Paul Sinclair – Page 345 – SuperDeluxeEdition

“Scared To Get Happy” 5CD box set

Posted on July 2, 2013July 5, 2013 by Paul Sinclair

It’s fair to say that UK reissue label Cherry Red Records aren’t exactly renowned for deluxe packaging. For the most part their reissues tend to be delivered in those hinged double jewel cases that have a lifespan of around five minutes.

So, to give credit where it’s due, they have done a marvellous job with their new five-disc indie-fest Scared To Get Happy. It comes in the form of a soft-feel ‘book pack’ and contains an extensive 58-page booklet. Lora Findlay’s design is superb, and all in all, this is a great example of how making an effort with presentation and packaging, creates a really desirable product that is light years away from a bunch of MP3s. More details on this set can be found here.

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Out This Week / 1 July 2013

Posted on July 1, 2013July 5, 2013 by Paul Sinclair

Various Artists / The Complete Motown Singles Vol 12A

This five-CD set contains 113 remastered tracks, from Motown’s output during the first half of 1972, and will have a limited production run of 7,500.

Nile Rodgers and Chic / Up All Night: The Greatest Hits

Nile Rodgers performed a triumphant set at this year’s Glastonbury Festival, with his Chic Organisation, and even managed to get a sneaky plug in for this two-CD hits compilation!

Continue reading “Out This Week / 1 July 2013”

Fleetwood Mac / 1969-1972 vinyl box set with bonus seven-inch

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Paul Sinclair

A new vinyl box set that gathers together Fleetwood Mac‘s output from 1969 to 1972 will be issued on 19 August 2013.

The set starts with the band’s third album (their first for Warners) Then Play On (1969) and contains three further records: Kiln House (1970), Future Games (1971) and Bare Trees (1972). A bonus seven-inch replica of 1969 single Oh Well – Pt. 1 is also included.

Although these aren’t heavyweight pressings (140g), Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering cut the lacquers for all four albums and the packaging is promised to replicate the originals, including gatefolds for Then Play On and Kiln House. The five records are housed in an attractive looking black slip-case.

An expanded CD reissue of the Then Play On album will be issued on the same date, featuring four bonus tracks: parts one and two of Oh Well, The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown) and World In Harmony, which is available on CD for the first time

• UK Pre-order: Fleetwood Mac: 1969 – 1972 VINYL box
• USA pre-order: Fleetwood Mac 1969-1972 VINYL box
• GERMANY Pre-order: Fleetwood Mac 1969-1972 VINYL box
• CANADA Pre-order: Fleetwood Mac 1969-1972 VINYL box

Edsel prepare “Live From Metropolis” combo packs of eighties favourites

Posted on July 1, 2013July 1, 2013 by Paul Sinclair

Edsel Records will issue a series of releases dubbed Live From Metropolis Studios on 9 September 2013.

Iconic eighties artists Heaven 17, Belinda Carlisle, Level 42 and Spandau Ballet’s Tony Hadley have all performed intimate sets at Metropolis, the West London studio complex, in the last 18 months, which were filmed and recorded.

These new DVD+CD combo sets feature the audio and video for the full concerts, with bonus documentaries included on the DVDs.

The images above confirm that Edsel are presenting these sets in their ‘casebound book’ packaging, and they are available now for pre-order for around the £10, which is reasonably good value.

Heaven 17

Belinda Carlisle

Level 42

Tony Hadley

Full track listings and details below:
Continue reading “Edsel prepare “Live From Metropolis” combo packs of eighties favourites”

Mike Oldfield / Crises 5-disc box

Posted on June 29, 2013July 4, 2013 by Paul Sinclair

Last Thursday we revealed that Mike Oldfield‘s 1983 album Crises will be reissued on 2 September as a 5-disc box set. We are now pleased to bring you the first picture of this release, which looks like a nicely designed package, complete with a hardback book.

At the time of writing this release still hasn’t been officially announced, and whether Crises will be offered as a cheaper two or three disc variant, or a new deluxe vinyl LP remains to be seen.

Five Miles Out is released as a 2CD+DVD set on the same day – more details and tracklistings can be found here.

Crises 5-disc box set

Five Miles Out 2CD+DVD

Kim Wilde / “Close” reissue pre-order

Posted on June 28, 2013July 2, 2013 by Paul Sinclair

Earlier this year we reported that Universal Music were working on the reissue of Kim Wilde’s 1988 album Close.

For a while it looked like a summer release was likely, but that has slipped back and the deluxe edition is now due on 2 September 2013.

Universal are staying tight-lipped on the track listing at this stage, but interestingly, they have confirmed to this blog that the release will have ‘more tracks’ on it in comparison to the ‘Cherry Red’ track listing, which was detailed on our earlier post. That tells us that Universal have definitely not just copied what Cherry Red would have done, had they secured the license to reissue this album.

This has also being confirmed as a two-CD set, and it is now available for pre-order.

Billy Joel / An Innocent Man SACD

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Paul Sinclair

Thirty years on from the original release, audiophile specialists Mobile Fidelity are issuing a hybrid SACD edition of Billy Joel‘s An Innocent Man.

Joel’s ninth studio album proved to be a massive commercial success, with three US top ten hits, including the UK number one Uptown Girl.

This numbered, limited edition is mastered from the original master tapes and will play on all CD players and SACD players. Mofi boast that the quality of the audio on this set “effortlessly outshines that heard on all previous editions”.

An Innocent Man Hybrid SACD is released on 2 July 2013.

An Innocent Man SACD track listing:

1. Easy Money
2. An Innocent Man
3. The Longest Time
4. This Night
5. Tell Her About It
6. Uptown Girl
7. Careless Talk
8. Christie Lee
9. Leave a Tender Moment Alone
10. Keeping the Faith

Mike Oldfield / Five Miles Out reissue and Crises 5-disc box set

Posted on June 27, 2013June 29, 2013 by Paul Sinclair

September 2013 sees the 30th anniversary (ish) reissues of two Mike Oldfield albums.

1982’s Five Miles Out, which features the single Family Man (covered with great commercial success by Hall and Oates) will be issued as a three disc 2CD+DVD edition, with the DVD featuring a 5.1 surround sound mix.

Oldfield’s follow-up to Five Miles Out was Crises, released little over a year later in May 1983. That album was responsible for another bit hit, this time Moonlight Shadow, which was a top ten hit in many countries around the world and in the UK is well known for being featured on the first of the long running Now That’s What I Call Music series.

Amazon are listing a 5-disc Crises box set, with a release date of 2 September, the same day as Five Miles Out. At this stage there is no official confirmation of exactly what will be on each disc, but the track listings are available on Amazon and Oldfield confirmed to his personal Facebook group earlier this year that Crises will be mixed for 5.1 surround sound. Here’s some of his message from Mike:

“Here is a screenshot of my studio Mac with “Crises” long instrumental all labelled and ready to mix.

Mike Oldfield's screenshot of Crises multitrack in protools — Mike Oldfield’s screenshot of Crises multitrack in protools (click to enlarge)

I have started putting some automation down and it’s so great to work in 5.1 as there is so much more room for all the sounds in that lovely big space. I was working on Moonlight Shadow 5.1 last night and that’s easy to mix and everything is sounding amazing. The folks at the archiving company are having a bit of trouble finding the old masters of Taurus 3 and Foreign Affair but they have 2 mysterious big reels of Ampex tape in the oven so hopefully those tracks will be found. Shadow on the Wall will be the long version.”

In a later message he added:

“Have had a quick look at Moonlight Shadow and it’s magic you just push the faders up and it sounds fantastic. Found an extra Maggie Reilly vocal take so will have a good look at that.”

All in all exciting news for Mike Oldfield fans! Track listings for both releases are below, although with no official confirmation it may take some educated guessing to establish whether tracks are live versions, demos, 5.1 etc.

Crises 5-disc box set

UK Pre-order: Crises box set

Five Miles Out 2CD+DVD

UK Pre-order: Five Miles Out

Full track listings:
Continue reading “Mike Oldfield / Five Miles Out reissue and Crises 5-disc box set”

PICTURES: The Blow Monkeys / Halfway to Heaven

Posted on June 27, 2013June 27, 2013 by Paul Sinclair

Although the jury is still out on the cover design, Sony have done a great job, overall, with the presentation of their new Blow Monkeys‘ hits package Halfway To Heaven.

The luxurious eight-panel digipak contains the three CDs (Best of The Blow Monkeys, Best of Dr. Robert solo and a December 1984 gig The Blow Monkeys Live at the Hammesmith Palais) and a 20-page booklet with decent sleeve notes telling the story of the band, with plenty of new quotes from Dr. Robert.

Available for under £12 this set is competitively priced and has plenty to offer casual and devoted fans alike. Full track listing can be found here.

From Matt Bianco to Basia: The story of “Time and Tide”

Posted on June 25, 2013June 25, 2013 by Paul Sinclair

Polish-born Basia Trzetrzeleska (pronounced Basha Chechelevska) released Time and Tide, her debut album, on CBS records in 1987. Despite heavy promotion and a string of singles in the UK, the record was destined only for modest success in Britain, but would go on to sell over a million copies in the US and also prove very successful in France.

Basia had worked alongside keyboard player and songwriter Danny White to make Time and Tide. The pair had effectively been two thirds of the latin infused British jazz-pop outfit Matt Bianco (Mark Reilly being the other key member of that band). That Matt Bianco line-up was destined to last for only one album (Who’s Side Are You On) but Basia and Danny would forge a musical relationship that lasts to this day.

Earlier this month Time and Tide was reissued as a two-CD deluxe edition and we recently spoke to both Basia and Danny White about their memories of that period. Additionally, legendary ‘mixmaster’ Phil Harding (best known for his mixing and production work at Pete Waterman’s PWL studios) offers an interesting perspective on Basia and Danny’s work, both during the Matt Bianco period, and afterwards when Basia went solo. Uniquely, Phil worked with them on both the first Matt Bianco album (mixing and recording large parts of that record) and Basia’s Time and Tide (mixing only).

So just how did this young woman from Poland come to be a successful solo artist, signed to a major label in just four short years? Basia takes us right back to the beginning:

The early years

“I worked in a Polish vocal group. But when you’re one of six people, you’re really nobody. I didn’t really have any success in Poland and one of the reasons it was so easy for me to leave Poland – I met an English guy and moved in the eighties with him here [UK] – was because I wasn’t really leaving anything important behind in Poland, I had no career there at all.”

Like most success stories, luck, good fortune, and coincidence played their part and that was the case with Basia. Danny remembers how it started with a band he was in called Bronze…

“One of the guys [in the band] was Warne Livesey who went on to be a producer”, he explains, “and we had a drummer called Jeff Rich, who went on to be in Status Quo for many years. The singer was Tessa Niles, who was married to the arranger Richard Niles. For whatever reason, she left the band and we put an ad in Melody Maker for a singer. Basia – fresh from Poland – was one of the people who got in touch. Her husband actually answered the ad on her behalf, and we said that we needed a demo tape and a photograph, which she didn’t have – well she didn’t have a demo tape. So that was the last we heard from her. Then Warne, who was working in Wave Studios in Twickenham, as an engineer, happened to be there while she went in to do a recording of some demos for the purpose of doing her tape. So he said he’d heard this really good singer and that we should check her out, and that’s how we met Basia.”
Continue reading “From Matt Bianco to Basia: The story of “Time and Tide””

TALK ABOUT POP MUSIC: Your views on newly announced sets

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Paul Sinclair

In a new feature, we highlight what YOU have been telling us about the latest releases or newly announced product in the last few weeks. These are comments left on our Facebook page, or thoughts and views posted here on this blog.

Our exclusive annoucement revealing the track listing of Nik Kershaw’s The Riddle deluxe edition prompted many fans to declare that the bonus disc was a big disappointment…

“I’m just delighted that at last one of my favourite ever albums is being properly remastered” Gerry Forrester

“To not include the ‘Wild Horses’ 12″, ‘Progress’ (live) and any other goodies hanging around the vaults seems a little short sighted and bizarre??” Martin

“Missed opportunity but great to have it remastered. The breaking of the live tracks up is a strange one.” Andy Patchell

“Completely disappointing and doesnt make any sense. It doesnt use all the disc, isn’t complete in any sense and the track order weird. Please Nik – revise!” Mike

The Beach Boys Made In California box set has finally been announced and here’s what you had to say about it…

“About £40 too much I’d say.” Stephen Hoffman

“It’s very comprehensive, but… my biggest complaint is the fifth disc; as patchy as the post-70s albums are, the disc feels like an apology for three decades’ work; five songs taken from five albums (one of which isn’t represented at all) plus a few rarities and outtakes isn’t enough.” Thom

“The “60 unreleased tracks” is misleading since most are released tracks that have been tweaked (now in stereo, etc)” Mike Cox

“£100!!! Compare to the 17 disc Nilsson set @ around £50.” Mike

We revealed that Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road would be receiving the 40th annversary treatment later this year, and asked you what you’d like to see in it…

“This *has* to include the 5.1 mix, and even a hi-res 5.1 mix in Blu Ray audio. However, I ain’t holding my breath ;-)” Rob Purcelli

“5.1, but not restricted to the pricey box!” Mike Fisher

“According to Peter Asher’s website he is producing a CD of new cover versions of GYBR songs for inclusion in the 40th anniversary edition of the album.” Jeremy

“How about the December 22nd, 1973 show from the Hammersmith Odeon. It has a great setlist from ths GBYBR tour.” Stephen

Elton John / The Diving Board – super deluxe edition box set

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Paul Sinclair

Elton John will release a new album, The Diving Board, on 16 September 2013.

Touted as a ‘back to basics’ return to the piano-bass-drums sound of his early years, The Diving Board is produced by T-Bone Burnett, with all the songs co-written with John’s long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin.

The Diving Board will be available in a 15-track edition on CD, vinyl and download; a 19-track super deluxe version on CD and download, adding the extra studio track Candlelit Bedroom and three songs performed live earlier this year at Capitol Studios; and a Super Deluxe box set featuring the extended CD, gatefold vinyl, book and bonus DVD.

Super Deluxe Edition Box Set

Deluxe Edition CD [19 track]

2LP 180g Gatefold Vinyl Edition [15 track]

Standard CD [15 track]

The Diving Board track listing:
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Out This Week / 24 June 2013

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Paul Sinclair

Various Artists / Scared to Get Happy – 5CD set

Cherry Red Records’ attempt to document an era – namely the indie-pop scene of the 1980s – is an impressively researched project. Scared To Get Happy contains over 130 tracks across five-discs, with heaps of rare and obscure songs and only an occasional dip into the familiar (Aztec Camera’s Oblivious).

David Bowie / Life On Mars 7″ pic disc

It’s not Record Store Day, so the lastest in EMI’s series of David Bowie picture discs, is about HALF the price of the Drive In Saturday disc released in April. It’s been a devilish £6.66 for ages on amazon UK, but at the time of writing has just gone up to £6.99.

Lloyd Cole / Standards

Lloyd Cole‘s 11th solo long-player Standards is (thankfully) not a covers album, rather a new collection of (largely) self-penned material that was partially funded by fans. This record sees him collaborating with old muckers Fred Maher and Matthew Sweet, as well as Joan (As Policewoman) Wasser. It has been very well reviewed and looks like a return to form for the US-based Brit.

CD edition

• UK Order: Standards
• GERMANY Order: Standards

Vinyl edition

The Primitives / Lovely 25th Anniversary Edition

The Primitives 1988 debut album Lovely features their biggest hit Crash and is reissued here with a bonus disc of live tracks, single versions and demos.

Nick Drake / Five Leaves Left box

Posted on June 21, 2013July 22, 2013 by Paul Sinclair

Thought you might like a quick look at the cover art for the forthcoming vinyl box set of Nick Drake‘s Five Leaves Left. The worn out retro look continues, complete with old price stickers.

This set is out at the end of July and you can find more details and a picture of the contents here. It’s still only £25 on amazon UK.

Marc Bolan at the BBC / 6CD box set

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Paul Sinclair

Universal Music will issue Marc Bolan at the BBC, a new six-CD box set of BBC recordings, on 26 August 2013.

This set is said to combine all of the surviving BBC recordings with previously unreleased sessions taken from BBC Transcription Discs, off air recordings made on reel-to-reel tape recorders and the occasional cassette tape.

The box contains 16 previously unreleased Tyrannosaurus Rex tracks, and over 20 T.Rex tracks never before issued. There are also a dozen interviews many of which have never been commercially available.

The 117 track box set kicks off with some June 1968 John’s Children recordings and the curtain closes at the end of disc six with a couple of T.Rex tracks broadcast on the David Hamilton show, less than a month before Bolan’s untimely death.

The box presentation echoes the Kinks at the BBC box set, which its retro Radio Times (BBC TV and Radio listing mag) design. That box was robust and put together with care and attention, so that bodes well for this Bolan box.

International bargain hunters should check out the Amazon UK price which is – at the time of writing – massively cheaper than everywhere else.

Marc Bolan at the BBC: Full track listing:

Continue reading “Marc Bolan at the BBC / 6CD box set”

Exclusive: Nik Kershaw / “The Riddle” deluxe edition track listing

Posted on June 20, 2013June 13, 2020 by Paul Sinclair

As we revealed on our Facebook page on Tuesday, Universal Music will issue a deluxe edition of Nik Kershaw‘s second album of 1984, The Riddle, on 12 August 2013.
Continue reading “Exclusive: Nik Kershaw / “The Riddle” deluxe edition track listing”

Chic / “Up All Night” 2CD hits set

Posted on June 20, 2013June 24, 2013 by Paul Sinclair

Although the recent reissue of Nile Rodgers/ Chic box set Savoir Faire, was very welcome, it is likely that the majority of people will be quite content with the contents of Up All Night. This new two-CD ‘best of’ contains all the expected hits and more.

It repeats some of the selections from Savoir Faire, including Carly Simon’s Why in its twelve-inch configuration and the extended version of Debbie Harry’s Backfired, and amongst others, loses the ‘Dimitri from Paris’ remixes and unreleased Johnny Mathis tracks. Diana Ross’s Upside Down is present and correct, but in its standard album form, not the ‘original chic mix’ found on the box.

In total, 25 tracks from Chic and the many artists they produced. Up All Night is released on 1 July 2013, so get those glitterballs ready.

Track listing:
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The Beach Boys / “Made in California” box set: details and track listing

Posted on June 19, 2013September 2, 2013 by Paul Sinclair

Made In California The Beach Boys’ box set originally planned for last autumn as part of the band’s 50th anniversary celebrations, will be released on 19 August 2013.

This six-CD set attempts to provide a career overview, and in addition to well known recordings and ‘deep cuts’, it will include more than 60 previously unreleased tracks. In total, Made In California will provide over seven and a half hours of music and features 174 tracks.

Highlights include a true stereo mix of Do It Again, made from the recently found 8-track master, a new stereo mix of We’re Together Again (again from a recently recovered 8-track master) and a live Help Me Rhonda with Dennis on the lead vocal.

CD 6 in this set is called From The Vaults and it is on this disc that many of the rare tracks reside, including instrumentals, a capella mixes, demos, mono cuts and radio spots.

Made in California will come packaged in a large hardback book full of personal recollections from the band’s members, replicated classic artwork and memorabilia, photos from the band’s archive.

Made In California – Full Track Listing:
Continue reading “The Beach Boys / “Made in California” box set: details and track listing”

Dr. Feelgood / “Taking No Prisoners” five-disc Gypie-era box set

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Paul Sinclair

Taking No Prisoners is a new 4CD+DVD set from EMI that celebrates the four year period where Dr. Feelgood had guitarist John ‘Gypie’ Mayo in their line-up.

Wilko Johnson had left in early 1977 and in April that year the Canvey Island band introduced their new line-up by way of a secret warm up show in their hometown. By summer ’77 they were making the first record with Gypie, the Nick Lowe produced Be Seeing You. Three further studio albums would be recorded with Mayo, including Private Practice which contained the UK top ten single Milk And Alcohol.

After what he describes as a ‘four year binge party’ Gypie Mayo quit the band and the end of 1980 (although he would stay on for a further six months), in part, to spend more time with his family.

Taking No Prisoners contains all four studio albums from this era (Be Seeing You, Private Practice, Let It Roll, and A Case Of The Shakes), two live albums (As It Happens and On The Job) and previously unreleased live performances. The DVD contains a feast of video including BBC Sight and Sound In Concert programme from December 1977, five Top Of The Pops appearances, six promo videos and London Weekend Television’s The South Bank Show with Melvyn Bragg which was broadcast in June 1981.

The superb packaging matches the original All Through The City set, with a very attractive ‘book set’ presentation with a treasure trove of photos, adverts, essays, sleeve art in the 72-page booklet included.

Taking No Prisoners is released on 24 June 2013.

Full track listing

Continue reading “Dr. Feelgood / “Taking No Prisoners” five-disc Gypie-era box set”

Vangelis / Blade Runner SACD

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Paul Sinclair

If you were frustrated when US label Audio Fidelity only put out their recent issue of the sublime Vangelis Blade Runner soundtrack on red vinyl, then so, it seems, were many.

So, good old ‘public demand’ has persuaded the audiophile specialists to do the decent thing and release it on hybrid SACD, in addition to the vinyl offering. Now those without a turntable can enjoy Kevin Gray’s new remaster. Being a hybrid, it plays on all SACD and normal CD players. As usual with these releases, this will be limited and numbered, so be quick.

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Various Artists / The Complete Motown Singles Vol 12A

Nile Rodgers and Chic / Up All Night: The Greatest Hits

Various Artists / Scared to Get Happy – 5CD set

David Bowie / Life On Mars 7″ pic disc

Lloyd Cole / Standards

The Primitives / Lovely 25th Anniversary Edition

Full track listing