2VanDuren —“AreYou Serious?”/“Idiot Optimism”

A Memphis pop icon, Van Duren was not only a contemporary of Big Star, but also played with that band’s alumni, Chris Bell and Jody Stephens, in the Baker Street Regulars in 1976. As a solo artist, his 1978debut album, “Are You Serious?,” found folks comparing him to artists like Todd Rundgren and Paul McCartney. He recorded a second album that was shelved and, 20 years later, released without his involvement. Thanks to the acclaimed 2018 documentary film “Waiting: The Van Duren Story” and its soundtrack, many have recently encountered Van Duren for the first time, while thosewho knew of him discovered what became of him. Now, finally, “Are You Serious?,” along with its follow- up, “Idiot Optimism,” return to the marketplace remastered from the original analog tapes on CD, double LP, limited- edition colored vinyl and, for the first time, digital.

3Howlin’Rain —“Under the Wheels: LiveFrom theCoasts, Vol. 2”

“Under the Wheels: Live From the Coasts, Vol. 2” is the second edition in a planned series of live album recordings featuring Howlin’ Rain’s trademark psychedelic rock ’ n’ roll bombast and intricately woven, extended improv passages that swirl into a distinct form of storytelling, expressed through spiraling energy and a near constant flow of form andmelody. As a companion to its Vol. 1predecessor, this latest offering is also drawn from North American coastal tours in 2018and 2019 that came in support of the band’s most recent studio album, “The Alligator Bride.” In addition to cassette and digital, there’s a one- time, small pressing of limitededition color vinyl variants that feature deluxe metallic rainbow foil jacket printing with stoner’s delight album cover art by longtime Howlin’ Rain- affiliated artist Arik Roper.