Nothing has resonated more loudly this week than the stuttered news of Beatles remasters appearing on September 09…this year!  The remasters have been worked on over the last four years at Abbey Road Studios in Londontown.

This reissue campaign encompasses the entire Beatles catalogue as they were released in the UK (track-list and artwork).  In addition, the previous Past Masters (Vol 1 and Vol 2) will be combined to release as one Volume.  As you can tell from the pictures, these are going to be extravagant.  They will be presented with original and new liner notes, detailed historical notes, and recording process notes.  As bonuses, and for a limited time only, each Beatles title will include Quicktime files, mini documentaries on the making of the particular album they’re on.  These documentaries will include archival footage, photos, and in-studio chats by the members of the band as they were in the process of recording.  These are meant to be definitive releases of the Beatles albums.

In addition, there will be Box sets.  There are two distinct sets that include a Stereo set and a Mono set.  The Mono set contains ten of their albums that were mixed in Mono and two extra discs of mono masters, a kind of Past Masters collection except in Mono. To make the Mono Box more complete, it will also include Help and Rubber Soul in their 1965 Stereo mixes not released on CD.  The Stereo Box will contain all of the separate releases and a DVD collection of the documentaries in a convenience package for hard core Beatles collectors.

All of the discs will be released in the popular Japanese-styled Mini-LP digipak format and will be reproduced exactly as the original LP was released, inserts (if any) and all.

As stated before, these CDs will be released on September 09, coinciding with the release of Rock Band: The Beatles video game.

Beatles fans, it looks as if your wishes have just come true! While you're at it, check out the Flash clip at the official Beatles site visually detailing these releases. In a word, awesome! The machine is in FULL motion.

We have one review for you today, the just released covers album from Cassandra Wilson called Closer to You: The Pop Side.

We are happy to present the latest As The Disc Spins by Lindsay Planer. In this new issue, he reviews five big project sets. Those are Johnny Cash (Live at Folsom - Legacy Edition); Nina Simone (To Be Free: the Nina Simone Story); Little Walter (The Complete Chess Masters: 1950-1967); Chuck Berry (You Never Can Tell: The Complete Chess Recordings: 1960-1966); and Roy Orbison (The Soul of Rock and Roll). We hope that you enjoy them.

Sugar Hill Records will release a new Red Stick Ramblers disc on May 19.  This 13-track disc is called My Suitcase is Always Packed and will be their fifth album.

Vanguard Records will release a Pop/Rock title by Carbon Leaf called Nothing Rhymes with Woman.  It is scheduled for May 19.  The band will tour to support the release.

Tooth & Nail Records plan a Rock title by MeWithoutYou, scheduling for May 19.  This album is called It’s All Crazy! It’s All False! It’s All a Dream! It’s Alright! And yes, that is the title.

Tooth & Nail will also deliver a 22-song sampler from its array of artists, all for a low cost of $5.99 suggested retail.  The Various Artists set is called Songs From the Penalty Box, Vol 6: Tooth & Nail and will be available on May 19.

Solid State Records will deliver their own Various Artists collection at the same retail cost (coming from Tooth & Nail).  This 19-track set is called Songs From the Penalty Box, Vol 7 and is expected on the same date as its brother set.

BEC Recordings will release Everything You’ve Been Looking For by Jaymes Reunion in a Developing Artists price point.  It is set for May 19.

Green Hill Records has licensed a nice Various Artists collection of Country Gospel songs from notable names such as Kris Kristofferson (“Why Me”); Johnny Cash (“Daddy Sang Bass”); Jim Reeves (“I’ll Fly Away”); Willie Nelson (“One Day at a Time”); George Jones (“Me and Jesus”); and other classic interpretations of Gospel standards.  It is scheduled for May 19.

Springhill Records have a new Oak Ridge Boys album slated for release on May 19.  The album is called The Boys Are Back.

S Curve Records will release Bible Belt by multi-talented singer, Diane Birch in both PA and Edited forms on May 19.

Mute Records will issue an anticipated S/T debut from Polly Scattergood on May 1 9.  Scattergood’s music is called “…dark and disturbing…” and “…Kate Bush and Tori Amos are obvious reference points…”  Sounds interesting.

Abstract and The Store for Music will release several albums on May 19.  These include From Me to You (includes “Oh Babe, What Would You Say”) by Hurricane Smith, who’s life’s work was tied into The Beatles and Pink Floyd, technically.  The other title comes from Little River Band with a comp of Live tracks called One Night in Mississippi.  If you’re a fan, you’ll want either or both of these albums.

EMI Classics will release a 10CD Box for Andre Previn called The Great Recordings – The LSO Years: 1971-1980.  This is in celebration of his 80th birthday.  It is planned for May 19. 

Don’t forget that May 19 will bring two high profile reissues that offer remastering and expansion for those titles.  The first is Ill Communication by The Beastie Boys (includes a bonus disc of B-sides and rarities); and a 20th Anniversary Limited Edition (with previously unreleased material) of Let Love Rule by Lenny Kravitz.  That album’s second disc is filled with plenty of music that relates to the original album.

Reprise Records will release Grey Britain by Gallows on May 5.

Cassandra Wilson, with her voice of silk, has released an album of covers derived from a multitude of her past releases. There is "The Weight" by The Band, "Harvest Moon," Neil Young, "Lay Lady Lay" by Bob Dylan, and several other classics. You'll enjoy this release, called Closer to You: The Pop Side.

Foghat ruled the charts and Rock lovers' hearts with the release of this high-charting platinum selling release, Fool For The City. With blues, hard rock, and the uniqueness of Peverett's vocals, Foghat - and Fool for The City - remains representative of a great era in Rock music, the '70s. This album generated the huge hit, "Slow Ride" as well as the album's title cut. Mobile Fidelity, with their attention to detail, has released an excellent audio version of the classic album on SACD, where it needed to be.

The female-fronted Orchid Thieves hails from the UK (don't confuse them with the Canadian and NYC bands of the same name variations), where it currently delivers it's brand of Rock not unlike The Pretenders except with stronger vocals. The music is reminiscent of an earlier time and yet they remain very relevant to the kind of emerging musical style that it coming from the always fertile musical climate of the UK. I highly recommend them to you. I am providing links to their Facebook page and their MySpace page, where you should find plenty of music to enjoy from this new band. Soon, they will release their debut album. We hope that they will do well. You can also follow their Twitter feeds.

Check out their posted songs, especially "After Tomorrow." They will be releasing an EP in a few months.