Marianne Faithfull didn’t have to open her mouth to receive a recording contract. As the story goes, so vividly recounted in the liner notes to the new box set Cast Your Fate to the Wind: The U.K. Decca Recordings, the young woman was so striking in beauty and presence that impresario Andrew Loog Oldham didn’t hesitate to sign her on sight. (Even her name was made for stardom!) But it was just as clear that she was no ordinary pop starlet chasing dreams in Swingin’ London. Faithfull was remarkably clear-eyed, quipping to…
Release Round-Up: Week of August 1
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles in stores this week. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Dionne Warwick, Make It Easy on Yourself: The Scepter Recordings 1962-1971 (SoulMusic/Second Disc/Cherry Red) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Cherry Red) Naturally, we’re bursting at the seams that today is finally Release Day (*) for this massive labor of love. SoulMusic Records and Second Disc Records are proud to present Dionne Warwick’s Make It Easy on Yourself: The Scepter Recordings 1962-1971, a 12CD box set with 280 tracks encompassing every one of…
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The Second Disc’s Guide to Record Store Day 2025: Our Favorite Picks
Tomorrow, Record Store Day is once again upon us! It’s that time of year where music lovers and vinyl flippers get together at their favorite physical music retailers and wait in line to snag some treasured albums – almost all of which are pressed on vinyl instead of CD (or, you know, sold on secondary marketplaces for above their retail value). This year, the list tops out at over 300 titles, so there’s very nearly something for everybody. It wasn’t easy to narrow our choices down to around 20 titles, but here…
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A Second Disc Interview: Celebrating Marianne Faithfull’s Final EP with Executive Producer Andrew Batt
As part of Saturday’s Record Store Day festivities, Decca will release the final recordings of Marianne Faithfull on vinyl. The four-song EP Burning Moonlight harkens back to the late artist’s very first albums, released in 1965 on the same label: one dedicated to pop music, and the other to folk songs. The title track to Burning Moonlight was issued digitally in the past weeks; tomorrow, “She Moved Through the Fair” will arrive on streaming services. Finally, on June 6, the entire EP will be released digitally. We were thrilled to speak with…
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The Weekend Stream: March 29, 2025
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. Classic Motown in concert, long-lost favorites from a country icon, a live country take on a Fab Four favorite, Gary Numan’s mid-’80s works, new music from Bachman-Turner Overdrive and a documentary on a late, great Australian musician…there really is a lot of ground to cover, and that’s not even all of it! Marvin Gaye, Marvin Gaye Live! (Deluxe Edition) (Motown/UMe) Original LP: Apple / Amazon Deluxe: Apple / Amazon To…
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In Memoriam: Marianne Faithfull (1946-2025)
It was clear from the start that Marianne Faithfull was no ordinary artist. The chanteuse, who died today at the age of 78, established her long and remarkable career on a dual track. Following the success of her singles “As Tears Go By” and “Come and Stay with Me” (gifted to Marianne by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards and Jackie DeShannon, respectively), Decca wanted her to record a pop album. Marianne wanted to record a folk album. The result was that not one, but two, LPs were released in April 1965 showcasing…
The Second Disc’s Guide to Record Store Day 2024: Our Essential Picks
Tomorrow, Record Store Day is once again upon us! It’s that time of year where music lovers and vinyl flippers get together at their favorite physical music retailers and wait in line to snag some treasured albums – almost all of which are pressed on vinyl instead of CD (or, you know, sold on secondary marketplaces for above their retail value). This year, the list tops out at over 350 titles, so there’s very nearly something for everybody. It wasn’t easy to narrow our choices down to around 20 titles, but here…
Mind Games: Universal’s Record Store Day Lineup Includes Beatles, Elton, The Who, John Lennon, Charlie Parker, U2, Ringo Starr, “Wicked”, Frank Zappa, More
Continuing our look through this year’s Record Store Day list, here is a glance at twenty-one releases from the Universal family of labels. All descriptions are taken from the labels. If you are interested in any of these titles, they will be available at your local record store on April 20. Head over to recordstoreday.com for a list of participating retailers. U.K. readers, please visit recordstoreday.co.uk and Canadian readers, please visit recordstoredaycanada.ca. The Beatles, “I Saw Her Standing There”/”I Want To Hold Your Hand”/”She Loves You”/”Til There Was You” (4 Individual 3″…
The Weekend Stream: October 28, 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. A beloved Madonna ballad, a new Journey remix and a benefit compilation for Ukranian relief all get center stage today, plus a few unheard gems for country and electronic fans alike. Madonna, You’ll See (The Remixes) (Warner/Rhino) (iTunes / Amazon) This emotional 1995 ballad, a collaboration between the Queen of Pop and David Foster, was the lead single off a terrific…
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Release Round-Up: Week of January 27
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today. BUY NOW FROM AMAZON.COM Bob Dylan, Fragments – Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996-1997): The Bootleg Series Vol. 17 (Columbia/Legacy) 5CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 10LP: Bob Dylan Store 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 4LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada The seventeenth volume of Bob Dylan’s long-running Bootleg Series explores the creation of Dylan’s thirtieth studio album. Fragments: Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996-1997) takes a deep dive into the three-time Grammy Award-winning album which was perceived by many as a comeback after a…
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Holiday Gift Guide Update: Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Marianne Faithfull, International Pop Overthrow, and Maureen Taylor Sings Michael Colby
The Second Disc is always updating our Holiday Gift Guide with items large and small that just might make the perfect stocking stuffer or present under the tree. In recent days, we’ve added entries for four very different releases that are all worth seeking out. Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, Singles (BMG) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) This handsome new vinyl box collects a dozen seven-inch, two-sided singles culled from Emerson, Lake, and Palmer’s U.K. and international discographies. Why release a bunch of edited versions from one of the world’s…
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Release Round-Up: Week of March 4
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the titles arriving in stores today! Mary Wilson, The Motown Anthology (Motown/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) The Motown Anthology is the ultimate retrospective of Mary Wilson, multi-hyphenate talent: singer, activist, author, fashion icon, actress, mother, grandmother, friend, trailblazer, legend, Supreme. This first-ever comprehensive overview of Wilson’s Motown discography presents 38 songs, including a whopping 33 tracks only available physically on this collection including stunning new mixes of Supremes favorites, four Supremes outtakes produced by Deke Richards, the complete 1979 Mary…
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Release Round-Up: Week of September 17
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! Bob Dylan, Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 (1980-1985) (Columbia/Legacy) 5CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada The latest volume of Bob Dylan’s long-running archival series, Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 (1980-1985) covers the period in which Dylan recorded the albums Shot of Love (the final LP in his so-called “Christian trilogy”), Infidels, and Empire Burlesque. While in a creatively fertile period as a songwriter and performer, Dylan was dealing – like everyone else – with the seismic changes that…
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Long Distance Call: “The Montreux Years” Series Continues in September with Marianne Faithfull and Muddy Waters Volumes
Last week, the 55th Montreux Jazz Festival wrapped up in Switzerland. Started in 1967 by Claude Nobs, Geo Voumard and Rene Langel, the yearly festival was at first true to its name and focused exclusively on jazz performers. However, over the years, it has grown to encompass nearly all types of music and has seen a wide range of performers including Etta James, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Lauren Hill, Aretha Franklin, David Bowie, James Brown, Kendrick Lamar, Leonard Cohen, Marvin Gaye, Miles Davis, Nina Simone, and many more. It has also proven…
Release Round-Up: Week of April 30
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! Michael Nesmith, Different Drum: The Lost RCA Victor Recordings (Second Disc Records/Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music) For our first release of 2021, Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music take a deep dive into the archives for Michael Nesmith’s Different Drum: The Lost RCA Victor Recordings. This compendium features 22 tracks on CD drawn from the RCA Victor vaults, every one of which is previously unreleased in any physical format. These songs were originally released to digital platforms in 2018 as bonus tracks to…
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Salt of the Earth: ABKCO Revisits “The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus” With Expanded Deluxe Sets
The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus is one of those great time capsules of the rock and roll era. Filmed at the Intertel TV Studio in Wembley on December 11, 1968 and directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, the movie was part rock show and part sideshow. The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus featured the original lineup of The Rolling Stones – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Charlie Watts, and Bill Wyman – who served as the main music draw and the night’s hosts. They were joined by a diverse lineup…
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In The Tower of Song: Leonard Cohen Covers Collected on “Hallelujah,” New Ace Records Compilation
With his acumen for gripping poetry, inimitable baritone, and trademark Spanish-influenced fingerpicking, Leonard Cohen married his talents for poetry and song-craft to create some of the most enduring music of the singer-songwriter era and beyond. Like every great songwriter, Cohen’s work continues to inspire an array of cover versions. Sure, there’s the million-and-one covers of “Hallelujah,” but even before the 1967 release of his debut Songs of Leonard Cohen, early supporters like Judy Collins and Buffy Sainte-Marie helped propel his words into the public consciousness. Years later, Cohen reflected on the joys…
You Get What You Need: Restored “Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus” Arriving to Theaters in 4K/Dolby Atmos in April
It’s been more than 50 years since The Rolling Stones and a host of friends converged at Intertel TV Studio in Wembley to film The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus, the concert film that featured the band alongside friends like The Who, Jethro Tull, The Dirty Mac (a supergroup featuring John Lennon, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, and Mitch Mitchell). The once-lost documentary has been newly restored and will be screened in select theaters throughout the United States in early April. Originally directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, the film was conceived as a…
Release Round-Up: Week of November 2
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! Melissa Manchester, Mathematics: The MCA Years (Second Disc Records/Real Gone Music) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music bring Melissa Manchester’s 1985 MCA album to CD for the very first time in an expanded 2-CD deluxe edition! Mathematics: The MCA Years features the original Mathematics (produced by George Duke, Brock Walsh and Robbie Nevil, Trevor Veitch and executive producer Quincy Jones!) on the first CD, while the second disc boasts 13 bonus tracks including every period remix, the non-LP…
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Release Round-Up: Week of July 20
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! Cilla Black, Surround Yourself with Cilla/It Makes Me Feel Good [Expanded Edition] (Cherry Red/SFE) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Cherry Red celebrates the late, great Cilla Black with a new reissue campaign. The first 2-CD set pairs 1969’s George Martin-produced Surround Yourself with Cilla with 1976’s It Makes Me Feel Good, produced by David Mackay (Cliff Richard, Blue Mink, The New Seekers). 22 bonus tracks (13 new to CD) are spread across the two discs. Cilla Black, All Mixed Up/Beginnings: Revisited [Expanded…
Don’t Think Twice: Ace Collects Rare Dylan Covers on “Take What You Need”
As one of the most influential songwriters of his generation – or any other – Bob Dylan’s music has long transcended borders, physical or otherwise. The Minnesota native’s music struck a chord in Britain, both on the concert stage (see: the famous “Judas!” concert) and on records, and his influence on British artists from The Beatles down can’t be underestimated. It’s no surprise that his songs were seized upon by British artists with a zeal equal to that of their American counterparts. Ace Records has recently collected 22 compositions by the former…
DeShannon, Ronstadt, Baez, Nyro Featured on “Milk of the Tree: Anthology of Female Folk and Singer-Songwriters”
The new anthology Milk of the Tree, from Cherry Red’s Grapefruit label, sets forth its mission statement clearly in its subtitle: An Anthology of Female Vocal Folk and Singer-Songwriters 1966-1973. Still, how to anthologize such a broad and powerful group of artists during one of the most creatively fertile periods in popular music history? Grapefruit does a fine job in distilling the essence of the period – and charting the growth of artists from a pure pop framework to one in which they could address deeper issues on both a personal and…
Where The Good Times Are: Ace Collects “Beat Girls”
We recently filled you in on the ninth volume of Ace Records’ long-running series, Where the Girls Are. Today, we spotlight two companion volumes dedicated to Beat Girls of the 1960s! Pye Records, home of Petula Clark and The Kinks, practically defined the British “big beat” sound of girl-pop with its urbane, sophisticated productions. Scratch My Back! Pye Beat Girls 1963-1968 offers a cross section of the label’s brashest sounds with 24 well-selected nuggets from artists both familiar and lesser-known. The collection takes its title from a snarling, fuzz guitar-laden song by…
Marianne Faithfull’s “Broken English” Fixes Up Nice for Expanded Reissue
As reported in this morning’s Release Round-Up, Marianne Faithfull’s iconic Broken English is getting the deluxe treatment from Universal’s U.K. catalogue arm. Upon initial release in 1979, Broken English was a major surprise for almost everyone involved and listening. Then in her early 30s at the time, Faithfull had lived enough for a handful of people, going from chart-dominating folk singer (debut hit “As Tears Go By” was written for her by Mick Jagger) to swinging London sex symbol (she left her first husband for Jagger) before flaring out on the streets of Soho in…
Release Round-Up: Week of January 29
Fleetwood Mac, Rumours: Expanded/Deluxe Editions (Warner Bros.) Ahead of the band’s forthcoming tour, a new 4CD/1DVD/LP deluxe box set edition of their most popular album, featuring the original album on CD and vinyl, two discs of studio outtakes (including the one from the 2004 reissue) and an unreleased documentary. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) A three-disc edition collects the album and the two new bonus CDs, so if you own the last expansion and can live sans DVD, you can pick the rest up for a reasonable fee. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) Miles…
