Record Store Day 2025 news: The Blasters, Clarence White reissues from Liberation Hall

For this year's Record Store Day, which is April 12, the Liberation Hall label has two titles scheduled. 

The first is by LA roots-rock legends the Blasters, celebrated with An American Music Story: The Complete Studio Recordings 1979-1985. This five-LP collection marks the first time that the band’s first four studio albums have been released on vinyl with their original cover art since their original pressings from the 1980s. The newly compiled fifth LP, Rare Blasts, features studio outtakes and movie music.

The second is Melodies from a Byrd in Flyte: 1963-1973, a mix of 14 rare acoustic and electric tracks by Clarence White, the late country-rock pioneer and member of the Byrds and the Kentucky Colonels.

Here are details:

THE BLASTERS – An American Music Story: The Complete Studio Recordings 1979-1985 (LP BOX SET: LIB-2107)

Formed in 1979 in Downey, California, the Blasters are one of the bedrock groups in the Americana music movement. The band’s lineup throughout their 1980s heyday comprised vocalist Phil Alvin; Grammy Award-winning songwriter and lead guitarist, Dave Alvin; drummer Bill Bateman; bassist John Bazz; keyboardist Gene Taylor; and saxophonists Lee Allen and Steve Berlin. 

The box set will include the four studio albums recorded during the original band’s run: American Music (Rollin’ Rock, 1980), The Blasters (Slash Records, 1981; distributed by Warner Bros. Records in 1982), Non Fiction (Slash/Warner Bros., 1983), and Hard Line (Slash/Warners Bros., 1985). Those albums are augmented by Rare Blasts, a new 14-track selection of studio outtakes and two songs recorded for the 1984 film Streets of Fire. All music has been remastered by Randy Perry.

The five albums will be packaged in a deluxe hard slipcase. A 24-page booklet will include a new 10,000-word essay, featuring interviews with the band members, by the box set’s co-producer Chris Morris. The booklet will include rare photos and memorabilia from the band members’ personal archives, and historical images by photographers Gary Leonard, Michael Hyatt, Joel Aparicio, and Ed Colver. The set will include an 11x17 replica of a poster created by Slash/Warner Bros. Records in 1983 to promote Non Fiction.

This hand-numbered box set will be limited to 1,000 copies, and will only be available in the U.S. An American Music Story was produced by Antone DeSantis and Chris Morris.

Tracklists for the four studio albums will remain the same; the packages will duplicate the original covers and inner sleeves. The bonus LP comprises:

RARE BLASTS: STUDIO OUTTAKES AND MOVIE MUSIC 1979-1985

SIDE ONE: 1. 21 Days in Jail (W. Dixon, L.P. Weaver) | 2. Love 24 Hours a Day (T. Jarrett) | 3. I Fell in Love (unknown) | 4. So Glad (C.A. Burnett) | 5. Ashamed of Myself (R. McCoy/C. Singleton) | 6. Lone Wolf (R. Harris) | 7. One Bad Stud (J. Lieber/M. Stoller) # | 8. Blue Shadows * #
SIDE TWO: 1. Justine (D. Harris/D. Terry) | 2. Leave My Money Alone (C. Green/J. West) | 3. Flat Top Joint * | 4. Can’t Stop Time * | 5. Cry for Me (M. London) | 6. Kathleen *

* Written by Dave Alvin
# Originally appeared on the MCA Records release Streets of Fire: Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

All tracks are previously released.

The late country-rock pioneer Clarence White was the second longest-serving member of the Byrds, as well as a founding member of bluegrass group the Kentucky Colonels. He is heralded by many as one of the greatest "flat picking" guitarists of all time, bridging country and rock music while influencing countless players including Jimmy Page, Mike Campbell, Peter Buck, and Marty Stuart.

In 2023, Liberation Hall released The Lost Masters: 1963-1973, a CD which features 14 acoustic and electric tracks from White. This title has now been redesigned for vinyl release with a new cover photo and expanded liner notes. The title has also changed to Melodies from a Byrd in Flyte: 1963-1973. The track list will remain the same.

Melodies from a Byrd in Flyte: 1963-1973 includes songs recorded both at the beginning and at the peak of the guitarist’s career. Guest players on the sessions include the Byrds’ Roger McGuinn, Gene Parsons, and Skip Battin; the Flying Burrito Brothers’ Byron Berline; multi-instrumentalist Eric Weissberg; and Don and Phil Everly on a rehearsal take of “I’m on My Way Home Again.”

This limited-edition Record Store Day release will be pressed on transparent milky white vinyl. The inner sleeve includes rare photography and extensive liner notes provided by music historian and compilation producer John Delgatto, a longtime friend of White.

CLARENCE WHITE – Melodies from a Byrd in Flyte: 1963-1973 (LP: LIB-2129)

SIDE ONE: (Acoustic selections) 1. No Title Yet Blues (Eric Weissberg) | 2. Fire on the Mountain (arranged by Clarence White) | 3. (Now and Then There’s) A Fool Such as I (William Trader) | 4. New Soldier’s Joy (Clarence White) | 5. Yesterday’s Train (Gene Parsons, Skip Battin) | 6. Sally Goodin Meets the Byrds (Clarence White) | 7. Banjo Dog (Gene Parsons) | 8. Alabama Jubilee (arranged by Clarence White)

SIDE TWO: (Electric selections) 1. Ode to Billie Joe (Bobbie Gentry) | 2. Buckaroo (Bob Morris) | 3. Nashville West (Clarence White, Gene Parsons) | 4. Byrd Jam aka White’s Lightning (Clarence White, Roger McGuinn) | 5. Around the Barn (Clarence White) | 6. I’m on My Way Home Again (Terry Slate)

All tracks previously appeared on the Liberation Hall CD release, The Lost Masters: 1963-1973.

Bay Area New Wave band Pearl Harbor & the Explosions' 1979 album to get reissue treatment in April

Liberation Hall has announced an expanded edition re-release of the sole album from San Francisco new wave band Pearl Harbor & the Explosions. Originally issued by Warner Bros. Records in January 1980, the self-titled album anticipated the phenomenal rise of MTV the following year as it featured videoclips for the tracks “Drivin’” and “You Got It (Release It)/Up and Over.”

The expanded edition CD and download will feature seven bonus tracks while the opaque sky blue vinyl LP will feature one. All formats are released April 25 and will be distributed by MVD Entertainment Group (USA). Pre-order is available now on Bandcamp.

Pearl Harbor & the Explosions formed in 1978 during the same San Francisco punk rock/new wave uprising that brought forth Romeo Void, Dead Kennedys, the Avengers, the Mutants, the Units, Tuxedomoon, and many others.

However, Pearl Harbor & the Explosions were more tuneful and melodic than their brethren, taking cues from local pop/rock group the Tubes with whom singer Pearl E. Gates had gotten her start as a backup singer and dancer. When Gates was recruited from the Tubes to join Jane Dornacker in her band Leila and the Snakes, she met brothers Hilary and John Hanes (who billed themselves with the surname “Stench”). After 18 months, the trio decided to split from the Snakes and go in their own direction. Pearl (vocals, percussion), Hilary (bass, vocals) and John (drums, vocals) recruited guitarist Peter Dunne (stage name “Peter Bilt”) and Pearl Harbor & the Explosions were born.

Based on the success of debut single “Drivin’” — which sold 10,000 copies for the fledgling 415 Records — Pearl Harbor & the Explosions were quickly signed by Warner Bros. Records. The band name “The Explosions” and Pearl’s name switch from Gates to “Harbor” were done in the spirit of the punk rock times during which they were working. However, Gates now admits that the names caused trouble, especially when it came to conservative-leaning radio stations. “Yes, we were met with resistance," Gates told Insounder.com last year. “But to be honest, I didn’t really care because I just wanted to do what I wanted to do. That’s how I’ve always been and I’m still that way… But it’s true that it wasn’t a very smart move to call the band Pearl Harbor & the Explosions because Americans did not like it.”

The group’s self-titled debut album was an early production by David Kahne, who went on to work with the Bangles, Tony Bennett, and Paul McCartney, among many others. For historical perspective, Pearl Harbor & the Explosions was released at the start of January 1980, during the same month that the world learned the name Chrissie Hynde with the arrival of The Pretenders’ debut album.

After a year on the road, Gates was feeling disenchanted by the direction of the band, with Bilt and the Stench Brothers wanting to go in a more “jazz fusion” direction. Much to the displeasure of Warner Bros., she decided to take a walk. “I wanted to be in a rock & roll band and they didn’t,” summed up Gates. The singer soon got her wish as she moved to London, hooked up with members of the Clash and Ian Dury’s Blockheads, and recorded the fervent rockabilly platter, Don’t Follow Me, I’m Lost Too (1980). The album was given a new lease on life in 2023 when it was also released in an expanded edition by Liberation Hall.

Gates, who is now in remission after a cancer diagnosis, enjoyed last year’s promotion for Don’t Follow Me, I’m Lost Too, and is eager to share her memories of Pearl Harbor & the Explosions. Liberation Hall will be releasing the same tracklist of the album that was reissued in 2019 by Blixa Sounds — including live covers of Ron Wood’s “I Can Feel the Fire,” Nick Lowe’s “Let’s Eat,” and Joe Bennett & the Sparkletones’ “Black Slacks” — but is now out of print.

The CD, vinyl LP and download will all feature rare photography from Pearl’s archive alongside a liner notes essay by author and former San Francisco Chronicle music columnist Joel Selvin. Longtime fans of the band might be surprised by the album cover. Liberation Hall’s new package will feature the original UK album jacket, which is a colorful photo of the band, rather than Warners’ stateside 1980 design of an orange logo against a black background.

Track Listing:

1. Drivin’ | 2. You Got It (Release It) | 3. Don’t Come Back | 4. Keep Going | 5. Shut Up and Dance | 6. The Big One | 7. So Much for Love | 8. Get a Grip on Yourself | 9. Up and Over | 10. Busy Little B Side | 11. Drivin’ (415 Single Version) * | 12. Release It (415 Single Version) * | 13. Let’s Eat (Nick Lowe; Live 1979) * | 14. Black Slacks (Jimmy Denton, Joe Bennett; Live 1979) * | 15. I Can Feel the Fire (Ron Wood; Live 1979) * | 16. 1979 Radio Spot *

* Bonus tracks available on CD and download

Tracks 1-9 appeared on the Warner Bros. Records album, Pearl Harbor & the Explosions.

Tracks 1-10 appear on Liberation Hall’s 2025 vinyl LP reissue of Pearl Harbor & the Explosions.
Track 10 appeared as the B-side of the Warners 45 RPM single, “You Got It (Release) It.”
Tracks 11 & 12 appeared on the “Drivin’ 45 RPM single released in 1979 by 415 Records.
Tracks 13-16 appeared on the 2019 expanded edition album from Blixa Sounds.

Shania Twain's hit album 'The Woman in Me' marks 30th Anniversary with remastered editions

Last Friday, marked the 30th anniversary of Shania Twain's Grammy-winning breakthrough album The Woman in Me. A new version of the expanded 3CD Diamond Edition, shipping Feb. 14, features the original album remastered plus 16 previously unreleased tracks, including five live performances recorded in December 2019 during Twain’s residency at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, and an entire “Shania Vocal Mix” containing early takes of 11 songs from nearly a year before the album’s release.

In addition to the five Las Vegas performances, the “Live & Remixed” disc, features two tracks recorded in September 1998 at Dallas’ Reunion Arena for the Shania: Live DVD, plus original single mixes, b-sides, and bonus tracks. Contained in a 40-page hardback commemorative book with previously unseen photos, new liner notes, and personal recollections from Shania Twain, who personally curated the release.

The Woman in Me, Twain's second album, debuted at No. 65 on the Billboard country chart in February 1995, entering the Billboard 200 three weeks later at 197. The album continued to climb steadily, finally hitting No. 1 on the country chart in July, the same week "Any Man of Mine" became Twain's first chart-topping country single. By that point, the album was already gold; by the end of 1995, it had sold 4 million copies, making it the year's top-selling country album. In 1996, it passed Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits to become the best-selling album by a female country artist (a title Twain's 1997 follow-up, Come on Over, would claim in 1999). The Woman in Me reached Diamond status for shipments of 10 million copies in 1997, then 12 million in 2000. It has sold an estimated 20 million copies worldwide.

Eight of the 12 songs from The Woman in Me appeared on Billboard's country singles chart, with four - "Any Man of Mine," "(If You're Not in It for Love) I'm Outta Here!" "You Win My Love" and "No One Needs to Know" - reaching No. 1. "Any Man of Mine" also gave Twain her first Top 40 crossover hit. The Woman in Me spent 29 weeks atop the country albums chart and was 1995's best-selling country album. It won a GRAMMY for Best Country Album in 1996 and later was ranked No. 8 on CMT's list of 40 Greatest Country Albums.

Order The Woman in Me now HERE.

For more information, please visit: https://www.shaniatwain.com/

SHANIA TWAIN - THE WOMAN IN ME - REMASTERED ALBUM

1. Home Ain't Where His Heart Is (Anymore)

2. Any Man Of Mine
3. Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?
4. (If You're Not In It For Love) I'm Outta Here!
5. The Woman In Me (Needs The Man In You)
6. Is There Life After Love?
7. If It Don't Take Two
8. You Win My Love
9. Raining On Our Love
10. Leaving Is The Only Way Out
11. No One Needs To Know
12. God Bless The Child

Out now: 'Dear Life' album by David Gray; currently on tour

David Gray is in the midst of an American tour in support of his compelling 13th album, Dear Life, released last month through Gray's independent label, Laugh A Minute Records/Secretly Distribution. 

Produced by Ben de Vries and recorded in a makeshift studio two hours outside of London, in Norfolk, Dear Life explores themes of magic, science, loss, and acceptance.

"A lot has happened to me. There’s been change on so many levels, all the ups and downs and dramas and tragedies and joys that the slow movement through life brings. This record has been a reckoning with stuff that’s been building up like static for years. But I say this with joy and a smile on my face. I know what I’ve done is as good as anything I could possibly do,” said Gray, in a prepared statement.

First single "Plus & Minus" is a duet that explores the intricacies of a fractured relationship, with Gray singing with with newcomer Talia Rae, who is opening for Gray during the UK and Europe run of the Past & Present World Tour.

The physical release of Dear Life includes two additional tracks, “The Messenger” and “More Than Anything,” available exclusively on vinyl/CD format. 

North American Tour Dates:

February 8th - Vancouver, BC - The Centre

February 10th - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
February 13th - Highland, CA - Yaamava Theater
February 14th - Los Angeles, CA - Orpheum Theatre
February 15th - Valley Center, CA - Harrah's Resort Southern California
February 17th - Salt Lake City, UT - Delta Hall at Eccles Theatre
February 18th - Denver, CO - Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre
February 20th - Austin, TX - ACL Live Moody Theatre
February 21st - Dallas, TX - Majestic Theatre
February 23rd - Atlanta, GA - Coca-Cola Roxy
February 24th - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium

Dear Life physical track list:

After The Harvest

Plus & Minus
Eyes Made Rain
Leave Taking
I Saw Love
Fighting Talk
Sunlight On Water
That Day Must Surely Come
Singing For The Pharaoh
The Messenger*
Acceptance (It’s Alright)
Future Bride
The Only Ones
The First Stone
More Than Anything*

*= Available exclusively on vinyl/CD formats

About David Gray:

David Gray has two Ivor Novello Awards, four BRIT Award nominations, two GRAMMY® nominations, and multi-PLATINUM certifications worldwide to his credit. Gray's breakthrough album White Ladder (1998) went platinum in North America, was “the tenth best-selling album of the 21st century in the United Kingdom,” and “the best-selling album in Ireland.” 

For more information please visit www.davidgray.com.

Out now: 'Burnout Days' by flipturn; tour dates start later this month

Flipturn has a slew of concert dates coming up later this month. I was really impressed by the Florida alt-rock band's set last September at the Eddie Vedder-curated Ohana Festival in Dana Point, Calif. 

The highly recommended new album Burnout Days, released last month via Dualtone Records, often boasts a laid-back atmosphere with shades of Young the Giant. First single "Rodeo Clown" reached the top 20 at AAA radio. 

Burnout Days is inspired by the band’s journey on the road, as they sort through challenges like self-esteem, codependency, addiction and the twists and turns of day-to-day life in one’s mid-twenties. The new album arrives on the other side of the band’s debut Shadowglow, which found flipturn sharing stages with Two Door Cinema Club, The Revivalists, Mt. Joy and others. 

Formed in the small coastal town of Fernandina Beach, Florida, flipturn first came together in high school, where they worked to turn garage meet-ups into playing college house shows into headlining sold-out dates for thousands.

The band is comprised of: Dillon Basse (vocals/guitar), Tristan Duncan (lead guitar), Madeline Jarman (bass, backing vocals), Mitch Fountain (synth, guitar), and Devon VonBalson (drums). 

Track listing:

1. Juno

2. Rodeo Clown
3. Inner Wave
4. Sunlight
5. Moon Rocks
6. Right?
7. Window
8. Swim Between Trees
9. Tides
10. Reason to Pretend
11. If It Is
12. Burnout Days

Tour Dates:

February 26 - White Oak Music Hall - Houston, TX
February 27 - The Factory in Deep Ellum - Dallas, TX
February 28 - Stubbs Amphitheater - Austin, TX
March 1 - Tower Theatre - Oklahoma City, OK
March 5 - The Van Buren - Phoenix, AZ
March 6 - The Sound - Del Mar, CA
March 7 - The Novo - Los Angeles, CA
March 8 - The Fox - Oakland, CA
March 9 - Crystal Ballroom - Portland, OR
March 11 - Showbox SoDo - Seattle, WA
March 13 - The Complex - Salt Lake City, UT
March 15 - Mission Ballroom - Denver, CO
March 18 - The Truman - Kansas City, MO
March 19 - The Hawthorn - St. Louis, MO
March 21 - The Salt Shed - Chicago, IL
March 22 - The Palace Theatre - Minneapolis, MN
March 23 - Val Air - Des Moines, IA
March 26 - Egyptian Room - Indianapolis, IN
March 27 - KEMBA live! - Columbus, OH
March 28 - Royal Oak Music Theatre - Detroit, MI
March 29 - Danforth Music Hall - Toronto, ON
March 30 - Beanfield Theatre - Montreal, QB
April 2 - Higher Ground - Burlington, VT
April 4 - Terminal 5 - New York, NY
April 5 - Roadrunner - Boston, MA
April 9 - MEGACORP - Newport, KY
April 10 - Stage AE - Pittsburgh, PA
April 11 - Franklin Music Hall - Philadelphia, PA
April 12 - The Anthem - Washington, D.C.
April 16 - Avondale Brewing - Birmingham, AL
April 18 - HOB Orlando - Orlando, FL

Out now: 'Open Wide,' the third album from Dublin alt-rocker Inhaler

Open Wide, the excellent third album by alt-rock band Inhaler, is out today through Geffen Records. It is another terrific effort from the young Irish musicians. Highlighted by insanely catchy tunes such as the dance-rock title track, a keening and percolating pop-leaning "Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah)," the soulful choir assisted/singalong-worthy "Your House," it is already an early contender for my best albums of the year. 

The recent video for sparkling The 1975-ish single “A Question of You” features a jewelry heist with a twist. The cinematic short stars James Keating alongside the Dublin band. Watch the video HERE.

In a statement on the song, frontman Elijah Hewson says, “This is love song territory for me, about how in order to be honest with someone else you’ve got to be honest with yourself, like, ‘I’ve gotta sort my own s**t out so I can be around other people’. It’s also a soulmates thing. The choir really changed everything on this one.”

Helmed by Grammy/Brit Award-winning Kid Harpoon (Harry Styles), the album release coincides with band’s biggest ever tour of UK and Ireland, notably two headline shows at Brixton Academy, ahead of their 20,000-capacity Dublin show in May.

“The reason why we called the album Open Wide is because we’re looking for a new perspective on our music,” states Hewson. “With this album, we’re closer to what we’ve always envisioned,” he adds. “It feels like we’ve always been trying to make this record.”

Inhaler’s debut album, It Won’t Always Be Like This, hit #1 in the UK and Ireland, while their 2023 follow-up, Cuts & Bruises, topped the Irish charts and reached #2 in the UK. To maintain this momentum, bandmates and childhood friends Eli Hewson (the son of U2's Bono), Robert Keating, Ryan McMahon and Josh Jenkinson have spent the past few years on a long world tour, supporting acts like Arctic Monkeys, Pearl Jam, Harry Styles, and Kings of Leon, as well as headlining their own shows, including a sold out 13,000-capacity homecoming show at the Dublin 3Arena last year.

Track listing:

Eddie In The Darkness
Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah)
Your House
A Question of You
Even Though
Again
Open Wide
All I Got Is You
Still Young
The Charms
X-Ray
Concrete
Little Things

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR:

February 2025

Fri 28 Toronto, ON HISTORY

March 2025

Sun 2 Montreal, QC MTELUS

Tue 4 Portland, ME State Theatre
Thu 6 Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Paramount
Fri 7 Washington, DC The Anthem
Sat 8 Philadelphia, PA The Fillmore
Mon 10 Asheville, NC The Orange Peel
Tue 11 Birmingham, AL Iron City
Thu 13 Orlando, FL House of Blues
Fri 14 Fort Lauderdale, FL Revolution
Sat 15 St. Petersburg, FL Jannus Live
Mon17 Houston, TX House of Blues
Tue 18 Austin, TX Stubb’s
Wed 19 Dallas, TX House of Blues

Out now: 'When The War Is Over' album by Johnnyswim

Johnnyswim’s captivating fifth studio album, When The War Is Over, is available now, listen HERE. LA-based husband-and-wife duo Abner and Amanda Ramirez delve into Americana, folk rock, blues, and soul.

Their latest single “Dopamine” features Grammy-nominated Houston rapper Tobe Nwigwe who will be joining the pair on Jimmy Kimmel Live! this Monday, February 10. Tune in at 10:35 p.m. CT on ABC.

“So easily we can feel like we’ve lost ourselves while craving the fleeting highs that keep us afloat. ‘Dopamine’ is about wrestling with apathy while finding small pleasures in the fall, even when life feels like shifting sands. It’s a plea for clarity, connection, and the spark that makes things feel worth it again. We hope it speaks to anyone running in circles, hoping to stumble back into themselves.” - JOHNNYSWIM on “Dopamine.”

The When The War Is Over rollout began in July 2024 with the release of, “Frank Gehry,” a reflection on the corrosive nature of comparison. Since then, they’ve unveiled a series of singles, including “She Checks The Weather,” inspired by ongoing health challenges that Amanda (the daughter of Donna Summer) faces, “Los Feliz,” and the acoustic-driven “Monte Carlo.” Most recently, they shared “I’m Alright,” a tribute to Abner’s Cuban immigrant parents and their perseverance in the face of discrimination. 

U.S. Tour Dates:

3.20 2025 - Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue Theatre

3.21.2025 - Louisville, KY - Brown Theatre
3.22.2025 - Atlanta, GA – Cola-Cola Roxy
3.24.2025 - Austin, TX - ACL Moody Theatre
3.25.2025 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues
3.27.2025 - Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
3.28.2025 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues
3.29.2025 – SF, CA - The Regency Ballroom
4.1.2025 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
4.2.2025 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox Market
4.4.2025 - SLC, UT – The Commonwealth Room
4.5.2025 - Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre
4.7.2025 - Minneapolis, MN - Uptown Theatre
4.8.2025 - Chicago, IL - The Vic
4.10.2025 - New York, NY - Town Hall
4.11.2025 - Boston, MA - The Wilbur
4.12.2025 - Washington, D.C. - Lincoln Theatre
4.15.2025 - Durham, NC - Carolina Theatre
4.16.2025 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore
4.18.2025 - Knoxville, TN - Tennessee Theatre