BUY NOW FROM RHINO.COM
Since its founding 45 years ago by Richard Foos and Harold Bronson, Rhino Records has established itself as the gold standard in catalogue music. Though much has changed over the decades, the label still maintains a prodigious schedule of releases which has lately encompassed such top-tier titles as Joni Mitchell's Archives series, the Quadio line of reissues, deluxe editions from Little Feat, and a host of Record Store Day releases. Now, to celebrate its anniversary, Rhino has announced the launch of "Rhino Reds," a series of limited-edition LP reissues all pressed on "Rhino Red" vinyl and rolling out in three batches each dedicated to the '60s, '70s, and '80s. The color is based on the PMS color used in Rhino's logo. All of the LPs include a bonus 7-inch single or EP.
Over the next few months, a dozen titles will roll out in the series. Lacquers have been cut at various mastering studios including Bernie Grundman Mastering, The Bakery, and Take Out Vinyl, while the albums have been pressed in Detroit at Third Man Records. The first four titles from Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, The Doors, and Love are available now. You'll find details on those as well as the upcoming Rhino Red titles below, with descriptions adapted from those provided by the label. All Rhino Red releases are available exclusively through Rhino.com, with a bundle of the first four titles (at a discount price) here. Links are coming soon for the next two batches of releases.
Available Now:
Aretha Franklin, Soul '69 [Stereo] + Bonus [Mono] 7" single ("I Can't See Myself Leaving You" / "Gentle On My Mind") - Limited to 3,000 units
The Queen of Soul's fourteenth studio album, Soul '69 features "Today I Sing the Blues," "Elusive Butterfly," and "Tracks of My Tears." It went to No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 15 Pop. Jeff Powell has remastered at Take Out Vinyl.
Otis Redding, Love Man + Promo EP [Mono] ("That's a Good Idea" / "Free Me" / "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher & Higher" / "I'll Let Nothing Separate Us") - Limited to 2,000 units
1969's Love Man was the late superstar's third posthumous LP. A No. 8 R&B entry, it includes "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher," "A Lover's Question," and the title track. This reissue mastered by Jeff Powell is housed in a deluxe gatefold sleeve.
The Doors, Golden Album + Bonus 7" ("Hello, I Love You" / "Strange Days" / "The Unknown Soldier" / "Light My Fire" / "People Are Strange") - Limited to 5,000 units
Rhino revisits this 1968 Japan-exclusive collection for its first-ever worldwide release. Golden Album culls songs from The Doors' first three studio albums ("Light My Fire," "Break on Through (To the Other Side)," "Hello. I Love You," "The End"). The album is housed in a gatefold jacket and includes a lyric insert. Longtime Doors engineer Bruce Botnick has mastered, and Bernie Grundman has cut the lacquers.
Love, Da Capo [Mono] + Bonus 7" ("7 and 7 Is" / "No. Fourteen") - Limited to 2,000 units
Love's 1966 sophomore album featuring "7 and 7 Is" and "She Comes in Colors" has been remastered by Jeff Powell for this "Rhino Red" reissue.
August 25:
Doobie Brothers, Minute By Minute + Bonus 7" ("What A Fool Believes" / "Don't Stop") - Limited to 2,000 units
The Doobie Brothers' 1978 triple-platinum smash Minute by Minute yielded the hit title track as well as the band's biggest-ever success, the Grammy-winning Michael McDonald/Kenny Loggins-penned "What a Fool Believes." It's been remastered at Bernie Grundman's studio.
Ramones, Ramones [Mono] + Bonus 7" [Mono] ("Blitz" / "Havana Affair") - Limited to 3,000 units
Jeff Powell remasters Ramones' 1976 debut album featuring the pop-punk classics "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" and "Blitzkrieg Bop."
Released in April 1976, Ramones' debut album has been deemed one of the most influential punk albums of all time. Featuring the infamous tracks "Blitzkrieg Bop" and "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend."
Todd Rundgren, Runt + Bonus 7" ("We Gotta Get You a Woman" / "Baby Let's Swing/Last Thing You Said/Don't Tie My Hands") - Limited to 2,000 units
The wizard, the true star's 1970 debut album, Runt, introduced one of pop's most singular voices as a solo artist. Featuring the top 20 hit "We Gotta Get You a Woman" and the Laura Nyro tribute "Baby Let's Swing," Runt brims with originality and quirky songcraft. Bernie Grundman has remastered.
Chicago - Chicago V + Bonus 7" ("Saturday In The Park" / "Alma Mater") - Limited to 2,000 units
The Fourth of July has passed, but 1972's Chicago V, featuring the Robert Lamm-penned hit "Saturday in the Park" as well as Lamm's "Dialogue (Parts I and II)," is back in a new remastering from The Bakery. The chart-topping album - Chicago's first single LP release - is packaged with two exclusive posters of the band.
September 22:
Foreigner - Agent Provocateur + Bonus 7" ("I Want to Know What Love Is" / "Street Thunder") - Limited to 2,000 units
Foreigner's triple-platinum fifth album, 1984's Agent Provocateur, released in 1984, yielded the chart-topping "I Want to Know What Love Is." It returns in a Jeff Powell mastering.
B-52's, Bouncing Off The Satellites + Bonus 7" ("Summer Of Love" / "Housework") - Limited to 2,000 units
The fourth studio album from American new wave group the B-52's was released in 1986 and introduced the hits "Wig" and "Summer of Love." Jeff Powell remasters.
Zapp, Zapp + Bonus 7" ("More Bounce To The Ounce. Part I" / "More Bounce To The Ounce. Part II") - Limited to 2,000 units
1980's Zapp, built around the talents of the Troutman brothers (Roger, Larry, Lester, and Terry) as co-produced by Bootsy Collins, was a formidable introduction to the Ohio funk collective. The Gold-certified, chart-topping debut LP has been remastered by Jeff Powell.
Starship, Knee Deep In The Hoopla + Bonus 7" ("We Built This City" / "Private Room") - Limited to 2,000 units
Built from the ashes of Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship, just-plain Starship launched some of the most anthemic rockers of the 1980s. Their Platinum-certified 1985 debut, remastered by Jeff Powell, includes two No. 1s, "We Built This City" and "Sara," built around the powerful vocals of Mickey Thomas and Grace Slick.
Release Round-Up: Week of December 13
Release Round-Up: Week of November 29
Release Round-Up: Week of November 22
Release Round-Up: Week of November 1
Soul 69 is one of my favorite Aretha albums. However, every version including the original sounds muddy to me. I hope this version is really cleaned up.
Alas, no cd reissue. Sigh.
I have the CD in the Atlantic Albums box...which is not complete cuz it's missing those 5 late 70s disco-era albums which have never been on CD before...as for these Rhino Red titles, looks like a vinyl-only program...
All good albums and I'm sure that the Remasters are great because Rhino always does a great job. Nothing there that makes me think I need to buy it yet again, though. You'd think that there's got to be better albums that have been less reissued than these?
Where are the CDs 😔
Any way to pre-order the albums still to be issued?
Pre-orders aren't open for those yet, but we will update as soon as those links go live.
Nothing on CD?? Not interested at all.
Vinyl? I don't need recording methods of the 1910's-1940's, until major technological advances of Compact Discs in the 1980's vastly improved all of that.
I agree, the biggest turn off for me with vinyl are the ridiculous prices. Get them down to the equivalent of CD prices and I will think about it. I refuse to pay $25, $30, $40 or more for a vinyl record. I have a question. Other than the weight, does 180 gram vinyl really have any better sound or do they just use that as an excuse to inflate the prices?
I don't know if Rhino is reading this blog, but if they do: when do we finally get a decent expanded Agent Provocateur reissue by Foreigner with all the 12 inch mixes? Digital only would also be okay, as long as these mastertapes leave the Warner archives for baking and transferring.
The same goes for Rod Stewart. He released a bunch of superb 12 inches in his Warner period in the 70s and 80s that to date are not available in master quality. Yes, we got a dozen of archive releases with alternate takes and demos, but without the main 12 inch singles. I really don't get it.
Joe, in case you have a contact at Warner, would you please transfer the message?
There were no 12-inch collections on CD?? Not even in Japan?? Are you sure??
Yes, 100% sure.
Only two Foreigner 12 inch versions from the 'Agent Provocateur' singles were released on different CD 12 inch compilations, the remaining 6 others mixes are not available in master quality. By now you’d expect all or some 12 inch versions on a Foreigner reissue, remaster or compilation, but alas. Zero.
And for Rod Stewart, all his 12 inches from the 70s and 80s up to 1988 have never been released in master quality on CD nor as download.
over and over and over. no new content. just a money grab. the doors is a japanese comp tho. a waste of vinyl.