THIS WEEK

Eagles: History of the Eagles

Documentary film (Capitol; tour dates)

Part 1 premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January. Parts 1 and 2 were broadcast by Showtime in February. Director Alison Ellwood was given full access to the Eagles for her documentary, which means that it includes new interviews with current members Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh, and Timothy B. Schmit as well as with former members Bernie Leadon, Randy Meisner, and Don Felder.

This release adds Eagles Live at the Capital Centre, March 1977, a previously unissued program drawn from shows in Washington, D.C., during the Hotel California tour. The standard edition of History is available on three DVDs or three Blu-ray Discs, all in 5.1 surround sound. If you spring for the limited-edition Super Deluxe Box Set, you’ll get the three Blu-rays, a 40-page casebound book, 10 archival-quality photographs from throughout the Eagles’ history, and a lithograph of the band’s desert-bleached skull icon.

Midnight Oil: Essential Oils

Archival release (Columbia/Legacy)
Photo by Andre Lugez

Curated by the band, this is Midnight Oil’s first double-CD chronology, covering its entire career.

Johnny Winter: The Essential Johnny Winter

Archival release (Epic/Legacy; tour dates)

Sourced from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s, these Johnny Winter tracks (on two discs) are culled primarily from the guitarist’s Columbia and Blue Sky albums.

Andy Williams: The Essential Andy Williams

Archival release (Columbia/Legacy)
Photo by Bob Cato

Another double, in honor of the crooner who died last September at the age of 84.

Sea Level: Cats on the Coast; On the Edge

Reissues (Real Gone)

Together on one CD: the second and third albums (both released in 1978) by the group that today would be considered a prime mover in the jam-band arena. Featured players came from the Allman Brothers Band: keyboardist Chuck Leavell (on both albums), bassist Lamar Williams (ditto), and drummer Jaimoe (on Cats only, as he was then replaced by Joe English from Wings). Includes new liner notes by Scott Schinder.

Stravinksy: Le Sacre du Printemps (New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein)

Reissue (Sony Classical)

The Rite of Spring had its premiere 100 years ago. This landmark recording is from 1958, taped at the Colorama Ballroom in Brooklyn’s Hotel St. George. The press release tells the rest of the story: “This reissue, a brand-new transfer from the original analog reels, includes the original LP cover art by Gray Foy. It will be available in CD and digital formats as well as in a 180-gram audiophile-quality vinyl LP version, with packaging that includes images and sketches from the premiere and an extensive essay by Jonathan Cott, a writer and editor for Rolling Stone and author of the book Dinner with Lenny: The Last Long Interview with Leonard Bernstein. The essay describes the work’s history and premiere and includes behind-the-scenes details of the Philharmonic recording and anecdotes from Philharmonic musicians who played on the session.”