I blundered on Wednesday in not acknowledging the passing of Dennis Yost, lead singer of the '60s band, Classics IV. With great singles like "Traces of Love," "Stormy," and "Spooky," there are few people aged 50 and upward that do not remember the band as their songs played over Top40 radio. Yost was the core of that band as it enjoyed a fairly brief run at the top level. Dennis Yost;s name eventually preceded Classics IV as a billing attraction. Some of the original band members of Classics IV moved on to Atlanta Rhythym Section to their own success in the '70s with the band's best known effort, "Imaginary Lover."

Dennis Yost is the most notable member of Classics IV. His voice was the identifier. While he may not have produced new music in later years, we still remember his songs of the '60s and early '70s. He passed away on Sunday from complications due to respiratory failure at the young age of 65. We'll miss you, Dennis Yost. But, what a gain for the Big Band!

Dennis Yost
1943-2008
RIP

Lindsay Planer checks in with a new As The Disc Spins. In it, he reviews five DVDs that include Live at Montreaux:1991-1992 by Tori Amos; Sweet Home Alabama: The Rockpalast Collection by Lynyrd Skynyrd; Sweden Rocks by Ted Nugent; Live From Jazz at Lincoln Center, NYC from Willie Nelson/Wynton Marsalis; and Live From Philadelphia for Paul Simon. Click through and gain from Lindsay's critical eyes and ears.

For the long promised Albums You MUST Hear Before You Die! list (#20), I will be posting a letter each post until exhausted (there were only 17 21 25 27 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 emails).  Some were only a few titles, some only one.  But there were more than a few that were massive and a few extended, well-detailed lists.  I’ll post them as I received them.  For today's post, sometimes there can only be one.

Supertramp's Crime of the Century

Nothing else compares.

We'll see you again on Monday with more. Enjoy the weekend.

We're going to keep the Best Album of ALL Time up for a long while as we continually update it. But I'll say this: The Beatles took the lead with not only The White Album but also the fact that they have been selected with two albums. Like The Albums You MUST Hear Before You Die! run, which does not show signs of stopping (I'm still getting emails, which I have no problem with and encourage - Send Them In), I'm hoping that this new thing stays strong. Send in your selection (one only, please) for the album that is the ruler of all.

If you have missed the last As The Disc Spins (updated), check it out here.

To access the previous site and catch up, click here.

Ten by Pearl Jam is being reissued in a massive way. We want to make sure that you get the full write up and so we'll tell you the whole deal on Monday. But just so you know now, that album is being released in several ways (4 Editions) on March 24 by Epic Records and Legacy. Come back on Monday for the Super Edition writeup of the Super Editions of Ten.

Ashford & Simpson, the husband/wife song-writing team that began writing hits for Marvin Gaye in the Motown height, and found massive success as a singing duo, will have a CD, DVD, and Blu-ray DVD (BD) released called The Real Thing.  The CD will contain 14 tracks, while the DVD will offer 18 performance tracks from concerts.  This title is expected from Burgundy Records on January 27.

Shout! Factory will release a James Brown concert DVD called Live at the Boston Gardens: April 5, 1968.  This show is considered one of Brown's great captured moments.  The DVD is released as a breakout from the Shout! Factory Box released in August of 2008 called I Got the Feelin': James Brown in the '60s.  The DVD contains bonus audio from the simulcast of the show on WGBH radio.  This DVD is planned for January 27.

Shout! Factory will re-release the Emerson, Lake & Palmer concert show called Live at The Royal Albert Hall on DVD.  This show was recorded after the release of Black Moon, a reunion album released some 14 years after their original breakup as a band.  The DVD has been OOP for several years and this release brings it back to fans who may not have a copy.  This DVD complements the recently completed ELP Remaster Series undertaken by Shout! Factory.  It is currently scheduled for January 27.

Country star, Pat Green, releases his 2nd album called What I'm For, on January 27.  It is being released by BNA Records.

We have previously mentioned the upcoming reissues – with bonus tracks – of two The Jacksons titles.  Those albums include Destiny (1978), which includes “Blame it on the Boogie” - John Luongo Disco Mix, and “Shake Your Body” - John Luongo Disco Mix; and Triumph (1980), which adds “This Place Hotel (aka Heartbreak Hotel)” - Single Version, “Walk Right Now” - John Luongo Disco Mix, and “Walk Right Now” - John Luongo Instrumental Mix.  These two albums are expected on January 27 from Epic Records.

Shout! Factory will jump on the Valentine's Day wagon with the compilation and release of Love Songs for The Marshall Tucker Band.  Collected across the expanse of the band's recording period, this selection of 13 MTB tracks will be released from the label on January 27.  Included will be the 45 single versions of “Heard It In a Love Song,” and “Can't You See.”  A nice collection for the lovelorn.

Razor & Tie Records will release the Soundtrack for the film, Taken, which stars Liam Neeson and Famke Jansson, opening on January 30.  The soundtrack is planned for January 26 and will feature a score by  Nathaniel Mechaly.

The new album by Duncan Sheik is a collection of songs written for a new musical called Whisper House, which follows up Spring Awakening.  The new musical is expected On Broadway in the Fall of 2009.  The album is planned for January 27.

The upcoming Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band is called Working on a Dream and is planned for January 27.  If you have been listening to radio (or some other medium), you've already heard the fore-running track from the 12-track album, “Working on a Dream.”  Myself?  I'm not fond of the track but, as always, I keep a wide open mind when it comes to the Boss.  So, I'll wait like the rest of you before passing any judgment on the new album.  It comes from Bruce's long-standing label relationship, Columbia Records.  The album will be released as a standard CD, a CD/DVD Limited Deluxe Edition, and a 180g 2LP.  The 2LP will come equipped with a digital download card.  The CD, and CD/DVD will come in digipak packaging.  The DVD will add a 38-minute film of footage that documents the band's making of this album in the studio.  The album will also contain a bonus track, “The Wrestler,” which is from the film of the same name, starring Mickey O'Rourke (opening Dec 17).

Shout! Factory will release a Live DVD from Fountains of Wayne called No Better Place – Live in Chicago.  The DVD is planned to be released on February 24.  Filmed from a 2005 show, it was shot in wide screen format and is presented in 5.1 Surround.  The DVD will also feature an all new, never-before-seen acoustic mini-set from an in-studio session.  The DVD contains 16 song performances.

Note that the upcoming Live Van Morrison album entitled Astralweeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl, originally scheduled for January 27 has now been moved back to February 10.  Also, Virgin Records planned to release the self-titled debut album for Trouble Andrew on January 13 but has back-pedaled to the new date of February 10.

Virgin Records will release Lonely Road from Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, scheduling for February 3.

Liberty Records plan to release Feel That Fire from Dierks Bentley, scheduling for February 3.

The Mary Onettes are a Swedish band that gets all the working parts right on their self-titled debut on Labrador Records. I liked this one, Luis liked it, Ed liked it...seems like everyone liked it.

Michael Fitz, is a blue-collar worker with a lot of music inside. When he decided to let it all out, Never Look Back was the fine result. We hope that you enjoy it.