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Vinyl Releases of the Week: May 2, 2012
I love it – Brian Wilson and George Harrison, two men from the two biggest bands of all time, have retrospective albums out this week that shine a new light on their individual genius. But the age-old question still remains: Beatles or Beach Boys? Instead of trying to answer that, check out the new music from Norah Jones, Rufus Wainwright, and Santigold, or revisit some classics from UFO and Styx.
Brian Wilson – I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times (Friday Music)
For the first time on 180-gram audiophile vinyl is this 1995 solo album from Brian Wilson, made in conjunction with the Wilson bio-documentary of the same name and marking the artist’s re-entry into public life after a tumultuous personal period. For the album, Wilson teams up with producer Don Was and revisits his back catalog, drawing from his deep isolation and loneliness to create restrained re-interpretations of Beach Boys classics like “Caroline, No,” “Do It Again,” “Let the Wind Blow,” “The Warmth of the Sun,” “Meant for You,” “This Whole World,” “Wonderful,” and “‘Til I Die.”
George Harrison – Early Takes Volume 1 (UMe)
Vinyl pressing of this 2012 release from the rock and roll legend, the audio companion to Martin Scorsese’s Harrison bio-pic, Living in the Material World, and a must for any Harrison fan. Featuring early demos of eight songs from Harrison’s solo catalog including “All Things Must Pass” and “My Sweet Lord,” as well as covers of Bob Dylan’s “Mama You’ve Been on My Mind” and the Everly Brothers’ “Let It Be Me” that never made it on a record, Early Takes reveals Harrison’s talents and artistic growth more than the songs’ highly varnished studio versions.
Norah Jones – Little Broken Hearts (Blue Note)
From the title, it’s easy to deduce that the new album from Norah Jones is a break-up album. Coming 10 years after her breakout debut, Come Away with Me, it finds the talented artist collaborating with producer Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley, Broken Bells) and taking a much darker, sometimes wicked approach in its brooding, atmospheric tracks. Includes digital download card.
Santigold – Master of My Make-Believe (Atlantic)
After teasing the blogosphere for the past four years, Santigold is back with a sophomore album, presented in all its globalist, futuristic dance-pop glory on vinyl. Features Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner and singer Karen O.
Rufus Wainwright – Out of the Game (Decca)
Nick Zinner also makes an appearance on the new album from Rufus Wainwright. Described by producer Mark Ronson as having “a real ‘70s, Lauren Canyon spirit” while Wainwright himself cites “all the greats – Elton, Freddie Mercury, David Bowie…” it features the Dap-Kings as his backing band as well as a host of guests including the aforementioned Zinner, Wilco’s Nels Cline, and Sean Lennon.
Brian Jonestown Massacre – Aufheben (A. Records)
Behold: the new album from psych-rockers Brian Jonestown Massacre, pressed on 180-gram vinyl. Recorded in Berlin, it is an Eastern-tinged, cinematic album featuring original member Matt Hollywood as well as contributions from Will Carruthers (Spacemen 3, Spritualized) and the vocals of Eliza Karmasalo – in Finnish.
Bright Eyes – Fevers and Mirrors, There’s No Beginning to the Story EP (Saddle Creek)
Double LP reissue of Bright Eyes’ Y2K classic, Fevers and Mirrors, pressed on 180-gram vinyl. Also back on vinyl is the follow-up EP There’s No Beginning to the Story, featuring two tracks not available on the CD release – “Amy in the White Coat” and a cover of Neil Young’s “Out on the Weekend.” Both include a copy of the CD in the jacket.
Styx – Cornerstone (Friday Music)
Limited edition 180-gram vinyl reissue of Styx’s watershed multi-platinum 1979 album. This classic rock hit features the band’s first number one in “Babe,” as well as the songs “Why Me,” “Never Say Never,” “Lights,” and “Boat on the River,” and it is housed in a first-time gatefold cover.
UFO – Lights Out (Friday Music)
180-gram audiophile reissue of the British hard-rock band’s 1977 smash, Lights Out. Featuring “Love to Love,” “Too Hot to Handle,” and “Lights Out” along with a cover of Love’s “Alone Again Or,” the album is a classic.
Pennywise – All or Nothing (Epitaph)
Already being called the Hermosa Beach punk-rock band’s best album since 1997’s Full Circle, All or Nothing finds Pennywise playing harder and faster than ever, marking a return to their mid-‘90s roots and the debut of new singer Zoli Teglas, formerly of Ignite. (P.S. These guys went to my high school.)
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Vinyl Releases of the Week: April 25, 2012
There are quite a few noteworthy vinyl releases and box sets out this week, but the one that everybody seems to be talking about is the new solo album from Jack White – his first release since the White Stripes split.
Jack White – Blunderbuss (Third Man Records)
180-gram vinyl pressing of the solo debut from the former White Stripes frontman. Following the recent dissolution of his six-year marriage and the break-up of his band of 14 years, Blunderbuss is already drawing comparisons to Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks. Musically, it pairs dusty country-blues and early-‘70s rock with White’s restless preoccupations. Includes digital download code.
Jimi Hendrix – “Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?”/”Burning of the Midnight Lamp” 7-inch single (Sundazed)
The first release in a 7-inch singles series of hard-to-find Hendrix performances draws from two different 1967 sessions. Side A features the guitar legend’s reading of Bob Dylan’s “Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?” from BBC Radio’s Rhythm and Blues show, and Side B features a newly discovered take of the Hendrix original performed on the BBC’s Top of the Pops. Packaged in a color picture sleeve incorporating rare vintage Hendrix photos.
Various Artists – Mercury Living Presence: The Collector’s Edition (Decca)
This limited edition 6xLP box set celebrates the 60th anniversary of one of the most sonically spectacular labels in the history of classical recording. Featuring such celebrated artists as Antal Dorati, Rafael Kubelik, Gina Bachauer, Byron Janis, Janos Starker, and Henryk Szeryng performing works by Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Brahms, Rachmaninov, and more, each LP is pressed on 180-gram vinyl and will put you right in the midst of the orchestra.
NOFX – 126 Inches of NOFX (Fat Wreck Chords)
Holy cow, that’s a lot of NOFX! This singles collection contains 18 classic NOFX 7-inchs, totaling up to 126 inches and 82 songs. Includes extremely limited and formerly out-of-print titles, one previously unreleased title (exclusive to the set), and a bunch of other classic NOFX tracks, all direct metal mastered and pressed on gold vinyl!
The 13th Floor Elevators – Music of the Spheres (Snapper Music)
This definitive 13th Floor Elevators vinyl box set includes five LPs and one 10-inch EP from the pioneering Texas psych-rockers. These are: Headstone, Live in California – The Avalon Recordings (both for the first time on vinyl), their lost third album, A Love That’s Sound, now featuring a recently discovered and previously unreleased track, The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators, Bull of the Woods, Easter Everywhere, and The Sumet Sounds Masters EP featuring rare Bob Sullivan mixes from The Psychedelic Sounds of…
Ike Turner – Real Gone Rocket: Session Man Extraordinaire, Selected Singles 1951-1959; Down & Out: Ike Turner Recordings 1951-1959 (Jerome Records)
Real Gone Rocket is a 45s compilation that collects 14 of Turner’s obscure singles from the ‘50s, highlighting his work behind the scenes as an R&B songwriter, session player, and producer. The vinyl-only Down & Out further emphasizes Turner’s important role in the development of R&B by gathering the best of his solo output and work as the leader of the Kings of Rhythm. These include his first 45, “I’m Lonesome Baby,” and “Box Top,” the recording debut of a young Tina Turner.
James Taylor – That’s Why I’m Here (Friday Music)
First-time 180-gram audiophile release of James Taylor’s 1985 album featuring his good friends Joni Mitchell, Don Henley, and Graham Nash, as well as the Top-10 hits “Only One,” “That’s Why I’m Here,” and the Buddy Holly cover “Everyday.”
Marty Stuart – Nashville, Volume 1: Tear the Woodpile Down (Sugar Hill)
According to Grammy winner Marty Stuart, “The most outlaw thing you can do in Nashville, Tennessee today is play country music.” And on his third album for Sugar Hill Records, that’s just what Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives do. This collection of traditional country music features contributions from Nashville veterans Buck Trent, Kenny Lovelace, and Robbie Turner as well as the harmony vocals of the Carter Family descendent Lorrie Carter Bennett, and it closes with a Hank Williams cover featuring a duet with Hank Williams III.
Colin Hay – Gathering Mercury (Compass Records)
180-gram vinyl reissue of the former Men at Work frontman’s acclaimed 2011 solo album.
Townes Van Zandt – For the Sake of the Song (Fat Possum)
Vinyl reissue of the country singer-songwriter’s 1968 debut.
The Dandy Warhols – This Machine (The End Records)
The Northwest rockers’ new album has been described as both their “gothiest” and their “grungiest.” Features contributions from David J of Bauhaus and Love & Rockets as well as mixing by Tchad Blake, known for his recent work with the Black Keys.
The Raveonettes – Into the Night EP (The Raveonettes LTD)
The Danish fuzz-rock duo is back with a new EP that singer Sune Rose Wagner describes as “a delightfully damaged ode to the letdowns of lost love.” A precursor to the Raveonettes’ upcoming full-length album, this EP celebrates 10 years of their signature Jesus and Mary Chain meets the Everly Brothers sound.
The Trypes – Music for Neighbors (Acute)
2012 retrospective release from the quieter, more psychedelic Feelies offshoot includes the five tracks the band released back in the ‘80s plus 13 archival tracks, split between an LP and digital download coupon.
Television – Television (4 Men with Beards)
4 Men with Beards reissue this classic 1992 reunion album from the legendary New York proto-punk band on 180-gram vinyl.
Stan Getz – Stan Getz Plays (Wax Time Import)
Direct metal mastered 180-gram vinyl pressing of the tenor saxophonist’s first full-length LP.
The Red Garland Quintet with John Coltrane – Dig It! (Wax Time Import)
In 1957 and 1958, Red Garland, a pianist in the Miles Davis Quintet, recorded a number of sessions as leader of his own group. This album features fellow Davis alum John Coltrane on saxophone and has been direct metal mastered and reissued on 180-gram vinyl.
Dave Brubeck Quartet Trio and Duo – Southern Scene (Wax Time Import)
Dave Brubeck’s1959 tribute to the South, direct metal mastered and pressed on heavyweight 180-gram vinyl.
Duke Ellington – Piano in the Background (Wax Time Import)
180-gram direct metal mastered vinyl reissue of Duke Ellington’s classic 1960 release, showcasing the pianist leading his orchestra.
Roxette – Travelling (EMI Import)
Double vinyl pressing of the new album from the Swedish duo (not due for release in the U.S. until June 5!). Recorded in the midst of traveling the world – in hotel rooms, studios, at soundchecks, and in concert – Travelling combines new material with revisited classics and unreleased tracks.
The Moody Blues – To Our Children’s Children’s Children (Music on Vinyl Import)
180-gram vinyl pressing of this lushly orchestrated 1969 concept album about the moon landing, the last of the British rockers’ big studio productions.
The Byrds – Fifth Dimension (Music on Vinyl Import)
180-gram vinyl reissue of the Byrds’ third album, originally released in 1966. Featuring the hit “Eight Miles High,” Fifth Dimension was an influential album in the development of psychedelic rock.
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Vinyl Releases of the Week: April 18, 2012
Vinyl’s new official unofficial holiday, Record Store Day, is fast approaching, but that’s no reason to overlook this week’s vinyl releases:
Janis Joplin – Pearl (Sony Legacy)
Sony Legacy continues the Janis Joplin birthday celebration with this 180-gram audiophile vinyl reissue of her final masterpiece, Pearl. The label will also celebrate Record Store Day with a double 10-inch vinyl set titled Highlights from the Pearl Sessions, which collects rare and unreleased demos, outtakes, and alternate versions of Pearl’s classic songs culled from the recently discovered studio recordings used to create The Pearl Sessions (sadly only released on CD).
Grateful Dead – The Very Best of Grateful Dead (Friday Music)
For the first time on 180-gram audiophile vinyl, this best-of compilation has been lovingly re-mastered and presented here as a double gatefold LP. It is a fantastic overview of the Grateful Dead’s career and most memorable fan favorites, culled from the Warner vaults as well as the band’s Arista Records and Grateful Dead label periods.
Toto – Toto IV (Friday Music)
In 1982, this album catapulted the Los Angeles quintet to the top with classic hits like “Rosanna” and “Africa.” Now it is available for the first time on 180-gram vinyl.
Bob Marley – Marley Original Soundtrack (Tuff Gong/Universal Music Enterprises)
An integral companion piece to the critically acclaimed documentary Marley, its official soundtrack is presented as a triple vinyl set and features a mix of classic studio recordings and live performances from the legendary reggae artist, all hand-picked by the Marley family. Of these (and for the first time on record) is Marley’s performance of “Jammin’” at the 1978 One Love Peace Concert during which he joined hands with his political rivals Michael Manley and Edward Seaga.
Jerry Lee Lewis – Third Man Live 04-17-2011 (Third Man Records)
Live recording of rock and roll icon Jerry Lee Lewis’ Record Store Day performance last year at Jack White’s Third Man Records in Nashville, TN. The special one-off concert features Lewis and his backing band (Steve Cropper, Jim Keltner, and Jack Lawrence) performing such classics as “Sweet Little Sixteen,” “Great Balls of Fire,” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.”
Elvis Costello and the Attractions – Almost Blue (Mobile Fidelity)
Mobile Fidelity presents Elvis Costello and the Attractions’ 1981 album of country and western covers, half-speed mastered from the original master tapes and presented in new sonic brilliance on numbered limited-edition 180-gram vinyl. Considered one of the most passionate cover albums ever made, Almost Blue was recorded in Nashville and finds the hit-making English singer-songwriter interpreting country standards by the likes of Hank Williams, Gram Parsons, George Jones, and Merle Haggard.
10,000 Maniacs – Our Time in Eden (Audio Fidelity)
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of this seminal 1992 alternative-rock album from 10,000 Maniacs, Audio Fidelity has reissued it on 180-gram vinyl. A textured and varied album featuring R&B horns, lush piano ballads, the strings of Paul Buckmaster, and rich melodies, it sounds amazing on vinyl and includes the hits “These Are Days,” “Candy Everybody Wants,” and “Few and Far Between.” It was also the last 10,000 Maniacs studio album to feature lead singer Natalie Merchant before she departed for a solo career.
Allen Toussaint – Southern Nights (4 Men with Beards)
180-gram vinyl pressing of Allen Toussaint’s 1975 R&B concept album. Considered by many to be the New Orleans R&B legend’s best work, it contains two songs which became hits for other artists: “Southern Nights,” a giant hit for Glen Campbell in 1977, and “What Do You Want the Girl to Do?,” which was one of several singles on Boz Skaggs’ 1976 smash, Silk Degrees.
Johnny Hartman – I Just Dropped By to Say Hello, John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman (Original Recordings Group)
A classic 11-song set from jazz singer Johnny Hartman, I Just Dropped By to Say Hello has been re-mastered from the original analog tapes and presented here as a limited-edition double 180-gram 45 RPM vinyl LP. Features the songs “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning,” “Sleepin’ Bee,” “Stairway to the Stars,” and “Charade,” among others. Also from Johnny Hartman is his well-known 1963 collaboration with the saxophone great John Coltrane, an instant jazz classic featuring what many consider definitive renditions of the songs “Lush Life,” “My One and Only Love,” and “They Say It’s Wonderful.” It is also presented as a limited-edition double 180-gram 45 RPM LP.
Hank Williams III – Long Gone Daddy (Curb Records)
From Hank Williams’ fiercely independent grandson comes Long Gone Daddy. Featuring outtakes from Hank3’s first two solo albums, 1999’s Risin’ Outlaw and 2002’s Lovesick, Broke & Driftin’, this 10-song collection features plenty of his grandaddy’s shuffling country blues and covers a few Hank Williams tunes along with songs by the artists he influenced like Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson.
Jack Johnson & Friends – Best of Kokua Festival (Brushfire Records)
This double LP highlights the best of Jack Johnson’s eco-minded Kokua Festival over the past six years and features onstage collaborations with legendary musicians like Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne, Eddie Vedder, Ben Harper, Dave Mathews, Ziggy Marley, and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, to name a few. One hundred percent of the net proceeds benefit the Kokua Hawaii Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports environmental education in the schools and communities of Hawaii.
311 – Soundsystem (Sony Legacy)
Double LP reissue of the rock/reggae/hip-hop band’s 1999 album featuring the tracks “Come Original” and “Flowing.” (A little birdie told me that their 1993 debut album, Music, will also get the vinyl treatment for RSD.)
Operation Ivy – Hectic EP, Energy (Epitaph)
These Op Ivy vinyl reissues celebrate the 25th anniversary of this seminal Berkeley ska/punk band’s first show at Gilman Street, the legendary all-ages punk venue that launched the career of bands like Green Day and AFI. The 1988 Hectic EP and its 1989 full-length follow-up, Energy, were the only albums released by Operation Ivy – as its members Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman would go on to form Rancid – and they are back on vinyl for the first time in years.
Black Francis/Frank Black and the Catholics – The Golem, Live at Melkweg (The Bureau Records)
From the Pixies frontman is this double LP soundtrack to the 1920s silent film The Golem, which tells a popular story set in a 16th-century Jewish ghetto. Also from Frank Black and the Catholics is the double live album Live at Melkweg. Recorded in Amsterdam in March 2001, it finds Black and his band tearing through his expansive catalog and includes a few Pixies songs like “Monkey Gone to Heaven” and “Where Is My Mind?”( Look out for a definitive box set from Frank Black and the Catholics in late 2012.)
Grinderman – Grinderman 2 RMX (Alternative Distribution Alliance)
Collection of remixes, reinterpretations, and collaborations of songs from Grinderman 2, the Nick Cave-fronted band’s final album. Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme, Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Nick Zinner, the National’s Matt Berninger, legendary guitarist Robert Fripp, and A Place to Bury Strangers are just a few of the artists that have a hand in this. Deluxe double vinyl package includes CD insert.
The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Their Satanic Majesties’ Second Request (A Records)
180-gram double vinyl reissue of the Brian Jonestown Massacre’s sophomore album. Originally released in 1996, it is of course an homage to the Rolling Stones’ 1967 album, Their Satanic Majesties Request. Yellow vinyl with white sun splash.
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Vinyl Releases of the Week: April 11, 2012
So all those Madonna reissues last week were a prelude to this week’s release of her new album, MDNA, on vinyl. And it’s not just Madge who is returning to the fold – we’ve also got surprising new releases from Van Halen and Bonnie Raitt alongside some noteworthy reissues.
Madonna – MDNA (Interscope)
The most anticipated album of 2012 (according to a Billboard readers’ poll) is now available on vinyl as a double LP! Madonna’s 12th studio album and long-awaited follow-up to Hard Candy (2008), MDNA features production from Italian electro-house maestro Benny Benassi, Ray of Light’s William Orbit, and Parisian electro DJ Martin Solveig, among others. Dark, cold, and thrilling, it is also Madge’s most explicit and naked album in years as she addresses her divorce to Guy Ritchie and asserts her dominion over the dance floor. Includes the pop diva’s 38th Top-10 single “Give Me All Your Luvin’” featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A.
Van Halen – Different Kind of Truth (Interscope)
Meanwhile over in hard rock land we see one of the most anticipated reunions come to fruition as Van Halen releases its first album with David Lee Roth in 28 years. (Coincidentally, this is Van Halen’s 12th album as well.) In addition to new compositions, Different Kind of Truth features a handful of songs based on 1970s demos that predate the band’s debut. It also finds Eddie dropping the synths and reuniting with his guitar.
Bonnie Raitt – Slipstream (Redwing Records)
A reignited Bonnie Raitt returns with her first new album in seven years and celebrates the launch of her label, Redwing Records. Described as “daring, bluesy, and steeped with the inimitable slide guitar and soulful vocals that could only be hers,” Slipstream finds Raitt performing songs by the likes of Bob Dylan (“Million Miles” and “Standing in the Doorway”), Gerry Rafferty (“Right Down the Line”), and Joe Henry (“You Can’t Fail Me Now” and “God Only Knows”), and exchanging guitar riffs with Bill Frisell and Greg Leisz. Henry also produces four of the album’s tracks.
Iron Maiden – En Vivo! (Universal)
This week we see the domestic release of En Vivo!, Iron Maiden’s new live double LP, recorded in Santiago, Chile during the British heavy metal band’s 2011 Final Frontier World Tour.
The Byrds – Mr. Tambourine Man (Music on Vinyl Import)
Music on Vinyl has reissued the folk-rock band’s momentous 1965 debut, Mr. Tambourine Man, on 180-gram vinyl.
Gene Clark – No Other (4 Men with Beards)
And speaking of the Byrds, 4 Men with Beards bring us this 180-gram vinyl reissue of the 1974 solo album from the Byrds’ founding member, considered by Clark himself to be his masterpiece.
Faces – First Step (4 Men with Beards)
Also from 4 Men with Beards is this 180-gram reissue of the 1970 debut from British band Faces – another album that failed both critically and commercially at the time of its release but is now considered a classic. Features a post-Jeff Beck Group Rod Stewart along with Ronnie Lane, Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagan, and Kenny Jones, and the songs “Three Button Hand Me Down” and “Flying.”
Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring, Spirit of Eden (EMI Import)
Heavyweight 180-gram double vinyl pressings of two critically acclaimed albums by the British new wave band. The Colour of Spring (1986) found Talk Talk beginning to mature beyond its early synth-pop sound and features the hit single “Life’s What You Make It.” Spirit of Eden (1988) found them taking a more experimental approach and spearheading post-rock in the process.
B.B. King – King of the Blues (Cleopatra)
Limited-edition 12-inch picture disc celebrating the King of the Blues. Features 12 classics including “The Thrill Is Gone,” “Every Day I Have the Blues,” and “You’ve Done Lost Your Good Thing Now.”
Marlene Dietrich – Lili Marlene (Cleopatra)
Gorgeous 12-inch picture disc collects classic cabaret performances by the legendary Marlene Dietrich.
Marilyn Monroe – Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend 50th Anniversary Edition (Cleopatra)
Cleopatra remembers Marilyn Monroe on the 50th anniversary of her death with this stunning, limited-edition 12-inch picture disc of digitally re-mastered favorites including “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” “Kiss,” and “I’m Through with Love.”
Al Stewart – Year of the Cat (Friday Music)
180-gram vinyl reissue of the progressive folk-rock artist’s 1976 masterpiece, re-mastered from the original Janus Records tapes and presented here in a gatefold cover with the original album artwork by Hipgnosis. Produced and recorded at Abbey Road by Alan Parsons, Year of the Cat features the jazz-influenced hit title track and “On the Border.”
Meat Puppets – II (MVD Audio)
If you’re not familiar with the Meat Puppets’ 1984 sophomore album, you are probably familiar with three songs on it. Nirvana famously covered “Plateau,” “Lake of Fire,” and “Oh, Me” during their MTV Unplugged in New York performance. The original classic has been re-mastered and pressed on 180-gram vinyl with a playing speed of 45RPM. Includes a digital download card with the full album and seven bonus tracks.
Roy Buchanan – Live from Austin, TX (New West Records)
This live recording captures the guitar legend during his prime, performing at the 1976 Austin City Limits Music Festival. His set features the definitive live versions of “Roy’s Bluz,” “Hey Joe,” “Soul Dressing,” and “The Messiah.”
Allen Toussaint – Life, Love and Faith (4 Men with Beards)
Vinyl reissue of this 1972 soul album from the New Orleans R&B legend. His first album for Warner/Reprise, Life, Love and Faith shares the singer-songwriter vibe of his labelmates like Joni Mitchell and Randy Newman.
Percy Sledge – The Best of Percy Sledge (Friday Music)
Greatest hits compilation from the crossover soul legend that brought us classics like “When a Man Loves a Woman” and “Cover Me” is now available for the first time on 180-gram vinyl!
Elvis Presley – Elvis (Friday Music)
Elvis’ second No. 1 smash is available on 180-gram vinyl for the first time. Features his cover of Little Richard’s “Rip It Up” as well as the songs “Love Me,” “Long Tall Sally,” and “Blueberry Hill.” Presented in a gatefold cover.
M. Ward – A Wasteland Companion (Merge Records)
M. Ward is known for his deft, beguiling songwriting, finger-picking, and singing, and his new album features some of his best. A Wasteland Companion also features the talents of John Parish, Bright Eyes’ Mike Mogis, She & Him’s Zooey Deschanel, Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley, Dr. Dog’s Tobey Leaman, and Devotchka’s Tom Hagerman, among many others.
Sparklehorse – Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain, It’s a Wonderful Life (Plain)
The late singer-songwriter genius Mark Linkous is remembered with these two 180-gram vinyl reissues from his band Sparklehorse. The beautiful and fragile It’s a Wonderful Life (2001) features guests Tom Waits, the Cardigans’ Nina Persson, Vic Chesnutt, and PJ Harvey, and its follow-up, the fourth and final Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain (2006), was recorded over a span of five years and produced by Danger Mouse.
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Vinyl Releases of the Week: April 4, 2012
There are some serious must-have reissues this week for both Madonna fans and Smiths fans, not to mention exciting live releases from Rush, Iron Maiden, and Portishead.
Rush – ABC 1974 (Rock Classics Import)
The legendary Canadian prog-rocker’s first American radio broadcast featuring their (often bootlegged) August 1974 performance at the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio. It is also Rush’s first recorded performance with Neil Peart on drums and contains the early, unreleased tracks “Fancy Dancer” and “Garden Road” in addition to songs from the band’s self-titled debut album, two early versions of songs from Fly by Night, and a cover of Larry Williams’ 1950s rocker “Bad Boy.” Imported double LP.
Iron Maiden – En Vivo! (PID Import)
Double vinyl pressing of Iron Maiden’s new live album, recorded in front of 50,000 fans at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile during the British heavy metal band’s 2011 Final Frontier World Tour. What’s especially great about this album (and surely redeeming for the band) is the way fans respond to new material from The Final Frontier album as enthusiastically as they do to Iron Maiden’s cult classics (“The Number of the Beast,” “2 Minutes to Midnight,” “The Trooper,” “Hallowed Be Thy Name”).
Madonna – Madonna, Like a Virgin, True Blue, Like a Prayer, Erotica (Warner Bros UK Import)
Limited vinyl reissues of Madonna’s first five albums: her 1983 debut, Madonna (“Lucky Star,” “Holiday,” “Borderline”); 1984’s Like a Virgin (“Material Girl,” “Dress You Up,” “Like a Virgin”); 1986’s True Blue (“Papa Don’t Preach,” “Open Your Heart,” “Live to Tell”); 1989’s Like a Prayer (“Express Yourself,” “Cherish,” “Like A Prayer”); and 1992’s Erotica (“Rain,” “Erotica,” “Deeper and Deeper”).
The Smiths – The Smiths, Meat Is Murder, The Queen Is Dead, Strangeways, Here We Come, Hatful of Hollow, Louder Than Bombs, The World Won’t Listen, Rank (Warner Bros UK Import)
UK vinyl reissues of the Smiths’ four studio albums (1984’s The Smiths; 1985’s Meat Is Murder; 1986’s The Queen Is Dead; and 1987’s Strangeways, Here We Come) plus four Smiths compilations: 1984’s Hatful of Hollow, a collection of singles and rarities, several of which are BBC versions of songs from the band’s self-titled debut; 1987’s Louder Than Bombs, a double LP collection of singles, B-sides, album tracks, and BBC sessions assembled for the American market; its UK counterpart, The World Won’t Listen; and the 1988 live album Rank, recorded at the National Ballroom in London in the fall of 1986.
Portishead – Roseland NYC Live (Music on Vinyl Import)
Double 180-gram vinyl pressing of this exquisite 1998 live album from the British trip-hop band, recorded with a 35-piece orchestra at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. Often these new orchestral arrangements are even more breathtaking than their album counterparts.
Bright Eyes – Every Day and Every Night, Letting Off the Happiness (Saddle Creek)
Continuing the series of 180-gram Bright Eyes vinyl reissues, Saddle Creek brings us two oldies but goodies this week: Conor Oberst’s 1998 lo-fi sophomore album, Letting off the Happiness, featuring musical contributions from members of Neutral Milk Hotel and Of Montreal, and its follow-up 5-song EP, Every Day and Every Night, originally released in 1999. Both include a copy of the album on CD.
Sam Cooke – Mr. Soul (Music on Vinyl Import)
For the first time in over 30 years, Music on Vinyl is re-issuing this great soul album from the King of Soul, Sam Cooke, on 180-gram audiophile vinyl with re-mastered audio. Mr. Soul is seen as the more adult counterpart of Cooke’s classic album Night Beat, both recorded in 1963.
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Vinyl Releases of the Week: March 28, 2012
This week’s vinyl reissues will transport you to another time and place – be it San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury in the late ‘60s, Andy Warhol’s New York in the early ’70s, or Clint Eastwood’s country music adventures post-Rawhide. One thing that these releases all have in common, though, is that they are way too big for an iPod.
Jefferson Airplane – Crown of Creation, Volunteers (Sundazed)
Vinyl reissues of the psychedelic-rock pioneers’ 1968 album, Crown of Creation, which found them adopting a heavier sound, and its landmark 1969 follow-up, Volunteers, the San Francisco band’s most political album. Both essential Airplane, both re-mastered from the original masters and featuring original replica album artwork.
Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin – Live at the Carousel Ballroom, 1968 (Sony Legacy)
In that same spirit is this double LP from Big Brother and the Holding Company. Recorded live at San Francisco’s Carousel Ballroom in the summer of ‘68, it features Janis Joplin as well as the visionary sound engineer Owsley “Bear” Stanley. This recording comes courtesy of his Sonic Journals and features such classics as “Ball and Chain,” “Piece of My Heart,” and “Summertime.” Push your speakers together (per Bear’s recommendation), close your eyes, and enjoy one of the best live albums from the era.
Clint Eastwood – Rawhide’s Clint Eastwood Sings Cowboy Favorites (Real Gone Music)
Fresh off his run on the TV series Rawhide, Clint Eastwood – still an up-and-comer at the time – recorded a collection of country classics on this 1963 album. This marks its first-ever vinyl reissue and is presented on 180-gram wax.
Moe Tucker – I Feel So Far Away Anthology 1974-1998 (Sundazed)
3xLP anthology from the driving force behind the Velvet Underground, drummer Maureen “Moe” Tucker. Known for her unconventional set-up (no cymbals, no stool, just toms, a snare, and an upturned bass drum all played with mallets rather than drumsticks), her primal rhythms and lean, direct style stood in stark contrast to the lengthy, tripped-out drum solos of the era and helped define VU’s sound. This first-ever career anthology shines a light on her obscure solo work as a multi-instrumentalist in the decades that followed. It includes her collaborations with members of Sonic Youth, Violent Femmes, Half Japanese, and VU, as well as her own reinterpretations of seminal VU tracks like “Heroin,” “I’m Waiting for the Man,” “Pale Blue Eyes,” and “I’m Sticking with You” featuring Jonathan Richman.
UFO – Seven Deadly (Steamhammer/SPV)
A brand new album from the veteran British hard-rock band! In fact, Seven Deadly marks their 21st studio album. Double vinyl pressing plus two bonus tracks.
Flying Colors – Flying Colors (Mascot)
The debut self-titled album from the new rock supergroup of drummer Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater), guitarist Steve Morse (Deep Purple), bassist Dave LaRue, keyboardist Neal Morse, and vocalist Casey McPherson (Alpha Rev). Portnoy commented that “the diversity element is pretty crazy” referencing the album’s sonic nods to everyone from the Beatles and Queen to Radiohead and the Foo Fighters.
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