U2 x 2: New Fan-Club CD to Explore Duets

Details for U2’s latest fan-club release have been announced, and the band is bringing some very special guests for this disc.

U2 Duals, continuing a tradition of fan-club releases that have included special CD singles, remix albums and vintage live shows, collates some of the group’s most notable duets. From “When Love Comes to Town,” the 1988 single featuring B.B. King, to a live show this past November with a guest appearance by Jay-Z, U2 have gotten around with multiple collaborators including Johnny Cash, Green Day, Luciano Pavarotti and Mary J. Blige.

All but three of the tracks have been previously released – the aforementioned “Sunday Bloody Sunday” featuring Jay-Z and two tracks cut with The Soweto Gospel Choir to commemorate the 2010 FIFA World Cup are new to CD – so collectors who’d rather not spend extra money on a membership for one CD aren’t missing much. For completists, though (you know who you are), this is a noteworthy release indeed.

More info is available at the band’s official Web site, and the track list is after the jump.

Release Round-Up: Week of November 23

With most retailers putting out their new releases today to get a jump on the inevitable holiday weekend blitz, here’s the big catalogue releases for the week a day early!

Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson’s Vision (Epic/Legacy)

A three-DVD set that includes just about any MJ video you could be searching for. Of course, the one unreleased clip just officially hit the Internet, making you wonder what the fuss is all about. Oh wait, it’s Michael Jackson. (Official site)

Jay-Z, The Hits Collection Vol. 1 (Def Jam)

The first domestic compilation by one of the most respected MCs in the game. A deluxe version features five unreleased tracks. The perfect soundtrack to reading his new memoir. (Official site)

The Who, Live at Leeds: 40th Anniversary Edition (Geffen/UMe)

If you haven’t bought Live at Leeds in any of its three previous incarnations, this set adds the complete Hull show in addition to the complete Leeds show and throws in some vinyl and book bonuses. (Amazon)

 

The Rolling Stones, The Rolling Stones Vinyl Box Set 1964-1969 (ABKCO/UMe) / The Rolling Stones Vinyl Box Set 1971-2005 (Rolling Stones/UMe)

Two hefty boxes of wax collecting all the albums, EPs and compilations The Stones ever committed to tape. (Amazon – 1964-1969)

Pet Shop Boys, Ultimate Pet Shop Boys (EMI)

A thin hits compilation made slightly more worthwhile by the presence of a deluxe edition with a well-stocked DVD of Top of the Pops performances and other live treats. (Official site)

Nine Inch Nails, Pretty Hate Machine (Null Corporation/Bicycle Music Company/UMe)

Trent Reznor remasters and reissues NIN’s debut album with one bonus track. (Amazon)

Mr. Mister, Pull (RCA/Legacy)

Released from the vault after 20 years, Legacy issues a digital (and limited physical) release of the fourth Mr. Mister LP, alongside digital releases of two other Mr. Mister albums (I Wear the Face (1984) and Go On… (1987)) and two LPs by the pre-Mister group Pages. (Official site)

From Marcy to Madison Square: Jay-Z Compilation Forthcoming (UPDATE 10/18)

A new compilation for rapper Jay-Z will be on store shelves very soon from Island Def Jam.

The influential hip-hop artist/businessman has never had a compilation released stateside, outside of a bonus CD packed with special copies of last year’s DJ Hero video game. So this is quite a monument; the man born Shawn Carter is arguably the most pre-eminent figure in rap since the end of the 1990s. His career has weathered retirements, comebacks, feuds, reconciliations and the jump from Roc-a-Fella Records – the label he co-created – to new venture Roc Nation (distributed by Warner’s Atlantic Records).

Now, on November 23 – six days after his lyrical memoir Decoded hits stores and the same week Island Def Jam releases both a new studio album from Jay protegee/collaborator Kanye West and a collaborative EP between West and Jay-Z – the label will drop The Hits Collection Vol. 1. It’s been confirmed for a variety of formats (Amazon lists standard and deluxe editions alongside a deluxe box set version) and, as first reported by Billboard, will include five unreleased tracks. (Also interesting: the track list includes not only Hov’s hits on Roc-a-Fella, but threel hits licensed from his latest record, 2009’s The Blueprint 3.)

Amazon now has a track list, which you can read after the jump.