Thought I’d shine the light on a few things that are hitting stores on Tuesday that you’ll probably want to be aware of.

The first item on my list is the new Golden Smog anthology Stay Golden Smog: The Best of Golden Smog – The Rykodisc Years.

I’ve been living with an advance copy of this for a couple of weeks now, and you’ll enjoy this one, even if you have both of the Rykodisc albums like I do.

The details are lost in a fog of one-night, one-off, one-gig combinations, but the double helix of Golden Smog’s DNA encircles the abiding friendship and periodic career frustrations of Soul Asylum’s Dan Murphy, The Jayhawks’ Gary Louris and Marc Perlman, Run Westy Run’s Kraig Johnson, and Wilco/Uncle Tupelo’s Jeff Tweedy. Mutating strands over time would include Soul Asylum’s Dave Pirner, Big Star’s Jody Stephens, The Replacements’ Chris Mars, The Honeydogs’ Noah Levy, and a cast of tens, all of whom could really play.

excerpted from the liner notes of Stay Golden Smog

They could certainly play, and as someone who hadn’t listened to either of the Ryko albums (Down By The Old Mainstream and Weird Tales,) in a while, Stay Golden Smog is a nice reminder of how much fun those first two albums were. As Wilco’s profile has continued to rise over the years, I’ve always been a bit surprised that more people aren’t aware of Golden Smog. Perhaps the release of Stay Golden Smog will help with that, a bit. There are a couple of unreleased tracks on Stay Golden Smog including an early version of Louris’ “Until You Came Along,” which could be described as the “playout” version, featuring a couple of extra minutes of the Smog jamming out on the tail end. I’m most excited by the inclusion of a studio version of the Brian Wilson song “Love and Mercy,” sung by Tweedy, which was always an awesome moment anytime it popped up in the live set. Both tracks are a nice compliment to Stay Golden Smog, which is already mighty fine, a perfect Cliff’s Notes version of all of the necessary cuts from Golden Smog’s time on Rykodisc. Add in great liner notes from author Norman Sherwood Forest-Drive, and Stay Golden Smog should convince you to do just that until the collective members of the Smog find their way back into the recording studio for another chapter.

The Replacements:

We’ll stay in the Minneapolis zip code for the next bit – A new batch of Replacements reissues are finally in stores on Tuesday, covering Tim, Pleased To Meet Me, Don’t Tell A Soul, and All Shook Down. Here’s a review of the reissues, and also the original liner notes written (and later replaced) for the reissue of Pleased To Meet Me. What’s next on the Replacements schedule? How about some live stuff – there is certainly plenty of stuff out there to choose from!

David Gilmour:

After last year’s DVD release, David Gilmour wraps up the On An Island story with Live in Gdansk, a new live DVD and CD release that is available in a number of formats including a Best Buy exclusive 5 disc set, and there also is a vinyl release. The latest info and full details on the many different configurations for this release, can be found on Gilmour’s official information blog. The vinyl edition includes an exclusive track, “Wot’s…Uh The Deal” (originally on Pink Floyd’s Obscured by Clouds.) The track is also available as a CD bonus from select indie retailers as well.

Good luck, your head will probably be spinning if you try to sort through all of the different versions that are available for Live in Gdansk.

On a somber note, Live in Gdansk of course features one of the last recorded performances from keyboard player Richard Wright, who was part of Gilmour’s band throughout the touring cycle for On An Island.

Jackson Browne:

1993

2008

Time the conqueror, indeed.

I’ll admit to being completely in the dark on the new Jackson Browne album Time The Conqueror, which is in stores on Tuesday. I haven’t heard a note of it yet, although there is a live audience recording featuring several of the new tracks that just popped up on Dimeadozen. Time The Conqueror is personally the release that I am looking forward to the most on Tuesday. The new album has been in the pipeline for quite a while now, and I’m excited to finally hear it. Rolling Stone has a review here that says good things.

Jackson rarely disappoints, although I’ll be quite disappointed if Cleveland doesn’t pop up on his touring schedule soon!

Bill Champlin:

Longtime Chicago member and Sons of Champlin founder Bill Champlin quietly slips back into record stores on Tuesday with No Place Left To Fall, his first solo studio release in 13 years (purchase on Itunes). Like Browne, Champlin has been working on this new solo album for a while now, sharing a number of demos via his website, with plenty of interesting details about the origins and personnel for each one. No Place Left To Fall will be available digitally as of tomorrow from Itunes and Amazon.com, with a physical release coming later that will include a bonus documentary DVD that focuses on the making of the album.

Champlin gives insight on four tracks from the new album including the album opener, “Total Control:”

This song was written by Jay Graydon and me around 11 years ago. We cut it way slower on the demo back then, with just a drum loop, key bass and one or two piano parts. It sounded a lot like a Hall and Oates kinda’ thing, which, at the time, wasn’t a bad way to go. The basic vocal parts were similar to this version, but that’s where the similarities end. I am opening the new album with this one because it may be the most basic 4 piece song on the CD. It was all about grooving with the basic band and it just felt good to let that be without a million overdubs, just a little Mark Eddinger rhodes overdubs on the bridge and tag. Mark is the co-producer of the whole album. This version is almost all about the vocals and the band. Straight ahead to kick off the album with a bang.

Click here to read more about the album, hear four sample tracks, and also see some video previews from the DVD documentary. Champlin’s last semi-solo excursion Hip Lil Dreams, recorded with Sons of Champlin in 2002 was great – I’m expecting good things from this one, from the demos I’ve heard leading up to the release. No Place Left To Fall, the new album will be available on Tuesday via Itunes and Amazon MP3.

Bill, ya’ve been away way too long. Welcome back!

Kathleen Edwards:

Oh Kathleen, how I love thee. Kathleen Edwards has a live session available via Itunes in both America and Canada on Tuesday. Not sure if it is going to be a straight up live session, or one of their Itunes Originals, but I’m guessing that it will probably be a live set, the standard 6-7 tracks. That’s what I’m hoping for anyway. I’m scheming, trying to work out a way to get to Columbus or Athens, OH next week to see Kathleen open for the Indigo Girls. As much of a fan as I am, I haven’t ever seen the Indigo Girls.

That should be enough to keep you all busy for a while.

Is it time for that new Silversun Pickups CD yet? Please please please!

Relevant Links:

Jackson Browne – Time The Conqueror – CD or MP3

Golden Smog – Stay Golden Smog – CD or MP3

Purchase Bill Champlin’s No Place Left To Fall from Itunes – purchase link

The Replacements – Pleased To Meet Me, Don’t Tell A Soul, All Shook Down, and Tim