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Rhino Rediscovery: Wounded Bird to Reissue Handmade Titles As Budget Sets

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Wounded Bird logoRhino Handmade is back! Sort of.

Reissue label Wounded Bird Records will release this week seven titles originally released on Warner Music's boutique label in the early to mid-2000s. These sets were originally handsome vault-clearing exercises for a diverse crop of artists who were on the Warner, Atlantic or Reprise labels at some point in their careers, including works by Doug Sahm of Sir Douglas Quintet, blues legend Taj Mahal, rockabilly-punk outfit The Blasters, singer-songwriter Danny O'Keefe ("Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues"), Crazy Horse (sans Neil Young), John Sebastian and bluesman Long John Baldry.

A few notes are in order for the discerning buyer: if you've bought titles by Wounded Bird in the past, you might know that the packaging is not what you might expect from a major boutique label. The liner notes and in-depth track information that graced these original releases is unfortunately gone. Also gone in some cases is actual repertoire: John Sebastian's The Reprise Recordings (originally titled Faithful Virtue on Handmade) loses two live sets on the third disc, including Sebastian's set at Woodstock and another performance at Winterland in 1969. Two tracks recorded by The Blasters for the cult soundtrack to the film Streets of Fire in 1984 are also left off the band's otherwise-complete set.

But if there is an upside, it's that Wounded Bird has gotten seven long-out-of-print titles onto CD for the first time in nearly a decade - and for those interested in the music above all, that can't be a bad thing. All titles are available in the States this Tuesday; hit the jump for a full breakdown of each with order links!

Baldry Wounded BirdLong John Baldry, Boogie Woogie: The Warner Bros. Recordings (released as Rhino Handmade RHM2 7896, 2005 - reissued Wounded Bird WOU-1921, 2014)

Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Disc 1: It Ain't Easy (Warner Bros. Records WS 1921, 1971) and bonus tracks

  1. Intro: Conditional Discharge
  2. Don't Try to Lay No Boogie Woogie on the King of Rock and Roll
  3. Black Girl
  4. It Ain't Easy
  5. Morning Morning
  6. I'm Ready
  7. Let's Burn Down the Cornfield
  8. Mr. Rubin
  9. Rock Me When He's Gone
  10. Flying
  11. Going Down Slow *
  12. Blues (Cornbread, Meat and Molasses) *
  13. Love in Vain *
  14. Midnight Hour Blues *
  15. Black Girl (Alternate) *
  16. It Ain't Easy (Alternate) *
  17. I'm Ready (Alternate) *
  18. Radio Spot *

Disc 2: Everything Stops for Tea (Warner Bros. Records BS 2614, 1972) and bonus tracks

  1. Intro: Come Back Again
  2. Seventh Son
  3. Wild Mountain Thyme
  4. Iko Iko
  5. Jubilee Cloud
  6. Everything Stops for Tea
  7. You Can't Judge a Book
  8. Mother Ain't Dead
  9. Hambone
  10. Lord Remember Me
  11. Armit's Trousers
  12. Radio Spot #1 *
  13. Bring My Baby Back to Me (Live - April 1972) *
  14. Only Love Can Break Your Heart *
  15. I'm Just a Rake & Rambling Boy *
  16. Radio Spot #2 *

* denotes tracks first released on this compilation

Taj Mahal Wounded BirdTaj Mahal, Sing a Happy Song: The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings (released as Rhino Handmade RHM2 7749, 2001 - reissued Wounded Bird WOU-2294, 2014)

Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Disc 1: Music Fuh' Ya (Musica Para Tu) (Warner Bros. Records BS 2994, 1977) and Recorded Live 13 February 1977 At Ivanhoe Theatre in Chicago, IL(previously unreleased)

  1. You Got It
  2. Freight Train
  3. Baby, You're My Destiny
  4. Sailin' Into Walkers Cay
  5. Truck Driver's Two-Step
  6. The Four Mills Brothers
  7. Honey Babe
  8. Curry
  9. Farther Down the Road (You Will Accompany Me) (Live)
  10. Freight Train (Live)
  11. Going Up to the Country, Paint My Mailbox Blue (Live)
  12. Blackjack Davy (Live)
  13. Truck Driver's Two-Step (Live)
  14. Ain't Nobody's Business But My Own (Live)
  15. Johnny Too Bad (Live)

Disc 2: Brothers: Original Soundtrack from the Warner Bros. Motion Picture (Warner Bros. Records BS 3024, 1977) and Evolution (The Most Recent)(Warner Bros. Records BSK 3094, 1978)

  1. Love Theme in the Key of D
  2. Funky Butt
  3. Brother's Doin' Time
  4. Night Rider
  5. Free the Brothers
  6. Sentidos Dulce (Sweet Feelings)
  7. The Funeral March
  8. Malcom's Song
  9. David and Angela
  10. Sing a Happy Song
  11. Queen Bee
  12. Lowdown Showdown
  13. The Most Recent (Evolution) of Mothafusticus Modernusticus
  14. Why You Do Me This Way
  15. Salsa De Laventille
  16. The Big Blues
  17. Highnite
  18. Southbound with the Hammer Down

John Sebastian, The Reprise Recordings (released in part as Rhino Handmade RHM2-7758, 2004 - reissued Wounded Bird WOU-6379, 2014)

Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Disc 1: John B. Sebastian (Reprise Records RS 6379, 1970) and Cheapo Cheapo Productions Presents Real Live John Sebastian (Reprise Records Reprise MS 2036, 1971)

  1. Red-Eye Express
  2. She's a Lady
  3. What She Thinks About
  4. Magical Connection
  5. You're a Big Boy Now
  6. Rainbows All Over Your Blues
  7. How Have You Been
  8. Baby, Don't Ya Get Crazy
  9. The Room Nobody Lives In
  10. Fa-Fana-Fa
  11. I Had a Dream
  12. Mobile Line (Gonna Carry Me Away from the Bull Frog Blues)
  13. Lovin' You
  14. Fishin' Blues
  15. Younger Girl
  16. Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind
  17. Rooty-Toot
  18. In the Still of the Night
  19. Teen Angel
  20. Blue Suede Shoes
  21. Ballad of a Teenage Queen
  22. Nashville Cats
  23. Waiting for a Train
  24. My Gal
  25. Younger Generation
  26. Darlin' Be Home Soon
  27. Blues for Dad and JB's Happy Harmonica
  28. Amy's Theme

Disc 2: Cheapo Cheapo... continued, The Four of Us (Reprise Records Reprise MS 2041, 1971) and The Tarzana Kid (Reprise Records Reprise MS 2187, 1974)

  1. Goodnight Irene
  2. Well, Well, Well
  3. Black Snake Blues
  4. I Don't Want Nobody Else
  5. Apple Hill
  6. Black Satin Kid
  7. We'll See
  8. Sweet Muse
  9. The Four of Us
  10. Give Us a Break
  11. Music for People Who Don't Speak English
  12. Sitting in Limbo
  13. Friends Again
  14. Dixie Chicken
  15. Stories We Can Tell
  16. Face of Appalachia
  17. Wild Wood Flower
  18. Wild About My Lovin'
  19. Singing the Blues
  20. Sportin' Life
  21. Harpoon

Disc 3: Welcome Back (Reprise Records MS 2249, 1976)

  1. Hideaway
  2. She's Funny
  3. You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine
  4. Didn't Wanna Have to Do It
  5. One Step Forward, One Step Back
  6. Welcome Back
  7. I Needed Her Most When I Told Her to Go
  8. A Song a Day in Nashville
  9. Warm Baby
  10. Let This Be Our Time to Get Along

Crazy Horse Wounded BirdCrazy Horse, Scratchy: The Complete Reprise Recordings (released as Rhino Handmade RHM2 7884, 2005 - reissued Wounded Bird WOU-6438, 2014)

Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Disc 1: Crazy Horse (Reprise Records RS 6438, 1971) and Loose (Reprise Records MS 2059, 1972)

  1. Gone Dead Train
  2. Dance, Dance, Dance
  3. Look At All the Things
  4. Beggars Day
  5. Downtown
  6. Carolay
  7. Dirty, Dirty
  8. Nobody
  9. I'll Get By
  10. Crow Jane Lady
  11. Hit and Run
  12. Try
  13. Move
  14. All Alone Now
  15. All the Little Things
  16. Fair Weather Friend
  17. You Won't Miss Me
  18. I Don't Believe It
  19. Kind of Woman
  20. One Sided Love
  21. And She Won't Even Blow Smoke in My Direction

Disc 2: Bonus tracks

  1. Dirty, Dirty (Alternate Version) *
  2. Scratchy (Takes #1-3) *
  3. Dear Song Singer *
  4. Downtown (Unedited Long Version) *
  5. Susie's Song (Take #1-5) *
  6. When You Dance You Can Really Love *
  7. Radio Spot *
  8. Can't Help Loving That Girl - Danny & The Memories (single A-side - Valiant 6049, 1961)
  9. Don't Go - Danny & The Memories (single B-side - Valiant 6049, 1961)

* denotes tracks first released on this compilation

Doug Sahm Wounded BirdDoug Sahm, The Genuine Texas Groover: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (released as Rhino Handmade RHM2 7845, 2003 - reissued Wounded Bird WOU-7254, 2014)

Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Disc 1: Doug Sahm and Band (Atlantic SD 7254, 1973) and bonus tracks

  1. (Is Anybody Going to) San Antone
  2. It's Gonna Be Easy
  3. Your Friends
  4. Poison Love
  5. Wallflower
  6. Dealer's Blues
  7. Faded Love
  8. Blues Stay Away from Me
  9. Papa Ain't Salty
  10. Me and Paul
  11. Don't Turn Around
  12. I Get Off
  13. Goodbye San Francisco, Hello Amsterdam *
  14. Never No Mo' Blues *
  15. Sometimes *
  16. Miller's Cave *
  17. On the Banks of the Old Ponichartrain *
  18. Hey Good Lookin' *
  19. Please Mr. Sand Man *
  20. Chicken and the Bop *
  21. Columbus Stockade *
  22. The Blues Walked On In *

Disc 2: The Sir Douglas Band, Texas Tornado (Atlantic SD 7287, 1973) and bonus tracks

  1. San Francisco FM Blues
  2. Someday
  3. Blue Horizon
  4. Tennessee Blues
  5. Ain't That Loving You
  6. Texas Tornado
  7. Juan Mendoza
  8. Chicano
  9. I'll Be There
  10. Hard Way
  11. Nitty Gritty
  12. From a Jack to a King
  13. Leave Me Alone with the Blues
  14. I'm Just Tired of Getting Burned (Alternate Version) *
  15. Blue Horizon (Take #5)
  16. Nitty Gritty (Backing Track) *
  17. Sometimes You've Got to Stop Chasing Rainbows *
  18. Bobby's Blues *
  19. Your Friends (Full-Length Version) *
  20. Papa Ain't Salty (Full-Length Version) *

* denotes tracks first released on this compilation

Blasters Wounded BirdThe Blasters, The Slash Recordings (released in part as Slash/Warner Bros./Rhino R2 78345, 2002 - reissued Wounded Bird WOU-7834, 2014)

Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Disc 1: The Blasters (Slash Records SR-109, 1981), Non Fiction (Slash Records 23818, 1983) and bonus tracks

  1. Marie Marie
  2. No Other Girl
  3. I'm Shakin'
  4. Border Radio
  5. American Music
  6. So Long Baby Goodbye
  7. Hollywood Bed
  8. Never No More Blues
  9. This is It
  10. Highway 61
  11. I Love You So
  12. Stop the Clock
  13. Red Rose
  14. Barefoot Rock
  15. Bus Station
  16. One More Dane
  17. It Must Be Love
  18. Jubilee Train
  19. Long White Cadillac
  20. Fool's Paradise
  21. Boomtown
  22. Leaving
  23. Tag Along
  24. Justine (Outtake) *
  25. Flat Top Joint (Outtake) *
  26. Leave My Money Alone (Outtake) *

Disc 2: Hard Line (Slash Records 25803, 1985), Over There: Live At The Venue in London (Slash/Warner Bros. 23725, 1982) and bonus tracks

  1. Trouble Bound
  2. Just Another Sunday
  3. Hey, Girl
  4. Dark Night
  5. Little Honey
  6. Samson and Delilah
  7. Colored Lights
  8. Help You Dream
  9. Common Man
  10. Rock and Roll Will Stand
  11. Can't Stop Time (Outtake) *
  12. Cry for Me (Outtake) *
  13. Kathleen (Outtake) *
  14. High School Confidential (Live, 1982)
  15. What Will Lucy Do? (Live, 1982) *
  16. Crazy Baby (Live, 1982) *
  17. Got Love If You Want It (Live, 1982) *
  18. Rock Boppin' Baby (Live, 1982)
  19. Walkin' with Mr. Lee (Live, 1982) *
  20. Keep a Knockin' (Live, 1982)
  21. I Don't Want to Live (Live, 1982)
  22. Go, Go, Go (Live, 1982)
  23. Roll 'Em Pete (Live, 1982)
  24. Take Out Some Insurance (Live, 1985) *

* denotes tracks first released on this compilation

Danny O'Keefe Wounded BirdDanny O'Keefe, Classics (released as Rhino Handmade RHM2 7862, 2004 - Wounded Bird WOU-7864, 2014)

Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

  1. Covered Wagon
  2. Steel Guitar
  3. Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues
  4. Shooting Star
  5. The Road
  6. I'm Sober Now
  7. Angel Spread Your Wings
  8. Magdalena
  9. Steppin' Out Tonight
  10. Mad Ruth/The Babe
  11. So Long Harry Truman
  12. Quits
  13. It's Been a Good Day
  14. The Runaway
  15. Islands
  16. You Look Just Like a Girl Again
  17. All My Friends
  18. Just Jones
  19. On the Wheel of Love
  20. The Jimmy Hoffa Mem. Bldg. Blues
  21. (Keep Your) Back to the Wall
  22. The Street

Tracks 1-2 from Danny O'Keefe (Cotillion SD 9036, 1970)
Tracks 3-6 from O'Keefe (Signpost SP 8404, 1972)
Tracks 7-10 from Breezy Stories (Atlantic SD 7264, 1973)
Tracks 11-13 from So Long Harry Truman (Atlantic SD 18125, 1975)
Tracks 14-18 from American Roulette (Warner Bros. BS 3050, 1977)
Tracks 19-22 from The Global Blues (Warner Bros. BSK 3314, 1979)

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Mike Duquette

Mike Duquette (Founder) was fascinated with catalog music ever since he was a teenager. 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, holding positions at Legacy Recordings and Rhino Records and contributing to Allmusic, Discogs, City Pages, Ultimate Classic Rock and Mondo Records, for whom he penned liner notes for his favorite piece of music: John Williams' Oscar-winning score to 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.' Born and raised in New Jersey, Mike lives in Astoria, Queens with his wife, a cat named Ravioli, twin daughters and a large yet tasteful collection of music.

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Comments

    • I would leave a most definitive A/B answer here to Joe, who's picked up at least one of the titles; however, I would assume a label that regularly offers two panel inserts with very little information (as I understand is the case here) would not have sprung for a new master.

      Reply

      • Indeed, as Mike surmised, it appears that Wounded Bird is utilizing the Rhino Handmade masters (albeit with no credits to the remastering engineers or the Rhino producers) and dropping all of the packaging frills associated with that label. In other words, if you're looking to obtain the music as presented by Handmade at a relatively bargain price, these sets might be for you. If you're hoping to supplement the listening experience with liner notes, artwork, and additional information, some of the original Rhino sets (The Blasters, Taj Mahal, Long John Baldry) are still available second-hand at fair prices. Hope this helps!

        Reply

  2. I have met several artists who were extremely disturbed about the Wounded Bird label reissues and lack of payments. Has that been resolved?

    Reply

  3. I have quite a few Wounded Bird releases and I have always been disappointed in the sound quality. They never remaster any of the titles, they must use common album masters instead of working from master tapes. They have released some hard to find titles and until several years ago they didn't include bonus tracks. Nice that they hooked up with Rhino, now we'll get some high quality releases.

    Reply

  4. The original John Sebastian Handmade included 11 live tracks (5 Woodstock/ 6 Winterland) on disc 3. The Winterland tracks were not listed on the original box, came as a bonus. Any idea if these tracks will be on this new release?

    Reply

    • It appears from initial reports that the Sebastian set has dropped all of the live tracks from both Woodstock and Winterland from Disc 3, leaving just the entirety of the WELCOME BACK album on that disc.

      Reply

  5. I am glad to hear of this collaboration. I too have been disappointed in the sound quality some of the Wounded Bird releases but then, where else was I going to get Joe Vitale's great Roller Coaster Weekend on CD? I also have to add that the folks at the label don't seem to very friendly when inquiring about their catalog or offering ideas/suggestions for reissue. But I am glad they are doing what they're doing. Long live the reissue labels!

    Reply

    • Well I would completely agree. Unfriendly is an understatement. The artists who get no money at all might disagree about whether Wounded Bird is doing good

      Reply

      • well, that certainly is a concern. I would imagine that the labels who license the titles to Wounded Bird are being paid. Is it the home label's responsibility to pay the artists their due royalties or is it the responsibility of the licensee, which in this case is Wounded Bird? It would be interesting to find out.

        Reply

  6. I can't imagine that these sound worse than the Rhino Handmade releases, since Wounded Bird undoubtedly made a digital master from each version. These appear to be a great deal for people who just want the music, not the books, marbles, prints, postcards and yearbooks. I hope the series is a huge success and Wounded Bird obtains access to Quadrophenia and other recent white elephants foisted upon us by artists like Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, the Animals, and the Beach Boys. If I want to read a book, I'll go to the library. Give me the music!

    Reply

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