Yes guitarist Steve Howe is to reissue two of his solo albums, 1999's Portraits Of Bob Dylan and 2001's Natural Timbre, on September 12, on CD and also vinyl for the very first time, through his own HoweSound label.

Yes guitarist Steve Howe is to reissue two of his solo albums, 1999's Portraits Of Bob Dylan and 2001's Natural Timbre, on September 12, on CD and also vinyl for the very first time, through his own HoweSound label.

"Wild Child" (2004) is a budget-friendly compilation CD album by legendary rock musician Lou Reed, released under BMG Special Products.

Alan Simon is a French folk-rock musician and composer, best known for his rock operas performed with noted rock musicians guesting. Simon is associated with Breton Celticism, and his most ambitious works are typically on themes linked to Celtic myth and history. Simon achieved fame with his rock opera Excalibur, La Légende des Celtes (Excalibur, The Legend of the Celts) (Sony) in 1999, of which he was both songwriter and producer. The final part of the trilogy, Excalibur III The Origins (Excalibur III: The Origins), was released in 2012 with contributions from John Helliwell (Supertramp), Mick Fleetwood, Jeremy Spencer (Fleetwood Mac), Martin Barre (Jethro Tull), John Wetton (King Crimson, UK, Asia), Les Holroyd (Barclay James Harvest), Bruce Guthro (Runrig), Moya Brennan (Clannad), Geoffrey Downes.

It's been eight years since Medusa, Annie Lennox's last studio album, was released. It's been 11 since her debut solo effort and five since the short-lived Eurythmics reunion. And while she may not be prolific, Lennox is always enigmatic. Bare is a collection of self-penned tracks, as the artist explains in the liners: "This album contains songs that are deeply personal and emotional. In a sense I have 'exposed' myself through the work to reveal aspects of an inner world that are fragile…broken through experience but not entirely smashed. I am not a young artist in their (sic) twenties. I am a mature woman facing up to the failed expectations of life and facing up to 'core' issues." Sound pretentious? One listen proves that Lennox lives up to her claims in spades. Here are 11 wholly – even infectiously – accessible, lyrically savvy, and gorgeously wrought pop songs full of spiritual and emotional depth that make for a deeply moving whole.

In the 1970s, Harvey Mason was one of those busy L.A.-based sessions players who had one foot in jazz and the other in R&B. The drummer backed his share of soul heavyweights (including Earth, Wind & Fire, Aretha Franklin, James Brown and the Brothers Johnson), but he never lost his jazz chops. Recorded in 1976, Earthmover is among the mostly instrumental albums that Mason provided during his stay at Arista. This self-produced LP, which finds him trying to balance commercial and creative considerations, is a mixed bag. Some of the material is strong, especially the cerebral fusion item "No Lands Man" (which boasts Jan Hammer on keyboards) and the funky "Bertha Baptist." And the contemplative "First Summer" is an enjoyable track that reminds the listener of the underrated Hawaiian funk/fusion outfit Seawind, which isn't surprising because it was co-written and arranged by Seawind's Bob Wilson.

With her powerful pipes, stunning showmanship, and superhuman sense of timing, Celia Cruz defined her chosen genre like few other performers in the history of popular music. EXITOS ETERNOS is a collection of tracks the "Queen of Salsa" recorded during the last decade of her life that, despite the vocalist's advanced age, clearly show Cruz's talents never wavered. Known for her uncompromising attitude and refusal to sing in English, Cruz valued aesthetic purity, but never became a museum piece. A driving pulse and rhythmic toasting that recall dancehall reggae propel her 2001 hit "La Negra Tiene Tumbao," and other tracks feature subtle synthesizer textures. Unlike lesser artists, however, Cruz is able to incorporate these disparate sonic colors seamlessly, making them sound as traditional as a conga drum or guiro. Of course, the unrelenting force behind each recording is Cruz's astounding voice, the sheer energy of which makes even these later recordings sound both classic and utterly contemporary.

British rock group Procol Harum began life as a psychedelic band and evolved into one of the leading acts in art rock and prog rock, all without changing much about their essential approach. Lead singer and pianist Gary Brooker gave the group their trademark sound with his downbeat vocals and lush melodies, while primary lyricist Keith Reid added words that often pondered the unpredictability of fate in songs like "A Whiter Shade of Pale," "A Salty Dog," and "Conquistador." Their music was executed with keen skill and passion, and the band was also one of the first to experiment with large-scale orchestration, as well as performing on-stage with a full symphony ensemble.

Released in 1978, just as the hot streak starting with 1975's Fighting and running through 1977's Bad Reputation came to an end, Live and Dangerous was a glorious way to celebrate Thin Lizzy's glory days and one of the best double live LPs of the 70s. Of course, this, like a lot of double-lives of that decade – Kiss' Alive! immediately springs to mind – isn't strictly live; it was overdubbed and colored in the studio (the very presence of studio whiz Tony Visconti as producer should have been an indication that some corrective steering may have been afoot). But even if there was some tweaking in the studio, Live and Dangerous feels live, containing more energy and power than the original LPs, which were already dynamic in their own right. It's this energy, combined with the expert song selection, that makes Live and Dangerous a true live classic.

26 remixes by electronic music legend Vince Clarke. Featuring Depeche Mode, Andy Bell, OMD, Happy Mondays, Johnny Marr, The Saturdays, Saint Etienne, VCMG and Soft Cell.

Reissued on CD in 1990 by Original Jazz Classics (OJC), Evidence is a landmark 1962 studio collaboration led by master soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy alongside visionary avant-garde trumpeter Don Cherry. Rooted in the compositional brilliance of Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington, the album captures a vital bridging point between hard bop and early free jazz. Backed by bassist Carl Brown and legendary drummer Billy Higgins, Lacy and Cherry display a telepathic interplay, exploring complex harmonies and swinging, unpredictable solos. Featuring four Monk compositions ("Evidence," "Let's Cool One," "San Francisco Holiday," "Who Knows") alongside Ellington's "The Mystery Song" and Billy Strayhorn's "Something to Live for," Evidence stands as a quintessential masterpiece of 1960s modern jazz.

Released in 2014 by Universal and Mercury Records, 10.000 Anos à Frente is a definitive 6CD box set honoring the 25th anniversary of the passing of Brazilian rock icon Raul Seixas and the 40th anniversary of his landmark album Gita. Bringing together six classic albums originally released on Philips during the absolute peak of his career (1973–1977), this collection encompasses Krig-Há, Bandolo! (1973), Gita (1974), Novo Aeon (1975), Há 10 Mil Anos Atrás (1976), Raul Rock Seixas (1977), and the compilation 30 Anos de Rock (1985). Packed with legendary anthems such as "Ouro De Tolo," "Metamorfose Ambulante," "Sociedade Alternativa," "Tente Outra Vez," and "Eu Nasci Há 10 Mil Anos Atrás," the set showcases Seixas's visionary fusion of American rock 'n' roll, psychedelic rock, blues, and traditional Brazilian folk rhythms. An indispensable collection for fans of Latin rock and Brazilian MPB history.