Loading ...
« Vinyl Releases of the Week: May 4, 2011 | Home | Vinyl Releases of the Week: May 18, 2011 »
Vinyl Releases of the Week: May 11, 2011
Post By: Katherine.Eleanor
This week, Radiohead released the world’s first “Newspaper Album” and The Cars released their first album in 23 years. Top that off with three Prince represses from Rhino Records and some classic reissues from Coltrane, Mingus, Cash, and Dylan, and you’ve got a record-breaking week of vinyl!
NEW RELEASES:
Radiohead – The King of Limbs “Newspaper Album”
This deluxe version of Radiohead’s new album includes two clear 10-inch records and over 600 pieces of artwork.
The Cars – Move Like This (HEAR Music)
The new wave torchbearers’ first album since 1987’s Door to Door features all of the original members with the exception of singer/bassist Benjamin Orr, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2000. It also features all the things Cars fans know and love.
Paul Simon – So Beautiful or So What (HEAR Music)
Paul Simon’s 12th solo album is now available on 180-gram vinyl. Heralded by critics as his best album since Graceland, So Beautiful or So What highlights Simon’s exquisite lyricism, guitar playing, melodies, and approach to world fusion.
New York Dolls – Dancing Backward in High Heels (429 Records)
A departure from the proto-punk band’s raucous 1970s work, the New York Dolls’ latest album puts their ’60s pop influences at the forefront and embraces a more elaborate, florid sound. Features original members David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain with ex-Blondie guitarist Frank Infante.
Booker T. Jones – The Road from Memphis (Anti)
The follow-up to the soul organist’s Grammy-winning 2009 release, Potato Hole, The Road from Memphis tells the story of soul, tracing both Jones’ own journey and the progression of the music from Memphis to Detroit, Philadelphia, and New York. The set includes covers of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” and Lauren Hill’s “Everything Is Everything,” and features The Roots, Lou Reed, My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, The National’s Matt Berninger, and Sharon Jones.
Okkervil River – I Am Very Far (Jagjaguwar)
The highly anticipated new double LP from Austin’s Okkervil River is a surprisingly dark and intense departure from the sunny melodies and direct nature of the band’s previous work. Taking a new approach, band leader Will Sheff brings a clinical precision to the music while keeping his lyrics mysteriously vague.
Raphael Saadiq – Stone Rollin’ (Columbia)
Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer Raphael Saadiq returns with an exciting soul revival that channels Chuck Berry, Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye. Features a guest choir, pedal steel by Robert Randolph, Swedish-Japanese singer Yukimi Nagano of the band Little Dragon, and a moog solo from Larry Dunn of Earth, Wind and Fire.
The Lonely Island – Turtleneck & Chain (Republic)
Sophomore album from the SNL comedy troupe of Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone has made it to vinyl! Features appearances from Akon, Snoop Dogg, Rihanna, Michael Bolton, Nicki Minaj, Justin Timberlake, Beck, and Santigold.
REISSUES:
John Coltrane – Coltrane Plays the Blues (Doxy Music)
Recorded during Coltrane’s prolific 1960 Atlantic Records sessions (which also yielded the albums My Favorite Things and Coltrane’s Sound), Coltrane Plays the Blues is one of his first albums as leader and first playing the (at the time) unconventional soprano sax. 180-gram mono pressing of this memorable, blues-inspired jazz album includes one extra track, “Exotica,” from the same sessions, and a bonus stereo CD of the album with four more alternate tracks.
Charles Mingus – The Alternate Moods of Tijuana (Doxy Music)
An album of alternative takes from Charles Mingus’ 1957 Tijuana Moods sessions, the collection includes an early version of the “Scenes in the City” spoken-word piece with Lonnie Elder. 180-gram LP with CD of the original Tijuana Moods album plus bonus tracks.
Bob Dylan – Bob Dylan In Concert, Brandeis University 1963 (Sony Legacy)
Recorded on May 10, 1963 (just two weeks before the release of The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan), this concert tape was discovered in the archives of Rolling Stone co-founder Ralph Gleason two years ago and is now available on 180-gram audiophile vinyl. It features seven songs performed by a 21-year-old Dylan at the first annual Brandeis Folk Festival in Waltham, Massachusetts, including “Ballad of Hollis Brown,” “Masters of War,” “Bob Dylan’s Dream,” and a partial recording of “Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance.”
Prince – Dirty Mind, Controversy, and 1999 (Rhino)
180-gram reissues of Prince’s three classic early-’80s albums. Often referred to as Prince’s “Controversy Period,” these three albums find the artist coming into his own and lead up to his best-selling Purple Rain. Mastered from the original tapes at Bernie Grundman Mastering, the reissues feature complete reproductions of the original packaging.
Johnny Cash – American VI: Ain’t No Grave (American Recordings)
Limited clear vinyl pressing of this 2010 posthumous release, the sixth and final installment of the country legend’s American Recordings series. Features one original, “I Corinthians 15:55,” and nine covers recorded during the sessions for American V: A Hundred Highways (2006).
Metallica – S&M (Warner)
Metallica’s 1999 collaboration with the San Francisco Symphony is now available as a triple LP set and as a 45 rpm, 180-gram six LP deluxe edition.
João Gilberto – Bossa Nova! (Doxy Music)
Originally released in 1961 as João Gilberto, this bossa nova cornerstone features the Brazilian singer-guitarist who defined the genre, accompanied by Antonio Carlos Jobim and organist Walter Wanderley. Available as a 180-gram vinyl LP with bonus CD.
The Ben Webster Quintet – Soulville (Doxy Music)
Known as “The Brute” for his tough, raspy tone, Ben Webster was one of the most important tenor saxophonists of the swing era. In 1957, the Duke Ellington alumnus recorded this classic jazz album with the Oscar Peterson trio. It features two bluesy originals followed by five ballads including the standout “Where Are You.” 180-gram vinyl LP with bonus CD.
Serge Gainsbourg avec Alain Goraguer et son Orchestre – 1 2 3 (Doxy Music)
A collection of the legendary French singer’s first three albums – Du Chant à la une (1958), N° 2 (1959), and L’Étonnant Serge Gainsbourg (1961) – pressed on 180-gram vinyl. These 45 rpm stereo versions include bonus CDs of the albums.
Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina – Sittin’ In (Friday Music)
180-gram audiophile reissue of the duo’s watershed 1972 debut. Mastered from the original Columbia tapes and packaged in a gatefold jacket, this pressing captures all the rich detail of classics like “Danny’s Song,” “House at Pooh Corner,” “Vahevala” and “Nobody But You.”
Join the Conversation: Post a Comment!
Topics: Music, Record Collecting, Vinyl Releases | No Comments »