There are still three weeks left in the year. But when it comes to new music, you can pretty much stick a fork in 2023: It’s done. Case in point: Next week’s biggest releases consist of two box sets delayed from last month, and the official release of The Rolling Stones’ recent N.Y.C. club show where they debuted songs from Hackney Diamonds. Of course, like every other week, I’m pretty sure I’ll stumble across some buried treasures in the 200 or so releases on the way. But for now, this is it:
The Black Crowes
The Southern Harmony & Musical Companion Box Set
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “World-renowned rock band The Black Crowes unveil a box set of their chart-topping sophomore album The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion. The album, which entered the Billboard album chart at No. 1 upon release in 1992, was named after a post-Civil War southern hymnal and is home to some of the band’s biggest hits, including Remedy, Sting Me and Thorn in My Pride, which were No. 1 on the Billboard Main Stream Rock Airplay chart for a combined total of 21 weeks. Says Chris Robinson: “We’ve always thought that the music on Southern Harmony and Musical Companion was made of a certain magic that was in the air for us in 1992. This special box set represents all the ingredients of the spell we were under.”
The Rolling Stones
Hackney Diamonds (Live Edition)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Rolling Stones announce the forthcoming release of Hackney Diamonds (Live Edition) featuring all seven tracks performed at last month’s launch event at Racket in New York. The setlist includes four tracks from the recent album, including Angry, Bite My Head Off, Whole Wide World and Sweet Sounds of Heaven (with Lady Gaga), as well as performances of Shattered, Tumbling Dice and Jumpin’ Jack Flash. Alongside the critical acclaim for the album, the performance at Racket garnered rave reviews for the 30-minute performance. Hitting No. 1 in 19 countries on release, Hackney Diamonds marked the return of The Rolling Stones as their first original studio album since 2005’s A Bigger Bang.”
Thin Lizzy
Vagabonds Of The Western World 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “This year marks the 50th anniversary of what is widely regarded as Thin Lizzy’s breakthrough album: Vagabonds Of The Western World, featuring their first U.K. Top 10 single Whiskey In The Jar, along with The Rocker, which would go on to be one of the band’s signature tunes — and the last song they performed at their final show in 1983. Vagabonds Of The Western World was Thin Lizzy’s third studio album and was initially released on the Sept. 21 1973. It was the first to feature artwork by Jim Fitzpatrick, the creator of the famous red and black portrait of Che Guevara, who would go on to work with the band on classic albums such as Nightlife, Jailbreak, Johnny The Fox, Black Rose and Chinatown.”
