The Weekend Stream: July 11, 2026

Welcome back to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc’s review of notable catalogue titles making digital debuts, plus new works from legacy acts and even some personally curated favorites. We’re catching up on some stray things we missed ahead of the Fourth of July holiday – so there’s certainly plenty to love! Beyoncé, “Morning Dew (Donk)” (Parkwood/Columbia) (Apple / Amazon) Queen Bey surprised the hive with a surprise release over the Fourth of July weekend: a fleshed-out version of the previously-leaked demo “Donk.” Though the track was believed to stem from…

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The Weekend Stream: February 14, 2026

Welcome back to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc’s review of notable catalogue titles (and some new ones, too!) making digital debuts. New remixes from James Brown and Tears for Fears, uncovered rarities from Peggy Lee, new songs from MUNA and Bleachers and a whole lotta Ween will keep you busy for the rest of the day! MUNA, “Dancing on the Wall” (Saddest Factory) (Apple / Amazon) One of pop’s best current bands is back for more! Queer-friendly trio MUNA have built a considerable fan base through catchy, electronics-and-guitar-driven albums –…

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Release Round-Up: Week of November 14

Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Nicolette Larson, Look in My Direction: The Warner Bros. Recordings (Cherry Red/Lemon/Second Disc) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Cherry Red) Look in My Direction: The Warner Bros. Recordings from Cherry Red’s Lemon imprint and TSD presents all of the late Nicolette Larson’s original studio and live albums for Warner Bros. Records on 4 CDs, produced by Ted Templeman (The Doobie Brothers, Van Halen) and singer-songwriter Andrew Gold (“Thank You for Being…

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In My Mind’s Eye: Tears for Fears’ ‘Songs from the Big Chair’ Revisited for 40th Anniversary

Tears for Fears’ Songs from the Big Chair – still the crown jewel of the duo’s discography, and easily its most-reissued – will get some more pressings on CD and vinyl this fall to mark its 40th anniversary. Already expanded on CD in 1999, 2006 and a 2014 box set, TFF’s signature LP comes back into print as a 3CD set that offers most of the contents of that out-of-print box set: the original album, B-sides, various single edits and remixes. The original album will also be newly pressed on Coke bottle-clear vinyl…

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The Weekend Stream: June 21, 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. A classic film score gets remixed for a major anniversary; a modern jazz great reunites two-thirds of a classic rock band; and it’s funny how time flies for Tears for Fears. All this, plus morsels of news on potential reissues from Bruce Springsteen and Duran Duran, and two tributes to singers we lost this week. John Williams, JAWS (Original Motion Picture Score – Remastered) (Back Lot Music) (Apple /…

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Release Round-Up: Week of October 25

Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles out today!  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Blue Magic, Stop to Start: The Atco and WMOT Recordings (SoulMusic/The Second Disc) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Cherry Red) Let the sideshow begin!  SoulMusic Records and TSD are proud to unveil a new 6-CD box set dedicated to the sweet ‘n funky soul stylings of Philly quintet Blue Magic (“Sideshow,” “Three Ring Circus,” “Welcome to the Club,” “What’s Come Over Me”).  Stop to Start: The Atco and WMOT Recordings brings together…

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The Weekend Stream: September 14, 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 brings new songs from two of our ’80s favorites, a reissue from a rock supergroup, the first release from a hard-working film composer and a new stand-up comedy album with a little something extra. Duran Duran, “New Moon (Dark Phase)” (Tapemodern) (iTunes / Amazon) Friday the 13th was a perfect day for this to drop! Duran Duran will reissue last year’s spooky, ethereal Danse Macabre – a…

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The Weekend Stream: September 24, 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 – from quarter-century old R&B classics, a Fleetwood Mac heroine covering Buffalo Springfield, and an actor who sang enough to make you go a little mad. Stevie Nicks, For What It’s Worth (Rhino) (iTunes / Amazon) The celebrated singer has recently been covering this Buffalo Springfield classic on her latest tour, and took to the studio with producer Greg Kurstin, guitarist Waddy…

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Release Round-Up: Week of February 25

Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the week’s best new titles! The Left Banke, Strangers on a Train (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Omnivore brings The Left Banke’s 1978 reunion album – featuring Steve Martin Caro, Tom Finn, and George Cameron – to CD for the first time, and adds a previously unreleased 2001 session from Michael Brown, Caro, and Finn.  Scott Schinder provides the liner notes, and Michael Graves has remastered the audio.  The original Strangers on a Train album is a fascinating curio, presented…

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The Weekend Stream: October 9, 2021

While The Second Disc prides itself on connecting people to reissues and box sets they can keep on their shelves, it’s no secret that listening audiences are also digital – catalogue music lovers, too – and our passion is connecting people to music from the past that they might adore. So we’ve introduced a new feature: The Weekend Stream, which focuses on hidden gems that recently made it to digital channels that might make your playlists a little brighter! Madonna, Madame X – Music from the Theater Xperience (Boy Toy/Warner) (iTunes /…

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The Second Disc Guide to Record Store Day Drop 1 TOMORROW!

Once again, Record Store Day here in the U.S. looks a little – make that a lot – different this year.  The usual offerings have been split among two dates in 2021 with Drop 1 taking place tomorrow, June 12, at your local independent record retailer.  Drop 2 then takes place on July 17.  Every retailer is handling the Drop a bit differently thanks to the necessary accommodations for social distancing, smaller crowds, and better safety precautions.  So please check in with your favorite store to find out more information.  Below, you’ll…

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Head Over Heels: UMe Debuts Vintage Tears for Fears Live Set for RSD Drops 2021

Among Universal Music Group’s RSD Drop offerings for Record Store Day’s two-pronged 2021 celebration include a previously unreleased live double album from Tears for Fears. Live At Massey Hall captures the British rockers supporting sophomore album Songs from the Big Chair as it starts to take off worldwide. When the group started a four-date stand at the Toronto theatre at the end of May 1985, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” was on its way to topping the U.S. charts. (“Shout” would follow later that summer.) Indeed, nearly all of the album…

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Holiday Gift Guide Review: Tears for Fears, ‘The Seeds of Love: Deluxe Edition’

Think back to your days listening to pop music in the ’80s – say, for the sake of argument, 1985. Thriller‘s wrapped up its run of seven hit singles. Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A. is in the middle of its own seven-hit stretch. Purple Rain made Prince a juggernaut – and Tears for Fears, the British duo behind the moody, electronic The Hurting (1983) have broken into the mainstream with the progressive psych-pop of 1985’s Songs from the Big Chair, including back-to-back chart-toppers “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” and “Shout.”…

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Release Round-Up: Week of October 9

Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! John Lennon, Gimme Some Truth: The Ultimate Mixes [Various Formats] (Capitol/UMe) 2CD/Blu-ray Deluxe Edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada CD: 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 4LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Today would have been John Lennon’s 80th birthday. To mark the occasion, Capitol and UMe have released a new multi-format collection entitled Gimme Some Truth: The Ultimate Mixes after his still-relevant 1971 protest single of that name. But this set – out on John’s birthday – won’t resemble the 2010 box of nearly the same…

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Tears For Fears Sow ‘The Seeds Of Love’ With New Surround Remix, Deluxe Box

Time to eat all your words, swallow your pride, open your eyes: Tears For Fears are finally giving their third album the deluxe treatment. The Seeds Of Love, the British duo’s 1989 release, will be made available October 9 from UMC in a number of formats. The crown jewel is a 4CD/Blu-ray box featuring a new remaster of the album by Andrew Walter at Abbey Road, rare B-sides and remixes, 23 previously unreleased demos, mixes, outtakes and rehearsal audio, plus a long-awaited 5.1 surround remix by Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson, following up…

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All For Freedom and For Pleasure: Deluxe Tears For Fears Albums Come Back Into Print

To mark the 35th anniversary of Tears For Fears’ most successful album, 1985’s Songs From The Big Chair, UMC has announced that both deluxe box set editions of the British duo’s first two albums will go back into print this year. One of the most potent one-two punches from an act in the ’80s, Tears For Fears burst on the scene with 1983’s The Hurting, a moody, icy album blending elements of rock and electronic music. Formed around singer/songwriters Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith (who also played guitar and bass, respectively) and…

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Release Round-Up: Week of November 10

Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! Elton John, Diamonds [Various Formats] (UMe) 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 3CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 1CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Elton John looks back on his extraordinary career with a new retrospective collection, available in 1-CD, 2-CD, 3-CD, and 2-LP formats.  Get all of the details right here! R.E.M., Automatic for the People: 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition [Various Formats] (Craft Recordings) 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada / Amazon U.K. 3CD/1 Blu-ray: Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada / Amazon U.K. LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada / Amazon U.K….

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Welcome To Your Life: Tears For Fears ‘Rule The World’ With New Collection and New Tracks

If you caught them during their recent co-headlining U.S. summer tour with Daryl Hall & John Oates, you know that Tears for Fears have lost none of the power and style that made them a juggernaut of ’80s pop. Now, with a new album on the horizon (their first in more than a decade), the duo are reintroducing themselves to audiences with a newly curated single-disc collection. Rule The World: The Greatest Hits showcases all the most popular songs from the Bath-born duo of singer-songwriter-guitarist Roland Orzabal and singer-songwriter-bassist Curt Smith. After…

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Release Round-Up: Week of November 10

  The Monkees, The Monkees: Super Deluxe Edition (Rhino Handmade) (Exclusively available directly from label) It’s Monkeemania all over again: Davy, Micky, Peter and Michael are back with a 3-CD expansion of their debut album featuring 100 tracks – 45 of which are previously unreleased! ABBA, Gracias Por La Musica: Deluxe Edition (Polar/Universal) (Amazon U.S. Link TBD / Amazon U.K.) ABBA is saying “Thank You for the Music” – in Spanish!  The band’s Spanish-language 1980 album Gracias Por La Música is going deluxe with 5 bonus tracks, plus a 40-minute DVD featuring vintage promo clips…

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Head Over Heels for Tears for Fears’ “Big Chair” Box Set

Following 2013’s deluxe box set reissue of Tears for Fears’ The Hurting, Universal U.K. has announced the November 3 release of a similarly-impressive box set dedicated to the group’s 1985 album Songs from the Big Chair.  This 4-CD/2-DVD box brings together a remastered edition of the original album and its single B-sides, two discs of rare period remixes and edited single versions, a DVD-Audio containing high-resolution stereo and 5.1 surround mixes courtesy of ace engineer Steven Wilson, and a DVD of promotional videos, BBC performances and a documentary film about the making…

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The Second Disc’s Record Store Day 2014 Must-Haves

If you’ve been following these pages for the past few weeks, you’ve likely noticed an awful lot of coverage about Record Store Day!  Well, the day is nearly here!   Tomorrow, Saturday, April 21, music fans and collectors will flock to their local independent record stores to celebrate both the sounds on those round black platters and the very concept of shopping in a physical retail environment. To many of us, both are a way of life.  We’re doubly excited this year because one special title was co-produced by our very own Mike…

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Release Round-Up: Week of October 22

Tears for Fears, The Hurting: Deluxe Edition (Mercury/UMe) The landmark debut album from the U.K. hitmakers celebrates its 30th anniversary with a new double-disc deluxe edition stocked with rare single-only material and a deluxe box set version with a bonus disc of John Peel sessions and the In My Mind’s Eye live concert film on DVD. 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. 3CD/1DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. Van Morrison, Moondance: Expanded Edition (Warner Bros./Rhino) Though Van would rather you not buy this box, it features his classic 1970 album (newly remastered and in a new 5.1 surround sound…

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Tears for Fears’ “The Hurting” Revisited As a Box Set

Looks like our Tears for Fears wishes have come true: the U.K. synthpop band’s first album is getting greatly expanded as a deluxe edition and box set this year to mark its 30th anniversary. As we’d detailed around the anniversary of the album, there was certainly more than enough to go around for bonus material: many of the singles were different from what ended up on record, the typical non-LP B-sides and remixes, even a live show recorded on video. Happily, it looks like nearly all of that plus more will be…

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Reissue Theory: Tears for Fears, “The Hurting: 30th Anniversary Edition”

Welcome to another installment of Reissue Theory, where we spotlight notable albums and the reissues they could someday see. Thirty years ago today, one of the best synth-rock bands of the 1980s released their first full-length album – as good a time as any to champion the career of Tears for Fears! “Is it an horrific dream? Am I sinking fast?” – “The Hurting,” Tears for Fears From the beginning of the first side of Tears for Fears’ debut LP, it’s honestly kind of hard to predict where they’d end up. Maybe…

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Reissue Theory: Tears for Fears, “Big Ideas: The Singles 1982-1993”

Welcome to another installment of Reissue Theory, where we focus on notable albums and the reissues they may someday see. In honor of a recent milestone for one of the ’80s’ best synthpop bands, we present the idea of something their catalogue doesn’t have but could totally need: a box set. Our friends at Slicing Up Eyeballs reminded us yesterday that March 7, 1983 was the day that Phonogram Records (and Mercury in the U.S.) released The Hurting, the debut album by British synth-rockers Tears for Fears. Anchored by singer/guitarist Roland Orzabal and…

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