February promises to be a packed month for music fans, as Esoteric brings listeners a new, expanded reissue of Renaissance’s 1973 classic, Ashes Are Burning, as well as a reissue of The Byrds, the reunion album by the legendary folk-rock group.  Also on the way are reissues of Tear Gas’s self-titled album, an expanded edition of Greenslade’s Time and Tide, and a new 3-CD set called Revolution: Underground Sounds of 1968.  Meanwhile, Esoteric’s Reactive imprint will issue a 4-CD set entitled Tangerine Dream: The Blue Years Studio Albums 1985-1987, celebrating their Jive Electro era.  All these titles will be available on February 22 in the U.K. and March 1 in the U.S.

Originally formed by ex-Yardbirds Jim McCarty and Keith Relf, Renaissance underwent many line-up changes before they became the jazz-inspired progressive folk act that brought us the classic Ashes Are Burning.  Featuring vocalist Annie Haslam, John Tout (keyboards, vocals), Jon Camp (bass, vocals), Terry Sullivan (drums, percussion) and Michael Dunfor on guitar, Ashes Are Burning was Renaissance’s breakthrough album.  With classics like “Can You Understand,” “At The Harbour,” and the epic, Doctor Zhivago-quoting title track, the 1973 album established Renaissance as one of the finest of a growing group of progressive rockers.

Now, Esoteric has remastered the album, using the original Sovereign Records master tapes, and expanded it with a previously unreleased, newly unearthed 1974 BBC session for In Concert.  The new edition also boasts restored artwork and new liner notes featuring essays and interviews with Terry Sullivan and Annie Haslam.

Also on the way from Esoteric is a remastered edition of The Byrds’ legendary reuinion album, Byrds.  Originally released on the Asylum label in 1973, the album saw Gene Clark, Chris Hillman, David Crosby, Roger McGuinn, and Michael Clarke performing together for the first time since 1966.  The group recorded the album in late-1972 at the famed Wally Heider Studios in L.A.  The results included new compositions by McGuinn (“Sweet Mary” and “Born to Rock n’ Roll”), Clark (“Full Circle” and “Changing Heart”),  and Hillman (“Things Will Be Better” and “Borrowing Time”) along with David Crosby’s “Long Live the King.”  The group also recorded a new version of Crosby’s “Laughing.”  In addition, Byrds includes a cover of Joni Mitchell’s “For Free” – which would become part of Crosby’s live repertoire for years to come – and covers of two Neil Young songs:  “Cowgirl In The Sand” and “See The Sky About To Rain,” which Young would record the following year.  For their new remaster, Esoteric has also included an illustrated book of liner notes and fully restored artwork.

Another title coming the same day is the 1971 self-titled album by Tear Gas.  The Scottish prog-rock group formed at the tail end of the ’60s.  By the time this second album was released on the Regal Zonophone label, their line-up included guitarist Zal Kleminson, bassist Chris Glenn, drummer Ted McKenna, and Hugh McKenna on keys and vocals.  The following August, the group would join guitarist Alex Harvey to make up The Sensational Alex Harvey Band.  But until then, their second album displayed excellence in musicianship and material.  Esoteric’s reissue edition has been remastered from the surviving master tapes and includes an illustrated booklet with a new essay and fully restored artwork.

Next in line from Esoteric is a 2-CD expanded edition of Greenslade’s 1975 effort, Time and Tide, that’s been remastered from the original master tapes.  Formed in 1972 by former Colosseum keyboardist Dave Greenslade, the  notably guitar-free prog group also included former Web and Samurai member Dave Lawson on keys and vocals, Martin Briley on bass, and former King Crimson cohort Andrew McCulloch on drums.  With such titles as “Flattery Stakes,” “Waltz for a Fallen Idol,” “Newsworth,” the album displayed the group’s dynamic and innovative style.  Esoteric has also included a rare, previously unreleased radio broadcast with their new version. The sixty-minute concert was recorded for Swedish radio in Stockholm in March 1975.  It’s also been remastered from the original master tapes and promises to be a compelling look at the short-lived line-up onstage.  In addition, the new remaster includes an annotated booklet with an essay by Malcolm Dome and interviews with Dave Greenslade and Dave Lawson.

Esoteric has also announced a new compilation, Revolution: The Underground Sounds of 1968.  Featuring both classics and unearthed rarities, the set explores the wild year in which psychedelia, jazz, blues, folk, world music, and hard rock all collided to form groundbreaking and genre-pushing new music.  The new compilation includes a number of legendary U.K. groups, including Deep Purple, Jethro Tull, Genesis, and Pentangle.  Also present are Procol Harum, Caravan, Jeff Beck, Spooky Tooth, Traffic, The Move, Julie Driscoll with Brian Auger and The Trinity, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Van Der Graaf Generator, Pretty Things, Status Quo, The Incredible String Band, John Martyn and many more.  Revolution also features lesser-known acts, such as Eyes of Blue, The Action, Gun, Second Hand, and Blonde on Blonde.  Eagle-eyed readers will also notice the inclusion of Dave Mason’s “Just For You,” an Island single by the ex-Traffic member also included on that band’s 1969 odds-and-ends album Last Exit.  All the selections have been remastered and are supplemented with an illustrated booklet featuring a new essay by Mark Powell.

Finally, Esoteric’s Reactive label will release Tangerine Dream: The Blue Years Studio Albums 1985-1987.  The 4-CD set presents newly remastered versions of the electronic groups’ Jive Electro albums.  There’s Le Parc, featuring a reworking of their theme to the US TV show, Streethawk, as well as “Yellowstone Park” featuring guest vocalist Clare Torry.  Green Desert, which began in 1973, was finally released over a decade later and also features here.  The ambient classic Underwater Sunlight and the Blake-inspired Tyger are also included.  All the albums have been remastered and are housed in a clamshell box with an exclusive poster.

All these releases will be released on February 22 in the U.K. and on March 1 in the U.S., so mark your calendars for a music-filled day thanks to Esoteric.  Check out all the track listings and find pre-order links for each title below!

Renaissance, Ashes Are Burning (originally Sovereign SVNA 7261, 1973 — reissued Esoteric, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Link TBD)

1. Can You Understand
2. Let It Grow
3. On The Frontier
4. Carpet of The Sun
5. At The Harbour
6. Ashes Are Burning

Previously unreleased bonus tracks:
7. Can You Understand (Live on BBC Radio “In Concert” 1974)
8. Let It Grow (Live on BBC Radio “In Concert” 1974)
9. Ashes Are Burning (Live on BBC Radio “In Concert” 1974)

The Byrds, Byrds (originally Asylum SD 5058, 1973 — reissued Esoteric, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Link TBD)

1. Full Circle
2. Sweet Mary
3. Changing Heart
4. For Free
5. Born to Rock ‘N’ Roll
6. Things Will Be Better
7. Cowgirl in The Sand
8. Long Live The King
9. Borrowing Time
10. Laughing
11. (See The Sky) About To Rain

Tear Gas, Tear Gas (originally Regal Zonophone/EMI SLRZ 1021, 1971 — reissued Esoteric, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Link TBD)

1. That’s What’s Real
2. Love Story
3. Lay It on Me
4. Woman for Sale
5. I’m Glad
6. Where Is My Answer
7. Jailhouse Rock/All Shook Up
8. The First Time

Greenslade, Time and Tide (originally Mercury ‎SRM 1 1025 — reissued and expanded Esoteric, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Link TBD)

Disc 1:
1. Animal Farm
2. Newsworth
3. Time
4. Tide
5. Catalan
6. The Flattery Stakes
7. Waltz for a Fallen Idol
8. The Ass’s Ears
9. Doldrums
10. Gangsters
11. Catalan (single edit —  previously unreleased on CD)
12. Rubber Face and Lonely Eyes (previously unreleased on CD)

Disc 2:
1. Pilgrims Progress
2. Newsworth
3. Flattery Stakes
4. Bedside Manners Are Extra
5. Joie De Vivre
6. Waltz for a Fallen Idol
7. The Ass’s Ears
8. Drum Folk
9. Spirit of the Dance

Disc 1, track 11 originally released on Warner Bros. single K 16584, 1975; previously unreleased on CD.
Disc 1, track 12 originally released on Warner Bros. single K 16828, 1976; previously unreleased on CD.
Disc 2 previously unreleased – recorded March 10, 1975 at Studio 4, SVR Radiohuset, Stockholm; broadcast April 30, 1975.

Various Artists, Revolution: The Underground Sounds of 1968 (Esoteric, 2019) (Amazon U.S. Link TBD / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Link TBD)

Disc 1:
1. And the Address – Deep Purple
2. This Wheel’s on Fire – Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity
3. Talkin’ About the Good Times – Pretty Things
4. World War Three – Dantalian’s Chariot
5. A Saying for Today – The Action
6. Crossroads of Time – Eyes of Blue
7. Sunshine Help Me – Spooky Tooth
8. Early Morning – Barclay James Harvest
9. All Day, All Night – Blonde on Blonde
10. Happy Birthday / The Birthday Party – Idle Race
11. Revolution – Tomorrow
12. We Are the Moles (Part 1) – The Moles
13. Blackberry Way – The Move
14. One Eyed Hound – Genesis
15. On a Saturday – Keith West
16. Sovay – Pentangle
17. Cave of Clear Light – The Bystanders
18. Soma (Parts One & Two) – Dantalian’s Chariot
19. Fire! – The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
20. I’m the Urban Spaceman – The Bonzo Dog Doo-dah Band

Disc 2:
1. Shapes of Things – Jeff Beck
2. Black Magic Woman – Fleetwood Mac
3. Pearly Queen – Traffic
4. People You Were Going To – Van Der Graaf Generator
5. Reality – Secondhand
6. Love Is the Law – Eyes of Blue
7. Dusty – John Martyn
8. In Her Mind – Eclection
9. Summertime – Love Sculpture
10. Fly Tomorrow – John Mayall
11. Place of My Own – Caravan
12. No Title – Ten Years After
13. Child of My Kingdom – The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
14. I Never Knew – The Gods

Disc 3:
1. My Sunday Feeling – Jethro Tull
2. Sabre Dance – Love Sculpture
3. Flames – Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera
4. Somewhere to Go – The Deviants
5. Cold Embrace – Sam Gopal
6. Shine on Brightly – Procol Harum
7. Paradise Flat – Status Quo
8. That’s Me – Genesis
9. Suite No. 1 – Giles, Giles & Fripp
10. Mist on a Monday Morning – The Move
11. Ten Thousand Words in a Cardboard Box – The Aquarian Age
12. Mr. Sunshine – Barclay James Harvest
13. Just for You – Dave Mason
14. S.F. Sorrow Is Born – Pretty Things
15. Magic Man – Caravan
16. The Half-Remarkable Question – Incredible String Band
17. Race With the Devil – Gun
18. Mandrake Root – Deep Purple

Tangerine Dream, Tangerine Dream: The Blue Years Studio Albums 1985-1987 (Esoteric, 2019) (Amazon U.S. Link TBD / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Link TBD)

Disc 1 – Le Parc:
1. Bois De Boulogne (Paris)
2. Central Park (New York)
3. Gaudi Park (Guell Garden, Barcelona)
4. Tiergarten (Berlin)
5. Zen Garden (Ryoan-ji Temple, Tokyo)
6. Le Parc (L.A. – Streethawk)
7. Hyde Park (London)
8. The Cliffs of Sydney (Sydney)
9. Yellowstone Park (Rocky Mountains) 

Disc 2 – Green Desert:
1. Green Desert
2. White Clouds
3. Astral Voyager
4. Indian Summer 

Disc 3 – Underwater Sunlight:
1. Song of The Whale Part One (From Dawn…)
2. Song of The Whale Part Two (…To Dusk)
3. Dolphin Dance
4. Ride on the Ray
5. Scuba Scuba
6. Underwater Sunlight

Disc 4 – Tyger:
1. Tyger
2. London
3. Alchemy of the Heart
4. Smile
5. 21st Century Common Man (Part One)
6. 21st Century Common Man (Part Two)