Mad About Her: Edsel Preps Next Wave of Belinda Carlisle Reissues

Edsel earned some deservedly high marks for last year’s red carpet treatment of Belinda Carlisle’s solo catalogue, remastering and expanding her albums for Virgin (in the U.K.)/MCA (in the U.S.) and issuing a career-spanning compilation as well. Now, they’ve announced expansions of three more albums Go-Go’s frontwoman.

The U.K. catalogue label will release a CD/DVD edition of solo debut Belinda (1986), which featured the Top 5 hit “Mad About You” and a cover of Freda Payne’s “Band of Gold” (remixes of which featured Payne herself); a 2CD/DVD version of 1996’s A Woman and a Man, which featured U.K. Top 10 hits “In Too Deep” and “Always Breaking My Heart,” and an expanded CD of her most recent studio effort, 2007’s Voila, which featured spirited covers of French-language pop standards.

Belinda comes with remixes of “Mad About You” and “Band of Gold” plus “Dancing in the City,” from the soundtrack to the film Burglar, as well as the original Belinda live concert video. A Man and a Woman features 19 bonus tracks and four music videos, while Voila features, on one disc, the original album and a four-track bonus EP of English language versions.

All four releases are due September 1; after the jump you’ll find complete track listings and Amazon U.K. order links!

Release Round-Up: Week of March 18

Elvis Presley, Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis: Legacy Edition 

The King’s 1974 live gig in his home turf is remastered and paired with a show in Richmond, Virginia from two days before and a handful of RCA studio rehearsals in Hollywood. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Belinda Carlisle, The Anthology / The Collection (Edsel/Demon)

Edsel did a great job of expanding Belinda’s solo catalogue last year; now, they’ve prepped a CD/DVD hits set and 3CD/2DVD box for the fans, with singles, rarities, promo videos and live material.

The Anthology (3CD/2DVD): Amazon U.K. / Amazon U.S.
The Collection (CD/DVD): Amazon U.K. / Amazon U.S.

Odyssey, I Got the Melody / Happy Together (Big Break Records)

The last two albums by the “Native New Yorker” dance group. Features the singles “Going Back to My Roots” (penned by Lamont Dozier), “Together” (written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards) and “Inside Out”; both albums feature new liner notes and bonus tracks.

I Got the Melody: Amazon U.K. / Amazon U.S.
Happy Together: Amazon U.K. / Amazon U.S.

Barbara Mason, Transition (Soul Brother/Passion Music)

A remastered edition of the “Yes I’m Ready” soul queen’s funky 1974 Buddah Records release, with arrangements from Philly soul greats Norman Harris, Bobby Eli and Richard Rome. (Amazon U.K. / Amazon U.S.)

Sandra Rhodes, Where’s Your Love Been (Omnivore)

Known for her background vocals and songwriting for everyone from Al Green to Conway Twitty, this forgotten 1972 album for Fantasy Records is rediscovered with seven bonus tracks and a whole lot of country-soul in the mix. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Robert Goulet, Brigadoon / Kiss Me Kate: Original Television Soundtracks (Masterworks Broadway)

Robert Goulet stars in this pair of classic musicals-for-television!  This release marks the first time on CD(-R) for these rare Columbia Special Products albums originally released through, of all places, Armstrong flooring stores. They’re available exclusively at masterworksbroadway.com.

Edsel is Still Mad About Belinda Carlisle with New Anthologies

After a series of great expanded CD/DVD reissues, Edsel will release not one but two career-spanning anthologies dedicated to former Go-Go’s frontwoman/pop icon Belinda Carlisle.

The Anthology collects three CDs and two DVDs worth of hits and rare content from the singer, whose late ’80s run of singles included such impressive pop gems as “Mad About You,” “Heaven is a Place on Earth,” “I Get Weak,” “Circle in the Sand” and “Leave a Light On.” While Carlisle has been relatively quiet since 2007’s all-French standards album Voila, recent years have seen her gradual return to pop music: her entry in the normally ineffective ICON series by UMe featured “Sun,” her first pop single in quite some time. Another new song, “Goodbye Just Go,” makes its debut on The Anthology.

The first two discs on the set are devoted to nearly all of Belinda’s singles from her I.R.S., Virgin and Chrysalis years (the first time Edsel has expanded its look at Belinda beyond the core albums on Virgin). A third CD features five non-LP rarities from soundtracks and compilations and a live set from Tokyo in 2013. (Edsel has already apologized in advance for the absence of long-unreleased fan favorite “In My Wildest Dreams” from the 1987 film Mannequin; “our researches in tape libraries around the globe (and with staff who worked at IRS at the time) have not so far managed to turn up a master for the track,” the label unfortunately noted.) In addition to the audio offerings, two DVDs will feature Belinda’s promo videography and live performances on various U.K. television programs, respectively.

For those looking for a more general overview, Edsel will also release The Collection, a hits-centric CD/DVD compilation. Both sets will be available March 17 in the U.K.; Amazon U.K. links and track lists are after the jump!

Review: Belinda Carlisle Deluxe Remasters From Edsel (1987-1993)

As lead singer of California rock group The Go-Go’s, Belinda Carlisle conclusively proved that she, indeed, had the beat.  In her solo career, she applied her powerfully soaring pipes – one minute honeyed, the next smoky – to some of the most iconic pop songs of the era.  Edsel has recently repackaged Carlisle’s second through fifth albums as truly deluxe, hardbound 2-CD/1-DVD editions, and they’re a nostalgic trip back to the days when power ballads ruled the radio and one singer stood at the front of the pack.

When The Go-Go’s disbanded in the spring of 1985 after three hit albums including the 1981 chart-topper Beauty and the Beat, Carlisle seized the opportunity to go solo.  The result was the 1986 IRS Records release Belinda.  Produced by Michael Lloyd, it yielded a No. 3 U.S. hit with “Mad About You.”  Some songs were written by Charlotte Caffey of the Go-Go’s.  Susanna Hoffs of another groundbreaking group of eighties girls, The Bangles, co-wrote “I Need a Disguise.” Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham was one of the writers behind “Since You’ve Gone,” and Carlisle herself shared writing credits on “Gotta Get to You.” Covers of Split Enz (“Stuff and Nonsense”) and Freda Payne (“Band of Gold”) rounded out the album which peaked at No. 13 in the United States.

After the jump, we’ll take an album-by-album look at Edsel’s newly remastered and expanded reissues!

WE HAVE TWO WINNERS! A Set of Edsel’s Deluxe Belinda Carlisle Remasters!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS, GREG LEBLANC AND BROOK DOWNS!

Release Round-Up: Week of August 27

The Beach Boys, Made in California (Capitol/UMe)

Six discs of career-spanning tunes – hits and rarities aplenty – from the best band to come out of Hawthorne, California. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Bob Dylan, Another Self Portrait (1969-1971): The Bootleg Series Vol. 10 (Columbia)

Revisit one of the most polarizing periods of Dylan’s career with the latest Bootleg Series entry, featuring outtakes from Nashville Skyline, Self Portrait and New Morning. A deluxe version includes Dylan and The Band’s complete Isle of Wight performance and a remastered version of Self Portrait, and a vinyl version also exists.

2CD standard edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
4CD deluxe edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
3LP vinyl edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Sly & The Family Stone, Higher! (Epic/Legacy)

A four-disc box celebrating one of the pioneers of funk and R&B. Intriguing tracks from the vault and little-heard mono mixes are complemented by a really striking visual presentation, and a healthy book of liner notes. Amazon U.S. has got a six-track bonus disc with the box, and there’s also a highlights disc for the less curious.

4CD box: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
4CD box + bonus disc: Amazon U.S.
8LP box: Amazon U.K.
8LP box + bonus disc: Amazon U.S.
1CD compilation: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Belinda Carlisle, Heaven on Earth / Runaway Horses / Live Your Life Be Free / Real: Deluxe Editions (Edsel)

When The Go-Go’s leader went full-on pop, the music world was all the better for it. Belinda’s Virgin discography has now been expanded as 2CD/1DVD sets, Edsel-style.

Heaven on Earth: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Runaway Horses: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Live Your Life Be Free: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Real: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Robert Palmer, Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley/Pressure Drop / Some People Can Do What They Like/Double Fun / Secrets/Clues/Maybe It’s Live / Pride/Riptide (Edsel)

The Robert Palmer Island Records discography is finally remastered and expanded – not as we’d imagine (as two-fers and one three-fer), but at least this late great is getting the attention he so greatly deserves.

Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley/Pressure Drop: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Some People Can Do What They Like/Double Fun: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Secrets/Clues/Maybe It’s Live: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Pride/Riptide: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Mario Lanza, The Toast of Hollywood (Sony Masterworks)

A new two-disc compilation celebrating MGM’s beloved actor-tenor features six previously unreleased recordings. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Oscar Pettiford, Modern Quintet / Chris Connor, Sings Lullabys For Lovers / Dexter Gordon, Daddy Plays The Horn / Charles Mingus, The Jazz Experiments of Charles Mingus / Nina Simone, Little Girl Blue / Booker Ervin, The Book Cooks (Naxos/Bethlehem)

The first of several batches of reissues from the classic Bethlehem label (additional batches are planned through next summer!) are hitting CD, LP and MP3, back in print after too long. (The above link is being updated with full links as they’re available.)

CHIC, The 12″ Singles Collection (Atlantic/Rhino U.K.)

Ten tracks of disco goodness spanning the entire, immortal partnership of Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, on five pieces of vinyl. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Naked Eyes, Fuel for the Fire: Expanded Edition (Cherry Pop)

The second and final Naked Eyes LP debuts on CD with rare bonus tracks and unreleased demos for your enjoyment. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

She’s Got The Beat: Belinda Carlisle’s Deluxe 2-CD/1-DVD Reissues Due in August (UPDATED WITH TRACK LISTINGS)

The Tabu catalogue isn’t the only major acquisition of late for the Demon Music Group.  Back in March, Demon – home to labels including Edsel, Harmless and Music Club Deluxe – announced that a deal had been struck for much of the solo catalogue of onetime Go-Go Belinda Carlisle.  Ooh, baby, do you know what that’s worth?  Demon picked up rights to four of Carlisle’s studio albums, the rights to which had previously resided with Virgin (part of the former EMI).  Demon’s agreement covers the world, except for the U.S. and Canada, and includes physical and digital catalogue rights as well as third party and neighboring rights.  On August 26, the label will reissue Heaven on Earth (1987), Runaway Horses (1989), Live Your Life Be Free (1991) and Real (1993) in deluxe, hardbound 2-CD/1-DVD editions.

The California-born Carlisle rose to fame as the lead singer of the iconic New Wave girl group The Go-Go’s, whose 1981 debut Beauty and the Beat, on the IRS label, spent six weeks atop the Billboard 200.  The album was produced by Richard Gotteher who knew a thing or two about girl groups, having written The Angels’ immortal 1963 hit “My Boyfriend’s Back.”  The Go-Go’s retained the sass but updated the sound of the classic sixties girl groups, and further distinguished themselves by writing and performing all of the music on Beauty and the Beat including the smash single “We Got the Beat.”

Two more albums followed, but not long after 1984’s Talk Show, the Go-Go’s called it a day, torn apart by personal turmoil and tension between bandmates.  When The Go-Go’s disbanded in the spring of 1985, Carlisle seized the opportunity to go solo, scoring a No. 3 U.S. hit with “Mad About You,” again on the IRS label.  Carlisle turned to a number of talented collaborators to select the material for her first solo effort, simply titled Belinda.  Some songs were written by Charlotte Caffey of the Go-Go’s, and Susanna Hoffs of another groundbreaking group of eighties girls, The Bangles, co-wrote “I Need a Disguise.”  Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham was one of the writers behind “Since You’ve Gone,” and Carlisle herself shared writing credits on “Gotta Get to You.”  Covers of Split Enz (“Stuff and Nonsense”) and Freda Payne (“Band of Gold”) rounded out the album which peaked at No. 13 in the United States.

After the jump: Belinda jumps to Virgin for the four albums that will see expanded reissue this August!  We now have full track listings with discography for all four titles!

Release Round-Up: Week of March 19

Duane Allman, Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective (Rounder)

A massive seven-disc box set celebrates the life and work of a guitar legend, gone far too soon.  Read Joe’s review here!   (Amazon U.S.)

Elvis Presley, Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite: Legacy Edition (RCA/Legacy)

The classic best-selling live album, taken from the famed TV special, is paired with a newly-remixed version of The Alternate Aloha (a rehearsal show recorded days earlier) and rare bonus performances.  You’ll find Joe’s review here.   (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Bing Crosby, Bing in Dixieland / Seasons: The Closing Chapter – Deluxe Edition / Return to Paradise Islands: Deluxe Edition / On the Sentimental Side / Bing on Broadway / El Señor Bing: Deluxe Edition / So Rare: Treasures from the Crosby Archives / Bing Sings The Great American Songbook / Bing Sings The Sinatra Songbook / A Southern Memoir: Deluxe Edition / Bing & Rosie: The Crosby-Clooney Radio Sessions (Bing Crosby Enterprises/UMe)

Originally released as part of The Bing Crosby Archive on Collector’s Choice a few years ago, these discs are reprinted by UMe for you to enjoy.

Bing in Dixieland: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Seasons: The Closing Chapter: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Return to Paradise Islands: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
On the Sentimental Side: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Bing on Broadway: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
El Señor Bing: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
So Rare: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Bing Sings The Great American Songbook: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Bing Sings The Sinatra Songbook: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
A Southern Memoir: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Bing & Rosie: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Lee Hazlewood, Trouble is a Lonesome Town (Light in the Attic)

A mightily-expanded edition of Hazlewood’s solo debut LP features a load of non-LP material and unreleased gems!

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
LP: Amazon U.S.

Del Shannon, The Complete U.K. Singles (and More) 1961-1966 (Ace)

Shannon was perhaps even bigger in England than Stateside, so it’s nice to see Ace lovingly anthologize his single sides on two discs. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Miles Davis, Live at Montreux 1991 (Eagle Rock)

Miles’ last appearance at the famed jazz festival, with the help of Quincy Jones and the Gil Evans Orchestra.

DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Blu-Ray: Amazon U.S.

Nat “King” Cole, Welcome to the Club / Harry Belafonte, Calypso (Audio Fidelity)

The newest hybrid SACDs from Audio Fidelity.

Welcome to the Club: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Calypso: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Various Artists, ICON (UMe/Capitol)

Available at the link above, another batch of the painfully thin Universal (and now EMI) compilation line, featuring a lot of comps by artists nobody needs and one actually worthwhile one by Belinda Carlisle with a new track.

“ICON” is Now a Capitol Idea

Another few batches of Universal’s eye-rolling ICON series are on the way – and while they offer a few genuine surprises, there’s a lot, perhaps even more than usual, to shake one’s head over.

The big surprise right off the bat is that the mid-price compilation series will now chronicle not only Universal-controlled catalogue artists, but EMI-controlled ones as well. This is hardly a surprise, given the past year’s big story of music business restructuring that’s leaving the world with three major music labels including a Universal/EMI conglomerate.

But the budget compilation idea is nothing new for EMI artists – and frustratingly, ICON is starting off by covering those EMI artists with more than enough compilations to go around, including The Beach Boys, Poison and Pat Benatar. While we have a few surprises to go around on the Universal side of the ICON list – Liberace and Captain & Tennille are prime examples on the “didn’t see that coming” list – there’s very little new or exciting in these batches. (The ICON entry for Bon Jovi is, in fact, a clone of the band’s 1994 compilation Cross Road with the cover art poorly repurposed.)

The only real boon for collectors is the ICON title for Go-Go’s frontwoman (and recent acquisition by Demon Music Group) Belinda Carlisle, whose set will feature a brand-new recording, “Sun,” her first recording to hit U.S. stores in 15 years.

These new batches kick off tomorrow with five EMI-controlled gospel artists (including Amy Grant, whose biggest pop hits were ironically on Universal’s A&M label). Another 15 follow the next week, and two more (Jimmy Cliff and Bon Jovi) follow the week after that. And they’re all yours to consider after the jump.