Roxy Music reissue news

Roxy Music's second album For Your Pleasure will see a newly expanded version on November 6 via UMR/Island/EMI Records. 

Originally released in 1973, For Your Pleasure charted in the UK Top 5, went gold there and spawned the live and fan fave "Do the Strand."  

Unheard studio recordings, songwriting sketches, rehearsals, outtakes, live sessions and rare unseen performances make up the 2026 edition of For Your Pleasure. The original begged the question Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera, Andy Mackay, Brian Eno and Paul Thompson faced: how do you follow a debut album like Roxy Music?

Bryan Ferry remembers: “It was a good pressure. Realising, now there’s an audience to write for. An intelligent audience. I felt a responsibility for the work that I hadn’t for the first album, certainly with regard to the lyrics. There was a hunger in the whole band to do more: a very strong urge to get back into a recording studio and make a better record than the first one. Nick de Ville had a cottage in Derbyshire, and offered to let me have it for a few days. So I went up there with the sole purpose of writing songs. I had this great little Renault 4, and I filled the car with stuff: keyboards, a guitar, an amp, tape recorders, pads of paper and pens. I remember driving up in this crammed car with its very interesting gear stick. The cottage was quite remote, out in the Derbyshire Dales – I had to call into some local farmer to get the key, then on up a track – and very basic. I must have taken provisions, because I couldn’t cook, but I was full of energy. I was completely alone out there, and just really focused on writing this stuff. I remember sheets of paper all over the floor, working on things like In Every Dream Home A Heartache and Editions Of You. Those few days in that cottage were crucial to the making of For Your Pleasure.”

Fragile cassettes Bryan Ferry recorded in Derbyshire, together with tapes made in his London flat, have survived. They will be released for the first time in more than 50 years as part of the For Your Pleasure 2026 edition. 

Released now for the first time, 'Grey Lagoons – 1971 Demo (original title: The Bogus Man Part 2)' is from the For Your Pleasure: Super Deluxe Edition. Recorded in the summer of 1971, the demo formed part of the homemade tape that first brought Roxy Music to the attention of the music press. 

The Super Deluxe Edition also premieres two additional unheard recordings of the song, 'Grey Lagoons - Air Studios Outtake' and 'Grey Lagoons - Live at Montreux, April 1973'. 

All surviving versions are officially available for the first time as part of the For Your Pleasure 2026 edition. Fans can hear the 1971 demo here.

The 2026 edition of For Your Pleasure will be available in a variety of formats including 2LP (Black vinyl, and in Blue Pearl Vinyl as a D2C Exclusive), 2CD, Digital, Blu-Ray, Dolby ATMOS, and as a 3CD+1DVD Super Deluxe Edition.

The 2CD Deluxe Edition includes the original album, plus AIR Studios outtakes, singles and BBC sessions, presented in a hardcover digibook with a new essay and unseen images.

The 2LP Vinyl edition features the original album, plus AIR Studios outtakes in a gatefold sleeve.

Pre-order via UMR/Island EMI here.

For Your Pleasure 3CD+DVD Super Deluxe Edition Track Listing:
Download Track Listing for 2LP, 2CD, Digital & Blu-Ray Formats Here.

CD1 – For Your Pleasure

1 Do The Strand
2 Beauty Queen
3 Strictly Confidential
4 Editions Of You
5 In Every Dream Home A Heartache
6 The Bogus Man
7 Grey Lagoons
8 For Your Pleasure

CD2 – Demos, Rehearsals & Studio Outtakes

1 Pyjamarama - guitar & vocal
2 Do The Strand - piano & vocal
3 Beauty Queen - tremolo piano
4 Beauty Queen - electric piano
5 Beauty Queen - piano & vocal
6 Strictly Confidential (segue into)
7 Editions Of You - electric piano
8 In Every Dream Home A Heartache - farfisa & guitar
9 In Every Dream Home A Heartache - tremolo guitar
10 For Your Pleasure - electric piano
11 Pyjamarama - Rehearsal 1973
12 Bogus Man - Rehearsal 1973
13 Grey Lagoons - 1971 Demo (Original title The Bogus Man Part 2)
14 Pyjamarama - AIR Studios outtake
15 Beauty Queen - AIR Studios outtake
16 Strictly Confidential - AIR Studios outtakes
17 Editions Of You - AIR Studios outtake
18 The Bogus Man - AIR Studios outtake
19 Grey Lagoons - AIR Studios outtake
20 For Your Pleasure - Eno tapes

CD3 – Live Sessions, Singles & Instrumentals

1 Grey Lagoons - BBC Paris Theatre (London) August 1972 (first live performance)
2 For Your Pleasure - Peel Sessions November 1972
3 Do The Strand - Peel Sessions March 1973
4 Editions Of You - Peel Sessions March 1973
5 Pyjamarama - Peel Sessions March 1973
6 In Every Dream Home A Heartache - Peel Sessions March 1973
7 Pyjamarama - A side single
8 The Pride And The Pain - B side single
9 Do The Strand - (instrumental)
10 Beauty Queen - (instrumental)
11 Strictly Confidential - (instrumental)
12 Editions Of You - (instrumental)
13 In Every Dream Home A Heartache - (instrumental)
14 The Bogus Man - (instrumental)
15 Grey Lagoons - (instrumental)
16 For Your Pleasure - (instrumental)

DVD – TV & Live Performances

1 Pyjamarama - Top of the Pops (lost tape)
2 For Your Pleasure - Full House November 1972
3 Grey Lagoons - Full House November 1972
4 Do The Strand - Old Grey Whistle Test April 1973
5 In Every Dream Home A Heartache - Old Grey Whistle Test April 1973
6 Do The Strand - Live at Montreux April 1973
7 Grey Lagoons - Live at Montreux April 1973
8 Beauty Queen - Live at Montreux April 1973
9 The Bogus Man - Live at Montreux April 1973
10 In Every Dream Home A Heartache - Live at Montreux April 1973
11 Editions Of You - Live at Montreux April 1973
12 Do The Strand - Musikladen 1973
13 Editions Of You - Musikladen 1973
14 In Every Dream Home A Heartache - Musikladen 1973

Clay Aiken unveils 'Rewind' in September; Mr. Mister cover out now

Exciting news for Claymates: Clay Aiken will put out Rewind, his first album of mostly original music in nearly two decades on September 25. It follows the singer's return to the "American Idol" stage earlier this year.

The new single "Kyrie" is a cover of the chart-topping 1985 Mr. Mister hit from 1985. It is available to stream now. 

Last May, when Aiken returned to the TV competition to debut the high energy dance-pop title track during the season finale. Written by Colton Avery and Grammy-winning producer Dave Audé (Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars, Andy Bell of Erasure) and produced by Audé, “Rewind” was Aiken’s first new original single in 18 years. In 2025, Audé remixed "Invisible" for Aiken. Watch the music video for “Rewind” HERE.

Rewind utilizes contemporary pop production while reflecting where he is today, both personally and musically.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve made an album of new music, and I don’t think I would have made this same album even a few years ago. There’s obviously a little nostalgia in Rewind, but I wasn’t interested in trying to recreate something I did 20 years ago. I wanted to make music that feels like me now. I’m really proud of where we ended up, and I’m excited for people to finally hear the whole thing,” says Aiken.

Rewind will be available across all major digital platforms and can be pre-saved now.

ABOUT CLAY AIKEN

Clay Aiken is a multi-platinum recording artist, television personality, and advocate who first rose to national prominence on season two of American Idol. His debut album Measure of a Man entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 and went multi-platinum, while his first single, “This Is The Night,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with record-setting first-week sales.

Over the course of his career, the LGBTQ singer has released multiple albums, headlined national tours, and appeared on Broadway in Monty Python’s Spamalot. His television credits include numerous specials and a runner-up finish on The Celebrity Apprentice. He is also a New York Times bestselling author for his memoir Learning to Sing.

Beyond entertainment, Aiken has maintained a longstanding commitment to advocacy. A former special education teacher, he co-founded the National Inclusion Project, which supports inclusive programming for children with disabilities, and served for nearly a decade as a UNICEF ambassador, traveling globally to promote children’s rights and access to education.

Track listing: 

1. Way Out
2. Brand New Eyes
3. Kyrie
4. What Comes Next
5. Time After Time
6. Nothing Left to Lose
7. Rewind
8. Look How Far We’ve Come
9. Simplified

The Black Watch is back with a new album this fall

Prolific LA indie rock band the black watch returns with new album The Fuzzy End of the Lollipop on October 2 through ATOM Records. 

"I've declared that The Fuzzy End of the Lollipop is really the end of the black watch, but I've been wrong before," says vocalist, guitarist and songwriter John Andrew Fredrick. 

Since this is the 27th album since 1988, one might be inclined to think that all has been said by the band, but for Fredrick who holds a Ph.D. in English, you’d be wrong.  “I'm fascinated by the idea of completion, of endings, but being a mad reader of fiction and poetry, literary criticism and biographies of novelists stimulates me so much. It's all too much, you know. I am so inspired by The Beatles. There is so much there to plunder.”

Frederick worked alongside producer/engineer Rob Campanella, formerly of The Brian Jonestown Massacre (who also plays bass live), and producer Scott Campbell (Stevie Nicks, Shelby Lynne, Acetone) who's been with the band, on and off, since 1991 and Andy Creighton who joined up in 2017 on guitar. 

The first single “Marie Bouzkova” was named after the acclaimed Czech tennis player, but the song’s subject matter is about something more basic and fundamental. “Marie is very sweet and kind in person, but the song is really about anyone who is lovely and charming and beautiful to everyone--my favourite sort of person, in other words,” he explains. “Modesty, humility--these things seem to be more and more rare nowadays. Not saying I'm modest or humble, mind you, but I admire both greatly and am trying!”

A seemingly tangential tennis reference point isn’t incidental. A fiercely competitive tennis amateur player himself, Fredrick knows his sport. “I play at Echo Park Tennis Club, surely the least exclusive club in the world,” he says. “$40 a year to join and we take everyone, no matter the level.” An athletic and social construct, members play against each other regardless of skill level and drink beer together. A tennis instructor as well, he teaches the sport to children. “I teach tennis for kids now. Some are utter brats, though…. really horrid kids, but some are hilarious,” he laughs. “Kinda like my theory that only the best and the worst people play adult tennis. Which one do you fancy I am?!!”

With The Fuzzy End of the Lollipop, Fredrick explains, "Our goal this time was to make a record that was so "of a piece" that it would be the sort of album that, once it ends, you just have to spin it again. It's meant to be quite terse and flow like a deep and deadly quiet river."

The black watch is: John Andrew Fredrick (guitar, percussion, vocals) Rob Campanella (guitar, bass) Chandler Fredrick (bass, backing vocals), and Andy Creighton (guitar, bass, drums, string arrangements, backing vocals). 

Album pre-orders available now here.

Track list:

1. Marie Bouzkova
2. Never You Mind
3. Sorrow's Crown
4. The Merry Kind
5. The Fuzzy End of the Lollipop
6. Falter, Splutter, Fall
7. Everything Changed!
8. Stars at Last
9. In Generalities
10. Her Halo
11. Sorrow’s Crown (Dance Mix)

Geoff Downes revives Asia with new lineup; new studio album in November

Co-founding Asia keyboardist Geoff Downes has re-institured the classic rock band with a new lineup. The new studio album, 'Indigo,' will be released on November 6 through Frontiers Music Srl. The first single and official video is “The Traveller (Into The Light)," available now.

Geoff Downes commented:

“The first track off the album is a high-power energy piece, with a few elements of prog trickery but retaining the accessible chorus block, which was always a signature of ASIA’s music from the very beginning. Harry and I started working on this as one of the early ideas that seemed to come together very organically. Virgil’s dynamic and innovative drum parts drive the piece along, while John’s soaring guitars keep the momentum. Harry’s vocals are commanding, and my keyboard parts hold the wall of sound together. It’s a song of great optimism, mainly about looking forward to the future and travelling ‘into the light’. Play it loud!”

Watch the New Official Video for "The Traveller (Into The Light)" HERE

Asia now features Downes alongside Virgil Donati, John Mitchell, and Harry Whitley.

The latest single, “Echo Of You,” is out now along with an official video. 

Geoff Downes commented: 

“This song was part of the main writing sessions between Harry and I. It took on a whole different angle in the latter stages of development with more of a focus on electronica and a spacey production. It’s a happy uplifting tune, despite the nostalgic overtones of the lyrics, a love song with a twist. It all ends in a chaotic mix of counter themes, chord changes and features a good old-fashioned fadeout as a nod to nostalgia and I believe is a very fitting conclusion to the album – Indigo, hopefully leaving the listener on a high.”

Watch the official video for “Echo Of You” HERE

Downes described the genesis of the album:

“The initial writing period began in 2015, following the release of our previous album 'Gravitas' in 2014. John Wetton and I started putting our ideas together, aiming to get into the studio once more. It was with great sadness that John became seriously ill. During this time, we had put on hold our plans, and sadly, John passed away before we could continue and complete it. So, it was always in my mind that at some point it would be a shame not to finish off some of these songs and finally release them as part of an ASIA album.

“In 2023, when the tribute concert for John took place, I was so encouraged by the response to ASIA’s music that I viewed this as the perfect opportunity to re-establish not only the band, but also to reunite with our long-time supportive label, Frontiers, paving the way for us to get back in the studio”, he continued.

Downes also added:

“So, ASIA was back in the room, so to speak, and we were very fortunate to have recruited Virgil Donati and John Mitchell, both of whom had worked extensively with John before, as well as our new vocalist and bassist, Harry Whitley. The tours followed to great success throughout 2024 and 2025, and finally, we sat down towards the end of last year to record the album. Working with these fine musicians was a great privilege and the music just seemed to flow.”

“The album was really a joy to make. I forged a close writing relationship with Harry, and I felt how great it was to be working with someone who had very similar musical influences and taste once again, just as I did with John. I feel that this is one of our best albums to date. The songs are deep in musicality, with a powerful and original performance, dynamics and strong lyrical undertones – it’s an album that hopefully our fans will widely appreciate and support our cause to put ASIA back on the map. Enjoy the ride!” he concluded.

Recorded throughout 2025, the album was produced by Downes and the band, with mixing and mastering handled by John Mitchell.

'Indigo' includes some of the final compositions written by the late John Wetton: “Tattoo Indigo (Parts 2 & 3)” and “Chesapeake Bay.”

The album also features guest appearances by original Asia co-founder Steve Howe, who contributes acoustic guitar to “Chesapeake Bay,” while Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) is on the bonus track “Tattoo Indigo (Part 3)."

Pre-Order 'Indigo'HERE

Track List:

The Traveller (Into The Light)
Change Of Heart
Arcadia
Is This The Life?
Tattoo Indigo (Part 1)
Tattoo Indigo (Part 2)
Tattoo Indigo (Part 3)
Life In The Sun
Hymn For The Fallen
Night And Day
Valencia (The Ghost Ship)
An Elegy
Chesapeake Bay (Featuring Steve Howe)
On A Winters Night
Echo Of You
Tattoo Indigo (Part 3) (featuring Mike Portnoy) (Bonus Track)

Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers ready reissues of Grammy-winning 'Conscious Party' in September

UMe will release a new vinyl reissue of Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers' third full-length album Conscious Party on September 25. 

This will be the first vinyl pressing of the album since its initial release in 1988. Conscious Party launches in multiple configurations, including limited-edition 1LP 180g Emerald Green color vinyl, 1LP 180g Standard Black vinyl, 1CD, and a digital Deluxe Edition via streaming services.

Pre-order/Pre-save Conscious Party HERE.

Founded in 1979, Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers featured four of Bob Marley’s eleven children in its ranks, namely Sharon, Cedella, Ziggy, and Stephen. The quartet cut the album at Sigma Sound in New York City with producers Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth [Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club]. 

Following its original release on April 5, 1988, the album spawned the #1 Billboard R&B Chart hit “Tumblin’ Down” and “Tomorrow People.” The latter has notably generated more than 30 million Spotify streams. Conscious Party also took home “Best Reggae Album” at the 1989 GRAMMY® Awards, giving Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers their first of three-career GRAMMY® wins as a group.

“Conscious Party came at a pivotal time for us. I think we grew a lot in-between the last album [Hey World] and Conscious Party. We were exploring a lot, and just growing up and becoming young people. So I feel it represents that young energy, and was a very monumental album in our life at the time,” says Ziggy Marley, adding, “It was a new experience, too. With Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth from the Talking Heads producing it, and we were living in New York for a little bit, it was a whole different and very enlightened experience for us.”

Presenting the definitive vision of Conscious Party, both new vinyl versions now feature “We A Guh Some Sum Weh,” which was previously only available on CD. At the time of its initial release, each format presented the album in a different sequence. The vinyl editions will retain the original LP sequence, with the new-to-vinyl bonus track closing Side 2, while the reactivated CD will be in its original sequence.

Meanwhile, a new digital Deluxe Edition of the album includes remixes of “Tomorrow People” and “Tumblin’ Down”—the latter notable for post-production work by the Bomb Squad team (Hank Shocklee, Eric “Vietnam” Sadler, Keith Boxley) —and as well as a live rendition of “Lee And Molly” captured at the Spectrum in Philadelphia during the band’s 1988 Conscious Party Tour.

LP TRACKLISTING

A1. Conscious Party

A2. Tumblin’ Down
A3. New Love
A4. A Who A Say
A5. Have You Ever Been To Hell
B1. Lee And Molly
B2. We Propose
B3. Tomorrow People
B4. What’s True
B5. Dreams Of Home
B6. We a Guh Some Weh*
* Previously unavailable on vinyl

CD TRACKLISTING

1. Conscious Party
2. Lee and Molly
3. Tomorrow People
4. New Love
5. Tumblin’ Down
6. We a Guh Some Weh
7. A Who A Say
8. Have You Ever Been To Hell
9. We Propose
10. What’s True
11. Dreams of Home

DIGITAL DELUXE EDITION TRACKLISTING

1. Conscious Party
2. Lee and Molly
3. Tomorrow People
4. New Love
5. Tumblin’ Down
6. We a Guh Some Weh
7. A Who A Say
8. Have You Ever Been To Hell
9. We Propose
10. What’s True
11. Dreams of Home
12. Tomorrow People (Reggae This Mix)
13. Tomorrow People (Dub This)
14. Tomorrow People (Dub A Pella)
15. Tomorrow People (New York City Edit)
16. Tumblin’ Down (12” Remix)
17. Tumblin’ Down (7” Remix)
18. Tumblin’ Down (Dub)
19. Lee And Molly (Live Version)

Train currently on tour through end of August, when new album 'Mad Dog in the Fog' arrives

Train's latest single “Mad Dog in the Fog” – listen here - is the title track from the San Francisco band's forthcoming 12th studio album, Mad Dog in the Fog, out August 28 via Columbia Records – pre-order now.

Named after a beloved San Francisco neighborhood bar, the album is an ode to the city, celebrating the place, community, and spirit that have remained central to Train’s identity over the last three decades.

It returned to the very same bar to film the accompanying music video, surrounded by the memories of where it all started. The guys performed in the same intimate space that witnessed the band's beginnings and helped shape their earliest days. Watch the “Mad Dog in the Fog” music video here.

Of the album, frontman Pat Monahan shares: “It's been over four years since our last album, and we channeled a special energy into this record that really defines all parts of who we are as a band. Mad Dog in the Fog is one of the first places in San Francisco where Train came together as a band. It was the first venue to pay us to play, and its owner, Cyril, has been one of our biggest champions from the beginning. So it only felt right to name this album in its honor.”

He adds, of the new song: “The title track is out everywhere now, so pull up a stool, grab yourself a drink and give it a listen. If you’ve been with us since the beginning, you might even catch a few familiar names along the way.”

“Mad Dog in the Fog” follows the album’s first two singles “Pennsylvania Turnpike” and “The Weekend.” 

Currently Train is on The Drops of Jupiter: 25 Years in the Atmosphere Tour in North America, with Barenaked Ladies and Matt Nathanson on most dates. Full tour routing can be found below. For tickets and additional information, please visit: SaveMeSanFrancisco.com/tour.

Train is: Pat Monahan (lead vocals), Butch Walker (lead guitar, vocals), Hector Maldonado (bass, vocals), Jerry Becker (keyboards, vocals), and Matt Musty (drums)

Track Listing: 

“To Gloria”
“The Weekend”
“Pennsylvania Turnpike”
“Tired of Looking Down”
“Blue Brush-Footed Butterfly”
“City of Angels”
“Mad Dog in the Fog”
“What If We Try”
“Half A Heart”
“Princess of the Night”
“No Matter What”
“Kid In The Crown”

Tour Dates: 

August 14, 2026 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

August 15, 2026 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
August 17, 2026 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre 
August 19, 2026 – West Valley City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
August 21, 2026 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
August 22, 2026 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl 
August 24, 2026 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre 
August 25, 2026 – Lake Tahoe, NV – Lake Tahoe Amphitheatre at Caesars Republic 
August 26, 2026 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
August 28, 2026 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
August 29, 2026 – Ridgefield, WA – Cascades Amphitheater
August 30, 2026 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre

Shonen Knife to perform in LA next week; 'Let's Knife - Recut' out now

Inspired by Sixties girl groups and punk bands like the Ramones, sisters Naoko and Atsuko Yamano formed Osaka, Japan pop-punk trio Shonen Knife in 1981. Soon after, they gained a cult following through songs about candy, animals, food, and more.

 

The band opened for Sonic Youth at home in 1987, and then in America alongside Redd Kross. There was even a Shonen Knife tribute album in 1991. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana was an unabashed fan, taking the ladies on the road on a European tour before Nevermind arrived. Shonen Knife made regular appearances at such U.S. festivals as Lollapalooza, All Tomorrow's Parties and Riot Fest.

 

Last month, Shonen Knife put out a re-recording of 1992 album Let's Knife via Good Charamel Records. Label owner Robbie Takac, bassist for the Goo Goo Dolls, executive produced it. The original album was a re-recording of past songs with new English lyrics.

 

Let's Knife had been unavailable on streaming services and physical editions were out of print, so Naoko (vocals, guitar) and Atsuko (bass, vocals, drums, percussion) Yamano and Risa Kawano (drums, vocals, keyboards, percussion) to faithfully re-recorded fun songs like "Bear Up Bison," "Twist Barbie," "Flying Jelly Attack," "Cycling is Fun," "I am a Cat," "Insect Collector" and more with a modern production. 

 

Shonen Knife performs with Colin Hay's Men at Work and Toad the Wet Sprocket at the United Theater on Broadway in Los Angeles on Aug. 20. More info: theunitedtheater.com, axs.com