ZZ Top / The Studio Albums 1970 –1990 box set with original mixes

ZZ Top / The Studio Albums 1970-1990 box set with original mixes

Rhino will release a 10CD ZZ Top box set on 10th June 2013.

The Studio Albums 1970-1990 comes in the familiar Rhino clamshell box packaging (see The Eagles and Chicago) and each album will come in vinyl replica card wallets, with Tres Hombres and Tejas replicating the original gatefolds.

Most importantly, this set presents, for the first time on CD, the original mixes for ZZ Top’s First AlbumRio Grande Mud and Tejas. Tres Hombres and Fandango will also use the original mixes, although expanded versions of those albums that used those mixes were issued back in 2006.

This set is looking like a no-brainer for fans, especially since it will be priced competitively.

Track Listing:
Continue reading “ZZ Top / The Studio Albums 1970 –1990 box set with original mixes”

Nilsson / The RCA Albums Collection

Nilsson / The RCA Albums Collection box set

Sony Legacy are set to release a big box set of all Nilsson‘s RCA albums on 29 July 2013.

One might be the loneliest number, but this 17 CD collection should banish any blues with three additional CDs featuring 58-tracks of single-only releases and outtakes, half of which is previously unreleased. There will also be bonus tracks on the individual albums – a total of 65 in all. The packaging looks similar to the recent Cheap Trick box set with a large clam-shell box and simple vinyl replica jackets.

Those in the US might want to check out the amazon UK price (below). Significantly cheaper (at the time of writing), even with shipping.

Nilsson / The RCA Albums Collection box set


Full and detailed track listing for Nilsson: The RCA Albums Collection:

Continue reading “Nilsson / The RCA Albums Collection”

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT: Interview with Vinny Vero (Part 2)

Vinny-March-Stockholm-3-ver-II

Part two of our interview with remixer, DJ, songwriter and reissue producer, Vinny Vero. If you haven’t read the first part, you might want to do that first!


SuperDeluxeEdition: One of our pet hates is when the names of remixes change over the years. Really, whatever it’s called on the original twelve-inch single, that should probably remain the name of it. But even with the artists themselves, sometimes tracks just get labelled as the ’12” mix’ and it morphs into something else. Very irritating!

Vinny Vero: That irritates me. I always do what you suggest. I always go to the original twelve-inch, but what really bugs me, and this happened on Basia [Vinny is producing the reissue of Time and Tide]  is when the labels say one thing, and the sleeves say another. One will say ‘extended remix’ and the other might say ‘extended mix’.  I tend to go with what’s on the label. With Breathe, which was such a strange project, Jonah was released twice as a single. The first time it was released with just one mix, which echoed the album, the second time it was released as a single, Paul Staveley O’Duffy did a seven-inch single mix, but he didn’t do a twelve-inch mix. However, there is an extended version of it on that second issue of that single, but it’s the same version as was on the first issue of the twelve-inch – (laughs) can you tell how crazy this is?
Continue reading “INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT: Interview with Vinny Vero (Part 2)”

Japanese CD of the Day / Crowded House: Weather With You

Crowded House / Weather With You / Japanese CD single
Click to enlarge

Crowded House‘s third single from 1991’s Woodface, would hit the UK top ten in February 1992. Alongside the evergreen Don’t Dream It’s Over, it would become something of a signature tune for the band (outside the US) in the years and decades that followed.

This five-track Japanese CD single release (TOCP-7157) features the 4:02 radio edit of Weather With You and includes quite an early live version of Don’t Dream It’s Over (recorded at The Roxy in LA on 7 April 1987).

Another single from the first album, Something So Strong, is also featured – again from 1987 – but this time from a gig at The Trocadero in Philadelphia.

Roger McGuinn joins the band for a performance of Mr. Tambourine Man (recorded in 1989), but perhaps the most interesting bonus track on this single, is live version of Walking On The Spot performed at London’s Town And Country Club in November 1991. At the time unreleased, this track would end up on 1993’s masterpiece Together Alone, with some extra instrumentation (notable an accordion). The live version on this disc is more straightforward, but still charming. Its structure is virtually identical to the studio master recording.

Most, if not all of these tracks ended up dispersed on various CD singles around the world, but this Japanese CD is effectively a ‘highlights’ disc from all the different Weather With You formats.

The Beatles: All These Years / Vol one of biography announced

The Beatles / All These Years / Tune In biography

Mark Lewisohn – generally acknowledged as one of the world’s foremost Beatles historians – releases volume one of a three part fab four biography in autumn 2013.

The series is titled All These Years and the first book is being called Tune In. This volume will examine the formative pre-fame years, the teenage years, the Liverpool and Hamburg years.

The publishers, Little Brown, claim that Lewisohn’s work is “certain to become the lasting word” on the band. This remains to be seen, but Beatles fanatics will already own some of his work, such as The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, which is a superlative reference guide, and fairly much a Beatles ‘bible’ to many fans.

You can keep up to date with the lastest news at thebeatlesbiography.com

Standard version

Extended Hardcover Special Edition

FIRST PICTURES / Nick Drake: Bryter Layter remastered vinyl box set

Nick Drake / Bryter Layter vinyl box set

Nick Drake‘s 1970 album Bryter Layter was issued last week as a special vinyl box set, in the same way Pink Moon was last year.

This new reissue comes in a rigid lift-off lid box with a slightly bizarre front image of a sealed version of the album complete with a ‘Record Tape & Video Exchange’ sticker on the front (not an actual sticker).
Continue reading “FIRST PICTURES / Nick Drake: Bryter Layter remastered vinyl box set”

Scared To Get Happy: A Story Of Indie Pop / 5CD box set

scaredtogethappy - final

Scared To Get Happy – A Story of Indie-Pop 1980-1989 is a five CD set we first told you about back in February. At that point the track listing was still a work in progress, but we can now confirm the running order (see below).

The mammoth 134-track set features music from all the key indie labels of the period (Creation, Factory, Rough Trade, Kitchenware, et al) and features many bands who would later taste mainstream success including Primal Scream, Aztec Camera, Stone Roses, Pulp, the Wonder Stuff, Lloyd Cole & The Commotions, The Jesus & Mary Chain, and Prefab Sprout, etc.

Many tracks see their CD debut on this set, while some selections have never officially been released before at all. Scared To Get Happy comes complete with a 54-page booklet, with lengthy sleeve-notes and illustrations of the records and bands involved.

Scared To Get Happy is out on 24 June 2013 from Cherry Red.

Scared To Get Happy – full track listing:
Continue reading “Scared To Get Happy: A Story Of Indie Pop / 5CD box set”

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT: Interview with Vinny Vero (Part 1)

Vinny Vero / Industry Spotlight

Vinny Vero is a busy man. As well as producing deluxe releases for Cherry Red Records, he regularly remixes other artists’ work (just finished one for OMD), and is a songwriter, producer and DJ. We caught up with him recently to talk about his career in music and his most recent work on the Breathe, Basia and Julia Fordham reissues.


SuperDeluxeEdition: How did you get involved in the music business?

Vinny Vero: I was at university and wound up getting the opportunity to work in one of the biggest radio stations here in New York. Because I showed tremendous passion for music, they put me right into the music department. I was in charge of contacting – at that point by phone – retail outlets to find out what was selling, what wasn’t selling, to see if the plays on the radio were having any impact. So that was really interesting, and it also gave me exposure to record labels, coming in every week promoting there new singles. So within, I guess, a year and a half, I got the opportunity to then go and work at EMI. I started out as an assistant, and through a series of situations where I was put in front of artists, I started getting a reputation for being really ‘into it’, and they [the artists] really liked that because it was somebody at a label that they felt they could connect with. Within a year, I was a Marketing Manager, which was exactly what I wanted to do, and within six months of that they didn’t have anybody to work their catalogue, so they said, well we’ve got these five or six acts, why don’t you do their catalogue.
Continue reading “INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT: Interview with Vinny Vero (Part 1)”

Top 10: Deluxe Editions of the 1990s

For your pleasure, a look back to some special CD releases from the 1990s. Yes, we have dug out of the SuperDeluxeEdition archive some interesting 2CD sets. Deluxe editions before we even called them ‘deluxe editions’. Some were very limited, others less so, but all were issued in addition to a standard single CD version. How many have you got?

George Michael / Older & Upper deluxe edition
Click to enlarge

George Michael / Older & Upper 2CD (1997)

George Michael‘s third solo album Older was a phenomenal seller in the UK. Six singles were released from the record and all of them reached the UK top three (two number ones, three number twos and a sole number three). This special edition came with a six track bonus disc called Upper which contained a couple of remixes, two radio edits and the new studio recordings issued with the Spinning The Wheel single, namely Safe and You Know That I Want To. The bonus disc also contains ‘interative elements’ which means pixelated videos to Jesus To A Child, Fastlove, and Spinning The Wheel that require ‘Quicktime 2.5’. The bonus disc comes in a simple card sleeve, which slots into a special slip-case with the standard album.


Echo & The Bunnymen / Evergreen deluxe edition
Click to enlarge

Echo & The Bunnymen  / Evergreen 2CD (1997)

The 1997 Echo & The Bunnymen ‘comeback’ album featured UK top ten hit Nothing Lasts Forever. This 2CD special edition featured ten Peel Session tracks culled from 1979 (Villiers Terrace, Read It In Books), 1980, 1982, 1983 (Seven Seas, Ocean Rain) and 1997.
Continue reading “Top 10: Deluxe Editions of the 1990s”

Out This Week / 29 April 2013

Nick Drake / Bryter Later audiophile vinyl box set

Nick Drake / Bryter Layter vinyl box set

This boxed vinyl edition of Drake’s 1970 album has a completely new analogue remaster, supervised by original recording engineer John Wood,  and is pressed onto 180gsm audiophile vinyl. The set includes reproduction of textured sleeve and inner bag, poster and facsimile of handwritten set list. Comes with three digital downloads, MP3, hi-res and ‘dubbed from disc’. Read more


Continue reading “Out This Week / 29 April 2013”

Halfway to Heaven: Blow Monkeys triple-set hits collection on the way

The Blow Monkeys / Halfway to Heaven

29/04/13 Update: Sony informed us today that Track 3 “You Don’t Own Me” will not be featuring on this compilation, due to clearance issues.

Sony music will release a Blow Monkeys three-disc set on 17 June 2013 that comprises a single disc ‘best of’, a further CD compiling highlights of frontman Dr. Robert‘s solo career, and a final disc that features a remastered recording of The Blow Monkeys’ 1984 Hammersmith Palais concert in its entirety.

The best of is brought right up to date by the inclusion of Chained, a track from the new album Feels Like A New Morning, and fans will be pleased that You Don’t Own Me from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack also finds a place here.

Halfway To Heaven continues the fertile release schedule for Blow Monkeys-related product. Last year saw early albums Limping For A Generation and Animal Magic reissued as two-CD deluxe editions and in 2013 we have Feels Like A New Morning and this new collection. It doesn’t stop there either. Cherry Red will carry on with the archive releases, with the now-topical She Was Only A Grocer’s Daughter next on the list.

Halfway To Heaven track listing:
Continue reading “Halfway to Heaven: Blow Monkeys triple-set hits collection on the way”

Robert Palmer / “Sneakin’ Sally” bonus cuts emerge on new reissue

Robert Palmer / Sneaking Sally Through The Alley reissue
1974’s “Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley” saw Palmer backed by The Meters and Lowell George of Little Feat

Robert Palmer‘s classic debut, 1974’s Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley is the lastest in a line of Palmer reissues from the Culture Factory record label.

The same company have already tackled albums such as Secrets (1979), Clues (1980) and Double Fun (1978) in the last few years, but apart from rather nice mini-LP CD vinyl replica sleeves, none of those releases have come with any bonus material.

The eight-track Sneakin’ Sally will buck this trend, and comes with four additional bonus tracks: a single mix of Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley, Epidemic (Sneakin’ Sally B-side) and alternate takes of album tracks Blackmail and Get Outside.

Fans have long been frustrated by how Palmer’s eight studio albums for Island Records have been neglected, in terms of expanded deluxe reissues, and it is not particularly clear why or how Culture Factory have managed to negotiate access to this bonus material when none of the other albums have got the same treatment. The hit-laden Riptide from 1985 is also being reissued at the same time as Sneakin’ Sally, but features nothing extra.

Both Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley and Riptide will be issued on 21 May in the US but Sneakin’ Sally is available next week in France.

Robert Palmer / Sneaking Sally Through The Alley reissue
OBI-style strip confirms the track listing for the Sneakin’ Sally reissue from Culture Factory (France)

 

Johnny Hates Jazz / Magnetized

Johnny Hates Jazz / Magnetized review

Johnny Hates Jazz are back!

It’s been over 25 years since Clark Datchler, Mike Nocito and Calvin Hayes released Turn Back The Clock, a rather underrated and forgotten slice of well-crafted pop. A decent career beckoned, particularly since unlike some of their contemporaries (Wet Wet Wet), the band had ‘cracked’ America, with lead single Shattered Dreams peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1988.
Continue reading “Johnny Hates Jazz / Magnetized”

Record Store Day: The aftermath

Waiting outside Flashback in north London on Record Store Day
Waiting outside Flashback in north London on Record Store Day

Record Store Day can be a little like Christmas. Lots of build-up and anticipation as you get excited about what you might ‘get’ and then a slight anti-climatic feeling when it’s all over, mixed with a small dose of resentment about how everyone else ended up with better ‘presents’ than you.

This year was a more satisfying experience for us than 2012. Back then, the shop we were in didn’t have any Kate Bush Lake Tahoe 10-inch picture discs at all, the David Bowie Starman picture disc was also not available, and Paul McCartney’s Another Day / Oh Woman Oh Why – the RAM promoting seven-inch – was US only.
Continue reading “Record Store Day: The aftermath”

ZTT announce “Zambient One”

front

After a reasonably busy second half of last year, ZTT have been fairly quiet of late. That has all changed, with the release of the limited edition Record Store Day Frankie Goes To Hollywood shaped picture disc last weekend, and the recent announcement of a new compilation, Zambient One.

Described as ‘the soundtrack to an imaginary road movie’, Zambient One is a 13-track one-CD set (unmixed) that kicks off with the Art Of Noise‘s Moments In Love (Beating Hart’s Mix) and ends with the Mint Juleps‘ take on Neil Young’s Only Love Can Break Your Heart. On the way the journey takes in tracks such as Tracy Ullman‘s I Know What Boys Like (from the Stiff Records archive, like the Mint Juleps track) and Kirsty MacColl‘s Walking Down Madison (the slinky ‘6AM Ambient Mix’).

Almost inevitably, the cash cow that is Frankie Goes To Hollywood comes out to graze, and so halfway through this make-believe road movie, we pull over to stretch our legs and enjoy Relax (Sex Mix, Edition Two). This is an 8.25 edit of the very original 16 minute Sex Mix (the version that ‘forgets’ to play the actual song at the end).

2013 is a significant year for ZTT – it’s their 30th anniversary. This playful compilation is, we hope, very much an Hors d’oeuvre for some great celebrations and reissues to come.

Zambient One is released on 3 June 2012 via Salvo Records.

ZTT / Zambient One
ZTT / Zambient One (click to enlarge)
ZTT / Zambient One
ZTT / Zambient One full track listing

 

 

David Bowie Box is Back

David Bowie Box / 2013 reissue
Bowie Box contains the albums Outside, Earthling, Hours, Heathen and Reality – all as comprehensive 2CD sets

Sony Music are to reissue their David Bowie Box (originally released in 2007) which comprehensively summarises the thin white duke‘s official output from 1995 to 2004.

This is a 10CD box set which contains the following five albums, all issued as two-CD sets: Outside (1995), Earthling (1997) Hours… (1999), Heathen (2002) and Reality (2003).

For anyone looking to investigate Bowie in the nineties and noughties, then look no further. With the exception of the Tin Machine albums, Black Tie White Noise and the soundtrack to The Buddha Of Suburbia, this set houses all the man’s studio album-related output since 1987’s Never Let Me Down – and it’s fantastically comprehensive.

For example Outside‘s bonus disc contains five remixes of lead single tour de force The Heart’s Filthy Lesson, a further four versions of Hallo Spaceboy as well as Get Real (originally a Japanese bonus track which later turned up on the Strangers When We Meet UK CD single). All the bonus discs do a similar thing, rounding up tracks from CD singles, twelve-inch vinyl, remixes and the various two-disc editions that were available at the time. Heathen‘s extra disc gathers together all the tracks (commercially issued at the time) that were originally intended for Bowie’s stillborn Toy album (Baby Loves That Way, Shadow Man etc.) In total 63 bonus tracks are included in this box.

Furthermore, the packaging is high quality japanese style mini-LP CDs (vinyl replica) with inner sleeves reproduced, decent protection for CDs, larger 135mm x 135mm dimensions, and slavish attention to the original vinyl design (Outside is called Excerpts From Outside as per the original vinyl sleeve, despite containing the full-length version and bonus disc!). All the five album packages are housed in a very sturdy slipcase which boasts design elements from all the individual releases. Sony have informed us that the packaging for this reissue will be identical to the original.

This box set has been out of print for quite a while and currently commands high prices on the used market. All that will change on 27 May when the reissue is released. Expect to pay around £40 for this set (at the time of writing pre-orders only available from Amazon Germany).

David Bowie Box / 2013 reissue

David Bowie Box full track listing:
Continue reading “David Bowie Box is Back”

Out This Week / 22 April 2013

The Eagles / History of The Eagles DVD

The Eagles / History Of The Eagles 3xBlu-ray or DVD

Official documentary exploring the history of the iconic US rock band, featuring archive material, performance footage and home movies recorded by the band members. Four hours of never before seen material from the past 40 years and a 5.1 surround option.

DVD

Blu-ray


Continue reading “Out This Week / 22 April 2013”

Blow Monkeys album tracks preview

Blow Monkey and SuperDeluxeEdition reviewer, Dr. Robert chatted to us about the new album Feels Like A New Morning yesterday. Look out for the interview next week, but in the meantime take a listen to the superb Cover Me and the title track from the record, which is released on 29 April 2013

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/88541126″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/88097363″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/89128133″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Blank & Jones / SoEighties 8

Blank & Jones / SoEighties vol 8

A new volume of classic twelve-inch club and extended mixes from the 1980s will be issued on 3 May by curators Blank & Jones. SoEighties volume 8 is an unmixed three-CD set and we have been informed by Blank & Jones that all 34 tracks are from the original source “100% vinyl rip free”.

This set includes George Michael‘s long ‘Monogamy Mix’ of 1987’s I Want Your Sex (inexplicably omitted from the 2011 deluxe editions of Faith), the extended remix of Katrina and the Sunshine‘s Walking On Sunshine (first time on CD) and Shout from Tears For Fears in it’s rare ‘Extended Mix’ form (i.e. not the ‘US Mix’).

We have asked Blank & Jones to comment on each track within this set and you can see what they have to say below (along with the track listing, of course).

Due to licensing restrictions, SoEighties 8 is only officially available in Germany. Of course, it’s very easy to order via the German Amazon site, so no major issues there!

Track listing below (track commentary by Blank & Jones):
Continue reading “Blank & Jones / SoEighties 8”

Record Store Day 2013 beckons

logo

The sixth Record Store Day is nearly upon us. This Saturday 20 April sees another annual celebration of independent record stores, with major labels and indies alike, issuing special vinyl and CD releases made exclusively for the day. We will be up early hoping for a place near the front of the queue, that might just secure us some of the items at the top of our particular ‘wants’ list.

Here we highlight some of the items that caught our eye from the official list of items being issued. Remember everything is very limited and experience has taught us that you need to have a ‘plan B’ ready if the item you want is not available!

ZTT / Frankie Goes To Hollywood Record Store Day

Frankie Goes To Hollywood / Shaped Picture Disc

A shaped seven-inch picture limited to 500 copies. PZTAS 30 is a UK-only release via Salvo/Union Square Music. One side of the disc has Maximum Joy from the Frankie Said compilation and Is Anybody Out There? (voiceless) is on the other side.


Kate Bush / Running Up That Hill RSD pic disc

Kate Bush / Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) 2012 remix

Kate’s ‘olympic remix’ of Running Up That Hill gives us a new vocal and fattens up the bottom end a little bit, but is largely unchanged. This ten-inch picture disc is the first physical release for the track, outside the soundtrack CD to the London 2012 Olympic Games. The B-side is Walk Straight Down The Middle a CD-only bonus track from 1989’s The Sensual World – the original (and excellent) 12-inch remix of Running Up That Hill would have been a better choice.


Half Japanese / 1/2 Gentlemen / Not Beasts 4LP box set

Half Japanese – 1/2 Gentlemen / Not Beasts 4LP box set (Fire)

The only release that – ahem – we have a copy of already, this 4LP box set expands the original triple record from Michigan band Half Japanese with a disc of previously unreleased material. Comes packaged in a sturdy lift-off lid box with poster, badge, booklet and a download card. All vinyl is 180g. Definitely one to look out for.


Factory Records Communications 1978 - 92

Factory Records / Communications 1978-92 EP vol 2

A various artists release, this ten-inch vinyl features the following tracks: side A She’s Lost Control (Joy Division), 1963 [12 ” Remastered Version] New Order Side B Otis (The Durutti Column),  Loose Fit (12 ” version) (Happy Mondays). This item is drastically short on stock, with more due in towards the end of next week AFTER Record Store Day!


Men Without Hats / Saftety Dance picture disc

Men Without Hats / Safety Dance (Demon) – 750 copies

Is it safe to dance? Men Without Hats‘ classic 1983 hit single as a seven-inch picture. The B-side is an unreleased instrumental version of the song.


Suede / Animal Nitrate - Barriers RSD 7"

 Suede / Animal Nitrate – Barriers (Warner/Demon)

Double A-side seven-inch which features the classic single from Suede‘s debut, paired with Barriers from Bloodsports.


David Bowie / The Stars (Are Out Tonight) white vinyl

David Bowie / The Stars (Are Out Tonight)  (Columbia)

This white vinyl seven-inch single from David Bowie is the first physical 45 release from The Next Day. The flipside is first single Where Are We Now. There are two other RSD Bowie releases: a seven-inch picture disc of Drive-In Saturday (EMI) and Bowie 1965!a UK-only seven-inch EP (also EMI).


Marianne Faithfull / Broken English original mix RSD

 Marianne Faithfull / Broken English original mix

A vinyl release of the rejected original mix of the Broken English album. Said to be Faithfull’s preferred version, this was issued on deluxe CD reissue earlier this year.


REM / Live in Greensboro RSD

R.E.M. / Live In Greensboro

A CD EP of live tracks not found on the forthcoming deluxe edition of Green. Limited to just 2,500 copies, the disc comes with an original (non-reproduction) patch from the Green Tour. These patches were recently uncovered in the band’s vault. Tracks are So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)Feeling Gravitys Pull,  StrangeKing Of BirdsI Remember California.


The Cure / Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me red vinyl RSD

The Cure / Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me 2LP – red vinyl

A RED VINYL edition of The Cure‘s classic 1987 album, which is also individually numbered.


A full list of UK items can be found here. The US site is here.