Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the release of their hit LP that has sold more than 8 million copies worldwide, Universal Japan is releasing HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS 1983’s album ‘Sports’ pressed on high-fidelity UHQCD / MQA discs as vinyl replica, with a 2023 DSD remaster based on the original US original analog tape.
This special limited 2-disc release includes extended 12”, outtakes and live recordings. While an expanded version of ‘Sports’ appeared some time ago, now new archival recordings have been found for this “Sports +22 [Japan UHQCD / MQA mini LP remastered]“, with a total of 31 tracks.
Eighties American radio rock-pop isn’t better represented than HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS ‘Sports’, which spawned 4 top-ten hits and dominated MTV in 1984.
‘Sports’ may have only had nine tracks on it, but check out what came off of this album… “I Want A New Drug”, c’mon talk about signature riffs…., “If This Is It”, “Heart and Soul”, “Walking On A Thin Line”, “The Heart Of Rock and Roll”.
Go on, bash Huey all you want, but odds are you’ve found yourself singing along to at least part of this album at some point in your life.
It’s certainly far from substantial, and it’s far from meaningful, but who cares! This is fun 80s pop-rock, and a good one. Add to that Huey’s bitter, cynical sense of humor. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost.
This 2023 remaster sounds fabulous.
Pure ’80s, folks.
Disc 1
01 – The Heart of Rock and Roll
02 – Heart and Soul
03 – Bad is Bad
04 – I Want a New Drug
05 – Walking on a Thin Line
06 – Finally Found a Home
07 – If This Is It
08 – You Crack Me Up
09 – Honky Tonk Blues
BONUS TRACKS:
10 – The Heart of Rock and Roll (Session Take)
11 – Heart and Soul (Special Remix)
12 – I Want a New Drug (7″ Mix)
13 – Walking on a Thin Line (Session Take)
14 – The Heart of Rock and Roll (London/Tokyo Extended Version)
15 – Heart and Soul (Dance Mix)
16 – I Want a New Drug (Dance Mix)
17 – I Want a New Drug (Instrumental)
Disc 2
01 – The Heart of Rock and Roll (Live in Cleveland, OH, 1988)
02 – Heart and Soul (Live in Cleveland, OH, 1988)
03 – Bad is bad (Live in Boston, MA, 1987)
04 – I Want a New Drug (Live in Sydney Australia, 1989)
05 – Walking on a Thin Line (Live in Chicago, IL, 1983)
06 – Finally Found a Home (Live in Cleveland, OH, 1988)
07 – If This Is It (Live in New Orleans, LA, 1986)
08 – You Crack Me Up (Live at the Troutfarm 2012)
09 – Honky Tonk Blues (Live at the Troutfarm 2012)
10 – The Heart of Rock and Roll (Live in San Francisco, CA 2/21/85)
11 – Heart and Soul (Live in San Francisco, CA 2/21/85)
12 – I Want a New Drug (Live in Los Angeles, CA 1/15/84)
13 – If This is It (Live in San Francisco, CA 2/21/85)
14 – I Want A New Drug (Live – Date & Location Unknown)
Huey Lewis – vocals, harmonica
Chris Hayes – lead guitar, vocals
Sean Hopper – keyboards, vocals
Mario Cipollina – bass guitar
Johnny Colla – vocals, saxophone, guitar,
Bill Gibson – drums, vocals, percussion