cheb Mami; “Don’t Make Me…
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The Best of The Rest: Even More RSD Black Friday Releases Confirmed!
November 27 is always a special day for vinyl enthusiasts. Still filled up on last night’s Thanksgiving meal, music fans line up at their local shop for a chance at limited-edition vinyl. While the celebrations may look a little different this year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic (RSD has announced they’ll be less stringent about online sales) one thing remains the same: There are some excellent releases on offer, available exclusively from your local participating record shop! Here are some more releases from labels big and small that have us adding…
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UPDATE: Herbie Hancock Classics To Be Collected On “Vinyl Me Please Anthology: The Story of Herbie Hancock”
Back in April, Vinyl Me Please announced that jazz legend Herbie Hancock would be the focus of their next Anthology box set. The world has changed a lot since then and unforeseen production situations caused it to be set aside in favor of a Grateful Dead set. Well, now it’s finally Herbie Hancock’s turn. Today, the vinyl subscription service officially announced the upcoming release of The Story of Herbie Hancock as its next Anthology release. VMP’s Anthology series considers the box set as part of an interactive experience with podcasts and exclusive…
Empyrean Isles: Herbie Hancock Classics To Be Collected on Upcoming Vinyl Me Please Anthology Set
The music subscription service Vinyl Me Please is back with another installment of its Anthology series, which seeks to reinvent the box set as an interactive medium. Volumes so far have shone a light on legendary record labels like Blue Note, Motown, Ghostly International, and Stax. For the last volume, the company paired up with Now Again Records to take a look at the Zamrock phenomena out of Zambia. This summer, Vinyl Me Please will switch focus to an individual artist as they highlight the wide-reaching career of Herbie Hancock. An explorer…
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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Among The Believers: Steven Van Zandt Preps Vinyl/CD Box Set with Classic Albums, Unreleased Tracks
In the 1980s, after a successful run as a key member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band as well as a key architect of the rock-and-soul-infused “Jersey Shore sound,” Steven Van Zandt struck out on his own. A new box set from UMe will showcase his solo evolution. The singer/songwriter/producer/guitarist’s RockNRoll Rebel – The Early Work will collect five of Little Steven’s solo works on colored vinyl – Men Without Women (1982), Voice Of America (1984), Freedom – No Compromise (1987), Revolution (1989 – making its official debut in the U.S.) and…
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Holiday Gift Guide Review: Joni Mitchell, ‘Love Has Many Faces’ [8-LP Box Set]
It’s coming on Christmas… and just in time for the holidays, Rhino has treated Joni Mitchell fans with a new, 8-LP box set, Love Has Many Faces: A Quartet, A Ballet, Waiting To Be Danced. Previously released in a 4-CD configuration in 2014, this Joni Mitchell-curated collection finds the celebrated songwriter, singer, and visual artist exploring the many contexts and definitions of love. The result is a 53-song, four-act suite that craftily presents some of Joni’s best work in a compelling sequence, including 20 songs that are brand-new to vinyl. Love Has…
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The Second Disc’s Picks for Record Store Day Black Friday 2018
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. Of course, from this day which conjures nostalgic and warm feelings comes a celebration of a different kind with this year’s annual Black Friday shopping extravaganza – and Record Store Day’s miniature cousin to April’s yearly event. In keeping with TSD tradition, Joe, Randy, and Sam have elected our top picks of the numerous titles being released tomorrow from many of our favorite labels, including…
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Release Round-Up: Week of December 15
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! The Beatles, The Christmas Records (Capitol/Apple/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Happy Christmas, Beatle people! The Christmas Records, a seven-disc vinyl box set from the Fab Four, features colored 45 RPM recreations of the Beatles’ original Christmas fan club flexi-discs (all single-sided except for the last two in 1968 and 1969). The original sleeve artwork has been recreated for each title, and an enclosed 16-page booklet offers recording notes plus reproductions of the newsletters sent with each disc! The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts…
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