Thin Lizzy, Jailbreak / Johnny the Fox / Live and Dangerous: Deluxe Editions (Universal) A trio of long-awaited deluxe editions from the U.K., featuring bonus tracks, non-LP sides and (in the case of Live and Dangerous) a DVD. (Amazon U.K.) Santana, The Swing of Delight / Zebop! / Shango: 30th Anniversary Editions (Friday Music) Though only one of them is truly a 30th anniversary edition (each album dates back from 1980, 1981 and 1982, respectively), these remasters are more than welcome for fans of classic Santana. (Friday Music) Various Artists, The Very Best of…
The Year in Reissues, Part III: The Gold Bonus Disc Awards
Well, another New Year is in sight, the CD still isn’t dead (told you so!) and celebration is in the air at The Second Disc. Back on December 23, Mike shared The Year in Reissues both here and over with our pals at Popdose. Do not pass go, do not collect 200 bucks until you read these indispensable columns! Are you back with me? Good. Now, I’d like to take this opportunity to take a fun look back at a few of my favorite things via Joe’s Gold Bonus Disc Awards! I’m…
Legacy Readies New Playlists for 2011
Legacy Recording has got another batch of titles in the long-running Playlist series for next month. The line-up is particularly diverse, stretching from soul (Lou Rawls, Patti Labelle) to more recent pop acts (Five for Fighting, Ace of Base, Bowling for Soup) and even touching on some gospel acts (including a spiritual disc from Willie Nelson). They’re not as heavy on the rarities, although some of the sets have some appealing rare cuts; Mr. Mister’s compilation will feature four tracks from the recently-released Pull, and The Outfield will debut a new single…
The Second Disc Artist Interview #1: Mr. Richard Page on “Pull”
By any standards, Richard Page would have a lot to be thankful for as the frontman of Mr. Mister, the band behind chart-topping smash hits “Broken Wings” and “Kyrie.” This year, however, there’s another part of his career to celebrate: after two decades, Pull, the intended fourth album from the band, is coming out of hiding thanks to the fine folks at Legacy Recordings. Granted, Page wears more than just the face of Mr. Mister. As a noted songwriter for Madonna (“I’ll Remember,” her 1994 hit from the film With Honors), and a…
Review: Mr. Mister, “Pull”
It’s a story that’s been done to death: band releases hit album, changes direction ambitiously for follow-up, is met with critical or commercial indifference – or worse, the disapproval of a label leads to said ambitious follow-up never happening. Sometimes, though, there’s a post-script, Eddie and The Cruisers-style, where the music is freed from captivity to the delight of adoring fans. In some ways, this is the story of Pull, the mythical fourth album by Mr. Mister, one of the more notable rock hitmakers of the 1980s. Thanks to a little luck…
Release Round-Up: Week of November 23
With most retailers putting out their new releases today to get a jump on the inevitable holiday weekend blitz, here’s the big catalogue releases for the week a day early! Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson’s Vision (Epic/Legacy) A three-DVD set that includes just about any MJ video you could be searching for. Of course, the one unreleased clip just officially hit the Internet, making you wonder what the fuss is all about. Oh wait, it’s Michael Jackson. (Official site) Jay-Z, The Hits Collection Vol. 1 (Def Jam) The first domestic compilation by one…
Why Yes, That IS Mr. Mister on the Radio
On November 23, Legacy Recordings will take some nice steps to make ’80s rockers Mr. Mister more than just a pocketful of big radio hits and a lyric in that Train song. A handful of Mr. Mister and Mr.-related titles will be released for digital download, alongside a previously-unreleased album by the band. First, the goodies from the vault. Hardcore Mr. Mister fans doubtlessly know the band’s discography was not meant to end with 1987’s Go On… album. The group began work on a follow-up album, Pull, with Buzz Feiten and Trevor…
News Round-Up: Broken Wings, Hendrix Rocks, Phish in Exile and Film Score Tidbits
A big reissue is coming from indie reissue label Friday Music: a 25th anniversary reissue of Welcome to the Real World, the 1985 sophomore LP by Mr. Mister. This record, which spawned the Top 10 hits “Broken Wings,” “Kyrie” and “Is It Love,” is remastered direct from RCA’s original master tapes and comes in a digipak. (No bonus tracks, but outside of a dance mix and dub for “Is It Love,” there were none, really.) Amazon has this one listed for an April 20 release. (Thanks to Pause & Play for the release…
