If you're a Second Disc reader, you're no doubt aware of the immense musical power film composer John Williams has over us (and people like us!). Even a casual fan surely knows his most familiar works for the screen, from Star Wars and Indiana Jones to Jurassic Park and Harry Potter; the films of Steven Spielberg (JAWS, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Schindler's List); themes for everything from Superman to the Olympics. He's picked up five Oscars (53 nominations, second only to Walt Disney), 25
With a few weeks left in the year, film score labels are still working hard to get out some choice archival releases on CD! Here's the latest from Intrada, Quartet Records, Varese Sarabande's CD Club, and a reissue from the folks at Rusted Wave. The estate of James Horner has worked overtime to get a myriad of scores from the late composer out into the market. Two major ones come from Intrada and Quartet, respectively: Intrada delivers a reissue of his third film score, to the sci-fi
I. Kindest Personal Regards When critics walked out of screening rooms for Steven Spielberg's Hook, they - not inaccurately - saw a film that possessed the childlike whimsy and rollercoaster thrills the director was a sure hand at ever since JAWS scared its way to the top of the all-time box-office charts. And yet, it was hard not to feel a bit overwhelmed by it all. "Hook is a huge party cake of a movie, with too much frosting," David Ansen opined for Newsweek. "After the first delicious bite,
Two scores from a late, modern icon of film soundtracks; a classic late-period soundtrack to a Hitchcock classic, an informal kickoff to another soundtrack legend's centennial celebration; and a major gap filled in the most notable director-composer canon? La-La Land always brings out the big titles for their last batch of releases on Black Friday, but they've really outdone themselves this year with an era-spanning offering of five great archival score CD releases. Perhaps the most exciting
With only weeks to go before La-La Land's typically huge Black Friday announcement, it's worth noting an incredible clutch of archival score reissues and premieres that have been released over the last two months. Here's a look at some recent releases - including one on vinyl - coming from La-La Land Records and Intrada. La-La Land Records: Trek, Scarface and Jason Some box set breakouts and a rare foray into vinyl have lit up LLL's release slate this fall. First up, second and third
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. Ahead of a three-day holiday weekend, it's all about re-imagining, from Paramore to Melissa Manchester to the disco mixes of John Luongo - plus some cool rock, jazz and soundtrack work making digital debuts. Paramore, Re: This is Why (Atlantic) (iTunes / Amazon) Pop-punk trio Paramore released their
The last few weekends have seen moviegoers pouring back into theaters thanks to the head-to-head blockbusters Barbie and Oppenheimer. Their dual openings made for one of the highest-grossing non-holiday weekends ever, and the talents of Greta Gerwig (co-writer/director of the zingy comedy based on the popular doll) and Christopher Nolan (writer/director of the epic biopic about the man who spearheaded America's creation of the atomic bomb) have already netted a cumulative $1 billion at the box
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. From New Age to New Wave to creepy sound effects, children of famous songwriters and a whole lot more, there's a lot to enjoy. ABC, The Lexicon of Love (Steven Wilson Stereo and Instrumental Remixes) (Mercury/UMC) (iTunes / Amazon) The 40th anniversary vinyl box of The Lexicon of Love is finally
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. This week, we're changing things up with a triplicate of great new songs out digitally, from favorite bands, up and comers and living legends alike - plus the latest digital catalogue and Joe's tribute to a Broadway original. John Williams & Anne-Sophie Mutter, Helena's Theme (for Violin and
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. Our latest round-up brings you deep cuts from Pat Boone, rarities from Nat "King" Cole and a brand-new series diving deep into the works of Duke Ellington. Duke Ellington, Ellington in Order, Volume 1 (1927-1928) (Legacy) (iTunes / Amazon) A century ago this year, pianist Edward Kennedy Ellington
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 usher you into the weekend. Two soul legends, a soundtrack from one of Hollywood's greatest composers, and a never-before-heard single from the ZTT vaults are all ready for you to hear! Diana Ross, Last Time I Saw Him (Deluxe Edition) (Motown/UMe) (iTunes / Amazon) To commemorate 50 years of Diana Ross' sixth solo album
Not long after La-La Land Records issued one of their best archival soundtrack batches for Black Friday 2022, they made a stunning proclamation: after one release in January, the label would take a long break. Any third-party music licensing post-COVID has been a challenge, and the label sought to take a breather, offer some great sales, restock some old favorites and let the rights and clearance pipelines unclog with time. And unclog they have! The label's first batch of titles in nearly five
Fans of John Williams' sweeping scores to the nine Star Wars films released between 1977 and 2019 must have the patience of a Jedi Knight. While archival-quality expansions of the original trilogy's soundtracks were released in 1997 for the series' 20th anniversary and special edition reissues, the balance of the other six scores remain mostly preserved in their original album forms. In 2018, the series' new owner, The Walt Disney Company, sort of went back to formula on the original and prequel
Happy 2023! Welcome, friends, to The Second Disc's 13th Annual Gold Bonus Disc Awards! A lot has happened in the last twelve months, but as we look to a new year with optimism and a hopeful spirit, we recognize the many roles music has played in our lives. With that spirit in mind, The Second Disc wishes to recognize 2022's cream of the catalogue music crop - those exemplary reissues and box sets, big and small, that proved to be truly outstanding for music lovers worldwide. Despite the
Happy 2023! Welcome, friends, to The Second Disc's 13th Annual Gold Bonus Disc Awards! A lot has happened in the last twelve months, but as we look to a new year with optimism and a hopeful spirit, we recognize the many roles music has played in our lives. With that spirit in mind, The Second Disc wishes to recognize 2022's cream of the catalogue music crop - those exemplary reissues and box sets, big and small, that proved to be truly outstanding for music lovers worldwide. Despite the
Black Friday isn't just a day for holiday sales and Record Store Day's second event of the year - it's also the day La-La Land Records announces their final (and often biggest) soundtrack reissues of the year. And it might not get bigger than 2022's batch of titles, which feature two underrated scores from a pair of legendary composers, two massive franchise favorites with rich themes, and the soundtrack to what some consider the greatest American film ever made. Up first is one of those
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 Record Store Day event. In keeping with tradition, Mike, Randy, and Joe have once again selected some essential picks of the roughly 200 titles being released tomorrow at independent record stores
Steven Spielberg's magical masterpiece E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial was the highest-grossing movie of all time for more than a decade after its release in 1982, and inspired a new kind of kid-focused, often fantasy-oriented adventure films. The picture also features one of the most enduring scores by legendary composer John Williams, a multiple award winner in its time. As part of a long-running 40th anniversary campaign that's included a terrific making-of book, apparel, a theatrical IMAX reissue
La-La Land Records has three killer early '90s score expansions on their release schedule this month - and there's another much-desired title from the '80s also available to order from the label! First up, La-La Land readies a new remastered and expanded edition of John Williams' classic score to Jurassic Park. Steven Spielberg's thrilling adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel - an action-packed sci-fi flick about a theme park full of cloned dinosaurs that invariably goes wrong - is a modern
For fans of John Williams, the legendary composer's 90th birthday has marked a fruitful year. A live concert from Berlin recorded in 2021 was released to considerable acclaim, and two studio albums have since followed: A Gathering of Friends, reuniting the composer with cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the New York Philharmonic; and the new Violin Concerto No. 2 and Selected Film Themes, a concert hall collaboration with violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter. He'll next be heard on screen scoring The Fabelmans, a
Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, highlighted by our newest Second Disc Records release and featuring a selection of the week's other new titles! Stoney and Meatloaf, Everything Under the Sun: The Motown Recordings (Second Disc Records/Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music) Stoney and Meatloaf's Everything Under the Sun: The Motown Recordings from Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music is the ultimate celebration of late rock superstar
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! This week features digital debuts from a country legend, a new theme from a galaxy far, far away and some 21st century hip-hop for your consideration. Roger Miller, A Trip in the Country / Making a Name for Myself / Roger Miller (Capitol Nashville/UMe) A Trip: iTunes / Amazon Making: iTunes / Amazon Miller:
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
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! Ben Folds, It's the Small Things, Charlie Brown (Apple TV+ Original Soundtrack) (Peanuts Productions) (iTunes) Ben Folds has been sort of quiet lately. While the piano-pounding alt-rocker has been livestreaming and podcasting along with being an advocate for orchestras in recent years, he's only released a
The last few weeks have seen some fine deluxe soundtrack reissues from two of our favorite film score labels - as well as another album project from the genre's greatest living luminary. La-La Land Records has aimed for the funny bone with a brilliant new expansion of Maurice Jarre's score to Top Secret! The 1984 comedy from the Zucker Brothers and Jim Abrahams - only their second big screen effort as writer-directors after the blockbuster Airplane! four years earlier (plus the brilliant