In Case You Missed It: “The Essential Korn” is Peachy

Here’s a compilation that came out this past week that we neglected to mention: a new Essential title from Legacy, covering the work of nu-metal group Korn.

The Bakersfield, California rockers were one of the hottest acts on the rock scene in the 1990s, turning out dark, angsty songs that fused melodic guitar solos and hip-hop-influenced beats. Though the band is still together, they’ve endured some personnel changes over the years – guitarist Brian “Head” Welch famously left the band in 2006 after becoming a Christian and distancing himself from the band’s hostile (if not violent) image, and founding drummer David Silveria left the band a year later. And while the band hasn’t been with Epic since the mid-2000’s, their newest EP is due out this summer.

This two-disc set touches on all the major Epic singles and adds two rarer cuts: a soundtrack song, “Proud,” and “Jingle Balls,” from a 1999 EP.

The full specs are after the jump!

Greater Hits, Volume I: The Sweetest Sade Set

The Second Disc has always meant to be a source of decently-reported news and discussion on the goings-on of the music catalogue world, as well as a resource to the new fan on what catalogue product is out there.

With that in mind, today introduces a new feature that looks at one of the most common catalogue items: the greatest hits collection. It’s perhaps been outmoded by the ability to pick and choose tracks to download online, but when you’re a new fan of an artist, the compilation is usually the first way to dive into a band’s repertoire. It’s usually also a boon for collectors as well, since many artists add one or two tracks to a collection for completists.

Where things get confusing, however, is when an artist is popular (or exploited) enough to put out (or have put out by their label) more than one compilation. Especially in this era of Playlist and ICON budget sets, where does one begin? Enter Greater Hits, our new feature that provides a head-to-head (or in some cases, head-to-head-to-head) look at different collections by the same artist. We’re going to try to keep this a bit looser than Reissue Theory or Back Tracks, and hopefully you’ll enjoy the results.

This feature kicks off with Sade, who just released their second compilation last week. They’re two very different sets, but is one better than the other? The answer – after the jump – may surprise you.

It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s a “Smallville” Score Compilation

This Friday is a momentous occasion for fans of Superman: after a decade on the air, the television drama Smallville – which focuses on a teenaged Clark Kent’s transition into adulthood, bringing him closer to his destiny as the Man of Steel – will complete its run with an extended series finale that will likely finally see actor Tom Welling wearing the blue tights and red cape (even if for a brief moment).

Though some have certainly reacted with bemused shock that Smallville is still on the air (including this author), the Superman mythology is one of American pop culture’s finest touchstones, and the series certainly had its interesting moments. The series, premiering barely a month after terrorist attacks on American soil, showed a different side of Superman: a young, vulnerable, humane Clark Kent who wasn’t built self-assured, but would come to grips with his destiny as a protector of Earth. And what fan could forget one of the greatest on-screen moments in Superman history – the 2003 episode in which Clark learns more about his Kryptonian identity from a wise scientist played by the unforgettable Christopher Reeve?

Warner Bros. has tipped a hat to the musical legacy of Smallville by releasing the first-ever compilation of orchestral score material from the series through digital retailers this week. Featuring 28 tracks from all ten seasons composed by television legend Mark Snow (who’s having a great week, between this and the X-Files box set) and Louis Febre (also known for his work on Desperate Housewives and almost-but-not-quite-Smallville-spinoff Birds of Prey, which focused on the life of a young vigilante who happened to be the daughter of Batman), the Smallville score set is available to purchase at iTunes and Amazon.

Look (up in the sky) at the track list after the jump.

What’s New, Pussycat? Classic Burt Bacharach and Lalo Schifrin Soundtracks Reissued

Burt Bacharach turns 83 today on May 12, 2011, and we’ve got some news to celebrate!

“Pussycat, pussycat, I love you…” Chances are you can sing along to the hip-swiveling melody of those lyrics, sung by Tom Jones and written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for the 1965 film comedy What’s New Pussycat?. But raise your hand now if you remember the sequel! Five years after the success of the original film, United Artists released Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You, a half-sequel, half-remake moving the locale to Rome and more or less telling the same story with different characters portrayed by a decidedly lesser-caliber cast. With Bacharach declining to reprise his duties as composer, the filmmakers turned to Lalo Schifrin (Mission: Impossible, Bullitt, Cool Hand Luke), who wrote one of the least-known scores in his canon for the film. Spain’s enterprising Quartet Records label has just announced a surprise for fans of both Bacharach’s original score and the Schifrin ouevre. The label will release a two-for-one CD containing both the original soundtracks to What’s New Pussycat? and Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You, and more excitingly, both soundtracks will be presented as they’ve never been heard before.

The original 1965 film may be best remembered for Bacharach’s title song, although it also introduced “My Little Red Book” (performed by Manfred Mann and later covered by Love) and “Here I Am,” recorded by Dionne Warwick. The film also launched Woody Allen’s screen career as both an actor and screenwriter. Clive Donner directed a stellar cast led by Peter Sellers, at the height of his fame.  He delivers one of his most underrated madcap performances as psychoanalyst Dr. Fritz Fassbender, equal parts Clare Quilty (Lolita) and Inspector Clouseau (The Pink Panther). Sellers was joined by Peter O’Toole as the womanizing Michael James, and Capucine as Fassbender’s patient Renee Lefebvre, stalked by the doctor but actually longing for Michael’s affections. Paula Prentiss (the American tourist in France) and Romy Schneider (Michael’s fiancee) are, of course, also both in love with Michael. Though Allen has distanced himself from the film, its a perfect example of the mid-sixties sex comedy, and his screenplay still has its share of deft, farcical moments.  He shines onscreen as well in the role of Victor Shakapopulis, a nebbish with dreams of being a ladies’ man himself.

The comedy also marked Burt Bacharach’s debut as not only songwriter, but score composer. What’s New Pussycat can be seen as the first of a Bacharach trilogy continuing with After the Fox (1966) and concluding with Casino Royale (1967). All three scores have a similar compositional signature, with Bacharach approaching film scoring much like he did songs, with quirky chord changes and time signature shifts but an unerring sense of melody. His music echoes the wacky action onscreen, employing kazoos, tubas, pianos and horns with nods to waltzes, polkas and jazz.  Following Kritzerland’s definitive remaster of Casino Royale earlier this year, Quartet takes a page from that label’s playbook and will present Bacharach’s score in two versions. First is the original album version, which was released on CD in 1998 by Rykodisc (RCD 10740) but is remastered here.  Following that version, Quartet debuts a version in film score order. This was accomplished by removing some of the soundtrack’s edits to create standalone cues. In either version, though, you’ll delight not only to the three songs, but to instantly memorable, humorous cues like “Downhill and Shady” and “Marriage, French Style.” Both are as catchy as anything the maestro has ever written. In addition to Jones’ “Pussycat” and Manfred Mann’s rocking, piano-pounding “My Little Red Book,” Dionne Warwick’s gorgeous “Here I Am” is a criminally unknown ballad that could qualify as an art song.

Hit the jump to join Lalo Schifrin in 1970 as he follows in Bacharach’s footsteps for Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You!

Music Club Deluxe U.K. Preps Double-Disc Compilations for Redding, Cross, Foreigner

Music Club Deluxe, part of the U.K.’s Demon Music Group, has prepped a trio of new budget-minded, double-disc sets for a few legendary artists.

While there’s nothing new on the forthcoming compilations by dearly departed soul legend Otis Redding, soft-rock maestro Christopher Cross and platinum-selling hard rock band Foreigner (and only one general rarity among any of the three – a non-LP B-side closing out the Foreigner set), their two-disc running times and decent price tag might be of interest to first-time fans in British record shops.

Each set hits England on June 20 and a week later as U.S. imports. Hit the jump for order links and discographical information!