Tony Bennett’s “The Classics” Features Solo Hits Plus Streisand, Winehouse, Sinatra Duets

Following the success of 2013’s Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962 and Live at the Sahara: Las Vegas 1964, Columbia Records, RPM Records and Legacy Recordings are starting off 2014 with a newly-assembled collection from Tony Bennett due on January 28.

The Classics, available in a 20-track standard edition or a 30-track deluxe configuration, features material personally selected by the 87-year old living legend.  In a statement provided by Legacy, Bennett confirmed that he kept two things in mind while compiling this celebratory project: “choosing songs that exemplify to the highest degree a timeless quality, while selecting a performance of those songs that present them in a very immediate and ‘live’ approach. I feel that songs I selected for The Classics absolutely meet both of these criteria.”

Both editions of The Classics open with “Because of You,” the artist’s first Columbia Records single and first chart-topping record.  It goes on to include the “solo tracks that I felt most closely represented the highest level of musical craftsmanship that has been my mandate as I have built my recording catalogue” and includes a number of recent duets, sung “with artists who I admire and have loved working with over the years.”  No rare or new-to-CD material is present.

After the jump, we have full details including the track listing for both versions!

And the Tracks Are…: “2012 Grammy Nominees” Disc Due

With the 54th Annual Grammy Awards mere weeks away on February 13, it’s getting close to one of music’s most vaunted pre-Grammy traditions: the release of the annual Grammy nominees compilation.

Due out January 24, 2012 Grammy Nominees compiles exactly the artists you’d expect, from multiple award nominees (British soul songstress Adele, pop acts Bruno Mars and Katy Perry, modern rock legends the Foo Fighters and country star Taylor Swift) to rising stars (rappers J. Cole and Nicki Minaj, alt-rockers Foster the People, dubstep artist/producer Skrillex). At 22 tracks from Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera to Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse, it’s every bit the who’s who of pop music in 2011 you’d expect.

But there’s a bit of an interesting twist this year: fans who buy the album, either physically or digitally, will be able to participate in a contest with a grand prize of tickets to next year’s Grammy Awards. Details on that event are here, and details of the album are after the jump.

Release Round-Up: Week of November 21

Another Monday release date, ostensibly to get the jump on an abbreviated week with the Thanksgiving/Black Friday holiday! And it’s another big week, to be sure.

The Rolling Stones, Some Girls: Deluxe Edition (Rolling Stones/UMe)

Whether you think it’s the last truly great Stones album or not, it’s hard to deny that this is the biggest of the deluxe releases this week. (That super-deluxe edition, with a bonus DVD and vinyl, doesn’t disprove the notion, either.)

Bob Seger, Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets (Capitol)

Seger’s Greatest Hits (1994) was the biggest selling catalogue album of the last decade. So it stands to reason that this two-disc set, boasting more than a few rare and unreleased classics, would do just as well, right?

Michael Jackson, Immortal (Epic)

Not only Michael’s greatest hits, but his best material, remixed and reimagined for the new Cirque du Soleil show. Shameless plug: a full review from me will be up, courtesy of our friends at Popblerd, later today. But I can tell you this – if you love Michael, and remember how much fun it was to lose yourself in Michael’s music, this one’s for you.

Rush, Sectors 1-3 (Mercury/UMe)

Three box sets of Rush’s entire discography for Mercury, from 1976 to 1987. Fifteen albums, five per box, with one of the albums in each box also included as a surround-sound DVD. (That part’s still kind of confusing to me, too.)

The Kinks, The Kinks in Mono (Sanctuary U.K.)

Ten discs of mono Kinks, includes their first seven albums and three discs of EP and single material. And I didn’t make a single Kinks “K” joke in there at all!

Lady Gaga, Born This Way: The Collection (Streamline/Kon Live/Interscope)

My pick for the best mainstream pop album of the year (although it’s quite further down the list of overall albums) is expanded with a new remix album and live DVD (also available separately, because Gaga is good to her little monsters like that).

The Grateful Dead, Dick’s Picks Vol. 34-36 (Real Gone)

More reissued gems from our new friends at Real Gone: the last three volumes of Dick’s Picks, originally released in 2005.

Warren Zevon, Bad Luck in Dancing School (Friday Music)

Long out of print, Zevon’s 1980 album is remastered and reissued on compact disc.

Styx, Pieces of Eight (Vinyl) (Friday Music)

All you renegades and blue collar men will love this vinyl reissue of the 1978 classic.

Ed Ames, Christmas with Ed Ames/Christmas is the Warmest Time of Year / David Rose, The David Rose Christmas Album (Real Gone)

Three adult contemporary classic holiday albums presented on two CDs.

To the Edge of Glory and Back: Gaga Reissues “Born This Way” with Extra Discs for Holidays

It wouldn’t be the holiday season without a few reissues of recent works, and we’ve got a big one coming up in just a month: a sprawling three-disc version of Lady Gaga’s monster hit album Born This Way.

Love her or hate her, the New York girl born Stefani Germanotta has gone from Madonna-aping pop singer to bizarro pop-cultural force since her 2008 debut. The release of this year’s Born This Way, her second studio-length effort (following 2009’s excellent EP The Fame Monster and a throwaway remix album), was a major event in and of itself, selling over a million copies in its first week of release, the highest-selling single week debut in five years. (The controversial first-week Amazon MP3 price of 99 cents probably helped drive sales.)

While it’s not her most focused work, the number of influences she draws from on the record – not only Madonna but Michael Jackson, Duran Duran, Def Leppard, Whitney Houston, CHIC and Bruce Springsteen (poignant, mood-heightening album closer “The Edge of Glory,” featuring the last studio work of the Big Man, Clarence Clemons, is one of the highlights) – is impressive. And the quartet of Top 10 hits, including the title track (the 1,000th song to top the Billboard charts), “Judas,” “The Edge of Glory” and “Yoü and I,” aren’t too shabby either. (Fifth single “Marry the Night,” to be released alongside this new reissue, might join the ranks soon.)

As The Fame Monster was available on its own or with The Fame for the 2009 holiday season, Born This Way: The Collection is a combination of several new Gaga titles that will be available on their own for those who already got their copy of the album itself. In addition to the 17-track special edition version of the album (albeit without the remix disc that appeared in said package), fans will get Born This Way: The Remix, a new remix album featuring 14 all-new reconfigurations of tracks from noted DJs and dance producers, and the DVD of The Monster Ball Tour special broadcast on HBO earlier this spring. (Both the remix set and the live show will be available separately, with Monster Ball coming to DVD and Blu-Ray.)

All these sets – plus Gaga’s Lady Gaga x Terry Richardson photo book – will be available November 21. Order the three-disc set at Amazon here and check the track list after the jump.