NEWSLETTER #17!

NYCD has touched many a nerve over the last few years with its abrasive musical commentary. We cut to the chase, but at least we're honest. But we have received more feedback with our recent negative comments about "magician" DAVID BLAINE than with any other subject we have written about. Even when we called Britney Spears a ho'bag. We are sorry. We really don't mean any harm to Mr. Blaine, especially if his "tricks" like being suspended in midair while not eating inspires so many. As a matter of fact, the staff of NYCD has made a solemn commitment to abstain from eating while bathing for at least the next week, in honor of Mr. Blaine and his genius-osity.

and now... NEXT WEEK'S NEW RELEASES!

EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN

Polygram continues their 2 CD Deluxe Edition campaign with two classics from the '70s. THE ALLMAN BROTHERS' "EAT A PEACH" sees the original album remastered on disc 1, while the other disc features the complete performance of the final June 27, 1971 Fillmore East concert, with nearly 70 minutes of previously unreleased performances! And ERIC CLAPTON's 1970 solo debut (arguably his best) gets remastered on disc 1, while disc 2 features a previously unreleased version of the same record produced by Delaney Bramlett, as well as a plethora of session outtakes and related singles. And speaking of Delaney, DELANEY AND BONNIE'S sophomore release, "HOME," is now available for the first time in 30 years, digitally remastered with six bonus tracks!

DEF LEPPARD, arguably the best '80s rock/metal band with a one-armed drummer ever, pays tribute to their favorite songs of the '60s and '70s by covering such bands as The Kinks, Roxy Music, Badfinger, T. Rex, Free, and Mott The Hoople on their new album, "YEAH!" This is much better than you would think. Gone is the overblown '80s production, and while it doesn't sound much like vintage Def Leppard, it still rocks. And you can't go wrong with the song selection!

PAT DiNIZIO - "THIS IS PAT DiNIZIO." We used to love the Smithereens -- until they released seven bad records in a row. Now, on this new solo record from the head Smithereen, DiNizio takes his favorite pop songs of the '60s and arranges them for solo voice and piano. The odd platter-stack includes "This Guy's In Love With You," "You Only Live Twice," and "Surfer Girl," as well as a couple of Smithereens tunes. Initial pressings already come with a "$2.99 Used" sticker on them!

DIRTY PRETTY THINGS - "WATERLOO." Remember how great "Up The Bracket" by the Libertines was? Remember how not-great Babyshambles' "Down In Albion" was? Well, here is the Pete Doherty-less Libertines with their debut release, and initial listens makes us suspect that maybe Carl Barat, a.k.a. the Libertines guy who doesn't get arrested all the time, was the real talent in the band. This could get better with each listen.

DR. JOHN - "MERCERNARY." The good Doctor uses his gris-gris on a bunch of Johnny Mercer tunes. Let's face it -- even when it doesn't work, it's still Dr. John, and you'll find something plenty to love about it.

HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS - "GREATEST HITS." There have been compilations before, but none as complete as this new 21 track best-of by an '80s band who are much better than their reputation would lead you to believe. Come on! "I Want A New Drug!" "The Heart Of Rock And Roll!" "Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do!" Those are great songs, dammit! And he's a good friend of Elvis Costello, that Huey!

REISSUE SCHMEISSUE

Two CDs by the unbelievably incomparable HARRY NILSSON get remastered and expanded. "SON OF SCHMILSSON" and "A LITTLE TOUCH OF SCHMILSSON IN THE NIGHT" both include bonus tracks and new packaging.

PHOENIX - "IT'S NEVER BEEN LIKE THAT." Phoenix never really broke out with their Tears For Fears-meets-Pet Shop Boys brand of British pop, but maybe this, their third release, will change all that. Great hooks and great melodies makes for the perfect radio-friendly record -- if there was still radio.

SPEAKING OF TEARS FOR FEARS...

"SONGS FROM THE BIG CHAIR," their enormous smash album from 1985, gets the Polygram 2 CD Deluxe Edition treatment, with the newly remastered version of the album from the original tapes plus a whopping 28 bonus tracks, featuring B-sides, remixes, and alternate versions.

DIXIE CHICKS MEET RICK RUBIN!

The DIXIE CHICKS' first release since pissing off the Bush Administration, "TAKING THE LONG WAY," produced by the great Rick Rubin, continues with their brand of country-pop that benefits from the remarkable musicianship of all three. The lead single, "Not Ready To Make Nice," addresses the comments that Natalie Maines made in 2003, which all but blacklisted this fine group of Bush haters.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK!

Speaking of Rick Rubin... his bare-bones recordings of JOHNNY CASH revitalized the Man In Black's career in the '90s. Now comes the release of two discs of previously unreleased solo acoustic tracks made a good 20 years earlier, that share the spirit of records like "American Recordings I-IV." "PERSONAL FILE" is a joy from beginning to end, and an absolute must for all Cash collectors. Buy it from NYCD and make us cash collectors!

MILES DAVIS - "THE LEGENDARY PRESTIGE QUINTET RECORDINGS." A 4 CD set featuring remastered versions of the famed quintet sessions from the '50s that included John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones. Includes eight previously unreleased performances! Buy it from NYCD and make us unreleased performances!

AND LAST AND CERTAINLY LEAST...

MICHAEL BOLTON - "BOLTON SWINGS SINATRA." No, no he doesn't. He couldn't swing a dead cat if you handed it to him tail first. WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY??????

TO ORDER ANY OF THESE DISCS, OR IF THERE'S ANY CDs YOU WANT THAT WE DIDN'T MENTION, LET US KNOW BY EMAIL (HEYNYCD@aol.com) OR PHONE (212-244-3460, ask for Nevaeh)!

HELLO, MUSIC LOVERS, WHEREVER YOU ARE... GREAT IMPORTS IN STOCK!

We've got ONE COPY EACH of three amazing releases that we must insist one of you buy. (Or is it "buys"? Is it "youse"?)

CAROLYN FRANKLIN - "SISTER SOUL: THE BEST OF THE RCA YEARS." Aretha's younger sister (that should be enough for you to buy this CD, but we'll continue) gets compiled on this amazing 22 track release from the great Kent soul label in the UK. 1969-76 recordings.

BOBBY TAYLOR - "THE MOTOWN ANTHOLOGY." OK, you say Motown, you think Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, the Temptations, and all the usual hits you either already have or are still sick of from their inclusion in "The Big Chill." But how many of you have a Bobby Taylor anthology? And why do you need one, you may ask? Because it's amazing! Think Temptations-type arrangements with only one lead vocalist. And the Funk Brothers never sounded better -- check out "Malinda." Now THAT's hot!

RODDY FRAME - "WESTERN SKIES." The first release in years from the Aztec Camera frontman is the best thing he's done since Aztec's "Knife" album.

ONE EACH! FIRST-WRITE, FIRST-SERVED!

WE STILL NEED YOUR CDs AND DVDs!

When we had the store, we had to use a wiffle bat to beat off all the customers who were bringing in their lousy used CDs. Now that we're here in our office with cash in hand and smiles on our faces, we're using the wiffle bat for other things. (Don't ask...) COME ON, PEOPLE! LOAD EVERYTHING IN YOUR HARD DRIVES AND BRING YOUR CDs TO US! YOU WIN! ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU WANTED TO HEAR ALL ALONG? Don't you need the shelf space for your Hummel collection and your grandson's pictures? And we'll take your soon-to-be-obsolete DVDs, too.

CALL OR EMAIL! (212) 244-3460 or HEYNYCD@aol.com. WE MAKE HOUSECALLS!

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, WE LEAVE YOU WITH THIS:

BUY STUFF FROM US ON AMAZON!
SHOW YOUR RESPECT FOR DAVID BLAINE! HE'S A GOOD MAN! www.davidblaineisagoodman.com

Your friends,
THE INSPIRATIONAL MAGICIANS: Tony "I Can Touch My Toes For 45 Seconds While Eating A Mallomar" Sachs and Sal "I Will Do No Unpleasant Bending Whatsoever For Any Amount Of Time Without Being Thrown A Mallomar" Nunziato