New Music: The Beatles, Glen Phillips, Jeff Berlin

Check out these incredible titles available now.

Artist: The Beatles

Title: Revolver Special Edition (Capitol Records)

You might like if you enjoy: The Beatles, The Zombies

Tell me more: The Beatles' 1966 album Revolver is widely considered one of the British band's most beloved albums. The newly-released Revolver Special Edition showcases just how brilliant John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr — along with producer George Martin and engineer Geoff Emerick — were at creating one of the greatest recordings of the 20th century over the course of a few short months leading up to its release in August 1966. The range of material across the album astounds; listeners will be reminded how many light years ahead the Fab Four were compared to their contemporaries. The material ranges from Harrison's propulsive rocker "Taxman," yearning "I Want To Tell You" and Indian music-immersed "Love You To" to McCartney's beautiful Baroque gem "For No One" and rapturous R&B blast "Got To Get You Into My Life." Lennon's talents are showcased via the driving power pop nugget "And Your Bird Can Sing," rollicking "Doctor Robert" and experimental masterpiece "Tomorrow Never Knows." The expanded deluxe edition of Revolver (the Super Deluxe 5CD Edition is the title reviewed in this column) includes a new stereo mix of the album by GRAMMY Award winning producer Giles Martin (son of the late George Martin) and Sam Okell, two "Sessions CDs" of outtakes, rehearsals, demos and studio chat, the original 1966 mono album, along with a bonus EP with stereo mixes and the original 1966 mono versions of "Paperback Writer" and "Rain" (those two epic singles preceded the release of Revolver). The expanded Revolver Special Edition also includes a 100-page book with a foreword by McCartney, an essay by Questlove, detailed track notes, photographs and ephemera including handwritten lyrics, tape boxes and extracts from artist Klaus Voormann's graphic novel on the making of the GRAMMY-winning original album cover. Watch this writer and TJR discuss the collections outtakes, rehearsals and studio chat via a video available on YouTube HERE. Information: TheBeatles.com. 

Artist: Glen Phillips

Title: There Is So Much Here (Compass Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Toad the Wet Sprocket, Neil Finn, Aimee Mann

Tell me more: Beloved as the frontman for Toad the Wet Sprocket, singer-songwriter Glen Phillips is back with his latest solo album, There Is So Much Here. A master at chronicling the emotion-filled events in own life with originals that are literate, infectious and timeless, Glen Phillips mined his experiences going through the COVID lockdown on his way to the creation of the marvelous 11-track disc. This was also a singular period where Phillips used the rare experience of being home for an extended stretch to reflect on his life in ways new to him. The range of material across the album will please fans of Phillips' past parade of triumphs. The soaring "Other Birds of Prey" is a euphoric rocker that recalls the high marks set on Toad the Wet Sprocket's Dulcinea. Elsewhere the bouncy "I Was a Riot" (a particularly confessional examination of the end of a relationship), lovely piano-anchored "The Bluest Eye," spacious "Brand New Blue," melodic rocker "Center Of The Circle" and jazz-infused "The Sound of Drinking" — the latter an introspective look at everyday joys that draws favorable sonic comparisons with the work of Bruce Cockburn — allure the listener. The acoustic "Skeleton For School," infectious "Stone Throat," and luxurious "Call the Moondust" are other standouts on the masterwork. Information: GlenPhillips.com. 

Artist: Jeff Berlin

Title: Jack Songs (Jeff Berlin Music Group)

You might like if you enjoy: Jack Bruce, Cream, Eric Johnson, Alex Lifeson

Tell me more: Although Jack Bruce passed away in October 2014, he was already widely regarded as one of the greatest rock and roll bassists of all time. Now Bruce  — best known for fronting the '60s rock trio Cream (the supergroup also featured guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker) — is being celebrated by modern-day bassist-composer Jeff Berlin on the aptly-titled Jack Songs. Berlin stands as one of the greatest bass players of his generation, having garnered recording and performance credits with a slew of jazz and rock greats including Bill Bruford, Allan Holdsworth, Jon McLaughlin, Patrick Moraz, Frank Zappa, and more. Now he joins forces with a who's who of greats on a Jack Songs to complete a truly ambitious project inspired by Giles Martin's approach on The Beatles' Love CD. "His (Martin) production work on this CD is fantastic. I tried to follow his example of his fitting various Beatle song quotes from different tunes into each tune by doing a similar thing by combining different Jack songs," Berlin said of his approach. Among the greats who lend their talents across Jack Songs is Sammy Hagar (Van Halen), Alex Lifeson (Rush), Gregg Bissonette (Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band), Eric Johnson, Nathan East (Fourplay), Geddy Lee (Rush), Tony Levin and many more. Information: JeffBerlinMusicGroup.com.

Robert Kinsler

Far-flung sounds on display

Early 2017 has already seen a slew of notable new album releases, including titles featuring Nathan East, Dennis Coffey, Eric Johnson, Ronnie Baker Brooks, and England Dan & John Ford Coley.

Artist: Nathan East
Title: Reverence (Yamaha Entertainment)
You might like if you enjoy: Fourplay; Earth, Wind & Fire
Tell me more: Bassist Nathan East has performed on many of the most celebrated hits in the history of pop and modern jazz, so it is little surprise he continues to chart a winning course on his new sophomore solo effort Reverence. A founding member of the contemporary jazz troupe Fourplay, East's new collection finds the virtuoso bass player assisted by an all-star team of top players including Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson of Earth, Wind & Fire (on an infectious remake of that group's "Serpentine Fire"), saxophone master Kirk Whalum, singer Ruben Studdard, jazz pianist Chick Corea, singer Yolanda Adams and others. Information: YamahaEntertainmentGroup.com.

Artist: Dennis Coffey
Title: Hot Coffey in the D: Burnin' at Morey Baker's Showplace Lounge (Resonance Records)
You might like if you enjoy: 1960s Motown and soul recordings, 1960s jazz
Tell me more: The previously-unreleased tracks on Dennis Coffey's Hot Coffey in the D: Burnin' at Morey Baker's Showplace Lounge celebrate not only the artistry of the famed guitarist, but of the Detroit music scene of the late 1960s and the adventuresome spirit of that decade. A native of Detroit, Coffey was a groundbreaking member of the Funk Brothers studio band who played on a slew of classic Motown Records hits. Along with his band Lyman Woodard (Hammond B-3 organ) and Melvin Davis (drums), he also was a frequent performer at several Detroit clubs that allowed him to explore and extend his musical muse beyond Motown. On "Hot Coffey in the D" there are potent and smoking live takes on a wide range of material, including the soul nugget "Casanova (Your Playing Days Are Over," Burt Bacharach's "The Look of Love" and Jimmy Webb's "By The Time I Get to Phoenix." The deluxe edition includes a 56-page book of liner notes with archival photos, essays by producers Zev Feldman and Kevin Goins, and interviews with key players including Coffey. Information: DennisCoffeySite.com.

Artist: Eric Johnson
Title: EJ (Provogue)
You might like if you enjoy: Rik Emmett, Laurence Juber
Tell me more: On his 12th studio album titled EJ, Texas guitar great Eric Johnson has set aside his electric instrument and takes listeners on a distinctively different sonic journey via intimate material featuring his vocal work adorned with his top-tier work on acoustic guitar and piano. One of the greatest and most original electric guitar masters in the history of the instrument, Johnson's artistic voice is equally strong in the acoustic territory that plays out over the 13 tracks on the self-produced EJ. There are breathtaking instrumentals ("Mrs. Robinson," "Once Upon A Time In Texas," "The World is Waiting For The Sunrise"), beautiful ballads (the piano and violin anchored "November") and genre-blending confessionals (the jazz-tinged "One Rainy Wish," ambitious "Wrapped In A Cloud"). Many of the songs here venture far beyond cliche territory as evidenced by "Wonder" and "Water Under The Bridge," the latter a potent message on moving on beyond the pain of the past. Information: EricJohnson.com.

Artist: Ronnie Baker Brooks
Title: Times Have Changed (Provogue)
You might like if you enjoy: Vintage Trouble, Tommy Castro, Big Head Todd & the Monsters
Tell me more: From the rock 'n' soul of "Show Me" and "Long Story Short" to Memphis soul of the textured title track and the smooth R&B gem "When I Was We," Ronnie Baker Brooks' solid return Times Have Changed is pure joy. As if the Chicago bluesman's own talents as vocalist and guitar slinger were not impressive enough, a talented parade of notables guest on the album; Todd Mohr of Big Head Todd and the Monsters adds vocals and electric guitar on the heavy blues rocker "Doing Too Much" while his father, the legendary Lonnie Brooks, adds some fiery guitar work on "Twine Time." Information: MascotLabelGroup.com.

Artist: England Dan & John Ford Coley
Title: The Very Best of England Dan & John Ford Coley (Varèse Sarabande)
You might like if you enjoy: 1970s pop-rock, Dan Seals, Paul Davis, America
Tell me more: The recording duo of England Dan & John Ford Coley helped create a sound that is forever associated with the pop rock sound of the 1970s. Listening to the outstanding collection The Very Best of England Dan & John Ford Coley is to rediscover song craft enhanced by the two singers' sweet harmonies and artful arrangements. Beyond the bona fide hits ("I'd Really Love to See You Tonight," "Nights Are Forever Without You," "We'll Never Have to Say Goodbye Again"), there are some real treasures - especially the affecting "Soldier in the Rain" and a spirited cover of Todd Rundgren's "Love is the Answer." In addition to the duo's best known hits, the collection also includes the rare Japanese single "Keep Your Smile" and two songs from the "Just Tell Me You Love Me" movie soundtrack. Information: VareseSarabande.com.


Robert Kinsler