Hit The Motherlode: UMe Prepares Vinyl Reissues of James Brown, Scott Walker, Meat Loaf and U2
Over the past few weeks, Universal has announced a varied assortment of upcoming vinyl releases, including a rarities collection from the Godfather of Soul, a compilation of early Scott Walker, two Meat Loaf titles arriving on vinyl for the first time ever in the States, and a celebratory 10th Anniversary edition from U2. It’s set to be a vinyl-filled February and March, and The Second Disc has all the details!
First up, Geffen/UMe is serving up two new editions of celebrated Meat Loaf titles, both due out on February 8. Released just over 25 years ago, Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell was the sequel to Meat Loaf’s multi-platinum 1977 effort. Originally recorded at Ocean Way Recording in LA and at Power Station in New York, Bat Out of Hell’s sequel was once again helmed by Jim Steinman and features many of the same musicians and personnel. Among those returning are Roy Bittan, Todd Rundgren, Ellen Foley, and Kasim Sulton. With the support of its breakthrough single, “I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That),” the Wagnerian Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell reached #1 in nine countries in 1993 and was certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA. More than a quarter-century on, the album arrives on vinyl for the first time in the U.S. and in a double-disc edition for maximum sound quality. The album’s two LPs will be housed in a gatefold sleeve. Aside from the standard, black vinyl version, UMe is also offering a limited-edition, translucent blue vinyl version that is exclusive to the uDiscover Store.
On the same day, Meat Loaf’s 7th solo studio album, Welcome to the Neighbourhood, will also arrive on vinyl. Released in 1995, it’s a concept album that follows the trajectory of a relationship over the years. Among its tracks are the singles “I’d Lie for You (And That’s the Truth)” (a duet with Patti Russo), “Not a Dry Eye in the House,” and “Runnin’ for the Red Light (I Gotta Life).” Diane Warren and Jim Steinman are among the songwriters represented on its epic musical dramas. For its vinyl debut, the platinum-selling album will be presented as a 2-LP set on black vinyl. (Note that the U.K. edition is the basis of this release; the album was released in the U.S. with the spelling Neighborhood!)
On February 22, U2 will revisit their 2009 album, No Line On the Horizon, with special 10th Anniversary vinyl editions collecting the album proper and contemporaneous remixes. Recorded in studios worldwide, from Morrocco and London, to Dublin and New York, No Line On the Horizon saw U2 collaborating again with Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno, and Steve Lillywhite on eleven new songs. These tracks and two remixes make up the new, 2-LP set from Island/Interscope/UMC. All the music has been newly remastered and pressed on 180-gram vinyl. The artwork has also been faithfully reproduced, including a gatefold sleeve, a 16-page booklet, printed inner sleeves, and a heavyweight plastic sleeve that houses the collection. A download card is also included, which offers access to all the tracks. The album will be pressed on black vinyl, as well as on clear vinyl in limited quantities.
On the same day, Virgin EMI/UMC will release a new 2-LP, 180-gram vinyl edition of the classic compilation, No Regrets: The Best of Scott Walker and The Walker Brothers, 1965-1976. Originally released in 1992, No Regrets reached No. 4 on the U.K. charts and has served as the definitive collection of The Walker Brothers’ career and the early recordings of Scott Walker. The compilation features all of the group’s ’60s hits, including the U.K. number ones, “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore” and “Make It Easy On Yourself.” Also included is The Walker Brothers’ remake of the Lorraine Ellison soul classic, “Stay With Me (Baby),” the successful “My Ship is Coming In,” and their 1976 comeback, “No Regrets,” penned by Tom Rush. Added to the mix are a number of Scott Walker solo highlights taken from his first three albums, including the Top 10 U.K. single “Joanna,” “Lights of Cincinatti,” and “Jackie.”
Another classic compilation returning to vinyl in March is the James Brown rarities set, Motherlode. Originally released in 1988, Motherlode collected 10 rare and previously unreleased tracks from the Godfather of Soul’s career (11 tracks on the original CD.) Among the new recordings was “Since You Been Gone,” a duet with Bobby Byrd, which saw the pair updating their 1956 track “Just Won’t Do Right” with The J.B.’s, featuring Bootsy Collins. Two funk instrumentals were included, too: “Funk Bomb,” and another that remained untitled. “People Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul,” originally released in 1973 on the Slaughter’s Big Rip-Off soundtrack, was remixed and extended to nine minutes. “I Got Ants In My Pants (And I Want To Dance)” was previously available on a 2-part single in 1972 but was remixed and featured in its full-length on the CD.
Now, the complete, expanded Motherlode album arrives from Polydor/UMe on 2-LP, 180-gram vinyl, including tracks that first appeared on the 2003 CD reissue, like “You’ve Changed,” recorded in Atlanta in April 1969 and alternate mix of “Bodyheat” from 1976. The collection features newly updated notes featuring the work of Cliff White, the late music journalist and James Brown expert.
Altogether, music fans can’t go wrong with the varied vinyl titles on the way from Universal Music. You can find the track listings and pre-order links for all the upcoming releases below.
Meat Loaf, Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell (originally MCA CD MCAD-10699, 1993 — reissued Geffen/UMe, 2019)
Standard Black Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Limited-Edition Blue Vinyl: uDiscover Store
Side 1:
1. I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)
2. Life Is A Lemon and I Want My Money Back
Side 2:
1. Rock And Roll Dreams Come Through
2. It Just Won’t Quit
3. Out Of The Frying Pan (And Into The Fire)
Side 3:
1. Objects In The Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are
2. Wasted Youth
3. Everything Louder Than Everything Else
Side 4:
1. Good Girls Go To Heaven (Bad Girls Go Everywhere)
2. Back Into Hell
3. Lost Boys And Golden Girls
Meat Loaf, Welcome to the Neighbourhood (originally MCA CD MCAD-11341, 1995 — reissued Geffen/UMe, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Side 1:
1. Where The Rubber Meets The Road
2. I’d Lie For You (And That’s The Truth)
3. Original Sin
Side 2:
1. 45 Seconds Of Ecstasy
2. Runnin’ For The Red Light (I Gotta Life)
3. Fiesta De Las Almas Perdidas
4. Left In The Dark
Side 3:
1. Not A Dry Eye In The House
2. Amnesty Is Granted
Side 4:
1. If This Is The Last Kiss (Let’s Make It Last All Night)
2. Martha
3. Where Angels Sing
U2, No Line On the Horizon (originally Universal/Island Records LP B0012630-01, 2009 — reissued Island/Interscope/UMC, 2019)
Standard Black Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Limited-Edition Clear Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Side 1:
1. No Line On The Horizon
2. Magnificent
3. Moment Of Surrender
Side 2:
1. Unknown Caller
2. I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight
3. Get On Your Boots
4. Stand Up Comedy
Side 3:
1. FEZ-Being Born
2. White As Snow
3. Breathe
4. Cedars Of Lebanon
Side 4:
1. Magnificent (Wonderland Remix)
2. I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (Redanka’s ‘Kick the Darkness’ Vocal Version)
Scott Walker and The Walker Brothers, No Regrets: The Best of Scott Walker and The Walker Brothers (originally Fontana LP 510 831-1, 1992 — reissued Virgin EMI/UMC, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Links TBD / RecordStore.co.uk)
Side 1:
1. No Regrets – The Walker Brothers
2. Make It Easy On Yourself – The Walker Brothers
3. The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore – The Walker Brothers
4. My Ship Is Coming In – The Walker Brothers
Side 2:
1. Joanna Scott – Scott Walker
2. Lights Of Cincinatti – Scott Walker
3. Another Tear Falls – The Walker Brothers
4. Boy Child – Scott Walker
5. Montague Terrace In Blue – Scott Walker
Side 3:
1. Jackie – Scott Walker
2. Stay With Me Baby – The Walker Brothers
3. If You Go Away – Scott Walker
4. First Love Never Dies – The Walker Brothers
Side 4:
1. Love Her’ – The Walker Brothers
2. Walking In The Rain’ – The Walker Brothers
3. (Baby) You Don’t Have To Tell Me – The Walker Brothers
4. Deadlier Than The Male – The Walker Brothers
5. We’re All Alone – The Walker Brothers
James Brown, Motherlode (Expanded Edition) (originally Polydor LP 837 126-2,1988; expanded on Motherlode (Expanded), originally Polydor CD B0000473-02, 2003; reissued Polydor/UMe, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Link TBD)
Side 1:
1. There It Is (Live)
2. She’s The One
3. Since You Been Gone (Duet W/Bobby Byrd)
4. Untitled Instrumental
5. Say It Loud (Say It Live) (Live in Augusta 1969)
Side 2:
1. Can I Get Some Help
2. You Got To Have A Mother For Me
3. Funk Bomb (Instrumental)
Side 3:
1. Baby Here I Come
2. People Get Up And Drive Your Funky Soul (Remix)
3. I Got Ants In My Pants (And I Want To Dance) (Remix)
Side 4:
1. You’ve Changed
2. Bodyheat (Alternate Mix)
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As a young boomer, I’m probably a prime target of physical product music marketers. But I’ve purged my life of vinyl about four times and I’m not going for another round. I’m kinda scratching my head over all these. More deep catalog CD releases, please.