The Association - The Second Disc

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Classic Rock, Disco/Dance, Electronic, Everything Else, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock, Soundtracks

’60s ROCK, POP AND SOUL: New Treasury Collection DVD Set Offers Over 100 Favorites

November 23, 2020 by Joe Marchese | 9 Comments

Earlier this year, The Second Disc shared news of Rock, Pop and Doo Wop, a 7-DVD collection from Treasury Collection and executive producer-director TJ Lubinsky. Now, with the holidays upon us, a new set featuring dozens of classic hit-makers has just been released: ’60s Rock, Pop and Soul. This 4-DVD package has been culled from two decades of Lubinsky’s historic television concerts, with 130 hit songs from a “Who’s Who” of legendary performers including Frankie Valli (“Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”), Jackie DeShannon (“What the World Needs Now Is Love”), John…

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Russ Giguere, The Association

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Box Sets, CD, DVD

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Classic Rock, Pop, R&B/Soul

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Aretha Franklin, B.J. Thomas, Ben E. King, Davy Jones, Four Tops, Frankie Valli, Glen Campbell, Jackie DeShannon, Jefferson Starship, Judy Collins, Lulu, Petula Clark, Ron Dante, The 5th Dimension, The Association, The Isley Brothers, The Zombies, Tommy James and The Shondells, Various Artists

Book Review: “Along Comes The Association: Beyond Folk Rock and Three-Piece Suits” by Russ Giguere

May 11, 2020 by Joe Marchese | 7 Comments

Russ Giguere Along Comes The Association

“Well, I’m a comer and a goer in a six man band,” went the lyrics to The Association’s 1968 semi-autobiographical single “Six Man Band.” Now, founding member Russ Giguere has reflected on his comings and goings in a new book that serves as both a personal memoir and a history of the band. Along Comes The Association: Beyond Folk Rock and Three-Piece Suits, written with Ashley Wren Collins, is a compelling look back at a colorful life in the group that gave the world such enduring hits as “Along Comes Mary,” “Everything…

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Classic Rock, Pop

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Release Round-Up: Week of September 29

September 29, 2017 by Joe Marchese | 2 Comments

Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! David Bowie, A New Career in a New Town (1977-1982) (Parlophone) 11CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada / Amazon U.K. 13LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada / Amazon U.K. The third release in Parlophone’s series of chronological box sets dedicated to the music of David Bowie, A New Career in a New Town (1977-1982) closes the book on the legendary artist’s RCA career. It follows 2015’s Five Years (1969-1973) and 2016’s Who Can I Be Now? (1974-1976), offering material from five major studio and live albums: Low (1977), “Heroes” (1977), Stage (1978), Lodger (1979) and Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) (1980). Low, “Heroes” and Lodger are, of course, referred to as the “Berlin”…

It’s a Happening World: Warner Japan Collects Sunshine Pop on “Soft Rock Nuggets” Series

June 30, 2017 by Joe Marchese | 11 Comments

As longtime collectors know, great “nuggets” show up in the most unlikely places…and so do Nuggets, naturally. Warner Music Japan has just issued four volumes of Soft Rock Nuggets, but most of the tracks on these collections are firmly in the harmony-drenched, lushly melodic, sunshine pop genre. Any fans of Rhino Handmade’s Come to the Sunshine: Soft Pop Nuggets from the WEA Vaults (reissued on vinyl this year for Record Store Day) will find much to savor on these latest additions to the Nuggets library – and sweetening the deal, Warner has…

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Pop

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Dino Desi and Billy, Harpers Bizarre, Jackie Trent, Paul Williams, Roger Nichols, The Association, The Hollies, Tony Hatch, Various Artists

Feelin’ Groovy: Rhino Plans Vinyl Celebrations for Summer of Love Anniversary

May 30, 2017 by Mike Duquette | 7 Comments

Five decades ago, in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, a social movement was growing. Young people, with heads full of progressive ideas and evolving attitudes toward sex, drugs and rock and roll, were converging on the area to celebrate their personal freedom–an extension of that January’s “Human Be-In” in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. The “Summer of Love,” as it was called, was the birth of the modern counterculture, and music played an integral role in the shaping, influencing and mainstreaming of these daring new ideas. Rhino Records will celebrate that…

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Russ Giguere, The Association

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CD, Vinyl

Genres:

Classic Rock, Pop, Rock

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Aretha Franklin, Booker T. and the MG's, Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield, Judy Collins, Love, Peter Paul and Mary, The Association, The Beau Brummels, The Everly Brothers, The Four Seasons, The Grateful Dead, The Hollies, The Monkees, Tim Buckley, Van Morrison, Vanilla Fudge

Along Comes “1966”: Ace Anthology Features The Supremes, The Who, Velvet Underground, Bowie, More

December 16, 2015 by Joe Marchese | 3 Comments

Was 1966 the greatest year ever in popular music? The case could certainly be made for its significance – and Jon Savage has done just that in his new book 1966: The Year the Decade Exploded. Savage’s book looks at the events and culture of the year in twelve essays, each one built around one 45 RPM record. Naturally, such a book deserves a soundtrack, and Ace Records has seen to it that it receives one with the companion volume of the same name. Jon Savage’s 1966: The Year the Decade Exploded…

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News, Reviews

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Classic Rock, Pop, R&B/Soul

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David Bowie, Dusty Springfield, The Association, The Supremes, The Velvet Underground, The Who, Various Artists

Are You Ready: Now Sounds Expands “The Association,” Real Gone Uncovers “Hexagram 16”

August 7, 2013 by Joe Marchese | 6 Comments

“Where have I gone, where have I gone?” pondered Terry Kirkman on the haunting opening track to The Association’s 1969 long-player. Though the group’s fifth album, it was simply titled The Association, signifying an artistic rebirth. Gone were the session players and ornate Bones Howe production that marked their previous album, 1968’s Birthday. Taking the production reins themselves in tandem with John Boylan, The Association – Kirkman, Russ Giguere, Brian Cole, Jim Yester, Larry Ramos, Ted Bluechel., Jr. and the just-returned Jules Alexander – created one of their most beguilingly eclectic collections. …

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Release Round-Up: Week of July 2

July 2, 2013 by Mike Duquette | No Comments

CHIC and Various Artists, Nile Rodgers Presents The CHIC Organization: Up All Night – The Greatest Hits (Rhino U.K.) This new double-disc compilation, featuring hits from CHIC, Sister Sledge, Debbie Harry and more, might be the best Nile Rodgers-centric compilation in its price range. (Amazon U.K. / Amazon U.S.) Blood Sweat & Tears, Rare, Rarer & Rarest / Joe Farrell Quartet, Joe Farrell Quartet / Herbie Hancock, Treasure Chest / Sha Na Na, The Night is Still Young (Wounded Bird) A new batch from Wounded Bird includes a compilation of rarities from Blood, Sweat & Tears (featuring, among other things, their soundtrack to The Owl and The…

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Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Herbie Hancock, Sister Sledge, The Allman Brothers Band, The Association, The Grateful Dead, Vinyl

One Kiss Leads To Another: Real Gone Unearths Hackamore Brick, Grateful Dead, The Association’s Russ Giguere and More

May 15, 2013 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

Real Gone Music has just announced its slate for July 2, and it’s clear that the prolific label isn’t taking a summer vacation! A number of cult favorites and new-to-CD titles populate this batch of records that won’t be “real gone” for much longer. Atop the list is a true rarity. Real Gone will be bringing One Kiss Leads to Another from Hackamore Brick to CD and vinyl in a newly-remastered and expanded edition. Who is Hackamore Brick, you might ask? The Brooklyn band’s 1970 album was an anomaly for the bubblegum…

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Russ Giguere, The Association, The Browns, The Grateful Dead

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Release Round-Up: Week of March 26

March 26, 2013 by Mike Duquette | No Comments

Stephen Stills, Carry On (Rhino) The “S” in “CSNY” finally gets his own career-spanning box set, a four-disc affair with a couple dozen rare and unreleased tracks and a whole lot of great songs to boot. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) Gene Clark, Here Tonight: The White Light Demos (Omnivore) A dozen tracks of early ’70s demos from the former Byrd, which laid the framework for his first album of that decade. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) Iron Maiden, Maiden England ’88 (UMe) A quarter-century after Maiden toured behind Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, the original concert video…

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Stephen Stills, Steve Forbert, Tandyn Almer, The Association

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Sweet As The Punch: “Along Comes” Songs of Tandyn Almer

February 26, 2013 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

If you don’t know the name of Tandyn Almer, you likely do know his Top 10 pop hit “Along Comes Mary,” so memorably recorded by The Association in 1966. And you just might know two of the songs on which he shared songwriting credit with a certain Brian Wilson, “Marcella” and “Sail On, Sailor.” But the only commercial release to have carried Almer’s name as artist has long been a 1970 Warner Bros. single, “Degeneration Gap” b/w “Snippin’ the Silver Chord.” The Sundazed label changes all that with the March 26 release…

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Tandyn Almer, The Association

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The Year in Reissues: The 2012 Gold Bonus Disc Awards

December 28, 2012 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

Wow! Was it just over a year ago when a rather dubious report began circulating (that, shockingly, was picked up by many otherwise-reputable publications) that proclaimed the death of the CD was secretly scheduled by the major labels for 2012? Well, 2012 has come and (almost) gone, and it might have been the most super-sized year in recent memory for reissues, deluxe and otherwise, from labels new and old. Here at the Second Disc, we consider our annual Gold Bonus Disc Awards a companion piece to Mike’s own round-up over at Popdose,…

Review: The Association, “The Complete Warner Bros. and Valiant Singles Collection”

June 12, 2012 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

“Everyone knows” the answer to the musical question of Who’s trippin’ down the streets of the city / Smilin’ at everybody she sees? But here’s another one: what’s the record label reaching out to capture a moment, bendin’ down to give us a rainbow? Everyone (at least everyone reading The Second Disc!) knows it’s Now Sounds. The Cherry Red-affiliated label has recently released the latest in its ongoing series of deluxe reissues of The Association’s catalogue, and it’s the most impressive effort yet. The Complete Warner Bros. and Valiant Singles Collection (Now…

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Release Round-Up: Week of June 5

June 5, 2012 by Mike Duquette | No Comments

the beatles yellow submarine blu ray cover art

The Beatles, Yellow Submarine (Blu-Ray) (Apple/EMI) Take a trip back to Pepperland with the Fab Four’s animated film, now available as a feature-laden Blu-Ray Disc. The 1999 Yellow Submarine Songtrack remix album is also added to the Beatles remaster canon. (Keep a close eye on our giveaway; we’re announcing a winner very soon!) Paul Simon, Graceland: 25th Anniversary Edition (Legacy) A man walks down the street, sees many configurations of the Graceland reissue (namely a CD/DVD featuring newly released outtakes and the new documentary Under African Skies – also separately available on DVD and Blu-Ray – and a…

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Giveaways!, News, Release Round-Up

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Soundtracks

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Lenny Kravitz, Maroon 5, Michael Jackson, Sugar, The Association, The Beatles, Vinyl

Happiness Is: The Association’s “Insight Out” Expanded and Remastered

November 1, 2011 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

Who’s trippin’ down the streets of the city / Smilin’ at everybody she sees / Who’s reachin’ out to capture a moment? Everyone knows it’s Windy! And most everyone knows Ruthann Friedman’s 1967 pop classic which not only hit No. 1 on the Billboard chart but was featured on The Association’s third album and first long-player for Warner Bros. Records, Insight Out. But everyone would be forgiven for thinking that the LP was entitled Windy, so prominent was the name of the single on the album cover. But there’s much more to…

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Release Round-Up: Week of November 1

November 1, 2011 by Mike Duquette | No Comments

Nothing important comes out today, right?

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Manic Street Preachers, The Association, The Beach Boys, U2, Vinyl

Release Round-Up: Week of August 29

August 30, 2011 by Mike Duquette | No Comments

Spin Doctors, Pocket Full of Kryptonite: 20th Anniversary Edition (Epic/Legacy) The “Two Princes” guys…hey, stop laughing…have their hit debut album remastered and expanded – cut that out! – with a bonus disc of demos and rarities. (Official site) Aerosmith, Celine Dion, The Byrds and Carole King, The Essential 3.0 (Columbia/Epic/Legacy) Four Essential compilations get the third-disc treatment. Note that the Celine Dion title is identical to 2008’s My Love: The Essential Collection and the Aerosmith set is identical to 2002’s O Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits. (Amazon: Aerosmith, Celine, Byrds, Carole) Jill Scott, The Original Jill…

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The Association, The Byrds

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Now Sounds Continues Its Association “Renaissance” With Expanded Mono Edition

July 14, 2011 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

If you cherish The Association, you’re in for a treat! August 29 will bring the release of the group’s second long-player, Renaissance, in an expanded mono edition. It’s indeed been a bit of a renaissance for The Association thanks to Now Sounds’ continuing series which launched with Birthday (The Association’s 1968 pop masterwork) and back-tracked to And Then…Along Comes The Association, their debut album. The original twelve-track album, produced by Jerry Yester on the Valiant label, will be augmented by a generous ten bonus tracks! Despite following the album that contained both “Cherish” and…

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Release Round-Up: Week of May 3

May 3, 2011 by Mike Duquette | No Comments

Sade, The Ultimate Collection (Epic) The sultry British soul band anthologized across two discs, featuring several brand-new tracks – the perfect teaser for their long-awaited summer tour. (Official site) Loudon Wainwright, 40 Odd Years (Shout! Factory) The witty singer/songwriter is anthologized across four CDs and a DVD. Check for Joe’s review later today! (Shout! Factory) Rush, Moving Pictures: Deluxe Edition (Blu-Ray) (Mercury/UMe) Already available at Best Buy since April, the CD/Blu-Ray edition of the classic Canadian rockers’ album makes a wider retail debut. (Official site) The Association, And Then…Along Comes The Association! Expanded Edition (Now Sounds)…

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Barry Manilow, Loudon Wainwright III, Poison, Rob Zombie, Rush, Sade, The Association

And Now…Along Comes The Association, Expanded and Remastered!

March 24, 2011 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

UPDATE 3/24: The track listing on this release has been amended slightly. You can find it after the jump, of course. What makes the perfect pop song? The ingredients, of course, vary. In a weighty tome that can easily be viewed through a cynical lens today, Herb Hendler (of Capitol Records’ publishing arm Beechwood Music) offered How to Write a Contemporary Song to prospective songwriters in 1967. He included a worksheet where one could ask a number of questions of his or her favorite song: Is the title melody strong? Can you easily…

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If You’ve Been Seeking P.F. Sloan…

May 13, 2010 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

“I have been seeking P.F. Sloan/But no one knows where he has gone…” With those lyrics, Jimmy Webb immortalized the reclusive songwriter, admonishing listeners, “Don’t sing this song, it belongs to P.F. Sloan.” But when Webb wrote those words in 1971, Sloan had only been away from the music scene for three or four years; in fact, he was a quite prolific writer in the years between 1964 and 1967, often in collaboration with Steve Barri. Sloan, already an established writer of pure pop songs like “Secret Agent Man” and “Summer Means Fun,” made the transition…

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