The Second Disc, Explained
They say the music industry is dying. In the past decade, as digital downloads, shrinking record stores and a bumper crop of flavor-of-the-month artists invaded the public consciousness, some would quickly agree: the music biz is dead, long live the music biz.
But this attitude ignores the one ace that major labels have tucked away in their sleeves: their back catalogues. You can debate the merits of contemporary music as much as you want, but the sounds of the past will continue to shine between generations. In 2009 alone, current events led audiences back to the works of Michael Jackson and The Beatles, and sales were considerably mighty – a simple reminder that some music will always stand the test of time.
With that in mind, I present The Second Disc, which I intend to be an all-purpose stop for those who are interested in the back catalogue offerings of the day. News and reviews about catalogue releases will be the typical fare, with grander feature-type work to follow. Basically, if it’s reissued, remastered or expanded, you’ll find it here.
Now go and cue up your favorite songs and read on – you never know what you might rediscover!
-Mike
The Second Disc 
[…] one comment Good evening and welcome to The Second Disc! Assuming you’ve taken a look at the page where I’ve explained this blog, I’d like to present a list of some of the best catalogue titles released to the public […]
In With the Old: 2009 in Reissues « The Second Disc
January 11, 2010 at 03:01
Hi Mike
As soon as Matt at MusicTap put up your link, I was there! I am so pleased that you have started up this site – the vaults must open for us so we can obtain the music we want! You may have read some of my capsule reviews on MusicTap – I have been trying to expose people to remasters and generally great sounding recordings (as well as music I like of course). I have always been a fan of good sound. Back in my vinyl days, I spent a fortune importing Japanese and German virgin vinyl, and yet I still found that the vinyl was not good enough – the warping, hissing and popping was always somewhere present and drove me crazy. When CDs came along in the mid-80s, I started to move over to them, and even though the sound was not as rich as LPs, at least it was clean sound. Once the remasters started coming, then we had something great, and I have been hunting down the best sounding recordings of my favourite and obscure music that I can find. It is not unusual for me to re-buy a recording three or four times – I am the target consumer that the resissuing labels want! For example, the forthcoming Gentle Giant and Jimi Hendrix remasters are preordered on Amazon Canada as we speak (I am a Canadian) and for the first time, Sad Cafe Live and Chapman Whitney – Streetwalkers are coming to CD. I spend a lot of time checking out Spin in Britain too – they have a newsletter and it often includes many remasters we don’t even get here at all.
I will stop now to take a breath, but I wanted you to know how excited I am about your site – looking forward to the news!
Bob
Bob Metcalf
January 20, 2010 at 09:05
Hi MIke,
What is the best way to inform you about upcoming releases?
Thanks,
Cary Mansfield
Varese Sarabande Records
Cary Mansfield
September 14, 2010 at 13:11
Hi Cary,
You can e-mail us at theseconddisc (at) gmail (dot) com. Thank you so much! Can’t wait to see what the CD Club’s got cooked up for next week.
Mike Duquette
September 14, 2010 at 14:01
please notify me of all the up and coming releases of
Paul McCartneys Archive collectiom much appreciated
thankyou
John Parmley
john parmley
March 29, 2011 at 08:57
what was the title song on the flip side of “you send me” on a 45 record? i have went through records for years trying to find it.
linda wilson
August 30, 2011 at 14:26
The intended “A” side was “Summertime” on the original 45 release. in fact, the debut release of Keen records. However, DJs liked “You Send Me” so it became the “A” side for Sam Cooke. I believe there was an earlier recording with Sam Cooke credited as “Dale Cooke” where a song called “Lovable” was on the “B” side but I understand this is extremely rare.
Hope this helps you.
Larry
meebzorp
October 30, 2011 at 19:36
I like the concept behind this blog. There so much gold to be mined in the past. Naturally, this site reminds me a little of my own (http://bonerollingreviews.wordpress.com/) though we generally cover a slightly different periods in musical history there’s some cross-over. Conceivably I’ll end up covering Iron Butterfly or Pink Floyd eventually.
mrdapper
April 27, 2012 at 15:45
Where can I purchase the new boxed set “The Singer’s Singer” Matt Monro? I’m having problems trying
buy this boxed set. I live in the USA – and I’ve been a big fan of his
since the 1980’s. I have multiple CDs of Matt and in a ways he was better than Sinatra. I wish he had
song more of “Tin Pan Alley American Standards. I have his Hoagy Carmichael set, and it’s great. Please
help me buy the “New” boxed set at a reasonable price. Thanking, I am
Socrates Georgeades
Socrates Georgeades
April 25, 2013 at 15:19
Amazon.com offers the box set at a very reasonable $14.99:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005FMB8W2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005FMB8W2&linkCode=as2&tag=thesecdis-20
Hope this helps.
Joe Marchese
April 25, 2013 at 16:22
This is an invaluable aid to music lovers and scholars — Now if only there was a similar site for movies!
In fact I found you here because I was trying to find out what is on Disc 2 of the 2-Disc set of the Bye Bye Birdie DVD. ( I still don’t know…)
With the proliferation in DVD re-issues and Blu-Ray editions the choices are bewildering.
Anyone know of a similar site for movies/DVDs?
Meanwhile I’m off to discover any re-issues of A Man and a Woman — Great soundtrack!
Cord Wainer
April 9, 2014 at 11:49
Cord, I used http://www.blu-ray.com for movies…
scarecrowbike
June 4, 2014 at 10:01
Hi. Just wanted to let you know that I think your blog is great, and I’ve nominated you for a VIB Award. 🙂 http://wp.me/p4Kuwe-tB
5thtop
July 2, 2014 at 12:00
Thanks for the kind words! They’re much appreciated! – Joe and Mike
Joe Marchese
July 2, 2014 at 12:43