Sorrows - Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow (2025)

BIG STIR RECORDS proudly presents a new, never-before heard full-length album from legendary NYC power pop pioneers SORROWS, the third and final chapter of a legacy that's only grown since their late '70s debut. PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW, recorded in a one-night whirlwind session in 1981 and capturing the band at their fiery peak, includes the indie hit preview single “Out Of My Head” along with ten more previously unreleased Sorrows originals and three choice covers.

I cherish my sleep, but if there’s a classic power pop record I haven’t heard yet, wake me up anytime. So, thank you, Big Stir Records, for finally releasing Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow, the long-lost third album from Sorrows—recorded in “a one-night whirlwind session back in 1981, capturing the band at their fiery peak.”

If you’re unfamiliar, Sorrows was Arthur Alexander’s band after The Poppees disbanded in ’77. They put out two records aound 1980: Teenage Heartbreak, which—like many great power pop albums of the era—became a no-regret bargain bin find decades later, and a second album that—like many power pop albums of the era—fell victim to heavy-handed label interference.

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow may come at a steeper price, but it’s worth every cent. It’s the sound of a band reclaiming their identity, fueled by defiance and a hunger to make something raw and real. If this were a brand-new release, I’d be raving about how classic it sounds—how loose and inspired Sorrows are, how seamlessly they blend punk energy with classic rock & roll influences, how much it reminds me of what made The Plimsouls such a great band, and how power pop fans worldwide will eat this up. But, of course, this was recorded in one bloody night… back in 1981! Imagine sitting on an album of this caliber for over forty years—sure, legal battles played a role, but that’s monk-level patience.

Alongside a treasure trove of originals, you’ll find ripping covers of The Rolling Stones (Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?), Eddie Cochran (Somethin’ Else), and The Pirates (You Don’t Own Me). There’s plenty to dive into—what are you waiting for?