Expanded set offer demos, ‘Chic’ version of ‘I Don’t Want A Lover’ & more
Texas’ 1989 album Southside, will be reissued as a 2CD deluxe set and on coloured vinyl, in September.
Their debut features the top 10 hit ‘I Don’t Want A Lover’ which for 8 years remained their only sizeable hit in the UK until 1997’s ‘Say What You Want’.
The 2CD deluxe offers the first physical release of the ‘Southside Demos’ which were issued digitally in 2020. These six tracks were recorded in Glasgow between February and December of 1987 and sit alongside another previously unreleased offering which is ‘I Don’t Want A Lover’ as produced by Bernard Edwards! This early version also features Tony Thompson of Chic on drums and was recorded at Burbank Studios in LA in summer 1987. It’s an interesting listen (see below).
The CD reissue also features six tracks recorded Live at The Paradiso, Amsterdam in 1989 (four of these were released digitally as ‘Southside Covers’, five years ago).
The album will also be reissued on white vinyl, which offers the CD album track ‘Faith’ on vinyl LP for the first time. The record has been cut from the original analogue tapes at Abbey Road.
Southside will be reissued on 5 December 2025 (was September), via PIAS.
In October, Cherry Red will release Extended Stimulation: Pop Adventures on the Dancefloor 1983-1988, a new various artists 4CD set featuring 12-inch mixes from those six years.
Highlights include the Latin Rascals Mix of Duran’s 1986 single ‘Notorious’, The Ollie North Mix of When In Rome’s ‘The Promise’, the extended version of Electronic’s ‘Getting Away With It’ and a nice run of ZTT releases at the end of CD 4 (Act, Propaganda and the single issued by Glenn Gregory and Claudia Brücken). There’s also a few dub mixes included from the likes of Belouis Some, Nick Kamen and Jermaine Stewart.
After being unavailable on CD for almost 40 years, the Phil Harding Promo Remix of Nik Kershaw’s ‘Nobody Knows’ makes it second appearance on the format in the space of six months, having first appeared on The MCA Years box set in late February.
The four CDs are packaged in a clamshell box and this set will be released on 24 October 2025 (was 26 September), via Cherry Red.
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VARIOUS ARTISTS
Extended Stimulation - 12 inch pop adventures on the dancefloor - 4CD set
De La Soul’s hip-hop classic from 1989 is the latest release in the SDE Surround Series. It features the album in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 and stereo along with six bonus tracks. Last copies available before this goes out of stock, like recent releases from Dire Straits and Mike Oldfield.
The first five Roxy Musicstudio albums (Roxy Music, For Your Pleasure, Stranded, Country Life, Siren) are released as Japan SHM-CDs (compatible with all CD players). Each are presented as vinyl replica CDs with the usual exacting standards from Japan including OBI-strip, extra booklet with Japanese lyrics, ‘rice paper’ sleeve for disc protection and re-sealable outer clear sleeve. Special 5CD bundle available from the SDE shop.
Joni Mitchell / Hejira (MoFi Ultradisc One Step)
Not a bad price in the UK for this 2LP Mobile Fidelity Ultradisc pressing of Joni Mitchell’s 1976 album, her offbeat homage to freedom.
John WilliamsThe Anthology – Vol.1 1969-1990 is a limited edition 22CD box set, the first of three volumes that brings together a collection of John’s music for film and the concert stage.
It includes his scores for classic films such as Jaws, Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Superman: The Movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Empire of the Sun, Born on the Fourth of July and Home Alone.
The disc sleeves feature original artwork and the list of albums included is listed below. The Anthology – Vol.1 1969-1990 will be released on 18 July 2025 via Sony Music Classical.
Annie Lennox’s 2009 ‘best of’, The Annie Lennox Collection, is being reissued on vinyl next month.
The 14-track selection features songs from her four studio albums issued to that point, alongside two exclusive recordings: a cover of Ash’s ‘Shining Light’ and a her version of Keane’s ‘Closer Now’ which she retitled ‘Pattern of My Life’.
The Collection was issued on vinyl at the time, but has been out of print for ages and commands high prices on the resale market. The price of the reissue at the time of writing on Amazon UK is particularly attractive!
Annie’s fourth studio album, 2007’s Songs of Mass Destruction is also reissued on vinyl alongside, The Collection. This single LP reissue will be released on the same day.
The Annie Lennox Collection and Songs of Mass Destruction will be reissued on 22 August 2025, via Sony.
Despite being a massive fan, for whatever reason it has been over 20 years since I’ve seen Neil Young play live (in 2002 at Brixton Academy, supporting his rather forgotten Are You Passionate? album) so I was very pleased to get the opportunity to see Young last night as he headed a bill at BST Hyde Park that included Van Morrison and Cat Stevens.
Thanks to long bar queues, annoyingly I missed the first song, which I later found out was the brilliant ‘Ambulance Blues’ from what is probably my favourite Neil Young album, On The Beach (argh!) but thankfully there were loads of highlights to come in a setlist that had many more classics that he played in Brixton all those years ago.
On a scorching summer’s evening Neil performed ‘Cinnamon Girl’, ‘Old Man’, ‘The Needle and the Damage Done’, ‘Southern Man’, ‘Harvest Moon’, ‘After The Gold Rush’, ‘When You Dance I Can Really Love’ and many more. The Canadian musician turns 80 in November, but despite this voice sounds great and still retains his range and if it sounds a little more fragile than the old days, it’s fine, since fragility has always been an important element of his singing.
Unlike other aging rockers, Neil clearly has not had any ‘work’ done and so he doesn’t look like some privileged millionaire musician, but with his cap, baggy T-shirt, jeans, and big white sideburns, rather more like someone who has worked hard his entire life running an auto repair shop in some dusty state in America.
The band were fantastic (dress code: dishevelled) with guitarist Micah Nelson giving off strong Kurt Cobain/Johnny Greenwood vibes, bass player Corey McCormick (who didn’t get the memo because he looks fit and healthy, like a Brat Pitt stunt double), Anthony LoGerfo on drums and legendary organist Spooner Oldham (a sprightly 82 year old).
Neil let the songs do the talking with just a few friendly words here and there between numbers and played for around two hours. The was nothing from the latest album Talkin’ to the Trees and those who skipped off early to avoid the crowds missed the encore of ‘Throw Your Hatred Down’ (from 1995’s Mirrorball) and a rousing ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’. The latter went on for ages, with at least three false endings, and either stopped around 10.30 by the band’s choice or the plug being pulled via the curfew – it wasn’t exactly clear!
Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts continue their Love Earth World Tour in Paris tomorrow night ending the European leg before hitting North America in August.
Jeff Lynne cancels BST Hyde Park
Sadly, ELO legend Jeff Lynne has CANCELLED the band’s appearance at BST Hyde Park – he was due to headline tomorrow.
Lynne sustained a hand injury in a London taxi accident and therefore couldn’t play guitar during last weekend’s Birmingham show (part of ELO’s Over and Out tour). The Manchester show this week was then cancelled at the last minute (with fans seated and ready to go) and now, perhaps inevitably, Lynne is not well enough to take to the Oak Stage tomorrow night in London. The following statement has been issued:
Jeff Lynne is heartbroken to report that he will not be able to perform at tomorrow’s BST Hyde Park show. Jeff has been battling a systemic infection and is currently in the care of a team of doctors who have advised him that performing is simply not possible at this time nor will he be able to reschedule. The legacy of the band and his longtime fans are foremost in Jeff’s mind today — and while he is so sorry that he cannot perform, he knows that he must focus on his health and rehabilitation at this time.
I was sad to read the news of the death of musician Luis Jardim earlier this week. Fans of Trevor Horn, or music released under his ZTT, label will likely be familiar with the name of the Portuguese percussionist, bass player and producer because he features on some very well known records including ABC’s The Lexicon of Love, Frankie Goes To Hollywood’sWelcome to the Pleasuredome and Grace Jones’Slave to the Rhythm.
Luis Jardim was 75 when he died. Rest in peace.
Fleetwood Mac Blu-ray Audio
Fleetwood Mac’s self-titled 1975 album (the first to feature Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks) will be issued on Blu-ray Audio, next month.
The disc will feature a Dolby Atmos Mix by Chris James (who did immersive mixes of Prince’sDiamonds and Pearls and Purple Rain) the old 5.1 mix (by Ken Caillat and Claus Trelby) and a stereo mix.
It’s out on 8 August 2025 and you can order via the SDE shop using this link, or via the button below.
Last ‘era’ box set • 18LP vinyl • 13CD • Features Heathen, Reality, The Next Day and Blackstar
A decade after Five Years was announced, Parlophone will release the sixth and finalDavid Bowie ‘Era’ box set. I Can’t Give Everything Away 2002-2016 documents the last fourteen years of David’s musical endeavours and adventures.
Despite releasing nothing for around nine years of this period, Bowie still managed to put out four studio albums – Heathen (2002), Reality (2003), The Next Day (2013) and Blackstar (2016) – and as these 13CD and 18LP vinyl box sets demonstrate, there’s plenty of additional live material and non-album tracks available to fill things out.
As well as those four records on CD and vinyl, the I Can’t Give Everything Away box sets include:
MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL (2CDs or 4LPs) – Previously unreleased and recorded on the 18 July 2002. Amongst the 31 tracks are an almost full performance of 1977’s Low. This is also exclusive to the box set.
A REALITY TOUR (2CDs or 3LPs) – Released before, but this is resequenced to “better reflect the set lists of the Dublin shows”. The vinyl version of the album is pressed in transparent blue, as per the original.
RE:CALL 6 (3CDs or 4LPs) – 41 non-album / alternative versions / b-sides and soundtrack songs including some ‘SACD’ only stereo mixes from Heathen. Exclusive to the box.
13CD version of I Can’t Give Everything Away (click image to enlarge)
On LP, The Next Day is actually the 17-track deluxe version (to fill out four sides of vinyl) while the CD edition sticks to the 14-track version. Fear not though, because the three ‘missing’ tracks (‘So She’, ‘Plan’ and ‘I’ll Take You There’) are added to The Next Day Extra E.P. on CD (which is 10 tracks compared to the vinyl version’s seven).
The 4-track No Plan E.P. is also included. This features Bowie’s last three released recordings: No Plan, Killing A Little Time and When I Met You, which were first debuted on stage by the cast of Lazarus. With a running time of 18 minutes (which includes a repetition of the 6 minute album version of ‘Lazarus’) eyebrows might be raised at this being giving this its own disc when the three unique tracks could perhaps have been squeezed onto Re:Call 6. Especially on vinyl where side two of No Plan is ‘etched’.
Re:Call 6 does a good job of rounding up random tracks and includes David Gilmour’s live version of ‘Arnold Layne’ that Bowie sings on, which was issued as a single in 2006 (reaching No 19 in the UK charts).
As mentioned, the Montreux Jazz Festival is exclusive to the box and it’s worth pointing out that the other exclusives in previous boxes (The Gouster, Lodger 2017 Mix, Never Let Me Down 2018 and Dance) have never been issued separately, so the label have kept to their word – so far!
Like the previous ’90s set Brilliant Adventures, I Can’t Give Everything Away 2002-2016 is massive 18 LPs on vinyl (the first three were 13LPs, Loving The Alien was 15LP and Brilliant Adventure was 18LP). These vinyl sets are lovely but it does rather show up the limitations of the format when it requires seven records to deliver two live shows.
Also, actual studio albums take up only five of the 18 records in I Can’t Give Everything Away, which is around 28 percent of the content. If you include Toy, Brilliant Adventures had 61 percent studio albums (11 out of 18 LPs), Loving the Alien 30 percent (5 out of 15), A New Career in a New Town and Who Can I Be Now? both 38 percent (5 out of 13) and Five Years 54 percent (7 out of 13). Depending on your point of view, you could say this means more ‘padding’ than ever, or more welcome bonus material. It’s not really Parlophone’s fault that Bowie only made four albums in this period but if they’d skipped A Reality Tour (issued as a 3LP set in 2016) and squeezed the No Plan E.P. tracks onto Re:Call 6, we’d be back down to a more manageable – and more affordable – 13LPs. On the other hand A Reality Tour is excellent, it was Bowie’s last tour, and period live shows have always been a part of these sets (think Ziggy Stardust: A Motion Picture, David Live, Glass Spider, BBC Radio Theatre).
18LP vinyl version of I Can’t Give Everything Away (click image to enlarge)
Surround sound has never been part of the ‘era’ offerings, so I don’t think anyone was expecting 5.1 or immersive audio to be part of this box set, but it’s worth noting that for the first time, studio albums in an era box got 5.1 mixes at the time of release (Heathen and Reality). Re:Call 6 nods in this direction by including some of the unique stereo versions from Heathen SACD but what of the 5.1 mixes? There is an argument that distinguishes between 5.1 mixes that were done decades after the albums came out (Ziggy, Young Americans, Station to Station) and ones that were part of the original release formats. Why shouldn’t these be included? Why is the ‘Loner Remix’ of Reality closer ‘Bring Me The Disco King’ (included in the box) more interesting/important than the 5.1 mix (which is not included). If A Reality Tour is worthy of a second re-release in less than a decade why are these surround mixes of actual studio albums being allowed to languish, out-of-print?
As ever, both box sets come with books. These are 128 pages in the CD box and 84 in the vinyl set, with previously unseen notes, drawings and handwritten lyrics from Bowie and photos. There are also “technical notes” about the albums from co-producer Tony Visconti and design notes from Jonathan Barnbrook. The CD box has Japan-style vinyl replica CDs, with the discs being gold. The vinyl box contains 180g vinyl – all black, except for A Reality Tour, which is blue.
I Can’t Give Everything Away 2002-2016 will be released on 12 September 2025, via Parlophone.
Love Is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Mix By James Murphy For The DFA)
Plan
The Informer
I’d Rather Be High (Venetian Mix)
Like A Rocket Man
Born In A UFO
I’ll Take You There
God Bless The Girl
So She
CD 9: ★ (Blackstar)
★(Blackstar)
’Tis A Pity She Was A Whore
Lazarus
Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)
Girl Loves Me
Dollar Days
I Can’t Give Everything Away
CD 10: No Plan E.P.
Lazarus
No Plan
Killing A Little Time
When I Met You
CD 11: Re:Call 6
Slow Burn (Single Edit)
Wood Jackson
When The Boys Come Marching Home
Safe
Sunday (Moby Remix)
A Better Future (Remix By Air)
Slip Away (SACD Mix)
Slow Burn (SACD Mix)
I’ve Been Waiting For You (SACD Mix)
5:15 The Angels Have Gone (SACD Mix)
A Better Future (SACD Mix)
Safe (SACD Mix)
Everyone Says ‘Hi’ (Radio Edit)
CD 12: Re:Call 6
Sunday (Tony Visconti Mix)
Everyone Says ‘Hi’ (Metro Remix Radio Edit)
Heathen (The Rays) (Live In Berlin, 22/09/02)
Hop Frog — Lou Reed Featuring David Bowie
Saviour — Kristeen Young Featuring David Bowie
Isn’t It Evening (The Revolutionary) — Earl Slick Featuring David Bowie
Bring Me The Disco King (Loner Mix) — David Bowie Featuring Maynard James Keenan And John Frusciante (Taken From The Underworld Motion Picture Soundtrack)
New Killer Star (Radio Edit)
Love Missile F1-11
Fly
Queen Of All The Tarts (Overture)
Never Get Old (Single Edit)
Waterloo Sunset
Rebel Rebel (2003 Re-Record) (Taken From The Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle Motion Picture Soundtrack)
New Killer Star (Sessions @ AOL Live Version, 23/09/03)
CD 13: Re:Call 6
Days (Live)
5:15 The Angels Have Gone (Live)
Rebel Never Gets Old (Radio Mix)
(She Can) Do That — David Bowie With BT (Taken From The Stealth Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Life On Mars? (Live At Fashion Rocks, 08/09/05)
Wake Up (Live At Fashion Rocks, 08/09/05) — David Bowie With Arcade Fire
Five Years (Live At Fashion Rocks, 08/09/05) — David Bowie With Arcade Fire
Arnold Layne (Live At The Royal Albert Hall, 29/05/06) — David Gilmour Featuring David Bowie
Love Is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Mix By James Murphy For The DFA Edit)
Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime) (2014 Version)
’Tis A Pity She Was A Whore (2014 Version)
Lazarus (Radio Edit)
I Can’t Give Everything Away (Radio Edit)
Tracklisting
Era Box 6David Bowie/18LP box set
LP 1: Heathen
Side 1
Sunday
Cactus
Slip Away
Slow Burn
Afraid
Iʼve Been Waiting For You
Side 2
I Would Be Your Slave
I Took A Trip On A Gemini Spaceship
5:15 The Angels Have Gone
Everyone Says ʻHiʼ
A Better Future
Heathen (The Rays)
LP 2: Montreux Jazz Festival
Side 1
Sunday
Life On Mars?
Ashes To Ashes
Cactus
Side 2
Slip Away
China Girl
Starman
I Would Be Your Slave
LP 3: Montreux Jazz Festival
Side 3
I’ve Been Waiting For You
Stay
Changes
Fashion
Side 4
Fame
I’m Afraid Of Americans
5:15 The Angels Have Gone
‟Heroes”
LP 4: Montreux Jazz Festival
Side 5
Heathen (The Rays)
Everyone Says ‟Hi”
Hallo Spaceboy
Side 6
Let’s Dance
Ziggy Stardust
Warszawa
LP 5: Montreux Jazz Festival
Side 7
Speed Of Life
Breaking Glass
What In The World
Sound And Vision
Art Decade
Side 8
Always Crashing In The Same Car
Be My Wife
A New Career In A New Town
Subterraneans
LP 6: Reality
Side 1
New Killer Star
Pablo Picasso
Never Get Old
The Loneliest Guy
Looking For Water
She’ll Drive The Big Car
Side 2
Days
Fall Dog Bombs The Moon
Try Some, Buy Some
Reality
Bring Me The Disco King
LP 7: A Reality Tour
Side 1
Rebel Rebel
New Killer Star
Reality
Fame
Cactus
Sister Midnight
Side 2
Afraid
All The Young Dudes
Be My Wife
China Girl
The Loneliest Guy
The Man Who Sold The World
Fantastic Voyage
LP 8: A Reality Tour
Side 3
Hallo Spaceboy
Sunday
Under Pressure
Life On Mars?
Battle For Britain (The Letter)
Side 4
Fall Dog Bombs The Moon
Ashes To Ashes
The Motel
Loving The Alien
Breaking Glass
Never Get Old
LP 9: A Reality Tour
Side 5
Changes
I’m Afraid Of Americans
‟Heroes”
Bring Me The Disco King
Side 6
Slip Away
Heathen (The Rays)
Five Years
Hang On To Yourself
Ziggy Stardust
LP 10: The Next Day
Side 1
The Next Day
Dirty Boys
The Stars (Are Out Tonight)
Love Is Lost
Side 2
Where Are We Now?
Valentine’s Day
If You Can See Me
I’d Rather Be High
LP 11: The Next Day
Side 3
Boss Of Me
Dancing Out In Space
How Does The Grass Grow?
(You Will) Set The World On Fire
Side 4
You Feel So Lonely You Could Die
Heat
So She
Plan
I’ll Take You There
LP 12: The Next Day Extra E.P.
Side 1
Atomica
Love Is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Mix By James Murphy For The DFA)
The Informer
Side 2
I’d Rather Be High (Venetian Mix)
Like A Rocket Man
Born In A UFO
God Bless The Girl
LP 13: ★ (Blackstar)
Side 1
★ (Blackstar)
’Tis A Pity She Was A Whore
Lazarus
Side 2
Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)
Girl Loves Me
Dollar Days
I Can’t Give Everything Away
LP 14: No Plan E.P.
Side 1
Lazarus
No Plan
Killing A Little Time
When I Met You
Side 2
Etching (no audio)
LP 15: Re:Call 6
Side 1
Slow Burn (Single Edit)
Wood Jackson
When The Boys Come Marching Home
Safe
Sunday (Moby Remix)
Side 2
A Better Future (Remix By Air)
Slip Away (SACD Mix)
Slow Burn (SACD Mix)
I’ve Been Waiting For You (SACD Mix)
5:15 The Angels Have Gone (SACD Mix)
LP 16: Re:Call 6
Side 3
A Better Future (SACD Mix)
Safe (SACD Mix)
Everyone Says ‘Hi’ (Radio Edit)
Sunday (Tony Visconti Mix)
Everyone Says ‘Hi’ (Metro Remix Radio Edit)
Side 4
Heathen (The Rays) (Live In Berlin, 22/09/02)
Hop Frog — Lou Reed Featuring David Bowie
Saviour — Kristeen Young Featuring David Bowie
Isn’t It Evening (The Revolutionary) — Earl Slick Featuring David Bowie
Bring Me The Disco King (Loner Mix) — David Bowie Featuring Maynard James Keenan And John Frusciante (Taken From The Underworld Motion Picture Soundtrack)
LP 17: Re:Call 6
Side 5
New Killer Star (Radio Edit)
Love Missile F1-11
Fly
Queen Of All The Tarts (Overture)
Never Get Old (Single Edit)
Waterloo Sunset
Side 6
Rebel Rebel (2003 Re-Record) (Taken From The Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle Motion Picture Soundtrack)
New Killer Star (Sessions @ AOL Live Version, 23/09/03)
Days (Live)
5:15 The Angels Have Gone (Live)
Rebel Never Gets Old (Radio Mix)
(She Can) Do That — David Bowie With BT (Taken From The Stealth Motion Picture Soundtrack)
LP 18: Re:Call 6
Side 7
Life On Mars? (Live At Fashion Rocks, 08/09/05)
Wake Up (Live At Fashion Rocks, 08/09/05) — David Bowie With Arcade Fire
Five Years (Live At Fashion Rocks, 08/09/05) — David Bowie With Arcade Fire
Arnold Layne (Live At The Royal Albert Hall, 29/05/06) — David Gilmour Featuring David Bowie
Love Is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Mix By James Murphy For The DFA Edit)
The ‘Farmyard Sessions’ of Howard Jones second album Dream Into Action will be released as a 2LP coloured vinyl set next month, to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1985 long-player.
These are early versions of album tracks and singles from Dream into Action, so called because they were recorded at Rupert Hine’s ‘Farmyard Studios’ in Buckinghamshire.
This 2LP set contains all 16 tracks from the bonus CD included in the long out-of-print super deluxe edition of Dream Into Action that was released in 2018 (watch the SDEtv unboxing video, here). Four extra tracks (all on side four) make this a 20-track compilation, with 17 on vinyl for the first time.
This limited edition is pressed on 140g 2LP orange vinyl and features previously unseen images from the original photo session with photographer Simon Fowler.
Dream Into Action: The Farmyard Sessions will be released on vinyl on 22 August 2025, via Cherry Red.
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Howard Jones
Dream into action - The Farmyard Sessions 2LP orange vinyl
The band must be big fans of the film Everything Everywhere All at Once, because just six days after announcing a 3LP version of (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? (in five variants!) and two months after announcing the vinyl reissue of Time Flies, Oasis have today announced 14LP and 8CD editions of a career-spanning box called Complete Studio Album Collection.
This features their seven studio albums – 1994’s Definitely Maybe to 2008’s Dig Out Your Soul – as well as the 1998 B-sides compilation The Masterplan. On CD this is an 8CD set and on vinyl it’s a 14LP package.
Amazon has gold vinyl LP and gold CD exclusives for this title – everywhere else is stocking standard black vinyl and normal CDs.
Complete Album Collection is being released on 22 August 2025, via Big Brother Recordings.
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Oasis
Complete Album Collection - Amazon exclusive Gold 8CD box
The Bangles three ’80s albums for Columbia Records are brought together in Watching The Sky, a new 4CD box set which also offers bonus tracks (mostly remixes).
The albums in question are the hit-free debut All Over The Place (1984), its follow-up, Different Light from 1986 (which features ‘Manic Monday’ and ‘Walk Like an Egyptian’, amongst others) and Everything from 1988 which boasted another enormous hit in Eternal Flame.
The first two albums in this set offer a handful of bonus tracks but it’s the fourth CD that delivers in this area, with 20 single versions and remixes from the era. SDE contributor John Earls has written the sleeve notes for the booklet which is included as part of this set.
Watching The Sky will be released on 26 September 2025, via Cherry Red.
Five of Sting’s early solo studio albums, including classics such as The Dream of the Blue Turtles and …Nothing Like The Sun, are released, only via Japanese retailers. These expanded, multi-disc sets feature many bonus tracks.
Bronski Beat / Forbidden Fruit: The Age of Consent Remixed
Following on from last year’s 40th Anniversary editions of Bronski Beat’sThe Age of Consent, London Records announce Forbidden Fruit – The Age Of Consent Remixed an album that features new reworks from the likes of Gareth Jones, Kinky Roland and more, alongside exclusive extended versions of the 2024 remixes by Superchumbo (ft Neil Tennant) and The Knocks (ft Perfume Genius).
Falco’s 1985 album Falco 3, will be reissued for its 40th anniversary in October.
The Austria singer’s third album features the international hit ‘Rock Me Amadeus’ which was number one virtually everywhere – including the UK and USA – as well as ‘Vienna Calling’ and ‘Jeanny’ which also did very well.
There was two versions of Falco 3, the original European version released in 1985 and the ‘International’ version issued in UK, USA and Japan and a few other countries. The latter replaced the standard album versions of ‘Rock Me Amadeus’ and Vienna Calling with 12-inch versions (the ‘Salieri Version’ and ‘Metternich Arrival Mix’, respectively) and uses a photo of Falco on the front cover, rather than the red ‘autograph’ version.
The 3CD deluxe edition of Falco 3 (click image to enlarge)
The reissue will be available as a 3CD deluxe edition, a 3LP vinyl version, cassette and two different vinyl LP versions (European and International versions). Audio has been remastered and there’s new sleeve notes by Michael Rager.
Sony Music Austria are choosing to drip-feed the tracklisting over the next few weeks but the deluxe editions will include the original twelve-inch and seven-inch versions, demos, rough mixes, live tracks etc. There will be 37 tracks on the 3CD version, 23 on the 3LP, 16 tracks on the cassette (which includes some 12-inch mixes) and the LP versions are 10 tracks. Nine tracks on CD for the first time and there’s one unreleased version.
Falco 3 will be reissued on 24 October 2025 (was 10 October), via Sony Music Austria.
NOW Music have announced the companion Yearbook ’97 – Extra, which offers 60 singles from 1997 across three CDs.
CD 1 kicks off with the single remix of George Michael’s ‘Star People’ followed by the Pet Shop Boys excellent ‘A Red Letter Day’ (the last single from the underrated Bilingual album). There are also contributions from Sheryl Crow (Tomorrow Never Dies), Spice Girls (‘Who Do You Think You Are’) and Simply Red (Night Nurse) amongst many others.
The second disc switches from pure pop of the first CD to a more ‘indie’ groove with songs from the likes of Radiohead (‘Karma Police’), Suede(Lazy), Ash (‘A Life Less Ordinary’) and Supergrass (‘The Sun Hits The Sky’).
The final CD has significant North America representation, including tracks from Whitney Houston (‘I Believe In You And Me’), Jon Bon Jovi (‘Midnight In Chelsea’), Celine Dion (‘Call The Man’), En Vogue (‘Whatever’), Backstreet Boys (‘Anywhere For You’) and more.
NOW Yearbook ’97 – Extra will be released on 8 August 2025.
3LP and CD editions. 2014 remaster. Five bonus tracks.
It was inevitable that Oasis would reissue their best-selling second album (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? for its 30th anniversary this year and that has indeed been announced, for release in October.
The 3CD set issued back in 2014 included B-sides, demos, live material and so on. This new reissue uses the same remaster as 12 years ago but the bonus material is confined to new ‘unplugged’ versions of five tracks: ‘Cast No Shadow’, ‘Morning Glory’, ‘Wonderwall’, ‘Acquiesce’ and ‘Champagne Supernova’.
These new unplugged versions were produced and mixed by Noel Gallagher and Callum Marinho from the original master recordings at Noel’s studio, Lone Star Sound, in London. In other words, they are not new recordings. Noel has gone back to the multi-tracks and created them from Liam’s original vocals, removing music and adding acoustic instrumentation, where necessary.
Both single CD and 3LP variants feature the album, plus the five unplugged tracks. Revised artwork is by original sleeve designer Brian Cannon and there’s new sleeve notes, as well.
(What’s The Story) Morning Glory? will be reissued on 3 October 2025 via Big Brother Recordings.
Phil Collins’ 1985 album No Jacket Required is being reissued as a 4LP vinyl box set and on blu-ray audio with a new Dolby Atmos Mix by Steven Wilson.
Collins’ third solo album features the hit singles ‘Sussudio’, ‘One More Night’, ‘Don’t Lose My Number’ and ‘Take Me Home’. Produced by Collins and Hugh Padgham, the album reached number one in many countries around the world including the United Kingdom and the United States.
The 4LP vinyl edition includes all 13 bonus tracks from the 2016 ‘Take A Look at Me Now’ 2CD deluxe of the album and adds nine more, including a couple of tracks from Live Aid and Collins performing ‘One More Night’ on BBC TV’s Wogan chat show, from 1985.
Frustratingly, although it’s not particularly a surprise, none of the extended remixes of the singles are included (for the second time of asking) but bizarrely the ‘Medley Mega Mix’ of ‘Sussudio’/’Don’t Lost My Number’/’You Can’t Hurry Love’ (from a limited edition double A-side 12-inch of ‘Take Me Home’) does get the nod and features on the 4LP vinyl box set! Go, as they say, figure…
Steven Wilson has remixed No Jacket Required in Atmos for this blu-ray
Possibly more interesting for SDE readers is the fact that for its 40th anniversary No Jacket Required is being issued on blu-ray audio with an immersive Dolby Atmos Mix created by Steven Wilson. Wilson has also created a dedicated 5.1 mix and a new stereo mix. Additionally the album includes a hi-res stereo version of the original 1985 mix. This is the 10-track version of the album. CD bonus track ‘We Said Hello Goodbye’ has not been remixed for immersive audio.
Audio streams on the No Jacket Required blu-ray
No Jacket Required – Steven Wilson Dolby Atmos Mix (48/24)
No Jacket Required – Steven Wilson dedicated 5.1 Mix (48/24)
No Jacket Required – Steven Wilson Stereo Mix (48/24)
No Jacket Required – Original 1985 Stereo Mix (48/24)
The Atmos Mix has been approved by original co-producer Hugh Padgham.
These are the only two physical editions of the reissue. There’s no CD version. The artwork for both reverts to the original cover, abandoning the updated ‘Take a Look at Me Now’ visuals from 2016, although the vinyl has ‘(Fully Tailored)’ appended to the title.
This No Jacket Required blu-ray will be released on 12 September 2025, via Warner Music. Order the blu-ray from the SDE shop using this link or the button below. 4LP links coming soon (it’s over £100).
Tracklisting
No Jacket Required (Fully Tailored)Phil Collins/4LP vinyl
LP 1: Original Album (2016 remaster)
Side A
Sussudio
Only You Know And I Know
Long, Long Way To Go
I Don’t Wanna Know
One More Night
Side B:
Don’t Lose My Number
Who Said I Would
Doesn’t Anybody Stay Together Anymore
Inside Out
Take Me Home
LP 2
Side A
Sussudio (Live Berlin, 1990)
Don’t Lose My Number (Live Bercy, Paris 1997)
Who Said I Would (Live Dallas, 1985)
Long, Long Way To Go (Live Bercy, Paris 1997)
Side B
Only You Know And I Know (Live 1994)
Easy Lover (Live Bercy, Paris 1997)
Inside Out (Live Berlin, 1990)
LP 3
Side A
Doesn’t Anybody Stay Together Anymore
(Live Berlin, 1990)
One More Night (Live Berlin, 1990)
Take Me Home (Live Berlin, 1990)
Side B
One More Night (Live on Wogan, 1985)
Long, Long Way To Go (feat. Sting) (Live At Live Aid, Wembley Stadium, 13th July 1985)
Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) (Live Dallas, 1985)
Sussudio (Live In Paris, 7/21/1998)
LP 4
Side A
Only You Know And I Know (Demo)
One More Night (Demo)
Take Me Home (Demo)
Sussudio (Demo)
Side B
The Man With The Horn
I Like The Way
We Said Hello Goodbye
Medley Mega Mix (Sussudio / Don’t Lose My Number / You Can’t Hurry Love)
Separate Lives
Tracklisting
No Jacket RequiredPhil Collins/Blu-ray audio
No Jacket Required in Dolby Atmos, 5.1, new stereo and original stereo
Claudia Brücken – of Propaganda and xPropaganda fame – releases her fourth studio album, Night Mirror. The new album will be available across various formats, including an SDE-exclusive blu-ray audio which features a David Kosten Dolby Atmos Mix.
The Sisters of Mercy / First and Last and Always (4LP vinyl)
TheSisters of Mercy’s debut album is reissued as a 4LP red and black marbled vinyl box set. It includes the original album alongside the three EPs that preceded its release: ‘Body & Soul’, ’Walk Away’ and ‘No Time To Cry’. There’s no CD version.
Compare prices and pre-order
The Sisters Of Mercy
First and last and always - 4LP red and black marbled vinyl
Marillion will release a pair of albums as vinyl picture discs, in September. The albums in question are 1985’s Misplaced Childhood and from a decade later, Afraid of Sunlight. The long-players celebrate 40th and 30th anniversaries, respectively.
Misplaced Childhood was, of course, a major commercial success with it hit singles Kayleigh and Lavender and went to No 1 in the UK. The concept album is loosely based on Fish’s childhood. The single LP vinyl picture disc uses the 2017 remastering of this record.
Afraid of Sunlight was the band’s eighth studio outing and their fourth to feature lead vocalist Steve Hogarth. The days of hit singles were gone (although ‘Beautiful’ was a minor hit in the UK) and this was the first album not to reach the top 10 of the UK album chart but Afraid of Sunlight has become one of the band’s most acclaimed albums. This is a 2LP vinyl picture and audio is the 2019 Michael Hunter remix. Unlike Misplaced Childhood, this album wasn’t issued on picture disc at the time of its original release.
Both Misplaced Childhood and Afraid of Sunlight will be released on 5 September 2025, via Rhino.
After confirming the reissue back in January, Simple Minds have today announced that they will release a 40th anniversary 5CD set of their 1985 album Once Upon a Time, in October.
This new box set is effectively a repackaged version of the out-of-print 2015 super deluxe but without the DVD (which included a 5.1 mix and promo videos). That means the content is as follows:
CD 1 – The Album
CD 2 – B-sides & Rarities
CD 3 – B-sides / Extended Mixes
CD 4 – Live In The City Of Light (Live From Le Zenith, Paris ’86)
CD 5 – Live In The City Of Light (Live From Le Zenith, Paris ’86)
Unlike the ‘ruby red’ vinyl LP reissue which is the only other physical format, the version of Once Upon a Time on CD 1 of the box set doesn’t feature ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’, although that is included on CD 2 in standard and extended mix variants. The box does feature the new artwork with the red on the front comes with a 36-page booklet with rare photos, interviews, and a track-by-track guide.
The ruby red vinyl edition is packaged in a gatefold sleeve and now features Don’t You (Forget About Me) as the last track on the first side, making the album nine tracks instead of eight.
To celebrate 40 years, the album is now available as a ruby red vinyl in a gatefold sleeve, which includes ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ on the tracklist for the first time ever. The gatefold spread features Anton Corbijn’s famous photo of the band taken at Live Aid in 1985.
Hindsight is a glorious thing! 40 years on and it now feels right for Simple Minds to have ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ included in this classy new nine track edition of Once Upon A Time.
Jim Kerr
Both formats of Once Upon a Time will not be released until 17 October 2025, which is exactly four days short of the exact 40 year anniversary.
