- With a new batch of reissues out in the U.K. and an upcoming retrospective exhibition running in London later this month, Queen's 40th anniversary campaign is going strong. The same week that said exhibition, Stormtroopers in Stilettos, opens at the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane, Island will release a two-track downloadable single of "Keep Yourself Alive (Long Lost Retake)" b/w "Stone Cold Crazy." The A-side, from a proposed 1975 single in the U.S., was released on Hollywood Records' 1991 reissue of Queen (1973) in America and will make its U.K. debut on Island's forthcoming deluxe edition of A Night at the Opera (1975). (2,000 copies of this single will be pressed to 7" vinyl and will make their way to America as part of Record Store Day on April 16.)
- Remember how UMe was planning a third volume of Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo's Alone demo series? It didn't make much sense to release that compilation alongside so many other Weezer catalogue projects, but the project is finally coming soon. A YouTube clip posted by Cuomo featured him showing off final proofs for an accompanying book, The Pinkerton Diaries; in that clip, he says Alone III will be released in March.
- Rush fans have some forthcoming catalogue releases to get excited about: Richard Chycki, the band's current engineer, is working on new reissues of Moving Pictures (1981) and Vapor Trails (2002). The latter will be newly remixed, following two tracks from the album Chycki remixed for 2009's Retrospective 3 compilation; meanwhile, Moving Pictures, which spawned hits "Tom Sawyer," "YYZ" and "Limelight," will be presented in a 5.1 surround sound mix! No further release information has been given, although Chycki discusses each set on his official Web site.
- In spite of all the absolute craziness surrounding Warner Bros.' Tim Burton/Danny Elfman box set, there may be another incentive for purchasing it. The USB accompanying the 16-disc, insanely enormous box - already known to replicate the contents of the box in its entirety - is also going to feature an extra 20 tracks that haven't been announced or available anywhere else. Here's the place to order one if you just can't take it anymore.
- Those previously-reported deluxe editions of some Kinks titles are going to be followed up with more reissues. NME reports planned reissues for Arthur (Or, the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) (1969) and Muswell Hilbillies (1971) are slated for May, while Face to Face (1966) and Something Else by The Kinks (1967) will get the deluxe treatment in July.
Short Takes: Queen Prep Collector's Single, Weezer Ready "Pinkerton Demos" and a Rush of Reissues
Mike Duquette
Michael Duquette (Founder) was fascinated with catalog music ever since he discovered there was more than one version of John Williams' soundtrack to E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. A 2009 graduate of Seton Hall University with a B.A. in journalism, Mike paired his profession with his passion through The Second Disc, one of the first sites to focus on all reissue labels great and small. His passion for reissues turned into a career, with bylines on catalog at Discogs, City Pages and Ultimate Prince and credits on titles including the Grammy-winning 'Squeeze Box: The Complete Works of "Weird Al" Yankovic.' Born and raised in New Jersey, Mike lives in Astoria, Queens with an ever-expanding collection of music.
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Ladies and Gentlemen...: Vinyl Me Please Marks 100 "Essentials" Releases with New Pressings of Sold-Out Titles
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