Author: Paul Sinclair

The Doors: Infinite / 12LP audiophile vinyl box set

Posted on by Paul Sinclair

front

It’s pretty hard to not get carried away with sets such as Analogue Productions’ recent Doors Infinite vinyl box. For music lovers who have deep enough pockets, the contents of this box set represent something close to audio nirvana, with a presentation to match.

Not more Doors reissues, we hear you cry… well, yes Infinite collects the six studio albums again, but here’s the thing: each album is pressed onto two 45 rpm vinyl records, attempting to provide the very best sonic experience, such as extended higher frequencies and lower noise.

The Doors Infinite vinyl box set
Two vinyl 45 RPM records for each of the six Doors albums

Analogue Productions’ remit is primarily about going back to the original analogue tapes and creating the best sounding reissues possible, but it’s actually more than that. Crucially, they have recognised that for many, it’s not just about the audio sounding great. If it were, we’d all be happy with hi-res downloads and the world would be a far less interesting place. They know that the records should feel great in your hands, and look the part. In short, the packaging needs to match the audio, in terms of quality.
Continue reading “The Doors: Infinite / 12LP audiophile vinyl box set”

Paul McCartney / “Wings Over America” deluxe explained in photos

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Paul McCartney / Wings Over America deluxe slipcase
Slipcase contains FOUR books (click to enlarge)

BOOK 1: Commemorative Tour Book

Paul McCartney / Wings Over America deluxe Commemorative Tour Book
110-page commemorative tour book – The story of the tour via interviews and liner notes by David Fricke. This book will be most similar to the previous books (click to enlarge).

More photos below: Continue reading “Paul McCartney / “Wings Over America” deluxe explained in photos”

Quick Look: R.E.M. / Green deluxe

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R.E.M. / Green deluxe reissue
Click to enlarge

Above, is how Rhino’s reissue of R.E.M.‘s 1988 album Green will look when it is released on 13 May. A bonus disc of live material is included as well as some postcards. More details and track listings here.

FIRST PICTURES : Paul McCartney / Wings Over America Deluxe Edition

Posted on by Paul Sinclair
Paul McCartney / Wings Over America Deluxe Edition photo
Click to enlarge

Further to yesterday’s news about Paul McCartney‘s forthcoming Wings Over America reissue, today we bring you the first photo of what the deluxe box version of this set looks like, and further clarification of the specification.

The set will actually come with FOUR books all housed within a numbered hardbound slipcase:

  • • 112-page book written by David Fricke, featuring new interviews and extensive tour photography
  • • Exclusive 60-page photographic journal of Linda s images chronicling life on the road
  • • 136-page replica tour book with itineraries, tour program, memorabilia, and lyrics plus three prints (10 x8 )
  • • 80-page book of drawings by artist Humphrey Ocean

We can see from the image that the slipcase (at the back) does not conform to the other deluxe reissues – with the album cover in question set into solid colour setting. The Wings Over America box looks to have a ‘flight case’ style decoration, with stickers, the Wings logo, as well as the album cover itself. It is also clear from the photo that other elements such as stickers, ticket replicas, perhaps a sewn-on patch, are also included in this box set.

As with previous deluxe editions a 24bit 96kHz high resolution audio versions of all songs on the remastered album & bonus audio tracks will be part of the offering, accessed via a download code inserted on a card within the deluxe edition package.

Full track listing and more here.

PRE-ORDER WINGS OVER AMERICA

Paul McCartney / Wings Over America 2CD reissue

2CD Standard Edition

Paul McCartney / Wings Over America Deluxe Edition photo

Deluxe 3CD+DVD with four books and slip case

Paul McCartney / Wings Over America 3LP vinyl reissue

Vinyl 3xLP edition

Second Hand News / April 2013

Posted on by Paul Sinclair

We got great feedback on last month’s ‘Second Hand News’ feature (thank you!). For newcomers, this is where we give you a little insight into the ‘new arrivals’ into the SuperDeluxeEdition used record collection. Basically, an excuse to talk about some good records or CDs.

So here, for your pleasure, is the next instalment: a few items that have found themselves into those inadequate ‘recycled’ plastic bags that charity or thrift stores often keep behind the tills. Lots of vinyl picked up in the last few weeks… enjoy!

Depeche Mode / I Feel You CD Single

Depeche Mode / I Feel You – UK CD Single (1993)

Back to the days when every Depeche Mode single seemed like a ‘classic’. I Feel You was the lead 45 from the Songs of Faith and Devotion album. The insistent driving guitar line still sounds essential today, and the track is dripping in sweat, danger and infidelity. Included is the Martin Gore-sung One Caress. This quality B-side is an exercise in pain and guilt, with a cinematic Bernard Herrmann-esque string break thrown in for good measure. Also contains the ‘throb mix’ of I Feel You (good) and the ‘babylon mix’ (not so good). Depeche Mode’s new album Delta Machine is out now.

Sheryl Crow / If It Makes You Happy US CD Single

Sheryl Crow / If It Makes You Happy – US CD Single (1996)

The four track US CD single of one of Sheryl Crow‘s very best songs, comes in a album-style jewel case with white tray. The selection here features two tracks not found on either of the two UK CD singles: I’m Gonna Be A Wheel Someday (from Fast Track To Nowhere, the soundtrack to a forgotten US TV Series called Rebel Highway) and No One Said It Would Be Easy live in Nashville. The former is dire, with the later simple coming across as rather lacklustre. Thankfully, the cover of the Derek and the Dominoes song, Keep On Growing, is excellent. The previous owner had left bits of the ‘J Card’ stuck on the front. Continue reading “Second Hand News / April 2013”

Paul McCartney / “Wings Over America” deluxe edition track listing

Posted on by Paul Sinclair

Paul McCartney / Wings Over America Archive Collection reissue

The track listing, and other details around Paul McCartney‘s forthcoming Wings Over America deluxe edition, have leaked and – assuming they are correct – it is looking like we will be getting the following physical formats on 4 June 2013:

  • • A 2CD standard edition
  • • A 3CD+DVD deluxe edition
  • • A 3LP vinyl edition

The two-CD standard edition will simply be a remastered version of the previous CD release (in new packaging, of course) that turned the triple album into a two-CD set. The deluxe edition will add an extra eight-track CD of alternative live performances of songs already on the album-proper. A DVD completes the audio/video content of the deluxe edition and will contain the 75 minute film Wings Over The World. The Rockshow film is being released separately on DVD and Blu-ray – details of that can be found here.

Of course being the deluxe edition, it’s not just about the music and video. There will be a 136-page book telling the story of the tour (programs, pictures, memorabilia, lyrics, notes etc), 60 pages of exclusive photos of the tour from Linda, and 80 pages of vintage drawings by Humphrey Ocean.
Continue reading “Paul McCartney / “Wings Over America” deluxe edition track listing”

McCartney & Wings / “Rockshow” confirmed for Blu-ray with 5.1

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Paul McCartney and Wings / Rockshow confirmed for Blu-ray

Paul McCartney‘s classic Rockshow film, which documented Wings’ 1976 world tour is to be released as a standalone Blu-ray and DVD on 10 June 2013.

Rockshow was filmed at Kingdome in Seattle, and was originally a cut down version of the concert. It has never been issued on DVD (aside from a few performances on the McCartney Years DVD anthology), but was released in 1980 on Betamax and later on laserdisc.
Continue reading “McCartney & Wings / “Rockshow” confirmed for Blu-ray with 5.1″

Interview: Carol Decker

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Carol Decker

Carol Decker, lead singer of T’Pau is taking the band back on tour again for the first time in 15 years, in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Bridge Of Spies album, which brought T’Pau massive commercial success back in 1987. We spoke to Carol a few weeks ago about the impending tour and the documentary called The Story Behind The Tracks (reviewed here) where her and T’Pau co-founder Ron Rogers looked back at their route to success.
Continue reading “Interview: Carol Decker”

Hawkwind / Warrior On The Edge Of Time super deluxe edition box

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Hawkwind / Warrior On The Edge Of Time Super Deluxe Edition

Hawkwind‘s 1975 album Warrior On The Edge Of Time has been remastered for the first time from the original analogue stereo master tapes, and is being released as a limited edition super deluxe edition in May 2013 via Atomhenge, the home of the ‘space rock’ band from 1975-1997.

This four disc set comprises two CDs, a DVD-A and a 180g vinyl, in addition to a deluxe book and various items of memorabilia.

The remastered album on CD one features eight bonus tracks, five of which are previously unreleased.

The DVD (NTSC) features a 5.1 Surround Sound remix from the original 16-track master tapes, and a new hi-res stereo remix – both by Steven Wilson. In addition this DVD features a hi-res (96khz / 24bit) flat transfer of the 1975 stereo master tapes.

The second CD in the set also features Wilson’s new stereo mix but comes with five further bonus tracks two of which are previously unreleased.

The heavyweight vinyl is cut from the original analogue cutting master tapes and is a ‘facsimile edition’ with “shield” gatefold sleeve and inner bag.

As well as the book, this set comes with a reproduction of an in-store promotional poster, a replica concert ticket and three promotional postcards.

Full track listings below:
Continue reading “Hawkwind / Warrior On The Edge Of Time super deluxe edition box”

TPau / The Story Behind The Tracks

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T'Pau / The Story Behind The Tracks - Bridge Of Spies
“Great fun and highly entertaining”

With no deluxe reissue of 1987’s multi-platinum Bridge Of Spies album coming any time soon, Carol Decker and her ex-partner Ron Rogers have grasped the initiative and created their own celebration of T’Pau’s debut.

The Story Behind The Tracks is a CD+DVD set – released on Carol’s own Gnatfish Records label – that combines an hour long documentary with a CD of all the songs from Bridge Of Spies in demo form as well as additional demos, including six previously unheard tracks.

The film takes us from Carol and Ron’s early days in a band called The Lazers, (when he was still a telephone engineer and Carol was getting by doing bar work) through to the breakthrough success of Heart and Soul in the US and China In Your Hand hitting number one in the UK. It’s a highly entertaining watch, with the pair revisiting old haunts such as their flat in Pengwern Boatclub in Shewsbury (“a gift from the gods”), the now derelict Woodside Studios, and the Columbia Hotel in London where the record company would put them up on their initial visits to London.
Continue reading “TPau / The Story Behind The Tracks”

Shakespears Sister / Sacred Heart deluxe reissue confusion

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Shakespears Sister / Sacred Heart reissue confusion

Sacred Heart the 1989 debut album from Shakespears Sister, is due for a deluxe reissue this summer, but the rights to re-release this album – which is owned by Warner Music – is now the subject of contention following claims via Siobhan Fahey and Shakespears Sister’s official Facebook page that Cherry Pop (part of Cherry Red Records) “do not have clearance or any licence from WMG to reissue this album”. Below is the text in full posted to the Shakespears Sister Facebook page (and twitter) on Thursday 28th March 2013:

“Just clear up some rumours. The Sacred Heart reissue will be released on SF Records this year. The label, Cherry Pop do not have clearance or any licence from WMG to reissue this album. No disrespect to the label, but any rumours stating so are totally untrue. The reissue will be done within Siobhan’s own team with officially licensed material. Anyway, we hope that ends the debate on the issue and you can look forward to the MUSIC. Thank you for your kind and supportive words on all our previous reissues, especially #3 and MGA! This has given us incentive to bring more”.

Cherry Pop strongly disagree. The project manager who has been working on this reissue for that label got in touch with this blog to issue the following quote:

“I wouldn’t normally comment on a situation yet to be resolved, but given recent statements from elsewhere which wrongly suggest otherwise, I think it should be made clear that Shakespears Sister’s ‘Sacred Heart’ had indeed been scheduled for a June 2013 release on Cherry Pop, officially licensed from Warner Music UK.

This project has been in the works since May 2012, with Warners giving formal legal approval and clearance in February 2013. As such, much time and energy has already gone into it, with tracklisting and label copy finalised weeks ago and design and remastering (using original masters from the Warner archive) already well underway.

In the last few days, it has become apparent that there is some confusion over this project. Therefore, it is currently on hold until Warner can clarify the situation for all parties”.

So somehow we are in a situation where two parties believe they have the right to reissue this album with a licensing agreement from Warners. On the one hand Cherry Pop a well established reissue label specialising in ’80s/’90s pop and the the other “Siobhan’s own team” via SF Records.

Hopefully, the situation will be resolved and clarified soon, since the last thing fans of Shakespears Sister will want is a lengthy legal battle which will delay the reissue

The Moody Blues / “Timeless Flight” massive 17-disc box set

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The Moody Blues / Timeless Flight 17-disc box set
The box set features CDs, DVD-Video and DVD-Audio

In June 2013, The Moody Blues will release Timeless Flight, an enormous 17-disc box set celebrating a career than spans almost 50 years.

The set comes housed in a heavy-duty LP-sized hard-back slipcase and will feature:

  1. 11 remastered CDs featuring key album tracks, previously unreleased mixes, out-takes and complete live concerts
  2. Three DVDs of rare television performances from around the world, promotional videos and the previously unreleased live concert from Olympia, Paris in 1970
  3. Three DVD audio discs containing the long-deleted 5.1 surround sound mixes of Days Of Future Passed, On The Threshold Of A Dream, To Our Children’s Children’s Children, A Question Of Balance, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour and Seventh Sojourn
  4. 120-page hard-back book including a new essay by Moody Blues researcher Mark Powell, plus rare and previously unseen photos
  5. Replica full colour tour poster and discography
  6. Replica Threshold press pack containing photos and memorabilia
  7. Exclusive Timeless Flight fabric patch
Track listings have not yet been released, but rest assured we will bring you details as soon as we have them.

Tabu Re-born reissue track listings

Posted on by Paul Sinclair

Demon Music Group have revealed the track listings for the second wave in their Tabu Records Re-born reissue campaign. These albums will be available in early May.

The S.O.S. Band / S.O.S Tabu Re-born reissue

S.O.S. by The S.O.S. Band will be issued as an expanded edition on one CD, and contains the following tracks:

  • • What’s Wrong With Our Love Affair
  • • Open Letter
  • • Love Won’t Wait For Love
  • • Take Your Time (Do It Right)
  • • I’m In Love
  • • Take Love Where You Find It
  • • S.O.S. (Reprise)

Bonus tracks:

  • • S.O.S. (Dit Dit Dit Dash Dash Dash Dit Dit Dit)
  • • S.O.S. (Dit Dit Dit Dash Dash Dash Dit Dit Dit) (Special Disco Mix)
  • • Take Your Time (Do It Right) (Pt. 1)
  • • Take Your Time (Do It Right) (Pt. 2)
  • • Take Your Time (Do It Right) (Long Version)
  • • What’s Wrong With Our Love Affair?

Alexander O'Neal / Hearsay Tabu Re-born reissue

Alexander O’Neal‘s Hearsay album is probably one of the most anticipated of the reissues and comes as a two-CD deluxe edition. Tracks are as follows:

CD 1

  • • (What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me
  • • Hearsay
  • • The Lovers
  • • Fake
  • • Criticize
  • • Never Knew Love Like This
  • • Sunshine
  • • Crying Overtime
  • • When The Party’s Over

CD 2

  • • Criticize (Single Edit)
  • • Criticize (Critical Mix)
  • • Criticize (Critical Dub)
  • • Criticize (Critical Edit)
  • • Criticize (Nag Mix)
  • • Fake (Edit)
  • • Fake (Patty Mix)
  • • Fake (Instrumental)
  • • Never Knew Love Like This
  • • Sunshine (Edit)
  • • Hearsay ’89
  • • The Lovers (Bonus Beats)

Cherrelle / High Priority Tabu Re-born deluxe reissue

Finally, Cherrelle’s High Priority also comes as a two-CD deluxe edition and will feature the following tracks across the two discs:

CD 1

  • The Opening
  • You Look Good To Me
  • Artificial Heart
  • New Love
  • Oh No It’s U Again
  • Saturday Love (Vocals – Alexander O’Neal)
  • Will You Satisfy?
  • Where Do I Run To
  • High Priority
  • New Love (Reprise)

CD 2

  • Artificial Heart (Dance Remix)
  • Oh No It’s U Again (Extended Version)
  • Artificial Heart
  • Oh No It’s U Again
  • Saturday Love
  • Saturday Love (Extended Version)
  • Saturday Love (Instrumental)
  • Saturday Love (Feelin’ Luv Extended Mix)
  • Saturday Love (Steve Anderson Remix)
  • You Look Good To Me
  • You Look Good To Me (Extended Remix)
What are your thoughts on these track listings? Leave a comment!

FIRST PICTURES / The Eagles Studio Albums 1972-1979 box

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The Eagles / Studio Albums 1972-1978 box set

New this week is The Eagles Studio Albums 1972-1978 box.

This limited edition set contains the Californian rock band’s six albums from the classic seventies era before their infamous “14-year vacation” (after which they returned with Hell Freezes Over). Included here are Eagles, Deperado, On The Border, One Of These Nights, Hotel California, and The Long Run.

The CDs come in the usual straightforward card sleeves with vinyl replica artwork. No gatefolds, inner sleeves or booklet(s) with this set. The clam-shell style box is quite sturdy and the whole thing is pretty similar to the recent Van Halen box set.

The Eagles / Studio Albums 1972-1978 box set

The Eagles / Studio Albums 1972-1978 box set

Nick Drake / Bryter Layter vinyl box

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Nick Drake / Bryter Layter audiophile vinyl box set
Nick Drake’s Bryter Layter was originally released in 1970

Nick Drake‘s classic second album, 1970’s Bryter Layter, receives the same vinyl box set treatment as the Pink Moon reissue from last year on 29 April 2013 (slightly delayed from the original release).

Above, is the first picture of the package, and as can be seen, it very much follows in the same style as Pink Moon deluxe box. Bryter Layter will be pressed on audiophile heavyweight virgin vinyl, with the original packaging replicated, and additional items will be included (such as handwritten set list, poster etc.), all collected in a large lift-off lid box showing details such as the original master tape box from which the vinyl was mastered.

A download card will be included, and should offer the digital version in three different file formats – hi-res FLAC files or standard MP3s, and a ‘dubbed from disc’ set of MP3s from an original vinyl copy of the record.

FIRST PICTURES: Stephen Stills / “Carry On” 4CD deluxe box set

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FIRST PICTURES: Stephen Stills / Carry On 4CD box set

Stephen Stills‘ anthology box set Carry On is finally released next week and we have the first photos of the set for you.

Amongst the 82 tracks are 25 previously unreleased recordings, studios versions and remixes. Full track listing is here.

Carry On comes with a very impressive 116 page booklet and the packaging has a high quality feel to it with spot varnishing to outer covers creating a textured effect.

FIRST PICTURES: Stephen Stills / Carry On 4CD box set

FIRST PICTURES: Stephen Stills / Carry On 4CD box set

FIRST PICTURES: Stephen Stills / Carry On 4CD box set

FIRST PICTURES: Stephen Stills / Carry On 4CD box set

FIRST PICTURES: Stephen Stills / Carry On 4CD box set

Suede resolve Bloodsports bonus tracks but fan grumbling persists

Posted on by Paul Sinclair
Suede / Bloodsports deluxe bundle
Front of the Bloodsports Hardback book edition

Suede and their management have responded to criticism from fans and from this blog, by offering purchasers of the £100 deluxe version of their new Bloodsports album download codes for three bonus tracks.

We had pointed out last week that the bonus track Howl was unique to iTunes purchasers and should really have been offered as part of the expensive box set. Two further ‘bonus’ tracks Dawn Chorus and No Holding Back appear on the seven-inch vinyl record supplied with both versions of the box set, but weren’t on the USB stick supplied with the £100 version (as they were supposed to be).

Suede Bloodsports USB stick from the £100 deluxe bundle
Bonus audio and video was missing from USB

Purchasers of the £100 deluxe bundle should now have received a download code for all three tracks mentioned above, plus two music videos. The only commercially available bonus track not available digitally or physically to buyers of the premium set is now the Japan-only track Nothing Can Stop Us.

This news will be very welcome to the Suede fans concerned, but worryingly for the band and their management, complaints still persist about the overall quality of the Hardback book deluxe bundles – quite a few buyers have taken to Suede’s official forum and to SuperDeluxeEdition to highlight the following:

  1. The advertised 180g ‘audiophile’ vinyl is apparently only 140g
  2. Labels pressed off centre on side 2 of the LP
  3. Some reporting ‘very poor’ sound quality on that side 2 of the LP.
  4. Labels reversed on the seven-inch vinyl
  5.  Seven-inch in very poor condition
  6. Tears where the CD and vinyl ‘slot’ into the book, dinks and rips in the book.

It should be said that many are very happy with the product, although the number of people complaining suggests that it is more than a few isolated cases, and at least numbers 1, 2, & 4 listed above appear to be a point of ‘fact’ rather than opinion.

A look at how the deluxe sets house the seven-inch single (see photo below) may explain why so many of them are scratched or in poor condition. Incredibly, someone thought sliding the vinyl single into a ‘pocket’ in one of the inner covers of the book with absolutely no protective sleeve of any kind, was appropriate. Wholly inadequate for delicate vinyl. Other ‘super deluxe’ box sets that come with seven-inch records – such as The Who‘s Quadrophenia Director’s Cut from 2011 or last year’s Sex Pistols‘ Never Mind The Bollocks… tend to house the vinyl in a protective sleeve, and then put the whole thing in a separate wallet.

Suede / Bloodsports deluxe bundle vinyl
Many fans report of damaged or scratched 7″ vinyl

At the time of writing there is nothing on the Suede Facebook page or website that makes any reference to these issues, or indeed apologises to fans about the USB stick not having the correct content. The Stereo Boutique website continues to sell the cheaper of the deluxe bundles and continues to advertise the vinyl LP that comes with the set as 180g ‘audiophile’ vinyl. Queries from fans to Suede via twitter have gone (publicly) unanswered.

Photos above all courtesy of Edd Donnelly.