Archive for the ‘Frank Zappa’ Category
UMe’s Record Store Day Slate Features Nirvana, Frank Zappa, Classic Blue Note, Motown Funk and More
With Public Enemy’s Chuck D engaged as the Record Store Day Ambassador for 2014, it’s only appropriate that one of his own records is arriving this Saturday as a special limited edition vinyl platter. The new reissue of Public Enemy’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back will be joined on RSD by a host of other vinyl goodies from Universal Music Enterprises (UMe). Previously unreleased music from Frank Zappa (previewing the upcoming 40th anniversary reissue of Apostrophe) and the seventies Motown pair of Rick James and Teena Marie will arrive from Universal, along with replicas of the first two releases ever from the venerable Blue Note Records, currently celebrating its 75th anniversary. New Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Nirvana make their mark on RSD with the first-ever seven-inch release of “Pennyroyal Tea” b/w “I Hate Myself and Want to Die,” originally scheduled for release in 1994 but pulled off the schedule in the wake of Kurt Cobain’s suicide. Universal also has a special vinyl box, Superunknown: The Singles, commemorating the 20th anniversary of Soundgarden’s Superunknown.
Hit the jump for the full specs on each title courtesy of Universal’s original press release!
Release Round-Up: Week of December 18
Frank Zappa, Remasters Wave 6 (Zappa/UMe)
Joe dutifully broke this one down yesterday at the link above: five final titles in the FZ 2012 remaster campaign, consisting of Ahead of Their Time and The Yellow Shark (1993), The Lost Episodes and Läther (1996), plus a new compilation, Finer Moments.
Rush, 2112: Deluxe Edition (Mercury/UMe)
The prog classic is reissued (in time for 21/12, ha!) in three formats: a CD/DVD featuring three unreleased live bonus tracks, expanded liner notes and a 5.1 surround mix (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.), a CD/Blu-Ray with the same (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) and a super deluxe version in a hardbound case with additional new artwork (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Eric Clapton, Slowhand: 35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Polydor/UMe)
Looking for something wonderful tonight? This may be it: Clapton’s 1977 classic comes back in a variety of formats, including a deluxe box (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) featuring the album, four outtakes and a two-disc, mostly unreleased live show, plus the album in both 5.1 surround and on vinyl. A two-disc deluxe set (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) includes the album, the outtakes and highlights from the show on the other disc.
The Rolling Stones, The Brussels Affair (Stones Archive)
A morbidly oversized CD/vinyl/swag-filled Amazon-exclusive box version of an appropriately epic concert from 1973. Careful about that price tag, y’all. (Amazon U.S.)
Muddy Waters, You Shook Me: The Chess Masters Volume 3 1958-1963 (Hip-O Select/Geffen)
A two-disc set of vintage Muddy, including the albums Muddy Waters Sings “Big Bill” and Muddy Waters at Newport 1960 in full. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Ahead of His Time: Final Wave of Zappa Reissues Arrives (For Now)
Welcome to our ongoing exploration of the Zappa Records/Universal Music (UMe) reissue campaign which will see a comprehensive array of Zappa titles remastered and reissued before 2012 is out!
The first batch of 12 titles arrived on July 31, and another 12 followed on August 28. The third dozen appeared in stores on September 25, and Wave Four (including a new title, Understanding America) saw release on Tuesday, October 30. Wave Five, the penultimate group, hit stores on November 19, and tomorrow, December 18, a final group of five CDs closes out the year, including another world premiere release, Finer Moments.
The following titles bring to a close the first year of releases from the Zappa Records/UMe partnership, though the door is certainly not closed on future releases:
- Ahead of Their Time (1993) – Official Release # 61 – 1992 Digital Master
- The Yellow Shark (1993) – Official Release # 62 – 1992 Digital Master
- The Lost Episodes (1996) – Official Release # 64 – 1992 Digital Master
- Läther (1996) – Official Release # 65 – 1996 Digital Master
- Finer Moments (2012) – Official Release # 94 – 1972 Analog Master, remastered by Stephen Marcussen
All of these discs have been transferred from their most current digital masters by Joe Travers, Zappa Records’ esteemed “Vaultmeister.” Finer Moments was remastered in 2007 by Stephen Marcussen.
After the jump: FAQs and mastering information on the first five groups of titles, an update on the new Läther, plus a track listing plus artwork for Finer Moments! Read the rest of this entry »
Black Friday 2012: Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Rolling Stones, Frank Zappa Lead Off Packed Slate of RSD Exclusives
Here in the U. S. of A., Black Friday is almost upon us: that unusual date following the prior day of giving thanks, in which consumers make a mad dash to the local big-box store, mall or shopping center to procure bargains for the holiday season ahead. Retailers are controversially beginning Black Friday “festivities” even earlier than usual this year, with many sales starting on Thanksgiving Day itself and not even at midnight but in the early part of the evening. For a number of recent years, music buyers have had our own Black Friday, that day in April known as Record Store Day in which the aisles of our independent retailers are filled with hunters of collectible vinyl and CD releases. Record Store Day has in the past sponsored a mini-RSD event on Black Friday, but this year, the titles on offer are as enticing and nearly as plentiful as those on the main RSD itself. For some, this will be a source of frustration, for others, excitement.
This year’s line-up for Record Store Day – Black Friday brings titles from some of the biggest names in rock including The Beach Boys, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and Nirvana, plus cult favorites like Leonard Cohen, Lee Hazlewood and Frank Zappa, and country-and-western legends such as Wanda Jackson and Buck Owens.
After the jump and without further ado, we’ll fill you in on the crème of the reissued crop come this Black Friday! Just click for your full list of the catalogue releases to watch! Read the rest of this entry »
Release Round-Up: Week of November 19
Led Zeppelin,Celebration Day (Swan Song/Atlantic)
The one-off reunion nobody expected and everyone loved – a 2007 gig at the O2 in London – is now available in a variety of formats for your listening enjoyment. (Odds are this isn’t the last LZ catalogue bit you’ll see in the next year.) (2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) (2CD/1DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) (2CD/Blu-Ray: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) (2CD/1DVD/Blu-Ray: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) (Blu-Ray Audio: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) (3LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Frank Zappa, 8 album reissues (Zappa/UMe)
A good chunk of the fifth and final wave of Zappa album remasters (the other three in the wave have been moved back to December 18), including the first-ever CD release of the Mothermania compilation and four volumes of You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore. The link above has more info and pre-order links!
The Jam, The Gift: Deluxe Edition (Polydor/UMC U.K.)
A lavish deluxe version of The Jam’s final album, augmented with B-sides, unreleased demos, live tracks and video footage, all in a fancy “gift” bag. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
10cc, Tenology (UMC U.K.)
One of the more underrated bands of the ’70s, 10cc finally gets their due with a multi-disc CD/DVD box set. Hits, album cuts and B-sides abound. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
ABBA,ABBA: Deluxe Edition (Polydor/UMC U.K.)
Mamma Mia! The Swedish legends’ 1976 album is reissued as a CD/DVD set with rare archival video. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Naked Eyes, Burning Bridges: Expanded Edition (Cherry Pop)
The album that gave us hits like “Always Something There to Remind Me” and “Promises, Promises” is expanded by Cherry Pop with B-sides and bonus remixes. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Kelly Clarkson, The Hits: Chapter One (RCA/19)
The first true greatest hits collection from an American Idol winner. That crushing feeling is the sands of time upon you. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Elvis Costello, In Motion Pictures (UMe)
If E.C. had a song in a movie, it’s probably here. Probably. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
The Beach Boys, Live in Concert: 50th Anniversary (SMC)
Good news: a live Beach Boys show from this year’s tour! Bad news: hugely edited. Like, more than half. (DVD: Amazon U.S. Blu-Ray: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
AC/DC, Live at River Plate (Columbia)
The band’s 2009 set in Argentina, released on DVD a few years back, is now available on two CDs or three red LPs. (2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) (3LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Art Pepper, Neon Art Volume 3 (Omnivore)
The third and final volume of Omnivore’s Art Pepper colored vinyl series; this one features part of a 1981 live show on yellow wax.
3 Doors Down, The Greatest Hits (Universal Republic)
A greatest hits compilation we only just found out about, like, two days ago. Full story coming up later. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
t.A.T.u., 200 Km/H in the Wrong Lane: 10th Anniversary Edition (Cherrytree/Interscope/Universal Russia)
Wait, what? Yup. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Frank Zappa Hits the Road: First Volume of “Road Tapes” Arrives, Track Listing Confirmed [UPDATED 11/14]
It really is Mothermania.
With Zappa Records’ and Universal Music’s campaign to reissue the Official Albums of Frank Zappa drawing to a close in December, there are still a few surprises up the Zappa Family Trust’s sleeves. In our newly-updated ongoing rundown of the main campaign, we have already reported on the reissue of the Mothers of Invention’s “greatest hits” Mothermania, originally released on Verve Records in 1969 and only now appearing on authorized CD. We’ve also passed on news of an all-new 2-CD FZ compilation, Understanding America, released to coincide with the recent election. But that’s not all. While we wait for the final batches of the core reissues to arrive in November and December, Zappa Records has announced the beginning of a new series.
The official Barfko-Swill store is currently accepting orders for the first volume of Road Tapes, which appears to be a series of live concerts in the style of Grateful Dead’s Dick’s Picks or certain volumes of Bob Dylan’s Bootleg Series or the Elvis Presley Follow that Dream series. Volume 1 of Road Tapes takes listeners all the way back to August 25, 1968 at Vancouver’s Kerrisdale Arena. Very little is known about this show, as Zappa is keeping details (as usual) close to the vest until the actual release and the show appears to be uncirculated in collectors’ circles. What can be gleaned from other sources, however, is that the band likely consisted of Zappa, Ray Collins, Roy Estrada, Jimmy Carl Black, Art Tripp, Ian Underwood, Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, and Jim “Motorhead” Sherwood. Chronologically in the Zappa studio discography, this gig falls between the release of We’re Only In It for the Money (released March 4, 1968) and that of Cruising with Ruben and the Jets (released December 2, 1968).
There’s more after the jump! Read the rest of this entry »
Release Round-Up: Weeks of October 30 and November 6
Election Day is upon us today! But if you’re looking to cast your vote for some music, too, we might be able to help! Though we were able to keep the lights on each day at The Second Disc, Hurricane Sandy kept us from publishing a Release Round-Up last week. So without further ado, here’s the best of the best for the weeks of October 30 and November 6!
Louis Armstrong, The Complete OKeh, Columbia and RCA Victor Recordings 1925-1933 (OKeh/Columbia/RCA/Legacy) (10 CDs) / Charlie Christian, The Genius of the Electric Guitar (Columbia/ Legacy) (4 CDs) / Duke Ellington, The Complete Columbia Studio Albums Collection 1951-1958 (Columbia/ Legacy) (9 CDs) / Bessie Smith, The Complete Columbia Recordings (Columbia/ Legacy) (10 CDs)
Four titans of jazz are celebrated with comprehensive box sets from Legacy Recordings! Full details on each box can be found here!
Glen Campbell, Try a Little Kindness / The Glen Campbell Goodtime Album / The Last Time I Saw Her (BGO)
Three long-out-of-print albums from the country and pop legend arrive on two CDs from BGO! Campbell’s renditions of “MacArthur Park,” “Honey, Come Back,” “Try a Little Kindness,” “Just Another Piece of Paper,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “Help Me Make It Through the Night” are among the great songs you’ll hear here!
Creedence Clearwater Revival, Ultimate Creedence Clearwater Revival: Greatest Hits & All-Time Classics (Fantasy, 2012)
You’ll find 3 CDs of hits, deep cuts and live tracks here from the Bay Area swamp-rock legends! Full track listing and more can be found here.
El Topo Soundtrack (LP & CD)/ David Peel & the Lower East Side, Have a Marijuana / Perry Como, Complete RCA Christmas Collection / Doris Day, The Complete Christmas Collection / SSgt. Barry Sadler, Ballads of the Green Berets
Real Gone Music’s October 30 slate included a counterculture classic from David Peel, a lost Apple Records soundtrack, two Christmas collections from beloved vocalists and an expanded reissue of SSgt. Barry Sadler’s Ballads of the Green Berets! Full details are here!
Bert Jansch, Heartbreak: 30th Anniversary Edition (Omnivore) (CD / LP)
The great guitarist, singer and songwriter’s 1982 album arrives in an expanded edition on both CD and LP from Omnivore Recordings! Track listing and all details are here.
Jethro Tull, Thick as a Brick: 40th Anniversary Edition (Chrysalis) (CD/DVD Box and 2-LP Edition)
Extra! Extra! Jethro Tull’s 1971 album is celebrated in a CD/DVD box set and as a 2-LP vinyl edition! Read all about it here.
Barbara Lewis, The Complete Atlantic Singles / Johnny Mathis, This Is Love/Olé / Johnny Mathis, The Sweetheart Tree/The Shadow of Your Smile
For November 6, Real Gone has released a 2-CD set of soulful singles from the “Baby, I’m Yours” singer, plus another two of Johnny Mathis’ long-unavailable Mercury Records albums! Full details are here!
Gary Lewis and the Playboys, (You Don’t Have To) Paint Me a Picture / New Directions / Now! (BGO)
Three albums circa 1967-1968 arrive on CD from the sixties’ pop sensations, including New Directions with its line-up of songs from the “Happy Together” team of Bonner and Gordon; and Now! with its Playboys takes on pop hits such as “Windy” and “I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight.” You’ll also find contributions on this new 2-CD set from the young Leon Russell.
The Rolling Stones, Charlie is My Darling (Super Deluxe Box Set) (ABKCO, 2012)
The documentary Charlie is My Darling chronicles the early days of The Rolling Stones, and it’s arrived in a DVD/BD/CD/LP box set from ABKCO! Track listing and full details are here.
James Taylor, James Taylor at Christmas (UMe)
JT’s 2004 Christmas collection arrives, with an altered track listing and a couple of newly-compiled tracks, in a new iteration from Universal! Watch this space for full details!
Various Artists, Now That’s What I Call Disney (Sony/Universal/EMI/Walt Disney)
This 20-track collection reaches back as far as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and brings the Disney legacy up to date with songs from more recent classics like Toy Story and Tangled. The title is derived from a 2011 3-CD compilation that arrived in the United Kingdom.
Various Artists, Rodgers & Hammerstein: The Complete Broadway Musicals (Masterworks Broadway, 2012)
Oh, what a beautiful box set! This impressive 12-CD box set brings together one recording of each of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II’s groundbreaking Broadway musicals! Full details are here.
The Velvet Underground and Nico: 45th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Verve/UMe, 2012)
The Velvets’ debut album goes Super Deluxe in this 6-CD set. Read more here!
Dionne Warwick, Now (Blue Horizon)
The legendary singer returns with an all-new studio set revisiting classics from Burt Bacharach and Hal David. The Phil Ramone-produced album includes four songs (two penned by Bacharach and two by David) which Warwick had never previously recorded. The whole story is here!
The Who, Live at Hull 1970 (Geffen/UMe)
The incendiary 2-CD concert from Pete, Roger, John and Keith arrives for the first time as a stand-alone edition; it was previously available as part of the 2010 Live at Leeds box set. You’ll find the track listing here.
Bill Withers, The Complete Sussex and Columbia Masters (Columbia/Legacy)
You can rediscover the entire album catalogue of the “Ain’t No Sunshine”/Lean on Me” man with this 9-CD box set from Legacy Recordings! Full track listing and more can be found here!
Frank Zappa, 11 catalogue reissues (UMe/Zappa Records)
Another round of Official Releases from the Frank Zappa camp has arrived, from 1984’s Francesco Zappa through 1991’s Make a Jazz Noise Here. Plus: the 2012 compilation Understanding America makes its debut. Read the full rundown with order links here!
Release Round-Up: Week of September 25
Glen Campbell and Jimmy Webb, In Session (Concord)
The legendary songwriter and equally legendary country superstar join forces for two 1988 television broadcasts, joined together on one DVD and accompanied by a CD of the programs’ musical selections! Campbell’s only recording of Webb’s “Sunshower” can be found here, among other gems. For those of you anticipating the arrival of In Session today, it appears that this title has been delayed until October 9! You can read more about it here. Now, onto some titles actually arriving in stores today…
Aretha Franklin, Love All the Hurt Away / MFSB, Love is the Message / Platypus, Platypus / Lipps, Inc., Mouth to Mouth / Dionne Warwick, Heartbreaker (Big Break Records)
It’s another soul banquet from the good people at Big Break Records with expanded and remastered titles from the catalogues of Casablanca, Arista and Philadelphia International! Watch for features and reviews on all of the above, coming soon! These are out in the U.K. today, while a U.S. berth follows next week.
Dickie Goodman, Long Live the King/Moving Sidewalks, The Complete Collection (RockBeat)
RockBeat Records returns with two new releases: a single-disc compilation spanning the career of the “break-in record” king, Dickie Goodman, and a two-CD anthology of music from Billy Gibbons’ pre-ZZ Top band, The Moving Sidewalks! Here’s the scoop on these titles and more from RockBeat.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The 50th Anniversary Collection (Columbia/Legacy)
The New Orleans institution turns 50, and celebrates the occasion with this deluxe box set of performances recorded between 1962 and 2010, including five previously unreleased tracks! Read more here!
R.E.M., Document: 25th Anniversary Edition (EMI)
R.E.M.’s fifth studio album has turned 25! Document was recorded by vocalist Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and drummer Bill Berry, and was the band’s first album to achieve platinum sales. The remastered album is joined by a previously unreleased 1987 concert, and it’s all packaged in a sturdy lift-top box with four postcards. Read all about it here.
Merl Saunders and Jerry Garcia, Keystone Companions: The Complete 1973 Fantasy Recordings (Fantasy/Concord)
Fantasy Records issues four CDs of prime live Garcia, in which the Grateful Dead leader is joined by Merl Saunders. These remarkable Bay Area performances are packaged in a handsome box with copious notes and a bit of swag, too. Watch for our review as part of our Holiday Gift Guide, coming soon!
Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr., Christmas with the Rat Pack (Capitol)
2012 is bringing another new version of Capitol’s Rat Pack holiday compilation, and it appears to have lost a few tracks since its original 2002 release (and subsequent 2006 reissue). Still, this music simply can’t be beat, pallies.
Sex Pistols, Never Mind the Bollocks Here’s The Sex Pistols: Super Deluxe Edition (Universal U.K.)
Never mind the rest, the Sex Pistols have gone super-deluxe! That means you’ll get a remastered version of the original album, a CD of outtakes and rarities (including previously unreleased tracks), a live CD, and a DVD, too, plus the requisite swag including a replica of the original A&M pressing of “God Save the Queen.” This is available in the U.K. now, and in the U.S. next week! If you don’t think this set is a load of bollocks, you’ll want to read more about it here!
Barbra Streisand, Release Me (Columbia)
La Streisand unlocks the vault doors for this first collection of previously-unreleased material recorded between 1967 and 2011, with songs by world-class composers like Jimmy Webb, Randy Newman, Paul Williams and Michel Legrand. Word has it that future volumes might follow as Streisand kicks off her 50th year of recording for Columbia Records. Release Me is out today on vinyl, while the CD release follows on October 9.
The John Wilson Orchestra, That’s Entertainment: A Celebration of the MGM Film Musical (EMI)
The John Wilson Orchestra’s 2009 BBC Prom concert, with guest stars Seth MacFarlane, Kim Criswell and Curtis Stigers singing reconstructed tunes from classic MGM musicals, receives an American release. It’s available as a standard edition and a deluxe one, with the latter containing liner notes and session photos in a casebound, hardcover book plus a DVD containing a featurette and music videos. A stand-alone DVD of the concert is also available.
Frank Zappa, 12 catalogue reissues (UMe/Zappa Records)
Twelve more Zappa classics arrive on CD, many in freshly-remastered editions. Full details and pre-order links for every title can be found in yesterday’s full rundown, or just click on the li’l fella, above, to order and jump headfirst into FZ Territory!
Warren Zevon, Mr. Bad Example/Mutineer (Friday Music)
The late Warren Zevon’s witty, mordant and moving oeuvre is celebrated on this two-fer from Friday Music, bringing together his 1991 and 1995 studio albums.
Original Soundtrack, Dirty Dancing: The Anniversary Edition (RCA/Legacy)
Will you have the time of your life with this deluxe version of the smash soundtrack album to the 1987 film? Only the original 12 songs are present, but they’re joined in a commemorative package by six suitable-for-framing art cards and a bumper sticker.
Release Round-Up: Week of August 28
Frank Zappa, Official Reissues #15-26 (Zappa Records/UMe)
FZ’s 1972-1979 discography, almost entirely sourced from original analog masters. (Joe breaks it all down for you here!)
Various Artists, A&M 50: The Anniversary Collection (A&M/UMe)
Three discs of hits and favorites from a most eclectic of major labels.
Elvis Presley, A Boy from Tupelo: The Complete 1953-1955 Recordings (Follow That Dream)
The King’s complete Sun tenure, with single masters, alternates, live takes and more – not to mention an enormous book of liner notes spanning over 500 pages.
Art Garfunkel, The Singer (Columbia/Legacy)
You know the voice; now, take a dive into Art Garfunkel’s career with this double-disc overview, curated by the man himself and featuring Simon & Garfunkel tracks, solo recordings and two brand-new tunes.
Johnny Mathis, Tender is the Night/The Wonderful World of Make-Believe / Love is Everything/Broadway (Real Gone)
The first of a series of two-fers bringing Mathis’ Mercury discography back into print, including an unreleased LP of Broadway standards!
David Cassidy, Cassidy Live / Gettin’ It in the Street / Gary Lewis & The Playboys, The Complete Liberty Singles / The Grateful Dead, Dick’s Picks Volume 28 (Real Gone)
The rest of Real Gone’s monthly lineup includes two David Cassidy discs on CD for the first time ever.
The Brecker Brothers, The Complete Arista Albums Collection / Etta James, The Complete Private Music Blues, Rock ‘n’ Soul Albums Collection / Sarah Vaughan, The Complete Columbia Albums Collection (Legacy)
The latest PopMarket boxes include a Brecker Brothers box entirely full of discs making their CD debuts.
Andrew W.K., I Get Wet: Deluxe Edition (Century Media)
2001’s ultimate party soundtrack, with a bonus disc of live and alternate material.
Release Round-Up: Week of July 31
Frank Zappa, Official Reissues #1-13 (Zappa/UMe)
The iconoclastic musician’s catalogue is back in print thanks to a new agreement with Universal, and his first 13 albums (most of them newly remastered from the original analog masters) are available today. Joe gave us a great breakdown of what’s what on these new masters, which also has convenient links to both these new titles and the forthcoming second wave of remasters next month.
Blur, Blur 21 (Virgin/EMI)
21 refers not only to the legendary British band’s lifespan to date, but the amount of discs in this collection: all seven studio albums expanded with bonus discs (which are available separately, if that’s your thing), plus another four discs of rarities and three mostly live DVDs.
Neil Diamond, Hot August Night: 40th Anniversary Edition (Geffen/UMe)
Hard to believe it’s been 40 years since Neil’s second, terrific live LP was issued! This two-disc edition adds four unreleased tracks, offering just about every minute of that fateful night at LA’s Greek Theatre.
Elvis Presley, I Am An Elvis Fan (RCA/Legacy)
The latest Elvis compilation was fan-sourced, leading to some slightly different track choices than your typical Elvis fare, including a nice handful of live cuts from the latter half of the King’s career.
Charles Mingus, The Complete Columbia & RCA Studio Albums Collection / The Thelonious Monk Quartet, The Complete Columbia Studio Albums Collection / Weather Report, The Complete Columbia Albums 1971-1975 (Columbia/Legacy)
PopMarket’s latest complete boxes showcase some of the best jazz/fusion players to ever grace the Columbia label, and there are some great surprises in these boxes, including two rare tracks in the Mingus box and the first-ever domestic release of a Japanese live album in the Weather Report set.
20/20, 2o/20/Look Out! ; Clover, Clover/Fourty Niner ; Jimmy Griffin, Summer Holiday: Expanded Edition ; Sanford & Townsend, Smoke from a Distant Fire/Nail Me to the Wall ; Charles Bukowski, Charles Bukowski Reads His Poetry ; Jackie Gleason, Music for Lovers Only (Real Gone)
A diverse selection of releases from the eclectic reissue label: “The Great One,” the future Bread frontman, an American poet, a future Elvis Costello backing band and more!
Various Artists, Good Vibrations: The Beach Boys Songbook (Columbia/Sony Music Japan)
A quirky compilation from Japan (on Blu-Spec CD, no less) featuring some intriguing Beach Boys covers from the likes of Todd Rundgren, The Tokens, Andy Williams and others.
The Second Disc 