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….
One Singular Sensation: Second Disc Records, Real Gone Music Reissue, Expand Three Johnny Mathis Classics
Mark your calendars for September 13: that’s when Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music will continue celebrating Johnny Mathis’ remarkable discography with another pair of expanded releases encompassing three classic albums from The Voice of Romance. 1976’s I Only Have Eyes for You and 1977’s Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me both reunited Mathis with a pair of his favorite collaborators, producer Jack Gold and arranger Gene Page, for silky renditions of the day’s pop smashes as only Mathis could deliver them. Page brought the same style of lush orchestration he…
Cherry Pop Round-Up: Thereza Bazar, Freiheit, “Breakdance” and “Breakdance 2: Electric Boogaloo”
Today, we’re rounding up a host of releases from Cherry Pop from recent months! Early this year, Cherry Pop released a 2-CD expanded edition of The Big Kiss from the Canadian-born British singer Thereza Bazar. Formerly of Guys ‘n’ Dolls (“There’s a Whole Lot of Loving,” “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me”) and Dollar (“Mirror, Mirror,” “Give Me Back My Heart”), Bazar released her solo debut in 1985 for MCA Records with legendary producer-arranger Arif Mardin (Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin) at the helm. Mardin signed onto the project on the…
