UPDATE (8/6/2013): After the jump, you'll find full specs on the newly expanded and remixed Close to the Edge, due out in October! And don't forget our post on Nonsuch from earlier this week. ORIGINAL POST (6/24/2013): Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson has been one of the most prominent proponents of surround sound in recent memory. The singer/songwriter/guitarist/producer has spearheaded deluxe editions of classic albums from Hawkwind, King Crimson, Jethro Tull and Emerson Lake and Palmer with
Review: Elvis Presley, "Elvis at Stax"
The distance from 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard , or Graceland, to Stax Records' headquarters at 926 East McLemore Avenue is just a little over 5 miles. So when RCA Records came calling on the once and future King in mid-1973 to fulfill an obligation to record 24 songs (a 10-song album, four single sides, and a 10-song "religious album"), the studio founded by Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton seemed to be the perfect locale. Recording at home in Memphis had always brought something special to
Make Way For Dionne Warwick: 23 Scepter and Warner Bros. Albums To Be Remastered and Expanded [NOW WITH UPDATED TRACK LISTINGS]
UPDATE 8/6/13: WEA Japan's deluxe mini-LP editions of Dionne Warwick's Scepter and Warner catalogue have finally arrived, but many purchasers have been surprised to find numerous alterations in the albums' bonus material. Originally-listed bonus tracks have been added, dropped, and reshuffled between albums. By the numbers, there are 5 more bonus tracks than originally listed, but some songs are absent with others taking their place. Below, in BOLD, we'll let you know exactly what you'll
Rhino Releases Rush Box Set, Remixed "Vapor Trails"
Last spring, the seemingly impossible happened: Canadian rock legends Rush were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neal Peart had long endured the snark and critical dismissal from the powers-that-be, proving themselves a solid prog rock outfit for the ages. It was the cherry on top of a delicious bounty of treats for fans in the past few years: deluxe editions of two of the band's most popular albums, Moving Pictures and 2112, box sets compiling the
Pablo Records' 40th Celebrated with Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, More
Concord Music Group’s Original Jazz Classics line recently celebrated the 60th anniversary of Orrin Keepnews and Bill Grauer’s famed Riverside Records label with five reissues from Bill Evans, Chet Baker, Wes Montgomery, Thelonious Monk and Gerry Mulligan, and Cannonball Adderley and Milt Jackson. (Expect a full review of all five titles soon!) On September 17, the OJC series will turn its attention to the 40th anniversary of jazz impresario Norman Granz’s Pablo Records with the reissue of
Then She Appeared: XTC's "Nonsuch," Newly Remixed and Ready for October Release
As previously reported, Nonsuch, the twelfth album by XTC, is getting reissued this year with a new surround mix by Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree and a host of audiovisual extras. Featuring production by early Elton John producer Gus Dudgeon and some of the best pastoral power-pop songwriting by band brain trust Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding, including the U.S. Modern Rock chart-topper "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead," "The Disappointed," "Wrapped in Grey" and many more, Nonsuch remains
Kick Out The Jams: Omnivore, Rhino Team for "CBGB" with The Police, Talking Heads, Television, MC5
Though CBGB closed its doors at 315 Bowery on October 15, 2006 following a concert by Patti Smith, the legendary New York club never truly disappeared. Though plans to open a new location in Las Vegas fell through - some might say, mercifully! - Hilly Krystal's famous club has survived in spirit. CBGB Radio launched in 2010, the CBGB Festival of music hit the Big Apple in 2012, and the original awning even migrated to Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This October, CBGB gets another
SoulMusic Records Is "Born to Love" With Reissues from Peabo and Roberta, Nancy Wilson and Tavares
With its latest batch of reissues, including titles from Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack, Tavares, and Nancy Wilson, Cherry Red's SoulMusic Records imprint can truly be said to cover a wide swath of the soulful spectrum. Duets have long been staples of great R&B. Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, James Ingram and Patti Austin, and Otis Redding and Carla Thomas - just to name a few in the pantheon - all proved that "it takes two." (That title, in fact, gave
Final Thin Lizzy LPs Getting Expanded by Universal U.K.
After a healthy run of classic Thin Lizzy LPs getting expanded by Universal's U.K. arm, not to mention a box set of BBC sessions and rumors of an expansive, separate box of outtakes, there's still more product to release; this time, it's the conclusion of the aforementioned expanded album program with the re-release of the Irish band's final two studio albums, Renegade (1981) and Thunder and Lightning (1983). Renegade is not one of the band's most notable efforts - the increasing incongruity
Edsel Reissues Robert Palmer's Island Discography for Every Kinda People
One of the most truly odd omissions in catalogue history, the lack of expanded reissues for Robert Palmer's iconic Island Records catalogue will finally be rectified by Edsel in August. Palmer's nine albums for the Island label will be collected onto four two-disc sets, all remastered and featuring a large swath of bonus material. (The albums are grouped in twos, with the exception of a set collating Secrets (1979), Clues (1980) and Maybe It's Live (1982).) Taken together, they represent one
Wake Up, Maggie: Mercury Compiles Rod Stewart's Early "Rarities" On 2 CDs
Earlier this year, Rod Stewart released Time, marking the return of Stewart the songwriter. Time found the one-time Mod in reflective mode. Rolling Stone praised its “lighthearted warmth” while The Guardian noted its “wistful, nostalgic love songs [and] thoughtful divorce laments.” Clearly, Stewart had found some inspiration following a decade-long sojourn into the Great American Songbook, classic rock and soul tracks, and even holiday music. These “covers” collections left many critics cold
Head Hunting: Legacy Celebrates Herbie Hancock With 34-CD "Complete Columbia Album Collection"
When the 67-year old pianist and composer Herbie Hancock picked up the Grammy Award for Album of the Year at the 50th annual awards ceremony in 2008, he was making history. His River: The Joni Letters became only the second jazz album to take the prize, and the first in over four decades - since 1964’s Getz/Gilberto, from Stan (Getz) and Joao (Gilberto). Hancock, who earlier in the night had participated in a tribute to those who came before – including Miles Davis, with whom he famously
INTERVIEW: Excavating Jem with Marty Scott
The list of American cities tied to record labels is small, but certainly notable. Memphis has Stax and Sun, Detroit is defined by Motown, Sub Pop defined the Seattle sound...and then there's Jem Records, which made its home in the middle-class borough of South Plainfield, New Jersey. Jem, as well as its sub-labels like Passport (a joint venture with Seymour Stein of Sire Records) and PVC, became something of a cratedigger's dream in the 1970s and 1980s, licensing content from all over the
Review: Nilsson, "The RCA Albums Collection"
A largess universal like the sun His liberal eye doth give to every one, Thawing cold fear, that mean and gentle all, Behold, as may unworthiness define, A little touch of Harry in the night. - William Shakespeare, Henry V, Act IV He's a pretty nifty guy Always looks you in the eye Everybody passing by will sigh For Harry... - Eric Idle, "Harry" Harry Nilsson had the voice of an angel, and raised hell like the devil. A consummate songwriter, he had his biggest hits with two songs
I Just Freeze: Repertoire Plans Remix Compilation for Icehouse
UPDATE (7/30/2013): There are now two Icehouse remix sets scheduled from Repertoire. The second, out August 26, features more remixes from the singles covered on the first volume and selections from 1994's Full Circle remix project. Both sets are now after the jump. ORIGINAL POST (5/28/2013): Having done remix compilations for the likes of Sparks and Giorgio Moroder in recent months, German label Repertoire turns their attention down under, to the dance mixes of Australian group Icehouse. Led
Release Round-Up: Week of July 30
Nilsson, The RCA Albums Collection (RCA/Legacy) Easily one of the box set purchases of the year. Every one of the legendary singer/songwriter's 14 solo albums for the RCA label, newly remastered and expanded with bonus tracks, mono mixes and other treasures, plus another three discs of rarities and outtakes. The packaging is beautiful and the music more than matches. You will not be disappointed. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) Dionne Warwick, The Complete Warner Bros. Singles / We Need to Go Back
Life Is a Carnival with The Band's Box Set "Live at the Academy of Music: The Rock of Ages Concerts"
The Band’s Rock of Ages has long been a mighty document of a mighty quintet at the height of its powers. And it’s about to get even mightier. Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Rick Danko and Richard Manuel closed 1971 with four nights at New York City’s Academy of Music, reveling in new horn arrangements by New Orleans’ legendary Allen Toussaint and jamming with old mate Bob Dylan on New Year’s Eve. Highlights from the concert spawned the Top 10 album Rock of Ages, and a 2001
Mountain Goats' "West Texas" Gets an Expansion
Merge Records last week reissued a pivotal album by lo-fi folk outfit the Mountain Goats with a bevy of bonus tracks. The group's 2002 effort, All Hail West Texas, remains one of the group's most treasured recordings. the Mountain Goats, initially the nom de folk of singer/songwriter/guitarist John Darnielle but now a fluid ensemble built around him, have existed since the early 1990s, in the form of largely low-fidelity, quickly-assembled, urgent records. All Hail West Texas, released on the
Special Weekend Reissue Theory: Madonna, "Madonna: 30th Anniversary Edition"
Welcome to another installment of Reissue Theory, where we reflect on notable records and the reissues they could someday see. It's been three decades since one of the most popular and influential performers of the last 50 years released her first full-length album, and a new deluxe edition is long overdue. Here's a look back at the first album by Madonna. If you'll pardon the anachronism, it wouldn't have been unforgivable to look at Gary Heery's photograph for the cover of Madonna's first
Review: Otis Redding, "The Complete Stax/Volt Singles Collection"
Otis Redding was just 21 years of age when Volt Records issued his first single for the label, “These Arms of Mine” b/w “Hey Hey Baby,” in October 1962. The latter is a solid if unremarkable riff on rockabilly (“Hey, hey, pretty baby/Baby, you sure is fine...Every time I look at you/You drive me out of my mind!”) but the torrid, smoldering A-side reveals a singer-songwriter far older than his years. Otis Redding couldn’t have known then that he was living on borrowed time; he would, in fact,
Ho Hey! Folk Upstarts The Lumineers to Expand and Reissue Debut LP
One of the most inescapable songs of last year was immediately identified by two words: "Ho Hey." The best-selling single by Denver-based folk band The Lumineers gradually earned a steady stream of airplay after some choice ad placement and a performance on Saturday Night Live, ultimately sending the tune to No. 3 on Billboard's Hot 100. Next month, The Lumineers' self-titled debut is being reissued and expanded as a CD/DVD set, with five extra tracks, music videos and featurettes from the
Little River Band Is "Reminiscing" With New Reissues Of Four Classic Albums
Friday night I was late, I was walking you home, we got down to the gate, and I was dreaming of the night…would it turn out right? With those conversational lyrics to the song “Reminiscing,” The Little River Band finally saw their commercial breakthrough in 1978. The catchy, soft-rock track came from the Australian group’s fourth album, Sleeper Catcher; largely on the strength of the single, it also became the LRB’s first U.S. platinum selling LP. Cherry Red’s recent Lemon label is hoping
Best Laid "Van"s: Do Artists' Opinions on Their Catalogue Titles Influence Your Purchases?
Not long after Joe had posted about Rhino's upcoming expansion of Van Morrison's Moondance, I vocalized my pleasant surprise at the news. Morrison's history with reissues has been spotty at best; a late-2000s reissue campaign was quickly halted and almost instantly commanded top dollar on the secondary market. The next day, however, Morrison issued a statement denouncing the project, taking particular issue with the wording of the press release suggesting he was involved. "It is important that
Review: The Buckaroos, "Play Buck and Merle" and Don Rich, "That Fiddlin' Man"
“Who’s going to want to listen to the band with Don [Rich] playing the melody line to the song, when you could hear Buck [Owens] doing the real deal?” queried drummer Willie Cantu of The Buckaroos when called upon to record 1965’s all-instrumental The Buck Owens Song Book. Capitol Records surely thought there would be an audience for the LP, proclaiming on its back cover that “you too can sing Buck’s country-western songs to the rousing, rhythmic playing of his buddy Don Rich and The
All of Us Under Its Spell: Disney Reissues "Muppet Movie" Soundtrack to Coincide with Blu-Ray Release
It begins so simply, as all immortal songs do: a hopeful melody, plucked on a banjo by the versatile flippers of a frog. "Why are there so many songs about rainbows / And what's on the other side?" sings Kermit the Frog, in one of the unmistakable voices of his creator Jim Henson. If Henson and Sam Pottle's theme to The Muppet Show is the national anthem of those long-running, lovable fur and felt characters, "The Rainbow Connection" is its "God Bless America." Kermit's ode to "the lovers, the
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