Out This Week / 14 October 2016

XTC / Skylarking (CD+blu-ray combo)

Andy Partridge continues to set the bar very high with XTC reissues that offer more content that rival sets at much lower prices. Imagine a Kate Bush Hounds of Love set like this Skylarking deluxe? Not so much a reissue, more an autopsy on the album, with the results delivered via 5.1 mixes, complete alternate version of the album, demo and ‘worktape’ sessions and more. Buy it!  

Oasis / Be Here Now (reissue)

That awkward moment in your reissue campaign when you have to ‘celebrate’ albums that just aren’t very good. Oasis‘ third long-player Be Here Now is reissued this week. Maybe the CD of demos might reveal what could have been… or not. The usual overpriced super deluxe box is available. 

Phil Collins / The Singles (3CD or 4LP box)

Phil Collins‘ ‘Take A Look At Me Now’ reissue campaign is a classic example of why not to give the artist control of archival releases. The whole thing has been half-hearted and misguided. Seriously, what do they know about what sells, or what fans expect? This hits set, which appears to close the campaign, contains no particular rarities or *those* 12-inch versions missing from the reissues. Like the album deluxe editions, I’m sure it will sound good, but it’s a bit boring. 

Pink Floyd / Wish You Were Here  (vinyl reissue)

Pink Floyd‘s unfeasibly good follow-up to The Dark Side of the Moon, 1975’s Wish You Were Here is being made available again on vinyl. 

Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein / Stranger Things sountrack

Sublime music created for a sublime TV series. There are actually two volumes of the Stranger Things soundtrack and a myriad of vinyl special editions in various territories. 

Suzanne Vega / Lover, Beloved: Songs From an Evening With Carson McCullers

The ninth studio album from Suzanne Vega is based on the singer-songwriters’ play about the American author Carson McCullers and features ten original Vega songs, mostly co-written with composer Duncan Sheik. She’s on tour in the UK right now. 

Peter Gabriel / Growing Up Live

This Peter Gabriel blu-ray+DVD features over six hours of content, including Growing Up Live, Still Growing Up Live and documentaries Unwrapped and Growing Up On Tour: A Family Portrait. 

David Bowie / A Reality Tour (3LP box)

Sony issue this three-LP edition of David Bowie‘s A Reality Tour on blue vinyl in a lift-off lid box. Very cheap on Amazon Italy, incidentally. 

Depeche Mode / 101 (2LP vinyl)

A double heavyweight vinyl reissue of Depeche Mode‘s classic 1989 live album. Violator, Music For The Masses and Black Celebration also reissued on the format.

• • UK Order: 101 (2LP vinyl)
• • USA Order: 101 (2LP vinyl)
• • GERMANY Order: 101 (2LP vinyl)

Mike Oldfield / Original Album Series (5CD box)

A Tubular Bells heavy, five disc Mike Oldfield album collection.

• • UK Order: Original Album Series
• • GERMANY Order: Original Album Series