One of the biggest unasked or unanswered questions about The Second Disc is: why catalogue stuff? Is the site meant to conjure up memories of musical generations past? Is it trying to remind labels that their back catalogues should be treated with the utmost care in conjunction with their burgeoning new acts? Is there something else about it? The answers are maybe, yes and yes.
At heart, though, The Second Disc has more to do with journalism than anything. Journalism, they say, is the first draft of history. And while that industry is generally doing no better than the music industry, the application of journalistic skills is something that must not be devalued. Telling various stories from various perspectives - be it reissues, compilations or box sets - can be wildly beneficial to the public's understanding or enjoyment of certain artists.
That's why it always seems weird when certain "no-brainers" of the catalogue world just don't happen. For instance, it would be a no-brainer to reissue Cold Spring Harbor, Billy Joel's first LP, including both the original mix (albeit speed-corrected) from 1971 and the (admittedly sterile) 1983 remix that graces CD today. Same goes for mono issues of The Jimi Hendrix Experience's first two LPs.
The list goes on and on, of course, and that's where you come in. In your mind, what is the most obvious reissue, expansion or compilation that just hasn't happened yet?
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The Rolling Stones "Live At The BBC".
Sony has taken to reissuing the Philles catalog...how about a "Back To Stereo" set with the out-of-print stereo mixes of Spector tracks?
That would be awesome, particularly because it's one of the few examples of catalogue material revisiting stereo mixes, instead of the other way around.
Aretha Franklin- a best of covering her stint at Arista Records from 1980 through 2003. A 2CD set including higlights from her albums during that time with a few B-Sides & "12 inch mixes would hit the spot.
And here's a big one - The "Buckingham/Nicks" album by Lindsay Buckingham & Stevie Nicks. I've heard that Stevie Nicks doesn't want the album reissued but come on; it's one of the most sought after releases ever.
i would SO love to see Sony release a speed-corrected version of the ORIGINAL Cold Spring Harbor. It's worth it just for the awesome (and much longer version of) "You Can Make Me Free" alone!
Why the hell didn't Sony/CBS/Columbia release the original version back in 1984? Once I learned about, and heard, the original mix of the album I've been disgusted by this. What was the purpose of the newer mix and the editing down of several of the songs?
Much like Buckingham-Nicks, a true reissue of Billy Joel's first solo album is a must. Sony didn't even bother to include the original mix of "You Can Make Me Free" on the My Lives box set from a few years back (one just several glaring omissions from that rarities set).