We've been taking you through many of the releases to come for this year's 10th anniversary Record Store Day on April 22, and now it is time to turn our attention to the offerings from Real Gone Music who will be releasing two titles for the event. (Just click on the "Record Store Day" tag below to access all of this year's RSD coverage!) Both of these are limited edition vinyl versions of previous Real Gone CD favorites - and one has a very special "golden ticket" incentive!
Cheap Trick - The Epic Archives (1975-1979) - 2-LP 12" Colored Vinyl
This collection of rarities from recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Cheap Trick brings together 18 odds and ends from the beginning of the band's career. Consisting of Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson and Bun E. Carlos, Cheap Trick released their self-titled debut on Epic in 1977 and began an 11 year association with the label. The period covered on this compilation includes their first four studio albums with songs such as "I Want You To Want Me," "Elo Kiddies" and "Surrender" and their first live album, the smash Cheap Trick at Budokan. The band had some success in the US and UK prior to that concert LP but were a big hit in Japan since nearly the beginning of their career. The Budokan album propelled them to superstardom all over the world, hitting #4 in the US. The first volume of The Epic Archives brings together demos, alternate versions of songs, outtakes and live tracks, including three from a later concert at Budokan. Many of the tracks have been previously released on reissues over the years, but this is the first time they have been brought together. This title was previously available as a digital download, but this new physical release adds a previously unreleased alternate version of "Lookout." The CD is out on April 28, but you can get the vinyl edition six days earlier on RSD. Track-by-track commentary has been provided by Bun E. Carlos and the set has been produced by Tim Smith and remastered by Vic Anesini at Battery Studios in New York. This double-gatefold vinyl also features unseen photos by Robert Alford. The vinyl is colored yellow and limited to 2,200 copies. As a special giveaway, a "golden ticket" photo has been randomly inserted into 100 of the 2200 copies. The photo has been signed by all four original band members: Zander, Nielsen, Petersson and Carlos. If you're lucky, one of those photos could be yours.
The Meters - A Message from The Meters: The Complete Josie, Reprise & Warner Bros. Singles 1968-1977 - 3-LP 12" Colored Vinyl
Funk pioneers The Meters are one of those bands who are greatly influential to a great many musicians and have worked with artists ranging from Dr. John to Paul McCartney, but who have not had great mainstream success of their own. Formed in New Orleans 1965, the initial line-up consisted of Art Neville (vocals and keyboards), Leo Nocentelli (guitars), Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste (drums) and George Porter Jr. (bass). They were soon joined by Art's brother Cyril on vocals and percussion and became the house band for Allen Toussaint and his Sansu Enterprises label. They would release their own recordings for Josie in 1969, before moving to Reprise in 1972 and Warner Brothers in 1977. A Message from The Meters--The Complete Josie, Reprise & Warner Bros. Singles 1968-1977 collects their singles for these three labels together on vinyl for the first time. Their biggest hit would come early when 1969's "Cissy Strut" climbed to #23 on the pop charts and #4 on the R & B chart. Art and Cyril left the band in 1977 with David Batiste Sr. and Willie West joining. The group broke up permanently in 1980. Various incarnations and line-ups of the group have reformed over the ensuing years going by their original name and as The Funky Meters and The Metermen. The initial four person line-up got back together in 2000 and have gone to on to bill themselves as The Original Meters as to avoid confusion with the Funky Meters who also currently tour the country. The package features liner notes from Bill Dahl with quotes from Noncentelli, Neville and Porter and has been remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision. This collection was first issued by Real Gone back in September as a 2-CD set. The RSD vinyl edition is colored in red, yellow and green and is limited to 1,000 copies.
As always, if you would like to get either of these titles, head out to your local participating retailer on Saturday, April 22.
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