Coming up: Looking Forward - The Roots Of Big Star

Out July 7. Order from Amazon now.

The roots of Chris Bell Co-founder of Big Star Contains previously unissued tracks:

 1. Think It's Time To Say Goodbye - Rock City
  2. All I See Is You - Icewater
  3. My Life Is Right - Rock City
  4. Feeling HIgh - The Wallabys
  5. Looking Forward - Icewater
  6. The Wind Will Cry For Me - Rock City
  7. Psychedelic Stuff - Chris Bell
  8. The Reason - The Wallabys
  9. I Lost A Love - Rock City
  10. A Chance To Live - Icewater
  11. The Answer - Rock City
  12. Lovely Lady - Rock City
  13. Sunshine - Icewater
  14. Introduction - Rock City
  15. Sunday Organ - Rock City
  16. The Preacher - Rock City
  17. Shine On Me - Rock City
  18. Try Again - Rock City Movie Mix, 2012
  19. Germany - Icewater Backing Track
  20. Oh My Soul - Icewater Backing Track
  21. All I See Is You - Icewater Alternate Backing Track
  22. Feeling High - The Wallabys Alternate Backing Track

Eisner 100: Kitchen Sink's Spirit Magazine

Continuing our celebration of Will Eisner's centenary.

This is how I first got into the Spirit, during the 1980s via Kitchen Sink's magazine-format reprints. The strips appeared in black and white through most of the run, and were supplemented with interviews and other text material - plus new covers by Eisner.

Coming up: Dusty Springfield - The Complete Philadelphia Sessions - A Brand New Me (Expanded Edition)

Out July 7. Order from Amazon now.

Details:
Having issued collections of her lost 1971 Jeff Barry-produced sessions (Faithful) and her entire 1970-1971 U.K. sessions (Come for a Dream), we have made chronicling the hallowed early ‘70s period of Dusty Springfield’s career something of a mission here at Real Gone Music. And we have saved what just might be the best for last—this collection brings together, for the first time ever, all of the historic recordings made by Dusty at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia with Gamble-Huff Productions for Atlantic Records. The 17 selections cover the ten 1969 recordings issued on Springfield's 1970 album A Brand New Me— including the hit title song—plus 7 additional tracks from 1970 including the single "I Wanna Be a Free Girl," outtakes not issued until the 1990s on various compilations, and a previously unreleased track, “Sweet Charlie .” Additionally, because former iterations of this material have not been sonically quite up to snuff, each track is newly-remixed from the original multi-track masters by Ted Carfrae! Liner notes by Joe Marchese and rare images from Dusty’s own collection complete this invaluable look at the seductive Ms. Springfield’s foray into the Philly Soul sound. Put this together with our other Real Gone Dusty retrospectives and you have the full picture of Dusty’s recordings from 1969-1971 that immediately followed her Dusty In Memphis pinnacle! 


Pop Pick: Jack Kirby Collector #70

Each issue of the Jack Kirby Collector is a joy. What's not to like about page after page of Kirby art, much of it rarely seen up until now?

But this issue was particularly strong due a lengthy piece by the late Stan Taylor that makes a very convincing that Kirby created, or a least heavily co-created, Spider-Man. Comics fans have debated this matter for years, but Taylor's piece marshals the evidence in a very convincing and matter-of-fact way, with lots of artwork and archival interview comments that back up his thesis.

Most refreshing of all, is that the article doesn't diminish the vital input Stan Lee and Steve Ditko had into the character. Spidey wouldn't be the same without Lee's character-shaping dialogue and melodrama, or without Ditko's evocative and quirky art. Yet, I came away from this piece thinking that Spidey wouldn't have been at all without Jack's early concepts and story plotting.

If you're interested in comics history, this issue is well worth picking up, which you can do right here.