Phyllis Hyman: Old Friend – The Deluxe Collection 1976-1998

release: July 6, 2021

Creatively traversing the soul/R&B and jazz genres from the mid-‘70s until her passing in the mid-‘90s ,with her instantly recognizable and distinctive vocal style, Phyllis developed a solid cadre of discerning music buyers with albums for Buddah, Arista and Philadelphia International Records, collated here along with a number of bonus tracks and guest appearances for a total of (113) tracks. Appropriately named ‘The Deluxe Collection,” this 9CD box has been lovingly created by SoulMusic.com founder David Nathan in cooperation with Glenda Gracia, manager & executrix of the Phyllis Hyman estate, who contributes a moving up-close-and-personal essay. Renowned writer Janine Coveney provides a heartfelt tribute with an overview of Phyllis’ music; while SoulMusic Records’ Michael Lewis offers his thoughts on Phyllis’ compelling live performances. In a beautifully-designed box with artwork by Roger Williams along with stellar mastering from Nick Robbins, “Old Friend: The Deluxe Collection” is a fitting celebration of Phyllis Hyman’s contribution through music, to commemorate the anniversary of her 72nd birthday, on 6th July.

Disc 1 - Phyllis Hyman marked Phyllis’ official album debut and includes the US R&B/dance charted single, ‘Loving You, Losing You’, co-penned by Philly soul maestro Thom Bell who also co-wrote ‘Betcha By Golly Wow’, which Phyllis recorded with jazz drummer Norman Connors in 1976 along with a duet with Michael Henderson (‘We Both Need Each Other’), resulting in her first exposure to a wider audience. Also on this expanded edition, both sides of Phyllis’ 1976 single for Desert Moon Records.

Disc 2 - Somewhere In My Lifetime marked Phyllis’ addition to the Arista Records’ roster when Buddah Records was acquired by the Clive Davis-helmed label. The title cut was co-produced by Barry Manilow; six tracks were included from Phyllis’ 2nd Buddah LP, “Sing A Song” which only gained release outside the US in 1978; expanded edition features bonus tracks from “Sing A Song” and a guest appearance with saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, ‘As You Are’ as well as 12” single versions of ‘Kiss You All Over’ and ‘So Strange’.

Disc 3 - You Know How To Love Me teamed Phyllis with James Mtume & Reggie Lucas, hitmakers for Stephanie Mills; the result was Phyllis’ biggest R&B/dance hit with the now-classic title track; expanded edition includes the Thom Bell-produced ‘Magic Mona’, three tracks on which Phyllis guested with jazz pianist McCoy Tyner; and ‘In A Sentimental Mood’ from the Duke Ellington Broadway musical Sophisticated Ladies, in which Phyllis starred and was nominated for a Tony award.

Disc 4 - 1981’s Can't We Fall In Love Again featured Phyllis’ highest-charting R&B hit, the title track a duet with Michael Henderson. Other tracks included production by Norman Connors and Natalie Cole’s co-producer Chuck Jackson; this expanded edition features three tracks not on the original LP.

Disc 5 - Goddess Of Love was Phyllis’ final LP for Arista with production from Narada Michael Walden (the R&B/dance hit ‘Riding The Tiger’) and Thom Bell, with a bonus track from the Bell sessions, ‘I’m Not Asking You To Stay’ on this expanded edition.

Disc 6 - Living All Alone marks Phyllis’ 1986 pacting with Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff’s Philadelphia International Records’ label and resulted in immediate success with two Top 20 R&B hits, the title track and the perennial ‘Old Friend’, which remained a staple of Phyllis’ live shows; expanded edition features guest appearances with Barry Manilow and Grover Washington Jr.

Disc 7 - 1991’s Prime Of My Life brought Phyllis her 1st R&B chart-topping single, ‘Don’t Wanna Change The World’ (with the rare non-rap version included on this expanded edition) and included notable tracks ‘Living In Confusion’ and ‘Meet Me On The Moon’. Additional bonus track, ‘Hottest Love Around’ was only previously available on a CD single.

Disc 8 - I Refuse To Be Lonely, with primary production by Nick Martinelli (who had worked on Phyllis’ 1991 CD) was released after her passing in June, 1995 and features five tracks co-written by Phyllis including the title track and standout ‘It’s Not About You (It’s About Me’).

Disc 9 - Forever With You consists of a collection of previously-unreleased recordings that Phyllis had recorded for Philadelphia International Records, including four she co-wrote, notably ‘The Strength Of A Woman’, as well as a memorable version of ‘Hurry Up This Way Again’, a 1980 R&B hit for The Stylistics.

SoulAlive said:

speaking of reissues and box sets…I just ordered a new box set from the band Kleeer.Who remembers them? They recorded 8 albums from 1979-1985 and were often on the R&B charts during that period (1981’s “Get Tough” is the jam that I most remember from them).I want to explore their catalog a little more.This set contains all 8 albums plus a disc of bonus tracks.

Kleer was underrated. I have a best of Cd I bought in 1998 from them. Not an upper echelon band but pretty solid.

My favorites were Winners, She Said She Loves Me, and Running Back To You,

Get Ready, and Intimate Connection. She Said She Loves Me was very underrated.

Woody Cunningham nailed it on the vocals and the drums.

Running Back To You used to get hella airplay in Columbia, SC

I remember they opened for the Gap Band on their Gap Band 3 tour.

• Robinsongs bring you the complete Atlantic Collection of the Soul, Funk & Disco Band Kleeer plus a Bonus Disc of 12” & 7” versions of key tracks.

• Sleeve notes by Charles Waring who writes for MOJO & Record Collector magazines.

phunkdaddy said:

SoulAlive said:

speaking of reissues and box sets…I just ordered a new box set from the band Kleeer.Who remembers them? They recorded 8 albums from 1979-1985 and were often on the R&B charts during that period (1981’s “Get Tough” is the jam that I most remember from them).I want to explore their catalog a little more.This set contains all 8 albums plus a disc of bonus tracks.

Kleer was underrated. I have a best of Cd I bought in 1998 from them. Not an upper echelon band but pretty solid.

My favorites were Winners, She Said She Loves Me, and Running Back To You,

Get Ready, and Intimate Connection. She Said She Loves Me was very underrated.

Woody Cunningham nailed it on the vocals and the drums.

Running Back To You used to get hella airplay in Columbia, SC

I remember they opened for the Gap Band on their Gap Band 3 tour.

I have that same 1998 compilation by them.It's nice,but for years I've been wanting to dig a little deeper and explore their entire catalog.That's why I'm thrilled with this new box set that contains all of their albums.My favorite songs are "Get Tough","Running Back To You","Winners" and "Tonight's The Night (Good Time)".

Donna Summer 'I'm A Rainbow'-Recovered and Recoloured---her previously unreleased 1981 album gets the remixed treatment

"I Believe In You" duet with Joe "Bean" Esposito(Figo Sound Version)

I Believe (In You) - YouTube

[Edited 7/13/21 13:30pm]

SoulMusic Records is very proud to present a deluxe box set of the 11 Columbia and ARC albums by award-winning icon Deniece Williams released between 1976-1988.

A constant presence on the contemporary music scene as a soul, pop and gospel best-selling artist and distinguished songwriter, ‘Niecy’ (as she’s been known since her early ‘70s tenure with Stevie Wonder’s female background vocalists Wonderlove) has racked up over 25 charted hits, all of which can be found on the eight discs that comprise this first-of-its-kind full showcase of Deniece’s distinctive and influential music.

Produced by SoulMusic.com founder David Nathan, “Free: The Columbia/ARC Recordings” includes an outstanding in-depth essay by distinguished US writer Justin Kantor, with 2021 direct comments from Deniece herself along with interview quotes from the legendary Johnny Mathis as well as an array of producers, songwriters and collaborators involved with some of Niecy’s albums, such as Nathan East, Bill Neale, Greg Mathieson, Monte Moir, Michael Jeffries, Diane Warren, and Michele Val Jean specifically for this project. With stunning artwork by Roger Williams and first class mastering by Nick Robbins, this beautifully-packaged set boasts 115 tracks that display Denice Williams’ soulful artistry as a pre-eminent hitmaker and creative mainstay with a global audience.


• Disc 1: Combining her 1976 gold-certified debut solo LP, NIECY with the follow-up SONG BIRD (1977) – the former produced by the late Maurice White (of EW&F fame) and the late Charles Stepney, the latter produced by White – the 15 tracks include the timeless classic ‘Free’ and Niecy’s long-time show closer ‘God Is Amazing’.

• Disc 2: An expanded edition of THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR, 1978’s international best-selling LP of duets with the iconic Johnny Mathis and three bonus tracks, the across-the-board global No. 1 ‘Too Much, Too Little, Too Late’ as well as versions of The Bee Gees-penned ‘Emotion’ and a 1984 rendition of Major Harris’ ‘Love Won’t Let Me Wait’.

• Disc 3: WHEN LOVE COMES CALLING (1979) with production by Ray Parker Jr. and David Foster includes the R&B/dance hit ‘I’ve Got The Next Dance’; and 1981’s MY MELODY teams Deniece with legendary Philly soul producer/songwriter Thom Bell resulting in charted singles, ‘Silly’ and ‘It’s Your Conscience’.

• Disc 4: Deniece and Thom Bell followed up with 1982’s NIECY included one of her biggest hits, a cover of The Royalettes’ ‘It’s Gonna Take A Miracle’; while the 1983 set I’M SO PROUD marked the beginning of Niecy’s work with late musical maestro George Duke on several tracks such as the title cut, a revival of the Curtis Mayfield-penned classic.

• Disc 5: LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY (1984) – title track produced by George Duke – brought Deniece her biggest global smash as well as the classic ‘Black Butterfly’ while she began producing herself (with Greg Mathieson) for a number of cuts for the LP as well as the follow up album, 1986’s HOT ON THE TRAIL.

• Disc 6: Standalone reissue of 1987’S WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE, produced by Steve Levine (known for his work with Culture Club and many others), features US R&B charted singles ‘I Confess’ and ‘Never Say Never’.

• Disc 7: 1988’s AS GOOD AS IT GETS completed Niecy’s Columbia tenure, with production by Monte Moir (Of The Time), Brad Westering and George Duke and includes the Michael Jackson-co-penned ‘We Are Here To Change The World’ and Top 10 US R&B hit ‘I Can’t Wait’.

• Disc 8 comprises 15 tracks with a selection of single edits including the Verdine White co-penned ‘Baby, Baby My Love’s All For You’ (1977) and ‘Do What You Feel’ (1983) as well as 12” disco mixes of ‘I Found Love’ (1979), the 12” version of ‘Let’s Hear It For The Boy’ (1984) and 12” extended versions of ‘Wiser And Weaker’(1986) and ‘Never Say Never’ (1987).

Track Listing:

DISC ONE: THIS IS NIECY / SONG BIRD 1. IT’S IMPORTANT TO ME 2. THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR 3. HOW’D I KNOW THAT LOVE WOULD SLIP AWAY 4. CAUSE YOU LOVE ME BABY 5. FREE 6. WATCHING OVER 7. IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE 8. TIME 9. THE BOY I LEFT BEHIND 10. WE HAVE LOVE FOR YOU 11. GOD IS AMAZING 12. BABY, BABY MY LOVE’S ALL FOR YOU 13. SEASON 14. BE GOOD TO ME 15. THE PAPER

DISC TWO: JOHNNY MATHIS & DENIECE WILLIAMS: THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR (EXPANDED EDITION) 1. YOU’RE ALL I NEED TO GET BY 2. UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME (THAT’S WHAT I’M GONNA DO) 3. YOU’RE A SPECIAL PART OF MY LIFE 4. READY OR NOT 5. ME FOR YOU, YOU FOR ME 6. YOUR PRECIOUS LOVE 7. JUST THE WAY YOU ARE 8. THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR 9. I JUST CAN’T GET OVER YOU 10. TOUCHING ME WITH LOVE BONUS TRACKS 11. TOO MUCH, TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE 12. EMOTION 13. LOVE WON’T LET ME WAIT

DISC THREE: WHEN LOVE COMES CALLING / MY MELODY 1. I FOUND LOVE 2. ARE YOU THINKING? 3. MY PRAYER 4. I’VE GOT THE NEXT DANCE 5. TOUCH ME AGAIN 6. WHEN LOVE COMES CALLING 7. GOD KNOWS 8. LIKE MAGIC 9. TURN AROUND 10. WHY CAN’T WE FALL IN LOVE? 11. MY MELODY 12. IT’S YOUR CONSCIENCE 13. SILLY 14. STRANGERS 15. WHAT TWO CAN DO 16. YOU’RE ALL THAT MATTERS 17. SUSPICIOUS 18. SWEET SURRENDER

DISC FOUR: NIECY / I’M SO PROUD 1. WAITING BY THE HOTLINE 2. IT’S GONNA TAKE A MIRACLE 3. LOVE NOTES 4. I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES 5. HOW DOES IT FEEL 6. WAITING 7. NOW IS THE TIME FOR LOVE 8. A PART OF LOVE 9. DO WHAT YOU FEEL 10. I’M SO PROUD 11. SO DEEP IN LOVE 12. I’M GLAD IT’S YOU 13. HEAVEN IN YOUR EYES 14. THEY SAY 15. LOVE, PEACE AND UNITY 16. IT’S OKAY

DISC FIVE: LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY / HOT ON THE TRAIL 1. LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY 2. I WANT YOU 3. PICKING UP THE PIECES 4. BLACK BUTTERFLY 5. NEXT LOVE 6. HAUNTING ME 7. DON’T TELL ME WE HAVE NOTHING 8. BLIND DATING 9. WRAPPED UP 10. WHITER THAN SNOW 11. WISER AND WEAKER 12. HOT ON THE TRAIL 13. HE LOVES ME, HE LOVES ME NOT 14. VIDEO 15. I FEEL THE NIGHT 16. WE’RE TOGETHER 17. STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART 18. HEALING

DISC SIX: WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE 1. I CONFESS 2. NEVER SAY NEVER 3. WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE 4. LOVE FINDS YOU 5. NOT BY CHANCE 6. ONE LESS LONELY HEART 7. I BELIEVE IN YOU 8. SOMEONE FOR SOMEONE 9. BABY THIS IS LOVE 10. DON’T BLAME IT ON MY HEART

DISC SEVEN: AS GOOD AS IT GETS 1. I CAN’T WAIT 2. THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS 3. WE ARE HERE TO CHANGE THE WORLD 4. ALL I NEED 5. MEMORIES 6. THERE’S NO OTHER 7. I AM SURE 8. IT’S YOU I’M AFTER 9. DON’T STOP THE LOVE 10. HOLD ME TIGHT

DISC EIGHT: BONUS TRACKS 1. FREE (LONG SINGLE VERSION) 2. BABY BABY MY LOVE’S ALL FOR YOU (PROMOTIONAL SINGLE VERSION) 3. SILLY (SINGLE VERSION) 4. IT’S YOUR CONSCIENCE (SINGLE VERSION) 5. IT’S GONNA TAKE A MIRACLE (SINGLE VERSION) 6. DO WHAT YOU FEEL (SINGLE VERSION) 7. IT’S OKAY (SINGLE VERSION) 8. I FOUND LOVE (12″ DISCO MIX) 9. I’VE GOT THE NEXT DANCE (12″ DISCO MIX) 10. LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY (12″ VERSION) 11. NEXT LOVE (12″ VERSION) 12. THE WISER GETS WEAKER (12″ EXTENDED VERSION) 13. NEVER SAY NEVER (12″ EXTENDED VERSION) 14. I CONFESS (12″ DANCE MIX) 15. I CAN’T WAIT (12″ VERSION)

So I have some qualms with the Soulmusic.com box sets for Phyllis and Deniece. Nothing new for me on either of these sets. Glaring omissions from the Phyllis box set is a track she recorded for her first album "Sounds Like A Love Song", which has only appeared on one compilation CD back in the 90s and extended and remixed versions of "Ain't You Had Enough Love" and "It's Not About You" are all missing. Not to mention I am disappointed Gamble & Huff decided not to use the opportunity to release some more vaullt material they have on Phyllis that was promised a few years ago but never surfaced.


The Deniece box set I would be more interested in just to have a remaster of "Water Under the Bridge". But, I can't see myself paying that price just for one album. I already have the original Japan & domestic CD pressings of every Deniece album thru 1984 along with the expanded reissues from BBR and FTG. So if I buy this particular box set, I would have triple copies of many of those titles. Not to mention the remastering on Soulmusic.com reissues have always been hit and miss.


But my main problem is the packaging. The original artwork is not replicated in these boxsets. Instead, small scans of the front/back of each album along with small scans of the side A & B label of the vinyls are used as the sleeve artwork.

Artists that deserve box sets: Cameo,Maze featuring Frankie Beverly,The Commodores,Rufus featuring Chaka Khan.

I'd love to see box sets from all those bands.Fill the sets up with rare tracks,demos,outtakes,live stuff....and take my money!

kitbradley said:

Glaring omissions from the Phyllis box set is a track she recorded for her first album "Sounds Like A Love Song", which has only appeared on one compilation CD back in the 90s

yeah,that should have been included.But I am glad that they included her rare 1976 single "Baby (I'm Gonna Love You)",which is fantastic

Baby (I'm Gonna Love You) - YouTube

they also include the B-side "Do Me".Her first album is excellent and it's even better with these two bonus tracks on it.

SoulAlive said:

The Commodores

I don't think Motown does box sets other than a series of all of the A & B sides of singles released during the 1960s to the early 1970s. I think those are out of print now, not sure. Some of the Jackson 5 singles were in mono instead of stereo, which are included in the singles box sets. Motown did release a box set of all of the solo albums Michael Jackson had on the label including single only songs. That was not long after he passed. Motown has released deluxe versions of albums, which were also done with other labels Universal owns.

SoulAlive said:

Isn’t Motown now owned by Universal? Surely they can give the Commodores’ catalog the respect and attention that it deserves.Their catalog has been ignored for too long now.I want a big,multi-disc box set that contains all of their Motown albums remastered and filled with bonus tracks,demos,outtakes and other rarities.For some strange reason,the CD of their 1978 album ‘Natural High’ has poor sound quality,even though it is supposed to be “remastered”.That is inexcusable.

Motown had in the past and still does focus mostly on the 1960s. Probably because that's what the general public considers "Motown". Such as endless compilations with My Girl & Sugar Pie Honey Bunch. Or Broadway stage plays mainly featuring the 1960s era hits. Like I mentioned, the singles box sets stopped in the early 1970s around 1973 or 1974. After that maybe their focus is on 1970s Marvin Gaye albums, What's Going On in particular. I think Stevie Wonder owns his masters starting with Where I'm Coming From. So Motown has to get his approval to do anything with that material, but not with anything before that. The only thing Motown has done that was Commodores album related was a 2 disc deluxe version of Lionel's Can't Slow Down. Most of Jermaine Jackson's Motown albums have never been on CD and he was the son in law of Berry Gordy.

SoulAlive said:

It’s just a shame that the Commodores’ catalog is being neglected.It's not like their music wasn’t popular.They were HUGE in the late 70s! I can name numerous lesser bands and artists who have big,multi-disc box sets on the market

But are they on Motown? Hip-O was doing the deluxe albums & 2 albums on 1 CD for Motown, but I think Hip-O has been inactive for awhile now. There's also the case that I think the Commodores with JD Nicholas might have some issues with the former members. Or at least Walter Orange does. Lionel said once that he wanted to reunite and do a tour, but Walter declined in a statement. At this point JD has been in the band longer than any of the 3 living former members.

SoulAlive said:

I just recall hearing about a multi-disc Debbie Gibson box set…and wasn’t she pretty much a one-album wonder? anyway,hopefully we’ll hear about some great new box sets coming soon.These sets make excellent Christmas gifts.

Her 2nd album Electric Youth was a hit. Debbie has been on popular shows like Dancing With The Stars, so new audiences have seen her. The Commodores hasn't had much mainstream recognition since Nightshift. Lionel has been seen by new younger audiences as the father of Nicole Richie, being a host of American Idol and releasing a duets album with current country stars. Hello is also a popular meme. I don't think how many albums an act released is necessarily a indicator of anything. I think The Sex Pistols only have 1 album, yet they often made the Top 10 best albums in Rolling Stone. Jimi Hendrix only released 3 albums while alive. He's still popular today and still gets written about in rock magazines.

The Whispers 4-CD box set---covers their music from 1972 to 1987----

Four CD set that covers their Janus & Solar Records recording career spanning from 1971 through 1987. Includes all their biggest hits including their two R&B #1's "And The Beat Goes On" and "Rock Steady". And their Top 10 R&B Hits "One For The Money", "Make It With You", "(Let's Go) All The Way", "Lady", "It's A Love Thing", "In The Raw", "Tonight", "Keep On Lovin' Me" and "Contagious". The Whispers formed in 1963 in Watts, Los Angeles. The Band consisted of twin brothers Walter and Wallace "Scotty" Scott, Gary Harmon, Marcus Hutson and Nicholas Caldwell. Gary Harmon left the band and was replaced by Leavell Degree in 1973. The Whispers Also secured two Top 10 Hits in the U. K. and charted another seven tracks that are all featured in this Box Set. In 2013 they were presented a lifetime achievement award for their 50 years in the industry, and in 2014 The Whispers were inducted into the official R&B Music Hall Of Fame. This package includes comprehensive sleeve notes by Lois Wilson.

that Whipers box set is a must-have I'm gonna have to order it.I have several of their albums but I wanna have a one-stop place for all of their music.The tracklist is superb and all of the big hits are accounted for.I just wish they had included the 1980 jam "Continental Shuffle".I don't think it was a single,but it's a popular track from the 1980 Imagination album.

MickyDolenz said:

SoulAlive said:

My point is that there are many more deserving artists and bands,with a string of successful albums,who should have some type of box set.It’s not about who is getting more mainstream attention these days.It’s about a catalog of music.

There's reissue labels like Numero & Light In the Attic that specialize in doing box sets or remastered albums of obscure acts that never had any hits. Just because somebody was popular at one time does not necessarily mean anything for today's audience. Like there's probably not many people who are checking for a Al Jolson box set. He was popular and had hits in his day. CDs in general don't sell in large quantities today, even for currently popular singers/rappers/bands. People stream music. With old R&B acts that were popular, many of their albums are out of print and only have a Greatest Hits/Best Of. Especially if they did not crossover. Or they're only available in Japan. If their albums are ignored, why would the labels put out a box set on them? They'll more likely do that with The Beatles or certain classic rock bands.

SoulAlive said:

Debbie Gibson was popular for two years in the late 80s.When the 80s ended,so did her musical career all I’m asking for is a Commodores box set…a successful band who really deserves one.I got all the albums but I want a nice,remastered set! Hell,I just purchased an 8-CD Kleeer box set! They are a great band but weren’t nearly as popular as the Commodores.

Did their original label put out the box set or was it put out by a Japan or UK company and has to be bought as an import? Were Kleer on Motown? Nobody deserves anything, labels put out stuff that they think will make money. Like this:

The original Commodores albums aren't hard to find and are cheap, even for an unopened copy. The original LPs don't need to be remastered, they were mastered for vinyl or tape when they were the main source for music. You can go crate digging like rap producers looking for records to sample.

As far as Debbie Gibson goes, she was recently on a really successful tour. Can't say that for the Commodores (with JD Nicholas) or Kleer, but can be said for Lionel Richie.

Aretha Franklin - Aretha (4 CDs or 2 LPs)
Release: July 30, 2021

To say that Aretha Franklin was one of the greatest American artists of all time is an understatement. Her multi-octave voice moved millions around the world during an unrivaled career that spanned six decades and garnered the singer-songwriter every achievement and honor imaginable. Her reign as the Queen of Soul will play out across four discs on a new boxed set from Rhino that is the first to span her entire career, including songs from every label she recorded with.

Among the collection’s 81 newly remastered tracks (20 tracks on vinyl version), 19 are making their CD and digital debuts, including alternate versions of classic hits, demos, rarities, and live tracks, like her stunning performance of “(You Make Me Feel) Like A Natural Woman” at The 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors in 2015. To put Franklin’s life and career into perspective, the collection is accompanied by liner notes written by Rochelle Riley, author and director of arts and culture for the City of Detroit, and David Nathan, a music journalist and soul historian who interviewed Franklin more times than any other living writer. The collection also features stunning artwork by celebrated artist Makeba KEEBS Rainey, who provides her signature style to a photo of the Queen Of Soul taken by the legendary photographer, Neal Preston. Rhino’s new boxed set will arrive shortly before the premiere of Respect, the highly anticipated biopic about Franklin’s life starring Jennifer Hudson.

Arranged in mostly chronological order, ARETHA opens with “Never Grow Old” and “You Grow Closer,” which were released as her first single in 1956 by J.V.B Records. Notably, she recorded these gospel songs at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, where her father, C. L. Franklin, was the longtime pastor.

The next 10 songs focus on the period between 1960 and 1966 when Franklin was signed to Columbia Records. The music includes her first single with the label (“Today I Sing The Blues”), her first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 (“Won’t Be Long”), plus the Top 40 R&B hits “Runnin’ Out Of Fools,” “One Step Ahead” and “Cry Like A Baby.”

The majority of ARETHA is dedicated to her record-shattering tenure with Atlantic Records between 1967 and 1979, which included five consecutive #1 R&B albums. In fact, the first two unreleased songs on the collection – “My Kind Of Town (Detroit Is)” and “Try A Little Tenderness” – are home demos that she recorded in 1966 to give Atlantic executive and producer Jerry Wexler an idea of possible material for her debut LP for label. “My Kind Of Town (Detroit Is)” finds Franklin replacing the classic “Chicago” lyric from the Sinatra version of the song with a callout to her hometown of Detroit.

Franklin’s biggest hits are here too, like “I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You),” “(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone” and her signature smash, “Respect.” But instead of using familiar takes for other hits, the collection selects different versions, like alternate takes of “Chain Of Fools,” “Rock Steady,” and “Spanish Harlem”; live recordings of “Baby I Love You” and “Don’t Play That Song”; and “Think” recorded for The Blues Brothers soundtrack.

Her early 70s collaboration with producer Quincy Jones is revisited with a trio of unreleased recordings including the Franklin original “The Boy From Bombay” and a stunning alternate version of her take on the Sondheim and Bernstein classic “Somewhere.”

ARETHA also shines a spotlight on her best work with Arista Records between 1980 and 2007. Standouts from this era include hits like “Jump To It” and “Freeway Of Love.” This period also featured a number of memorable collaborations including “Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves” with Eurythmics and the #1 hit “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” with George Michael.

Even for longtime fans, ARETHA delivers plenty of surprises. Prime examples are the numerous unreleased work tapes and demos for hits like “Angel,” “Until You Come Back To Me” and “Brand New Me.” The set also features the debuts of several television appearances, including duets with Tom Jones (“It’s Not Unusual/See Saw”), Smokey Robinson (“Ooo Baby Baby”) and Dionne Warwick (“I Say A Little Prayer.”) Finally, the collection rounds up rarities like her cover of Donny Hathaway’s “Someday We’ll All Be Free” from the Malcom X soundtrack and her jaw-dropping live performance of “Nessun Dorma.”

The Little Rascals - The ClassicFlix Restorations (Blu Ray)
release: Vol. 1 - June 01, 2021, Vol. 2 - August 03, 2021

Remastered, uncut and beautifully restored, now you can see The Little Rascals like never before! With restorations so glorious, it will be like watching these iconic shorts for the first time!

Hal Roach's Our Gang series is one of the longest running and most prolific in the field of short subjects with 220 one- and two-reel comedies released between 1922 and 1944. The secret to the longevity of the series, as well as its appeal to generations long after its conclusion, is mainly due to Roach’s choice to cast kids who came across as “natural” on the screen—scruffy underdogs that moviegoers could identify with or wish they could be—not glossy “showbiz professionals”.

After producing 88 silent Our Gang shorts, Roach transitioned to sound releasing 80 “talkies” in the series starting with Small Talk in 1929. It took time to fine-tune the adjustment from silent to sound, but soon the studio began firing on all cylinders producing classics like Shivering Shakespeare and The First Seven Years (both 1930).

The Little Rascals - The ClassicFlix Restorations, Volume 1 contains the first 11 Our Gang sound shorts produced by Roach at the dawn of the “talkie era": Small Talk to A Tough Winter—with each short newly scanned and restored from original Hal Roach 35mm film elements.

1929:
Small Talk
Railroadin'
Lazy Days
Boxing Gloves
Bouncing Babies
Moan & Groan, Inc.

1930:
Shivering Shakespeare
The First Seven Years
When the Wind Blows
Bear Shooters
A Tough Winter

The Little Rascals - The ClassicFlix Restorations, Volume 2 contains the next 11 Our Gang sound shorts produced by Roach at the dawn of the "talkie era": Pups is Pups (1930) to Dogs is Dogs (1931) -- with each short newly scanned and restored from original Hal Roach 35mm film elements.

1930:
Pups Is Pups
Teacher's Pet
School's Out

1931:
Helping Grandma
Love Business
Little Daddy
Bargain Day
Fly My Kite
Big Ears
Shiver My Timbers
Dogs Is Dogs

A must-have for any true Our Gang fan, Volumes 1 and 2 features the talents of Jackie Cooper, Allen “Farina” Hoskins, Mary Ann Jackson, Bobby “Wheezer" Hutchins, Joe Cobb, Harry Spear, Norman “Chubby" Chaney, Dorothy De Borba, Matthew "Stymie" Beard, as well as June Marlowe as the unforgettable Miss Crabtree.

Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films
release: September 28, 2021

Director, writer, composer, actor, and one-man creative revolutionary Melvin Van Peebles jolted American independent cinema to new life with his explosive stylistic energy and unfiltered expression of Black consciousness. Though he undeniably altered the course of film history with the anarchic Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971), that pop-culture bombshell is just one piece of a remarkably varied career that has also encompassed forays into European art cinema (The Story of a Three Day Pass - 1967), mainstream Hollywood comedy (Watermelon Man - 1970), and Broadway musicals (Don’t Play Us Cheap - 1972). Each facet of Van Peebles’s renegade genius is on display in this collection of four films, a tribute to a transformative artist whose caustic social observation, radical formal innovation, and uncompromising vision established a new cinematic model for Black creative independence. Also included in the set is Baadasssss!, a chronicle of the production of Sweet Sweetback made by Van Peebles’s son Mario Van Peebles—and starring the younger Van Peebles as Melvin.

SPECIAL FEATURES
New 4K digital restorations of all four films, approved by filmmaker Mario Van Peebles, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks for The Story of a Three Day Pass, Watermelon Man, and Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song and 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack for Don’t Play Us Cheap

Baadasssss!, a 2003 fictional feature film based on director Melvin Van Peebles’s diaries from the making of Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, directed by and starring his son Mario Van Peebles, with commentary by father and son

New conversations between Mario Van Peebles and film critic Elvis Mitchell; producer Warrington Hudlin and critic and filmmaker Nelson George; and scholars Amy Abugo Ongiri, Gerald R. Butters Jr., and Novotny Lawrence

Audio commentary by Melvin Van Peebles from 1997 on Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song

Three short films by Melvin Van Peebles: Sunlight (1957), Three Pickup Men for Herrick (1957), and Les cinq cent balles (1961)

How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It), a 2005 documentary on Van Peebles’s life and career

The Story Behind “Baadasssss!”: The Birth of Black Cinema, a 2004 featurette

Melvin Van Peebles: The Real Deal, a 2002 interview with the director on the making of Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song

Episodes of Black Journal from 1968, 1971, and 1972, on The Story of a Three Day Pass, Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, and Don’t Play Us Cheap

Interview from 1971 with Van Peebles on Detroit Tubeworks

French television interview from 1968 with Van Peebles and actors Harry Baird and Nicole Berger on the set of The Story of a Three Day Pass

Excerpts from a 2004 interview with Van Peebles for the Directors Guild of America Visual History Program

Introductions to all four films by Van Peebles

Trailers

New English subtitle translation for The Story of a Three Day Pass

English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing

PLUS: A book featuring essays by film scholars Racquel J. Gates, Allyson Nadia Field, Michael B. Gillespie, and Lisa B. Thompson

The Beatles / Let It Be r...uxeEdition

The Beatles / Let It Be reissue

5CD+blu-ray • 5LP vinyl box • 2CD set

The last studio album that The Beatles released, 1970’s Let It Be, will be reissued in October as a belated 50th anniversary edition.

The new super deluxe 5CD+blu-ray super deluxe reissue of Let It Be doesn’t bother to repeat Let It Be Naked but, more surprisingly, also doesn’t include much from the 3 Savile Row rooftop concert. What it does offer is the 1969 Glyn Johns ‘Get Back LP’ mix, two CDs of alternate takes/jams, new mixes of the original Phil Spector version of the album (and a-sides/b-sides) and a new Dolby Atmos and 5.1 mix of Let It Be. With The Beatles Anthology, and Let It Be Naked, it’s hard to keep track of what has been made available before and what hasn’t, but Apple/UMC say that in total, the super deluxe edition features 27 previously unreleased session recordings.