Holding the Music in Your Hands ®
Whether Neil Young‘s new album justifies this 11-disc vinyl extravaganza is up for debate but either way, the box is out today. 
Amongst all the anniversary issues is this Kiss compilation that spans 1973-2013. It’s nothing if not fair, as it features one track off every album including live LPs and 1978 solo releases! Also includes previously unreleased 1977 demo Reputation.
Edsel Records today release the Suede CD Albums Box, a set which is effectively identical to the LP box from late last year but with optical discs rather than vinyl.
The CDs all come packaged in vinyl replica sleeves and while not up to Japanese level of detail, the label have done a decent job, with good quality, oversized spined card sleeves with two gatefolds (Dog Man Star and Bloodsports).
Continue reading “Suede / CD Albums box set”
The newly announced Pink Floyd Division Bell super deluxe edition box set has dropped in price on Amazon UK by almost £30.
Continue reading “Deal Alert / Pink Floyd: Division Bell”
Universal Music have confirmed to this blog that the forthcoming blu-ray audio version of The Who‘s 1973 studio album Quadrophenia will contain the entire album in 5.1 surround sound. The Pure Audio release will also include a hi-res stereo mix.
Continue reading “The Who / “Quadrophenia” blu-ray audio: details confirmed”
The rumoured Frankie Goes To Hollywood Welcome to the Pleasuredome box set has surfaced as an offering on PledgeMusic.com (the direct-to-fan music platform) and will feature a host of previously unreleased material across a number of formats.
Continue reading “PLEDGERDOME: ZTT offer Frankie box via PledgeMusic platform”
We announced back in March about the Criterion Collection’s superb new blu-ray edition of The Beatles’ 1964 film A Hard Day’s Night. This forthcoming release boasted a brand new 4k restoration, approved by director Richard Lester, as well as newly created 5.1 surround and stereo mixes supervised by Giles Martin at Abbey Road Studios.
The only issue with the Criterion set is that it is region-locked to region ‘A’ – the Americas and East Asia. Those in Europe would not be able to play on standard blu-ray equipment.
Continue reading “The Beatles / A Hard Days Night / Restored European Blu-ray with 5.1”
The five-disc Who box set, Quadrophenia Live in London, has dropped to by almost a third on Amazon UK today and is now £69. For that you get five discs in a round 10-inch metal box embossed with Mod bullseye.
The discs are a blu-ray and DVD of the 2013 concert film (both in 5.1 Surround Sound audio) ; a two-CD soundtrack of the show; and a 5.1 surround sound mix of the entire 1973 Quadrophenia studio album on a blu-ray audio disc. You also get a six-inch Mod headlight sticker, a Mod headlight button, as well as a book with liner notes and photos.
A new 20th annversary box set of Pink Floyd‘s 1994 studio album The Division Bell will be released on 30 June 2014.
The set will feature a new two-LP edition of the album, remastered by Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab from the original analogue tapes. This vinyl edition will include all the full length tracks (they were originally edited to fit on a single LP) and is presented in a gatefold sleeve designed by Hipgnosis/StormStudios.
Continue reading “Pink Floyd / The Division Bell: 20th Anniversary seven disc box”
Bon Jovi are working on an extensive 30th anniversary reissue campaign programme which launches this July when their 1988 album New Jersey is re-released across two different physical formats, including a 2CD+DVD ‘super deluxe’ set.
Continue reading “Bon Jovi / “New Jersey”: anniversary deluxe editions on the way”
Blur famously beat Oasis to the UK number one spot back in the summer of 1995 and almost 20 years down the road from *that* chart battle, Blur again have the upper hand when it comes to presenting their output via reissues and deluxe box sets. The Blur 21 box from 2012 was an embarrassment of riches, while the Oasis Definitely Maybe ‘Limited Edition Super Deluxe Boxset’ is simply an embarrassment.
Continue reading “Bag of Shite: Overpriced Oasis “Definitely Maybe” box filled with tat”
Edsel will release a collection of Simply Red deluxe editions at the end of June.
The reissue campaign takes in all three albums released since 2000 (originally issued on Mick Hucknall’s own simplyred.com label) alongside two repackaged DVD releases, both of which see their debut on the Blu-ray format, taking full advantage of the original HD footage.
Continue reading “Generous Simply Red multi-disc deluxe editions on the way”
The first of the Oasis ‘Chasing The Sun’ reissues arrives today in the shape of their 1994 debut Definitely Maybe. Great value three-CD package sits alongside a pricey box super deluxe edition box set.
Lavish reissue for Deep Purple‘s Made in Japan with many buying options including the five-disc box picture above and a nine-LP box.
One of the most desirable (and now expensive) RSD vinyl sets comes to CD. R.E.M.’s Unplugged is the complete sessions across two discs.
ABBA‘s recent The Singles box set brings together 40 seven-inch vinyl records to celebrate 40 years since the group burst on the scene with Waterloo at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest.
This limited set has just dropped in price by over 25% Continue reading “Deal Alert / ABBA: The Singles box”
Only a few weeks to wait for the Led Zeppelin reissues and this video for the third album should get you in the mood.
Continue reading “Led Zeppelin III / reissue video”
Released on Monday 19 May is this five-disc Super Deluxe Edition box set version of Deep Purple‘s 1972 album Made In Japan.
Three CDs contains the full show from each night (newly remixed) with a fourth collecting together all the encores. A DVD with 60-minute documentary and unseen live footage is also included.
The optical discs are housed within the inside front and rear covers of a very glossy 60-page hardcover book, which has a very readable essay from Malcolm Dome, some notes on the remixing from Martin Pullan and plenty of quotes from famous people falling over themselves to say how inspirational Made In Japan was for them. The usual crew, Slash, Bruce Dickinson, and ex-F1 driver Martin Brundle…!?
Continue reading “FIRST PICTURES / Deep Purple “Made in Japan” super deluxe box set”
As part of the promotion around the reissue of Oasis’ Definitely Maybe, Amazon UK are offering fans a free download of the band performing two tracks Live at Glasgow ’94.
Continue reading “Free Oasis download: Live at Glasgow 1994”
The Jesus and Mary Chain will perform Pyschocandy, their 1985 debut album in the UK in November this year, ahead of the record’s 30th Anniversary (Full Story: NME).
Sony have acquired the rights to Jean Michel Jarre‘s catalog and will be reissuing the albums on iTunes for the first time, as well as putting out bare bones CD reissues next month (Full story: Music Week).
Duran Duran have announced that Red Hot Chilli Peppers guitarist and songwriter John Fruciante is working with them on their new album (Full story: Duran Duran). Continue reading “16 May: Music News round-up”
Morrissey’s newly announced album World Peace Is None Of Your Business will be available in special fan bundles, the most expensive of which includes and autographed copy of last year’s Autobiography.
Continue reading “Morrissey / World Peace Is None Of Your Business / buying options”
Rob Puricelli reviews Leave The Straight Life Behind for SDE.
THERE IS A DYING TREND NOWADAYS. Before the internet, before information could be accessed by anyone, at anytime and in any place, music had to be searched for physically, or you had to be introduced to it physically. There was no other way. I couldn’t send you a Spotify link, or share a track via iTunes or YouTube. The upside of this was that finding new bands or new artists was rewarding in so many ways. You socialised around it, you got drunk doing it, you (potentially) got laid as a consequence of it. But there was also a downside to it. Great music often got lost. Continue reading “BOB / “Leave The Straight Life Behind” / expanded edition review”
The art of buying cassette tapes explained in detail in a book called “The Sony Tape Rock Review” from 1984. Unsurprisingly, in this Sony-branded periodical, Sony tapes are recommended! Click on the image and you should be able to read the text from this 30-year old advertorial…
