Classic Pop Icons

The brand new video for Elton John’s “Home Again” single was released this week. The song comes from Elton’s forthcoming album “The Diving Board”.

“Home Again” – Elton John

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A deluxe edition of the Kinks’ 1971 album “Muswell Hillbillies” will be released on October 7 in the UK and on import a week later in North America. According to the band’s Facebook page, the newly remastered album will feature “unreleased tunes, sessions and alt versions”. A deluxe edition of “Lola” is also reportedly in the pipeline.

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Legacy Recordings is releasing the 15-CD, career-spanning “Paul Simon – The Complete Albums Collection” on October 15.

The deluxe box set features 12 studio albums and two full-length live concert recordings spanning Simon’s debut solo album “The Paul Simon Songbook”, through to his critically acclaimed 2011 album “So Beautiful or So What”. There are also 37 bonus tracks.

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RCA/Legacy Recordings has celebrated the 40th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s sessions at Stax studios in Memphis with a 55-track (28 masters and 27 outtakes) 3-CD collection titled “Elvis At Stax”. A cut-down version featuring 17 tracks is also available on CD and vinyl.

The recordings on “Elvis At Stax” were made over two sessions in July and December 1973. Stax had established an enviable hitmaking pedigree over the previous decade, with the likes of Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, and Sam & Dave all recording at the Memphis studio. However, this meeting of the iconic star and the iconic studio happened more because it was a convenient local place to record than because Elvis made a creative decision to explore the famed Stax soul sound. Elvis stuck with his usual producer, for the most part used musicians he had played with before (some with Stax experience), and for the second session didn’t even use the Stax sound board (RCA sent a mobile recording unit to the studio as their equipment was more advanced).

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A new two-CD collection titled “Rod Stewart – Rarities” features some great early material recorded during Stewart’s early solo career with Mercury Records.

“Rod Stewart – Rarities” includes outtakes, alternate versions, B-sides, live performances, and cover versions of songs by the likes of Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and The Who.

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