Springsteen's Darkness Package Coming

Mark Nov. 16 on your calendars.

That's the day Bruce Springsteen releases The Promise box set.

The set features a three CD/three DVD package of the remastered Darkness On The Edge Of Town album, never-before-seen studio and live footage, an 80-page notebook, 21 previously unreleased songs, and a much-anticipated documentary.

A 1978 Houston performance is part of the package, according to the press release.

While Born To Run will always be the most magical of all Springsteen releases, Darkness is his workhorse, with such staples as "Badlands," "The Promised Land," and "Prove It All Night." The Darkness songs have served as cornerstones for his live performances and remain among his most powerful compositions.

There will be something for vinyl fans here. Springsteen reports that there will be an edition that consists of only the unheard complete songs on two CDs or four LPs, along with lyrics and the new essay.

A clip of the documentary and a stream of the unreleased song "Save My Love" are running on Springsteen Web site.

Introducing Dylan LeBlanc

There is not a more impressive debut this year than Dylan LeBlanc's Paupers Field.

The 20-year-old Shreveport, La., native has released a fantastic album that has people likening him to everyone from Townes Van Zandt to Neil Young. These early comparisons are well deserved. He's got a storyteller's touch to his lyrics and a soulful ache to his voice.

The album opener, "Low," is a gorgeous number that serves a wonderful introduction to LeBlanc. The song carries on the old singer-songwriter tradition, yet still manages to sound completely contemporary. Emmylou Harris provides backing vocals on "If The Creek Don't Rise." The album has quickly become one my favorites.

Paupers Field, which is on the Rough Trade label, is available on vinyl and comes with a digital download.

Scott Pilgrim Soundtrack Goes Red

Greetings Vinyl Fans,

Just a quick note today to let you know that the Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World soundtrack is out on red vinyl as an exclusive to indie record stores.

It's a terrific album featuring Beck, who has two songs under his own name and four as Sex Bob-Omb. The soundtrack also includes Frank Black, Black Lips, T-Rex, Broken Social Scene, The Rolling Stones, and others.

Check it out.

Ray LaMontagne's New Album Plus More

Hey vinyl fans,

Here's some news from singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne, who is earning raves for his Aug. 17 release, God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise.

Fans can get the album on 180-gram double vinyl in gatefold packaging plus a download version of the album for $21.98 through his Website.

LaMontagne has also put together some exclusive materials. Fans can receive the vinyl album, digital download, plus a screen print for $30.

There's also a $55 package that includes the vinyl record, digital download, the new screen print, and three beautiful reprints of LaMontagne's concert art.

Saddle Creek Announces Azure Ray Packages

Saddle Creek is a terrific label with a great list of artists. It also puts together some killer packages for fans.

It's latest release involves the folk-pop duo Azure Ray. Fans can pre-order a vinyl copy of the band's new release, Drawing Down The Moon, for $13.

But that's not all. Saddle Creek has put together a nice "Music Plus" package that lets people receive either a CD or LP plus a T-shirt, signed poster, sticker, button, advanced stream and digital download of the album, and a download of a three-track digital single containing two non-album B-sides. It costs $25 for the CD package and $28 for the LP package.

Wait ... there's more. There's also the "I Want It All" deal for $50 and limited to 100. This package comes with everything above plus some exclusive items, including a custom-woven friendship bracelet, devotional candle, canvas tote, and imprinted corkscrew.

Check it out at Saddle Creek.

She & Him to Release Limited 45

She & Him, the musical duo of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, are releasing a limited edition 7-inch of their single "Thieves" backed with the vinyl-only bonus track "I Knew It Would Happen This Way."

The 45 will be released Aug. 31, but Merge is taking pre-orders. The disc costs $5.98. Shipping is free on U.S. orders.

Joanna Newsom-Robin Pecknold Duet

Here's a fun YouTube video for you:

Do you recall the Sheryl Crow and Kid Rock duet from a while back? The song was called "Picture." It was a hit but not one of the more memorable musical unions that comes to mind. However, Joanna Newsom and Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes remembered the song and made it an unlikely cover at Newsom's Aug. 2 show at The Fox Theater in Oakland, Calif.

Vinyl Finds No. 4

I've been on a vinyl buying spree and picked up a few more records this week.

I'm ridiculously happy about getting a beautiful copy of Dolly Parton's first album, Hello, I'm Dolly. The 1967 release on the Monument label is still in the shrink. Even in these very early sessions, Parton shines as a singer and a songwriter. The album opens with a great song, "Dumb Blonde," which was written by Curly Putnam. Parton wrote or co-wrote most of the other songs on the release, including "Something Fishy," and "I Don't Want To Throw Rice."

There are few country artists bigger than Parton. But even with all the success that she's had, she's still underrated as a songwriter. This early release demonstrates how good she has always been.

I also bought Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses' Roadhouse Sun. The 2009 release from the Lost Highway label is outstanding. Bingham's world-weary voice suits his hard-bitten songs. He recently won an Oscar for his song "The Weary Kind," from the film Crazy Heart. Look for a new album from Bingham in September.

And, rounding out the recent vinyl picks: Cyndi Lauper's Memphis Blues, which comes with a free digital download, and the soundtrack to "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist."

Vaselines LP Available for Pre-Order

In July, I posted that The Vaselines are releasing a new album.

Well, Sub Pop is taking pre-orders now, www.subpop.com. The vinyl goes for $15, the CD for $12.

If you are among the first 200 people to pre-order Sex with an X by Sept. 14th, you’ll receive a bonus 7-inch, featuring “White Chapel” b/w “Picked a Cherry,” demos both recorded by Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub)—the latter not available on the new record.

Look for a U.S. tour in October.

Southern Lord Launches Vinyl Subscription

The Southern Lord label has announced that it is offering 550 of its fans a subscription to its new vinyl releases.

For a one-time fee, members will received continued mailings of the label's records, starting with Black Cobra's Chronomega and Ascend's Ample Fire Within. Members will then get Pelican's What We All Come To Need. After that, a new vinyl release will arrive about every month. Members will receive seven albums in all.

All records will be 180 gram colored vinyl exclusive to the series. It also sounds like some of the vinyl releases will have exclusive songs not on the CD.

The cost for U.S. Subscribers is $170. For more info, visit www.southernlord.com.

I like the idea of label's offering a special vinyl series.

Jack White's Third Man Records has its Vault series, which offers very exclusive vinyl pressings available only to its members. Cool stuff.