Pop Culture Safari!

Coming Up: Reggie Young - Session Guitar Star

Out Feb. 8. Order from Amazon now.

Details from Ace Records:

During his six-decade career as a session man, predominantly in Memphis and Nashville, Reggie Young's unique guitar work has embellished 45s and albums by just about every major artist who cut tracks in those two hotbeds of recording activity. There were plenty of lower profile names, too, who made great records without necessarily over-working the chart compilers. To Reggie it didn't matter; he always did his best to provide what he felt was right for the song, very often just some personalised licks and fills here and there, but he would cut loose on a scorching solo if he thought it added to the overall performance. This CD contains a healthy mixture of both, and much in between.

Tracks:

1. Slip, Slip, Slippin' in - Eddie Bond & His Stompers

2. Carol - Bill Black's Combo

3. A Touch of the Blues - Bobby Bland

4. Dream Baby - Jerry & Reggie

5. I'm Movin' on - the Box Tops

6. The Champion Pt. 1 - Willie Mitchell

7. Meet Me in Church - Solomon Burke

8. Chicken Crazy - Joe Tex

9. In the Pocket - King Curtis & the King Pins

10. More Love - James Carr

11. Don't Forget About Me - Dusty Springfield

12. Stranger in My Own Home Town - Elvis Presley

13. I Wanna Roo You - Jackie de Shannon

14. Drift Away - Dobie Gray

15. Rock 'N' Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life) - Sonny Curtis

16. Victim of Life's Circumstances - Delbert McClinton

17. Lover Please - Billy Swan

18. Morning Glory - James & Bobby Purify

19. Cocaine - J.J. Cale

20. I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink - Merle Haggard

21. The Highwayman - the Highwaymen Aka Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson

22. Griselda - Natalie Merchant

23. Whenever You Come Around - Little Milton

24. Where Do We Go from Here - Waylon Jennings

Out Now: The Pop Genius Of Mickie Most

Order from Amazon now.

Details from Ace Records:

Making hits seemed all too easy for legendary producer Mickie Most who attributed his success to his extraordinary ability to spot a hit tune, combined with unbridled common sense. American record companies sat up and took notice and, with his career in the ascendancy, Most extended his run of hits on both sides of the Atlantic with artists such as Donovan, Brenda Lee, Lulu and Jeff Beck. He turned down the chance to produce the Monkees, Elvis and Barbra Streisand because it clashed with his scheduling. Here then is a hand-picked representation of the man's best or most significant work. Incidentally, both 'I Love Rock'n'Roll' and 'Living Next Door To Alice' are the original flop versions of songs that went onto become huge hits for Joan Jett and Smokey, respectively. The CD comes in a deluxe package with rigid slipcase and a separate memorabilia-laden 72-page booklet with in-depth notes by Rob Finnis.

Tracks:

1. Motorbikin' - Chris Spedding

2. Tobacco Road - Nashville Teens

3. The House of the Rising Sun - the Animals

4. Hi-Ho Silver Lining - Jeff Beck

5. Journey - Duncan Browne

6. Brother Louie - Hot Chocolate

7. Is It True - Brenda Lee

8. Sunshine Superman (Single Version) - Donovan

9. Dance with the Devil - Cozy Powell

10. No Milk Today - Herman's Hermits

11. Walking - C.C.S

12. Little Games - the Yardbirds

13. Gin House - Paul Williams & the Big Roll Band

14. The Boat That I Row - Lulu

15. Jailhouse Rock - Jeff Beck Group (Feat. Rod Stewart)

16. 48 Crash - Suzi Quatro

17. Living Next Door to Alice - New World

18. I Love Rock 'N' Roll - Arrows

19. Mellow Yellow - Donovan

20. Days of My Life - the Seekers Feat. Judith Durham

21. Bread and Butter - Barry St. John

22. Flight 2 - Angelo and Eighteen

23. To Sir with Love - Lulu

24. Some Girls - Racey

25. Kids in America - Kim Wilde

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Coming Up: The Byrds 1973 reunion album, remastered

Out March 1. Order from Amazon now.

Details:

Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the release of a new re-mastered edition of the legendary 1973 reunion album by THE BYRDS; “Byrds”.

Released on the Asylum label in March 1973, “Byrds” saw the classic line-up of GENE CLARK, CHRIS HILLMAN, DAVID CROSBY, ROGER McGUINN and MICHAEL CLARKE fully reunited for the first time since 1966 (when Clark departed the group due to his fear of flying) and following the departure of Clarke and Crosby in 1967 – Clarke to the Flying Burrito Brothers and Crosby to Crosby, Stills and Nash (and Young).

Recorded at the Wally Heider studios in Los Angeles during October and November 1972, the album featured compositions by Gene Clark (‘Full Circle’ and ‘Changing Heart’), Roger McGuinn (‘Sweet Mary’ and ‘Born to Rock n’ Roll’) and Chris Hillman (‘Things Will Be Better’ and ‘Borrowing Time’) along with David Crosby’s ‘Long Live the King’ and a new version of ‘Laughing’ (originally recorded by Crosby on his 1971 solo album “If Only I Could Remember My Name”).

The album also featured a cover version of Joni Mitchell’s ‘For Free’ and two Neil Young compositions; ‘Cowgirl in the Sand’ and ‘(See the Sky) About to Rain’, the latter not released by Young himself until 1974 when his version appeared on the album “On the Beach”.

This re-mastered edition of “Byrds” restores the original album artwork and features an illustrated booklet with essay.

1. FULL CIRCLE
2. SWEET MARY
3. CHANGING HEART
4. FOR FREE
5. BORN TO ROCK N’ ROLL
6. THINGS WILL BE BETTER
7. COWGIRL IN THE SAND
8. LONG LIVE THE KING
9. BORROWING TIME
10.LAUGHING
11. (SEE THE SKY) ABOUT TO RAIN

Video preview: "The Collected Topi"

Volume one, "The Enchanted World," is out Feb. 5. You can order it now from Amazon.

Details:

Presenting the first in a seven-volume library of works by master illustrator Sergio Toppi. This first volume collects eleven short fantasy tales previously collected as Black & Tans, Krull, and A Minor God.