Let me start this out with a genuine and heartfelt thanks to all those that sent me such wonderful condolences after the passing of my mother. Bill Hunt of The Digital Bits is a close friend, and he wrote up a grand piece in one of his posts, after which, you swelled my mailbox with your own beautiful words and thoughts, prayers and well-wishing. The loss was devastating but the healing begins with support. Your emails helped begin that passage. Best thing? She's now digging on that Big band. I'm betting that they have never sounded better.

A lot of days have passed since our last post. Certainly, lots of releases have been announced and I've not written them save for some Twitter postings. But we have revisited some of those today as well as some new ones not looked at yet.

I promised a write-up with suggestions to the Labels. I want to hold that until the Wednesday post to keep from breaking this post into two pieces. The reason is that I was very moved by your emails and don't want to subtract from that by jumping into a commentary. However, I did put up two reviews for you, one for The Mick Fleetwood Band Live album, Blue Again, and an indie Rock release, Genus Thylacinus from MarsupiaL.

By the way, who has seen that gorgeous Visa/Aquarium commercial with "Tuesday Afternoon" (Moody Blues) playing in the background? I really like it.

Our pal (Matt Wardlaw) from Addicted to Vinyl, had the good luck to attend a Detroit show with J Geils Band. Not only am I jealous, I'm crying. And so I have to reduce myself to pleading with Peter, John, Magic Dick, Seth, Andy, Danny, and Stephen to make it a tour for the rest of us deprived mega-fans. Please...ohhhh please. Ahhhhhhhhh, please. (That's some impressive crying for all to read...I think). On Wednesday, I have some photos of Britney Spears that you'll enjoy from one of her shows courtesy of Sarah Hunt. You will enjoy them, trust me.

We'll see you again on Wednesday.

Capitol Records have a reissue of A Momentary Lapse of Reason by Pink Floyd coming on June 2. No word on whether this is a re-master, or whether it has extra tracks, or is just a reissue to stores to fill inventory. As we find outr, I'll be sure to let you know.

As a reminder, Caroline will release the excellent album by Iggy Pop, what I'm already calling his masterpiece solo work (much like Lou Reed's Berlin). the album is called Preliminaires and is currently scheduled for June 2. Trust me, if you're an Iggy Pop fan, this one will thrill.

Kris Kristofferson is currently working on a new album, Starlight and Stone, that we hope will be released in 2009. Keep an eye out on TAP for news when it gets a date. (news acquired from LA Times).

Peter Wolf is working on a solo album as well, his first in many, many years. How good are we having it lately in music?

EMI has several vinyl LP titles arriving in stores on June 16. These include Stranded, and Country Life (Roxy Music); Freaky Styley, and Uplift Mofo Party Plan (Red Hot Chili Peppers); Live Peace in Toronto (John Lennon and The Plastic Ono Band); So Far, So Good, So What (Megadeth); Mama Tried (Merle Haggard); and The Specials (The Specials). Nice!

A new album from '80s-styled The Mary Onettes is being planned for June 16. The album is called Dare.

Capitol Records will be releasing the George Harrison 'best of' that I mentioned last year (and retracted...its time wasn't yet). The collection will be called Let It Roll: The Songs and is scheduled for June 16.

Rhino Records and Elektra will reissue the 2005 re-mastered and expanded two classic titles from reggae great, Steel Pulse. The albums are True Democracy (1982), and Earth Crisis (1984). True Democracy will add four previously unreleased tracks ("Ravers" - 12" Version; "Leggo Beast" - 12" Version; "Your House" - Dub Version; "A Who Responsible?" - Dub Version). Earth Crisis gets four tracks as well ("Steppin' Out" - Dub Version; "Steppin' Out" - Extended Version; "Roller Skates" - Remix Version; "Roller Skates" - Dub Version). Both are scheduled for June 16 as vinyl LPs.

Nonesuch Records will release Oh My God Charlie Darwin by The Low Anthem in both CD and LP on June 9.

Atlantic Records will release the second album by Paolo Nutini named Sunny Side Up. The album is planned for June 2.

Rhino plans to re-release several Woodstock Various Artists albums that includes both Music from the Original Soundtrack and More: Woodstock (2CD); and Woodstock Two (2CD). These are scheduled for June 2. these gems are celebrating 40 years as an anniversary and are being re-mastered and presented with new liner notes and photos. In addtion to these separately available 2CD Deluxe Editions, Rhino will be reissuing the original documentary on DVD. Visit www.woodstock.com for more details.

Flashback Records will re-release a batch of 'best of' titles: The Freddy Fender Collection (Freddy Fender); The Rodney Crowell Collection (Rodney Crowell); Greatest Hits (Neal McCoy); More Great Dirt: The Best of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Volume II (The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band); Hits (Gary Morris); 20 Great Years (Kenny Rogers); Greatest #1 Hits (Randy Travis); Number Ones: The Warner Brothers Years (Conway Twitty); This Time (Dwight Yoakam); Greatest Hits (John Anderson); and Greatest Hits (Confederate Railroad). These are scheduled for June 2 and at a suggested retail price of $5.99.

Rhino also has a Various Artists DVD coming on June 2 called Fillmore: The Last Days, an out-of-print classic from days past. It should have your blood boiling with excitement.

Rhino and Atlantic Records will issue a 12-track set for Crosby, Stills & Nash called Demos. This set will gather previously unreleased demos of classic, well-known tunes from 1968-1971. This digipak releases on June 2. Essential!

Geffen Records will be putting together a 'best of' for Don Henley called The Very Best of Don Henley. It is planned for CD and DD releases on June 16.

Varese Sarabande plans The British Invasion for Gerry and the Pacemakers, with expected release date for June 9.

A&M Records will release several versions (CD/DD) of Reckoning, a classic album from R.E.M. This 2CD Deluxe Edition album is expected on June 23.

UMe will issue The Bigger Bang on BD (Blu-Ray) from The Rolling Stones with a release date of June 9.

My friend, Matt Wardlaw of Addicted to Vinyl, beat me with this info (grrrr, I'll get you for this AtVdotCom) BUT Mercury Records will be reissuing two Def Leppard titles (Adrenalize; Pyromania) as 2CD Deluxe Editions. Those are planned for June 16.

Roadrunner Records will release Black Clouds & Silver Linings by Dream Theater as vinyl LP (2LP) and a 3CD Special Edition. These are planned for June 23.

Mick Fleetwood is no stranger to anyone, having helmed the popular band that generated many hits and still holds a sway over fans of that iteration of the band. what many do NOT know is that Fleetwood Mac was a band that enjoyed several lineups that produced music different from each other. Before that, Mick Fleetwood was involved within the Blues/Rock community - heavily. This Live album is a step back into that wondrous period with some surprises. Blue Again, the title of this album reflects this journey.

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.