Back catalogue: Rock

Review: Reissued on Akarma after an untimely period of stagnation on the secondhand market, in which time it fetched unholy sharkers' prices, Chameleon Vol. 2 is an original Prince compilation album featuring a collection of demos, outtakes and studio sessions, culled from the legendary rock musician's actually existing Vault. Made up entirely of rare and unreleased tracks from the pan-chromic artist's catalogue, early editions of this one of course came out on limited transparent purple wax. Alas, this latest black vinyl pressing had to be done, to counter the secondhand scrimps. Notable tracks include an alternate dance mix of 'Come', an extended mix of the Love Symbol opener 'Thunder' and a closing menage-a-cinq and 'Five Women', written for Joe Cocker no less.

Review: Diamonds & Pearls was the sound of Prince stepping into the 90s and making it his own, embracing a slick, big-budget production and dabbling in new jack swing and house as much as his more traditional, soulful songwriting. It's fit to burst with classics, not least the huge singles 'Gett Off', 'Cream' and 'Diamonds & Pearls' itself, but there's so many other gems to savour on this seminal album from the purple wonder. 'Strollin', 'Willing & Able' and knockout closer 'Live 4 Love' are but four highlights. Newly remastered and repressed on double vinyl, you can re-acquaint yourself with some of the finest work from a true genius.

Review: NPG Records and Paisley Park Enterprises, in partnership with Warner Records, are pleased to announce the release of a brand-new audiophile Blu-ray featuring 2024's Dolby Atmos mix of Prince and the Revolution's iconic 1984 album, Purple Rain, as well as Prince's original 1984 stereo mix, in high-definition 24bit / 96kHz audio.

Prince shattered all expectations and made music history when he released the album Purple Rain, followed by the hit movie of the same name weeks later. The 9-track LP went on to win two Grammy awards ("Best Rock Performance by a Group" & "Best Album of Original Score Written For A Motion Picture"), two American Music Awards, a Brit Award, and an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. In 2012 the Library of Congress added the album to the National Recording Registry, which only accepts sound recordings that "are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States." Purple Rain spent 24 weeks at #1 on the Billboard album charts, sold over 25 million copies worldwide, and appears on countless 'Best Of' polls, most recently achieving the #4 spot on Apple Music's Top 100 Albums Of All Time.

The 2024 Atmos presentation of Purple Rain featured on this Blu-Ray, was meticulously mixed from the original multi-track master tapes by Prince's protege and Best Engineered Grammy nominee Chris James. It was released via all participating Digital Service Providers on June 21, 2024. "In 2024 we started our year-long celebration of the 40th anniversary of Purple Rain, we are thrilled to present Prince's masterpiece in ATMOS, providing an immersive, surround auditory experience of Prince's legendary album. This highly crafted release will present Prince's iconic work with more space and depth while preserving the beautiful songs that have shaped music and popular culture, and touched the lives of countless fans around the world." - Paisley Park Enterprises

Region code: universal

Review: This Price album was originally part of the 2023 Diamonds and Pearls Super Deluxe box set, but now the triple vinyl live recording arrives on standalone yellow vinyl in a fancy triple gatefold sleeve. It was initially captured on January 11, 1992, at Prince's Glam Slam club in Minneapolis and is a performance that showcases Prince and The New Power Generation at their creative peak, just ahead of their epic world tour. Spanning over 100 minutes and 14 tracks in all, the still electrifying set focuses on material from the Diamonds and Pearls era and includes a preview of the then-unreleased 'Sexy M.F.' to make for a fine snapshot of a new era in Prince's evolving sound.

Review: Katie Puckrik's well-curated A Yacht Rock Odyssey is a four-part musical journey showcasing the smoothest sounds of the genre. This collection features gently funky grooves polished by top session musicians and producers and the set includes classics from Michael McDonald, Toto and Average White Band, alongside Carly Simon, Robert Palmer and the Pointer Sisters, plus gems from Olivia Newton-John and Christopher Cross. Puckrik's introduction and track-by-track annotations offer insights tray draw from her acclaimed BBC TV series, I Can Go for That: The Smooth World of Yacht Rock. With 24 meticulously chosen tracks, this compilation highlights the era's sleek, mellow vibe and musical kinship.

Review: Ace Records continue their series of compilations from Saint Etienne's Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs, tapping into unique niches of British music culture under titles like English Weather and The Tears Of Technology to arrive at this latest joint, Fell From The Sun. This is a specific trip into the downtempo, after hours sounds prevalent in 1990-1991, as the acid house wave broke and Balearic selector ethics seeped into studio practice. The selections are absolutely on point, from The Orb's majestic remix of Primal Scream's 'Higher Than The Sun' to Saint Etienne's own moody roller, 'Speedwell'. It's bouncy and boundlessly optimistic as well as being supremely chill, absolutely of its time but still ringing with an eternal charm that feels ready for a revival. Let this compilation be your guide.

Review: Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs of Saint Etienne fame are the diggers behind this new rock assemblage which pays tribute to mid-afternoon set times at lesser-known festivals from years gone (well, the 70s) such as Deeply Vale, Bickershaw, Krumlin, Weeley, and Plumpton. They were just as important to those who attended as the more celebrated likes of Glasto' and this collection shows the sounds were just as good, too. The sounds - from big names liek Deep Purple, Hawkwind and Alan Parker & Alan Hawkshaw to lesser known acts like Jonesy, will appeal to hippies and bikers alike with big riffs, funky drumming and some psyched-out sounds.

Review: By 1968, disillusionment with the American dream had grown as urban riots, Vietnam, assassinations, and rising divorce rates rocked the nation. At one time it was only the youth who voiced dissent but by that time older generations were also questioning the state of the country. This superbly assembled album reflects that crisis with rare and forgotten tracks from major artists including the Beach Boys' '4th Of July' and Roy Orbison's 'Southbound Jericho Parkway' plus a classic from Elvis. The songs explore themes like divorce (Frank Sinatra's 'The Train') and institutional hypocrisy (Dean Martin's 'Do You Believe This Town') while Marvin Gaye's environmental anthem also echoes the era's growing awareness of issues which remain just as pressing today.