ALERT CONSUMER

GHOST IS BORN: The Albert Ayler 9-CD Box Set, ‘Holy Ghost, coming soon from Revenant, has this update: "The box comprises: 9 CDs of rare and unissued recordings, extensive unpublished Ayler interview footage, 208 page full colour hardbound book/ essays by Amiri Baraka, Val Wilmer, Daniel Caux, and Ben Young. Also, an essay by Marc Chaloin on Ayler’s key formative years (1958-62). Unpublished photos by Raymond Ross, Wilmer and many others. Unpublished Ayler family snapshots & Cleveland memorabilia. Exhaustive chronology of Ayler performance / recording activities. All of this housed in a lavish tabletop (9" by 9" by 3") spirit box format, deluxe moulded "onyx" box carved from handcarved wooden original"

BIRD DROP INS: Due Sept 1 on the Wounded Bird Label, The Byrds - 'Byrds' - The original five members of the Byrds reunited in 1973 for this one time album. This actually became the Byrds fourth highest charting album, hitting # 20 on the Billboard Charts. It features unique versions of some classic tunes such as Neil Young's "Cowgirl In The Sand" and Crosby's "Laughing".

Plus Badfinger’s 'Airwaves' originally issued on Elektra Records in 1979; Carol King’s 'Speeding Time' from 1983 on Atlantic Records and Jaco Pastorius’ 'Invitation', recorded live in Japan in 1983, it featured jazz luminaries Toots Thielemans, Randy Brecker, Don Alias and Peter Erskine.

SINGLE BYRDS: Cancelled Flytes is a five 7"-vinyl singles box set of mono-mixes of Byrds singles that were never issued. Shelved at the last minute by Columbia Records, each 45rpm single in this set features the original mono mixes of the tracks, period-accurate picture sleeves, original Columbia Records labels, rare archival photos, and an insert containing session details of each recording.

Single 1: Chimes Of Freedom / The Bells Of Rhymney // Single 2: It's All Over Now, Baby Blue / She Don't Care About Time // Single 3: The Times They Are A-Changin' / She Has A Way // Single 4: I Know My Rider / Psychodrama City // Single 5: My Back Pages / It Happens Each Day.

BIG MAMA: Every single track recorded and released by The Mamas & The Papas will be put on the 4-CD box set The Mamas & The Papas Complete Anthology [due Sept 13 in Europe only]. The box contains 101 tracks, including all five studio albums, their Monterey Pop concert album and solo selections by all four members, plus rarities. A deluxe 72-page color book with 100 photos, a group history and a foreword by Mama Michelle Phillips.

From ICE magazine comes this description of each disc:

DISC 1 - If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears and The Mamas & The Papas albums, plus the non-LP single "Glad to Be Unhappy" and mono single versions of "Creeque Alley" and "Words of Love."

DISC 2 - The Mamas & The Papas Deliver and The Papas & The Mamas albums, plus bonus studio chatter and rehearsal for three tracks (originally included on the 1970 compilation A Gathering of Flowers - The Anthology of The Mamas & The Papas).

DISC 3 - People Like Us and Monterey International Pop Festival albums plus bonus dialogue segments with John Phillips and Cass Elliot (originally included on A Gathering of Flowers).

DISC 4 - The Mamas & The Papas perform The Beatles’ "Nowhere Man" from NBC-TV’s Hullabaloo and "Here in My Arms" from ABC-TV’s Rodgers & Hart Today, both previously unreleased on CD. Also, various solo rarities such as "The Costume Ball" (a Dunhill promo-only single by Cass Elliot); "Revolution on Vacation" and "Cup of Tea" (John Phillips’ obscure 1972 Columbia single); "Indian Girl" and "Baby Catch the Moon" (Denny Doherty’s obscure 1973 Columbia single); "Aloha Louie" and "There She Goes" (Michelle Phillips’ rare 1975 A&M single); and seven 1965 tracks by Barry McGuire from his Dunhill album This Precious Time which prominently features the Mamas & Papas singing backup, including the original version of "California Dreamin’" plus "Do You Believe in Magic" and "You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away."

SELLING OF MS JONES: Her record label wants Norah Jones second album to sell MORE. So they are re-releasing Feels Like Home with a bonus DVD to make you buy it or if you already have - to buy it AGAIN. Three previously unreleased songs will be featured on the CD: the original "Moon Song," a cover of the Boudleaux/Bryant staple "Sleepless Nights" and "I Turned Your Picture to the Wall," penned by Jones' guitarist Adam Levy's grandfather.

The second disc will be a DVD with live versions of "Creepin' In," "The Long Way Home" and "In the Morning," recorded in March in Madrid, as well as a cover of Gram Parsons' "She." An interview with Jones plus music videos for "Sunrise" and "What Am I to You?" are included. Out Sept 21.

EARLY STONES ON DVD: The Rolling Stones’ Satisfaction Guaranteed [Scorpio DVD] is a great compilation of early Stones TV appearances. Here are the shows: Red Skelton Hour 8/5/64, TAMI Show 10/29/64, Ready Steady Go 11/20/64, Big Beat Show 4/11/65, Shivaree 5/16/65, Ready Steady Go 9/2/65, TOTP 10/19/65, Hullabaloo 11/11/65, Thank Your Lucky Star 5/8/66, Ready Steady Go 5/27/66, TOTP 9/23/66, TOTP 9/9/66, Mick Jagger int. World In Action 7/31/67

LIVE AT THE MARQUEE: The Rolling Stones’ Marquee / Montreux Rumble [4Reel Productions] is a master quality version of the famous private Marquee Club show [Mar 26 1971], an amazing version of the Montreux Rehearsals, including the Loving Cup promo. Rounding out this DVD is highlights from the Dick Cavett show.

LIVE AT THE MARQUEE II: A second label, Glim Twins, offers the same Marquee Club show with two versions of the classic concert. First, the raw footage, clocking in at over 50 minutes. The band run through various songs including two takes each of "I Got the Blues" and "Bitch". I Got The Blues is performed here for the first time, not to be performed again until 1999. The second version is from the original broadcast. Taken directly from the TV MASTER. This is the best quality to surface.

Songs include: Live With Me, Dead Flowers, I Got The Blues, Let It Rock, Midnight Ramber, Satisfaction, Bitch and Brown Sugar. Total running time approx: 90 minutes

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: The much talked about but never released Ladies & Gentlemen, The Rolling Stones finally arrives on DVD [4Reel Productions] presented in Dolby Digital.

LOST SHOW: The Rolling Stones’ Cocksucker Blues is out now on DVD [GlimTwins]. Witness the Stones and their entourage in all the glory of the 1972 North American Tour. Keith having a rockstar moment as he throws a TV set out a hotel window, the innocence of Mick and Bianca, and an allstar jam with Stevie Wonder and his band and the Rolling Stones performing Uptight/Satisfaction. 90 mins.

STONES IN SEATTLE: The Rolling Stones’ Still Life In Seattle 1981 [Oct 15] is a great alternative concert to the Hampton show. Video is amazing quality and is direct from the Master reel.

JOAN, DICK & MARK: The new Joan Of Arc album arrives as a limited edition colored double LP. The album, Joan of Arc, Dick Cheney, Mark Twain…, expands upon their usual tradition of experimentation and gadgetry with the inclusion of an overall sense of cohesiveness and underlying melody. Add the mixing talents of John McEntire (Tortoise, The Sea and Cake, Smog, Stereolab, U.S. Maple), and you know you're going to be in for a sonic treat. Includes members of Town and Country, Love of Everything, Make Believe, Pit er Pat, Aloha, and Owen. Joan of Arc is a Chicago band.

HOT BRIDES: Burning Brides major label [V2] release is getting the hype from no less than Mark Lanegan, a guest on the album. "This record not only manages to fulfill all the promise of 'Empire,' it one-ups damn near every other record released so far this year -- scratch that, this decade! 'Leave No Ashes' streamlines and finely hones every element that made its predecessor so great and then kicks it all up several dozen notches." Aside from Lanegan, the album guests include Mike Watt, Keith Morris, and Roger Manning. Leave No Ashes arrives this week.

BAND FOR ALL TIME: Here comes Mark Lanegan Band’s debut album, Bubblegum. 'Bubblegum' features members of Queens of the Stone Age, PJ Harvey, Greg Dulli from Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers, Izzy and Duff from Guns N' Roses/Velvet Revolver, Ween's Dean Ween, and members of Earthling, Eleven, and Enemy. The hype brigade - Maxim called it 'a dark hearted rock triumph,' while NY Daily News said it's a 'thrilling menace.' Mr. Lanegan at his most inspired and inventive. And this is Bubblegum, the same candy that is BANNED IN DA $INGAPURA.

WHITE STRAW HAT AND A PINK CARNATION: Off the wall talent Jim White returns with 'Drill a Hole in That Substrate and Tell Me What You See', his third for Luaka Bop. Produced by Joe Henry, Barenaked Ladies, and White himself, 'Drill...' features guest appearances by Aimee Mann, Chocolate Genius, and Bill Frisell. Now this is what we call "music".