Another musical icon has moved from our insecure world into the ether of eternity. Ray Charles, who has provided the world with untold timeless works of music has died. With classics like the stunning "Georgia on my Mind", and the lively "What'd I Say", Ray Charles leaves behind a legacy of undying tunes that will exist long after I have bought the great Concert ticket myself. Mr Charles, we'll miss you. Tell the others hi for us!
1930 - 2004
We have a few reviews for you as well as a few.. precious few, items of release news today. But what's there is absolutely cool. I love hearing good news; I love spreading it even better. Duane's Pit Stop will not post this week as the lug is on vacation. But, he'll be back.
The reviews on tap are Flowing Tears' Razorbliss album, worked by John Dunphy while Lindsay Planer makes a triumphant comeback as TAP reviewer with his take on The Grateful Dead's Rockin' The Rhein...
I've picked up a DSD mastered copy of Brian Eno's Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy recently released by Virgin. Folks, I have to say that I was wowed beyond belief. These 4 releases from Brian Eno were released on June 1 and represent early solo issues. Believe me folks, I'm impressed. If you're an Eno fan, these original masters come highly recommended. With the added aspect of their DSD environment, they rock.
We'll see you back here on Monday with more news and more reviews. Have a great weekend.
Don't forget the reader reviews. If you have a single paragraph about a favourite current album that you have, share it with the world. Write me here and use READER REVIEW in the subject line.
You know all about the upcoming Rhino Expanded and Remastered re-issues for Paul Simon's One Trick Pony; Still Crazy After All These Years; Paul Simon (debut); There Goes Rhymin' Simon; and Hearts and Bones. These titles are due on July 13. Exciting enough. Now, Rhino is upping the meth by by adding 4 more Expanded and Remastered Paul Simon re-issues. Pray tell, what are they?! Ok:
- Graceland
- Rhythm of the Saints
- Songs From the Capeman
- You're the One
When we get the scoop on the inclusions, we'll post them.
Many of you have already heard of the Van Halen 'best of' that will soon grace our players. What's great about this issue? 'Nuff said. This 2CD, digipak issue will contain hits from VH's golden years (note that I'm not referring to the Gary Cherone years. Hey, I didn't make the playlist.) which translated means Diamond Dave and Sammy Hagar hits. Here's how it plays out:
- 36 tracks spanning 25 years and clocking in at over 2 1/2 hours of Van Halen music.
- The songs are remastered.
- 3 of the tracks are brand new: "It's About Time"; "Learning to See"; and "Up for Breakfast."
- 3 of the tracks are live: "Ain't Talkin' About Love"; "Jump"; and "Panama." These live tracks are Hagar fronted.
This fun and anticipated set will be called The Best of Both Worlds and will be available on July 20. Note to Rhino - Change the cover art.
Also on July 20 will be a Joe Ely issue. More on that when available.
Sire has come up with a collection for Less Than Jake. The collection will be called B is for B-sides and will be available in two styles, with a Large TShirt or without. What is it with these gimmicks, Tshirts? These issues will street on July 20.
The next Static-X album will issue forth from Warner Bros and is called Beneath, Between, Beyond. Look for this album on July 20.
Country fans will be pleased with a 'best of' for Lee Greenwood scheduled for July 27. All Time Greatest Hits is the name of the set and is from Curb Records.
Speaking of Curb, The Mike Curb Congregation will have 3 albums released on July 27. The albums are called Classic Songs Volume Two (features Mike & Hank Williams, Jr); Best of Mike Curb Congregation; and Best of Inspirational.
Nonesuch will release an album by kd lang on July 27 called Hymns of the 47th Parallel. This album is a covers set by Canadian songwriters like Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Bruce Cockburn, Neil Young, Jane Siberry, and others. I'm excited to get this one especially to hear her tamed down version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallejujah."
We close out this edition of TAP with the announcement of a 2CD, digipak 'best of' issue of Make the Music Go Bang: The Best of X. We have no advanced info on what's in this release other than the fact that it's released on July 27. Mark it down! It sounds cool enough.
The Grateful Dead Movie is coming to DVD. Fans of the Dead are familiar with this rock n roll classic and will be ecstatic to get a DVD copy. Here's whats in store:
- 2DVDs with over 4 1/2 hrs of concert and backstage footage.
- 24 page booklet w/ photos and new essay.
- New interviews with Weir, Kreutzmann, Godchaux (Donna Jean), Parish, and Guiterrez.
- Jerry Garcia's Dolby Digital 5.1 of the original theatrical audio mix and mixed from master multi-tracks.
- A New DD 5.1 mix from the original multi-tracks.
- New DD Stereo from original multi-tracks.
- Visible lyrics on the screen.
- DVD Special features that will include:
- 90 minutes of never before seen concert footage that includes Uncle John's Band, Sugaree, and more with all bonus songs transferred from the original 16mm camera negative.
- DD 5.1 mix on all bonus songs and from original masters.
- DD Stereo mix
- Visible Lyrics option for all bonus songs.
- Making of the DVD documentary.
- TV commercial for Mars Hotel album from 1974.
- Demo of multi-track audio mix.
- Photo gallery with tons of stuff.
This collector set will be available on November 9. It's plenty of time to save your pennies for this $29.95 SR DVD. I even have a cover shot of the DVD.
June 08, 2004
We're back. We do have a few bits for you today.
The first is the expectant Tears for Fears release, Everybody Loves a Happy Ending. We had been reporting for quite some time, since last year as a matter of fact, that this one was coming from RCA. And then it doesn't show up and it doesn't show up, and..well, you get the picture. So, where is it? I've received more than a few emails wandering as much. Today I get two revelations. The first comes from TAP reader, Steve Smetana (thanks, Steve), who informs me that Tears for Fears opted out of any binding arrangements they may have had with Arista Records. Then not an hour later, I get notice from Hip-O Records that they will now release the new Tears for Fears album. It is now expected on September 14. So, once again, mark your calendars.
The second is that we have a review for you from John Dunphy that will also feature a contest. Move on down to the contest section to the lower right of this page. You can't miss it. The album is from Peccatum and is named Lost in Reverie. We also have a review for newcomer indie band, Some Action, from New York City. They've had a 5-song EP out since February of this year and well, it rocks pretty good.
We have some solid date news on some SACD and DVD-Audio releases so check those out.
Now...I will have bled the info machine dry after this update (been doing this for nearly 3 years now, I know when I'm nearing the bottom of the bin.) and since I can use the extra time to write up my, by now, very late TAP Notes over at The Digital Bits, I'm going to take an extra day off. Which, of course, means that we'll be back on Friday with, hopefully, a big update and some more reviews.
And we're off...
Don't forget the reader reviews. If you have a single paragraph about a favourite current album that you have, share it with the world. Write me here and use READER REVIEW in the subject line.
 I've made a notable error on the upcoming Rounder issue of They Might Be Giants' latest album. I named the album, The Spire. It is, in fact, The Spine, as a cursory glance at the album cover (which I posted as well) would have revealed to me. But you know me. In any case, this release is expected from Rounder Records on July 13.
The refreshed Casablanca Records have noted an upcoming album from Ali Vegas. The new album has yet to be titled and is scheduled for August 24.
Island has an album just added to the schedule for a June 22 release date. The album will be from Christina Milian and is called It's About Time.
There are a few 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection issues on the slate. They are for:
- Charlie Parker - Hip-O Records - August 3
- Luciano Pavarotti - UTV Records - July 27
- Secret Garden - Hip-O Records - July 27
Hip-O Records has an interesting title on the block for The Jackson Five called The Jacksons' Story. I'm guessing that this is a collection. You can get this on July 20.
On July 27, Varese Sarabande will issue a compilation for Patti Page called The Command Performance Collection.
Universal Records has an album from Rachel Fuller called Cigarettes and Housework scheduled for August 10.
We have that new Tears for Fears album that we spoke of earlier coming (hopefully) from Hip-O Records on September 14. The album is known as Everybody Loves a Happy Ending.
We have a cover shot just made available to us for the upcoming Dave Matthews Band issue, The Gorge. Enjoy! This is expected on June 29.
J Records will issue Silvertide's next, called Show & Tell, on September 28.
I mentioned in yesterday's post that there would be info on Kansas as well as a few Essential titles that are in the pipeline. Here's the scoop. Legacy/Epic will issue a CD and a separate issue DVD with the same title, Sail On: The 30th Anniversary Collection 1974-2004. Kansas fans will enjoy this. When we get the scoop on the inclusions we'll break it out for you. This title is scheduled to street on August 3.
Columbia Records and Legacy will issue The Essential Louis Armstrong on August 3. The same date will also bring The Essential REO Speedwagon from Epic and Legacy, and The Essential Isley Brothers from Legacy.
Well, that's it until Friday.
Def Jam will issue 112's Hot & Wet album as a DVD-Audio on August 3 while A&M has announced a September 3 issue date for The Carpenters' Singles 1969-1981 on SACD. A&M Records will also issue Sheryl Crow's The Globe Sessions on August 10.
June 07, 2004
Monday again, so welcome back to it.
May God rest the soul of Ronald Reagan, our 40th President.
We had some interesting responses back from George Bennett's statement. Some were quite interesting. George responded to everyone of them and, hopefully, we've squared all conceptions. We really do try to bring the best to you. And we'll continue to do so. Hang in there, folks.
We have a few reviews for you today. I've listened to ambient masters Steve Roach and Vidna Obmana's latest Projekt work called Spirit Dome. Here's my report. George Bennett has popped in with an SACD review of Albert King w/ Stevie Ray Vaughan's 1983 In Session album. Check that out here. And from Dw we have David Byrne's latest from Nonesuch, the excellent Grown Backwards. Tomorrow we'll have reviews from John Dunphy that will include the newest Flowing Tears' album, Razorbliss, and Pecattum's Lost in Reverie. The Pecattum review will offer a contest for winning the band's new album.
I've stumbled across a song that sounds like Coldplay but is actually a song some 12 months old and NOT from Coldplay. The song is "Inside of Love" and is from Nada Surf. Now, how come I haven't heard these guys before. I liked them. Got the scoop? Let me know. And since I seem to miss more than I want to, I'm going to ask you folks to clue me into a band that you think rocks the world. Lemme know here.
And some more release news. Now to get sorting...
Oh...check back tomorrow for news of a Kansas release from Legacy. We also have a few more Essential titles for you.
Don't forget the reader reviews. If you have a single paragraph about a favourite current album that you have, share it with the world. Write me here and use READER REVIEW in the subject line.
The news is slim pickins' today so we'll elaborate on some choice items for the expectant fans. We'll start off with something sure to please most folks. And what can that be? How about a marriage of the popular 20th Century Masters series between their audio and video? OK! These hybrid sets are called, series-wise, Sound+Vision Deluxe: 2CD & 1DVD. In actuality, these collections are repackaged productions that give you a complete collection (if you don't already have 'em) of the 20th Century Masters issues. And here are the first four couples, due for July 13:
Abba - Abba Gold Greatest Hits: This set will contain the 1992 issue of Abba Gold and the 1993 issue of More Abba Gold More Abba Hits as well as the 19-song DVD, Abba Gold: Greatest Hits.
BB King - Anthology: This combination will offer the 2CD Anthology originally released in 2000 and the 1993 DVD issue of Blues Summit, a concert film and documentary.
Bob Marley - Legend: The Best of Bob Marley: This combined re-issue will put together the Remastered Legend CD along with Legend Remixes and set off with Legend DVD. The DVD will feature 13 videos matered in 5.1 Surround and remastered Stereo. It will also offer a 90-minute documentary called Time Will Tell and a personal playlist of 23 songs that feature throughout the DVD in 5.1 and Stereo.
Moody Blues - A Night at Red Rocks w/ the Colorado Symphony Orchestra: This anticipated set will couple the 2CD Deluxe Edition of A Night at Red Rocks with the DVD of the same concert. The DVD will feature 19 remastered songs with some new menuing features to enhance your viewing of the show.
July 13 will bring a debut by Joshua Payne, an album named your love, my home. Joshua Payne is a new talent in the vein of Josh Groban with a classically trained voice and stirred with a pop style. This 11-track album will be released by Verve Records.
The third album in a three album series from Vidna Obmana's Dante Trilogy will issue on October 12 in the US and October 25 in Europe. The third album will be known as Legacy. You can read our review of the second album, Spore, here. In early July, Projekt and Ikon Records will join together in issuing an Anthology for Vidna Obmana. This release will observe the 20th anniversary of production by Obmana and will contain 12 selections that span the period of 1984-2004.
The incredible Polyphonic Spree will their Together We're Heavy album released with a bonus DVD. The DVD will feature their complete live concert from their Supersonic Festival show in Japan in 2003. Additionally, there are 3 live songs from a 2003 Chicago Metro performance as well as a live and animated versions of "Light & Day." There will also be an interview with Tim Delaughter along with an included game. Oh yeah, you get the CD of music too. Expected on July 13.
Dreamworks/Geffen has a July 13 date set for the next issue from Sparta. The album, Porcelain, will issue in both CD and LP formats.
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