Release Round-Up: Week of May 19

Oasis, Definitely Maybe: Chasing The Sun Edition (Big Brother/Ngrooves)

Oasis’ debut album is remastered and expanded; the first in a planned series of multi-format reissues from the legendary Britpop band.

1CD remaster: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
2LP remaster: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
3CD deluxe edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
3CD/2LP/1 x 7″ box set: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Billy Joel, A Matter of Trust: The Bridge to Russia (Columbia/Legacy)

The Piano Man’s 1987 sojourn to the USSR is chronicled anew, with expansions of both the original KOHUEPT album and video program and a newly-filmed retrospective documentary on Billy’s trip.

2CD/1DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
2CD/1BD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
DVD: Amazon U.S.
BD: Amazon U.S.

Deep Purple, Made in Japan: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Editions(Universal U.K.)

No less than six formats of the band’s breakthrough live album are now available overseas. All together now: “Smooooooke on the waaaaaater”!

1CD remaster: Amazon U.K.
2CD deluxe edition: Amazon U.K.
4CD/1DVD box set: Amazon U.K. / Amazon U.S.
2LP remaster: Amazon U.K.
9LP box set: Amazon U.K.
Blu-Ray Audio: Amazon U.K.

 

R.E.M., Unplugged 1991/2001: The Complete Sessions (Warner Bros.) / Complete I.R.S. Rarities 1982-1987 (I.R.S./UMe)

Originally released as a vinyl box on Record Store Day, both of R.E.M.’s trips to MTV Unplugged are now available as a more affordable two-disc set. Also, a digital compilation nets just about every B-side and bonus track the band put out for their first label.

Unplugged: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
I.R.S.: Amazon U.S.

Roy Orbison, Mystery Girl Deluxe (Roy’s Boys/Legacy)

Released weeks after Orbison’s sudden passing, Mystery Girl rightfully restored Roy’s legend and even got him onto pop radio with “You Got It.” It’s expanded with unheard studio demos, an unreleased song completed by Roy’s sons with John Carter Cash, and also available with a DVD packed with a new documentary and rare and unseen promo videos.

Deluxe CD/DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Expanded CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Deluxe 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Hank Williams, The Garden Spot Programs 1950 (Omnivore)

Long-lost radio rarities from one of the kings of country are uncovered for the first time!

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

The Doors, Weird Scenes Inside the Gold Mine (Elektra/Rhino)

A double-disc 1972 Doors compilation gets its premiere release on CD. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

R. Kelly, The Essential R. Kelly (RCA/Legacy)

Love him or hate him – yes, we’ve been listening – the 35 tracks on this two-disc set do a good job of pointing out Kellz as one of the best male R&B performers of his generation. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Aaron Neville, For the Good Times: The Allen Toussaint Sessions (Fuel 2000)

Fuel collects 22 vintage sides from two New Orleans legends: vocalist Aaron Neville and songwriter-producer Allen Toussaint! (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Miles Davis, Take Off: The Complete Blue Note Albums (Blue Note)

Blue Note’s 75th anniversary program continues with this release collecting Davis’ small but important output, from the period of 1952-1954, for the venerable label. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Devo, Something Else for Everybody (Booji Boy)

Fresh factory rejects from the band’s most recent studio album! (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

From De-Evolution to Revolution: Rare Devo Show to Be Released in Full for Record Store Day

The rock world was stunned yesterday by the announcement of the sudden passing of Bob Casale, guitarist/keyboardist/engineer for quintessential New Wave outfit Devo. “Bob 2,” as he was known to scores of fans (“Bob 1” being guitarist/vocalist Bob Mothersbaugh), was an integral part of one of the quirkiest pop bands of the last century, and his sudden death has left a hole in the hearts of fans everywhere. By sheer coincidence, Devo have been one of the first acts to announce a title for Record Store Day in April 2014, consisting of a pivotal 1977 show being released for the first time in full.

Devo had, of course, been challenging audiences with their maniacally catchy, satirical repertoire for much of the ’70s, from the Kent State University campus the band attended (the nascent band’s mindset turned from purely comedic to somewhat serious with the shooting deaths of several protesting students by National Guardsmen in 1970) to the greater Ohio area and beyond. Their appearance at New York club Max’s Kansas City in November 1977 may have been their most essential to date: the self-proclaimed “spudboys” were introduced that night by none other than David Bowie, who presented them as “the band of the future.” Band co-founder/bassist Gerald Casale would later note that record labels began calling after the performance; ultimately, the group would sign to Stiff Records (who’d put their first self-released singles together on an EP) and then Warner Bros. – their major-label home ever since.

Nine tracks from the Max’s performance made their way onto Rykodisc’s 1992 set DEVO Live: The Mongoloid Years, but the impending release of DEVO Live At Max’s Kansas City 11/15/77 on Jackpot Records will feature the entire show. (Casale’s liner notes for The Mongoloid Years noted that the repertoire on that disc represented “the best of the only audio tapes that escaped total disintegration over the last 15 years.” Jackpot’s note about “working closely with the band and those who were there that night” means that the LP is likely sourced from multiple recordings, including fan-sourced ones.) Casale will write new liner notes; the package will also include a band press bio from 1974. Limited to 2,000 copies, this disc will be available at Record Store Day-participating stores on April 19.

Tom Petty, The Clash, Dire Straits, Pat Benatar Featured On “The Best of Fridays”

When ABC-TV’s Fridays premiered on April 11, 1980, its agenda was not a hidden one: to grab a piece of the lucrative late-night comedy pie from NBC’s Saturday Night Live.  Less than a year later, on March 10, 1981, The New York Times was trumpeting in a headline, “How ‘Fridays’ Beat ‘Saturday Night.’”  Of course, Fridays’ domination didn’t last, and the program was off the air after just three seasons.  The series has mainly lived on due to the infamous incident in which Andy Kaufman and Michael Richards got into a mock brawl on the air…that soon turned into a real brawl with other cast and crew members unaware of Kaufman’s planned hijinks.  Shout! Factory hasn’t forgotten Fridays, however, and has just released sixteen full episodes of the series as The Best of Fridays, a new 5-DVD set.  It should be of special interest to readers of The Second Disc for its eclectic musical performances.  The new collection includes appearances by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Kenny Loggins, The Cars, KISS, and many other famed classic-rock artists.

Of Fridays’ core cast of comedians, two names stand out: Michael Richards and Larry David.  The future Kramer and co-creator of Seinfeld both made a splash as part of the Fridays ensemble.  Richards and Davis were joined by Melanie Chartoff (Rugrats), Mark Blankfield (Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Dracula: Dead and Loving It), Maryedith Burrell (Parenthood), Bruce Mahler (Police Academy, Seinfeld), Darrow Igus, Brandis Kemp and John Roarke.  Though musical guests were a part of the show since the very first episode, with Kenny Loggins, guest stars weren’t a part of the series until its second season.  The Best of Fridays includes appearances by the aforementioned Kaufman as well as Valerie Harper, Billy Crystal, William Shatner, Karen Allen, Valerie Bertinelli, Shelley Duvall, Peter Fonda, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tab Hunter and Anthony Geary.

Each musical guest usually contributed a couple of songs per episode.  On the new DVD set, you’ll find highlights from Loggins (“Keep the Fire”), Petty and the Heartbreakers (“American Girl”), The Clash (“London Calling”) Graham Parker and the Rumour (“Empty Lives”), The Cars (“Shake It Up”), Dire Straits (“Romeo and Juliet”), Devo (“Whip It”), Pat Benatar (“Hit Me with Your Best Shot”), former Eagle Randy Meisner (“Hearts on Fire”), Kim Carnes (“Miss You Tonight”), Stray Cats (“Rock This Town”) and KISS (“A World Without Heroes”). The Stray Cats and The Clash both made their American television debuts on Fridays.  AC/DC, The Beach Boys, Jimmy Buffett, Bonnie Raitt, Def Leppard, Heart, Ian Hunter, Jefferson Starship, Warren Zevon, Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney all made appearances on Fridays before the show’s demise in 1982.

Besides the off-the-wall (and frequently topical) sketch comedy performed by the main ensemble, Fridays also premiered a number of films directed by the once and future Monkee Mike Nesmith.  His “Police Gynecologist” and “Bite the Bullet” can be found on The Best of Fridays.

After the jump, we have more details – including a list of episodes and guests – plus an order link!

Release Round-Up: Week of May 14

R.E.M., Green: 25th Anniversary Edition (Warner Bros./Rhino)

The Athens, Georgia rockers celebrate the quarter-century mark of their first Warner Bros. LP with a new 2CD deluxe edition featuring an unreleased live show from 1989. (2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) (LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Huey Lewis & The News, Sports: 30th Anniversary Edition (Capitol/UMe)

Another hit-filled rock LP paired with a live disc; this one sees live versions of every hit and album cut from Sports over Huey Lewis & The News’ 30-plus year live run. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

The Doors, Infinite (Analogue Productions)

The Doors’ complete studio discography with Jim Morrison – six studio albums in all – newly remastered for multichannel SACD by Doug Sax and Bruce Botnick. It’s a box fit for a lizard king. (SACD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) (LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Kings of Leon, The Collection Box (RCA/Legacy)

In advance of KoL’s anticipated European dates this summer, here’s a new collectible package collecting all five of the band’s studio albums (and the Live at the O2 Arena, London DVD) in a custom, lidded box with high-quality mini-LP jackets. Cool points for collectors: all the original European artwork is used, and bonus tracks are present on several discs. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Oh Yes, It’s Devo! “Hardcore” Compilations, Live Show Reissue Planned

The fight against de-evolution never stops, as evidenced by not one but two upcoming reissues by alt-rock heroes Devo in the coming months. The Akron, Ohio-bred group will reissue a 1981 live show released for Record Store Day last year as well as two long out-of-print compilations of early demos.

Live 1981 Seattle was a hot item when it was released as a double-LP set by the band’s Booji Boy Records in 2012 for Record Store Day. The set found the band – brothers Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, Gerald and Bob Casale and drummer Alan Myers – taking their New Traditionalists Tour to the Seattle Center Arena on November 28, 1981, performing classic tunes like “Whip It,” “Girl U Want” and “Uncontrollable Urge” as well as the then-new cuts including “Jerkin’ Back ‘N’ Forth” and “Through Being Cool.” Sourced from a DAT transfer of a tape found by archivist/”DEVO-Obsesso” Michael Pilmer in the possession of “Bob No. 2,” the CD, housed in a digipak with a deluxe booklet of rare road photos, also adds an additional two as-yet unannounced bonus tracks to the program.

Meanwhile, Booji Boy is teaming up with the Superior Viaduct boutique label to reissue both volumes of Hardcore Devo. Released in 1990 and 1991 by Rykodisc, these sets saw the earliest recordings by the band, conducted on four-track recorders and small local studios in the Kent State area between 1974 and 1977. Early versions of songs like “Jocko Homo,” “Be Stiff,” “Mongoloid” and even their earliest take on The Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction” are on display. And, as a treat for this reissue, Hardcore Devo Volume 2 features a further four demos, none of which have been released before.

The Live 1981 Seattle CD will be available to order next month, according to the band’s official site. Vinyl editions of Hardcore Devo (a single LP for the first and two for the second) will street May 14, with a two-disc CD to follow in August; all of those bundles are up for pre-order from Superior Viaduct.

After the jump, check out the final track listing for Hardcore Devo.

Guessing Game: Devo – “New Traditionalists” (UPDATED 3/30)

It was recently announced that, not long after Devo’s Duty Now for the Future reissue and upcoming new single, Warner Bros. will be continuing the reissue chain with New Traditionalists, the band’s fourth LP from 1981, due back in stores on May 11.

To date, no bonus tracks have been announced. Prior reissues have seen bonus tracks ranging from new live material (the 2009 live performance of Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! that accompanied the reissue of the original) to old live material (the DEV-O Live EP was added to the Freedom of Choice reissue) or just a bunch of B-sides (as is the case on the forthcoming Duty Now for the Future reissue).

With all of this in mind, it seemed like a good idea to pore through some tracks that might be included.

• “Working in the Coalmine”: this song was cut from New Traditionalists but, after being a minor hit from the Heavy Metal soundtrack, it was included as a bonus 7″ single with the album itself. There’d be no reason not to include it, honestly.
• “Mecha-Mania Boy”: a non-LP single that was included on the Infinite Zero reissue of New Traditionalists in 1997 (along with “Coalmine” and the next track.
• “Nu-Tra Speaks (New Traditionalist Man)”: A spoken-word transmission for the Devo devotees that was the B-side to the “Beautiful World” 7″ picture-disc and included on the Infinite Zero reissue.
• The Dance Velocity Remixes: While they’re not for everybody, there was a 7″ single pressed with remixes of “Through Being Cool” and “Going Under” that, as far as I know, haven’t seen a CD release.
• Devo on Fridays: In October of 1981, Devo made their final of three appearances on the cult comedy show Fridays. The band performed five songs in total – “Adventures of the Smart Patrol,” “Jerkin’ Back ‘N’ Forth,” “I Saw Jesus,” “Through Being Cool” and “Working in the Coalmine.” View them all here.
• Demos: The Recombo DNA demo compilation by Rhino Handmade included demos of “I Saw Jesus,” “Pity You,” “Beautiful World” and “The Super Thing” (under the title “Psychology of Desire”), and the Rykodisc Hardcore Devo collection of pre-Warner demos included a version of “Working in the Coalmine.” Perhaps these (or others as yet unreleased) might be dusted off for the reissue.

UPDATE: Anti-Music has posted the full track list, including six bonus tracks, for New Traditionalists – and The Second Disc got two of them right! Check out the full track list after the jump.

Devo’s “Duty” Has a Tracklist

Amazon has posted the tracklist for the upcoming reissue of Devo’s Duty Now for the Future coming from Warner Bros. The band’s sophomore LP is getting a CD and vinyl reissue on April 13, just in time for Record Store Day, and it’ll feature five B-sides as bonuses.

Check it out after the jump!

Every Day Should Be Record Store Day

And perhaps it is, depending on how often you buy from one. The fourth annual Record Store Day is happening in less than a month (April 17) but already a lot of releases have been announced for the occasion. Best of all, there are some neat releases for catalogue fans out there, too. You can have a look at the full list here, but here are some of the neatest catalogue offerings coming on Record Store Day.

Devo, Duty Now for the Future (1979) (Warner Bros.)

As previously mentioned, Devo’s sophomore album is getting a reissue on CD and vinyl, presumably with some extra content of sorts. This LP is known for typically oddball tracks like “The Day My Baby Gave Me a Surprize,” “Devo Corporate Anthem” and a cover of “Secret Agent Man.” (A 7″ of Devo’s newest single, “Fresh” b/w “What We Do,” from their upcoming record, will also be available.)

Elvis Costello and The Attractions, Live at Hollywood High (1979) (Hip-O)

The complete Hollywood High Show from June of 1978 was recently released as part of Universal’s “Costello Show” series of live reissues. For collectors, though, Hip-O is reissuing the original three-track EP, originally included with copies of Armed Forces, on individually-numbered 7″ vinyl.

Elvis Presley, “That’s All Right” b/w “Blue Moon of Kentucky” (Single) (Sun/Legacy)

Legacy keeps the Elvis 75 celebration in full swing by releasing a vinyl repressing of the King’s first single, with a digital download code included.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Live at Clark University (1968) (Experience Hendrix/Legacy)

A colored vinyl version of this previously released concert (available with audio interviews on Hendrix’s official bootleg label Dagger Records). The set includes four of his best songs from the Are You Experienced era (“Fire,” “Red House,” “Foxey Lady,” “Purple Haze”) and  a cover of “Wild Thing.”

Buddy Guy, A Man and the Blues (1968) / Doc Watson, Doc Watson (1964) / Joan Baez, Joan Baez (1960) / John Fahey, The Yellow Princess (1968) / Mississippi John Hurt, Today! (1966) (Vanguard)

To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Vanguard label, five of the label’s best-loved artists will have some of their classic LPs reissued on vinyl with the original artwork reproduced.

Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros, Global A Go-Go (2001) / Streetcore (2003) (HellCat)

The last of The Clash frontman’s work with his last band, The Mescaleros, will get their first-ever vinyl issues.

John Lennon 7″ Box Set (Capitol)

A specially reissued, individually-numbered box includes reproduced 7″ singles to “Mother” B/W “Why” (1970), “Imagine” b/w “It’s So Hard” (1971) and “Watching the Wheels” b/w “Yes, I’m Your Angel” (1981) along with three postcards, a 24″ x 36 ” poster and a custom 7″ adaptor hub.

Joy Division Box Set (Rhino)

A quadruple LP box of unknown content, limited to 82o copies.

Modest Mouse, The Moon and Antarctica (2000) (Epic/Legacy)

A double LP reissue of the band’s first major label release, in honor of its 10th anniversary.

Pantera, Cowboys from Hell (1990) / Vulgar Display of Power (1992) / Far Beyond Driven (1994) (Rhino)

Vinyl reissues of three albums from the metal legends, limited to 5000 copies each (except Far Beyond Driven, limited to 3000).

Pavement, Quarantine the Past: The Best of Pavement (Matador)

The first career-spanning compilation by the recently-reunited alt-rockers was already released in March, but one lucky contest winner with the most imaginative track listing for the set saw his playlist pressed onto a limited double vinyl set just for the occasion.

R.E.M., Chronic Town (1982) (Interscope)

An individually-numbered, blue-vinyl version of the band’s debut EP (available on the Dead Letter Office CD).

The Ramones, Ramones Mania (1988) (Sire)

Double-vinyl reissue of the first-ever compilation by one of the best punk bands of all time. Includes thirty singles, including the then-unreleased stereo film version of “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School.”

The Rolling Stones, “Plundered My Soul” b/w “All Down the Line” (Universal)

A hand-numbered 7″ single featuring two tracks from the forthcoming Exile on Main St. reissue.

News Round-Up: Disintegrated, Devo and Lena Horne Unearthed

• Chain of Flowers reports that the upcoming expansion of Disintegration by The Cure still lacks a release date. In a related story, ARRRRRRRGH.
• Amazon is taking pre-orders for a reissue of Duty Now for the Future, Devo’s 1979 sophomore album. This title, due on April 13 (presumably with bonus content), follows the deluxe versions of Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! and Freedom of Choice released last year.
• Hip-O Select tweeted a tease for an upcoming release: “Lena Horne did 16 singles on MGM – never on CD, until…. Coming soon…” Actual discographical information has been hard to pin down regarding Horne on MGM, but my research indicates this may consist of Lena Horne Sings, a 1951 10-inch LP, and/or The One & Only Lena Horne, a planned 1982 LP that was never issued but likely covered the same material.