Reissue

LOU REED – 50th Anniversary Vinyl Edition Of Controversial Double LP ‘METAL MUSIC MACHINE’ Out Tomorrow On Record Store Day

Posted on by JL

11 April 2025

Next July, 50 years ago, late musical genius LOU REED (1942-2013) released his 5th LP,
named METAL MACHINE MUSIC. One of the most controversial albums ever, a double one, because of its 64 minutes of almost unlistenable, distorted noise. A torture for you ears (tried again just now, but gave up after 7 minutes).


Original cover

It was clear that Reed was tired of his own commercial work and image at the time
and wanted to shock the record label with an unsaleable longplayer. Why RCA
released it anyway, was never clear.

It was recorded on a three-speed Uher machine and featured no songs or recognizably structured compositions, eschewing melody and rhythm for modulated feedback and noise music guitar effects, mixed at varying speeds by Reed.

It ruined Reed‘s reputation (temporary) and the record was panned by critics.
Yet, in 2008, Reed went on a tour playing a free improvisation of MMM and in
2011, a remastered version came out. That’s what sometimes happens with
heavily critiqued albums hated on release, but appreciated as a bold
accomplishment many years later.

A special remastered vinyl edition is being launched
tomorrow, as part of Record Store Day, edition 2025. More
info on RSD‘s website right here.

Original album
Listen at your own risk.


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PETE SHELLEY – The Late Great Buzzcock’s First Two Solo Albums To Be Reissued In June

Posted on by JL

29 March 2025

PETE SHELLEY, the late musical motor of Manchester‘s pop punk legends Buzzcocks made 3 albums of his own (actually 4, if you count his electronic kind of Lou Reed’s Metal Music Machine extravaganza recordings of Sky Yen from 1979, too).

The first two, HOMOSAPIEN (1982) and XL.1 (1983) get a reissue treatment.

Both LPs will come housed in gatefold sleeves featuring the original fully restored artwork, plus an extra disc featuring B-sides, dubs and extended mixes. The inserts will feature new photos and extensive sleevenotes from Clinton Heylin. Both albums will also be available on CD for the first time since 2006.

Pre-order info for
Homosapien here,
for XL.1 here.

Release date: June 6.

HOMOSAPIEN
Original LP

Melody Maker said: “By leaving behind massed guitars and thunderous drums, Shelley and producer Rushent have evolved a richer and more varied dictionary of sounds. If it doesn’t always convince, it’s persuasive enough to warrant long-term investment.”

SINGLE

ALBUM


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XL.1
Original LP

AllMusic: “With XL1, Pete Shelley integrates layers of guitar into the electronic synth-pop he essayed on his solo debut, Homosapien. While the result isn’t quite as bracing as its predecessor, the music benefits from the guitar — it sounds edgier, making the record fairly captivating.”

SINGLE

ALBUM


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Domino Records

THE BEATLES – Deluxe Edition Box With First 8 US LPs Reissued In Mono Comes Next Month

Posted on by JL

24 October 2024

1964 was the year that the Fab Four took the USA by storm with an unprecedented
run of albums and singles topping the charts and going on to sell millions of copies.

To celebrate the momentous year when Beatlemania exploded in America
7 Beatles albums are collected for a spectacular new 8LP vinyl box set, with
faithfully replicated artwork and new four-panel inserts with essays written
by American Beatles historian and author Bruce Spizer.

Meet The Beatles!
The Beatles’ Second Album
A Hard Day’s Night (movie soundtrack)
Something New: The Beatles’ Story (2LP)
Beatles ’65
The Early Beatles

The albums’ new vinyl lacquers were cut by Kevin Reeves at Nashville’s East Iris Studios with constant reference to the original vinyl first pressings to ensure they match the original release, while also enabling more musical information to be heard than was possible before. 180 gram audiophile pressing. The Beatles’ Story 2LP is exclusive to the box set.

Pre-order details HERE.

The Beatles: Website

MCLUSKY – Vinyl Reissue Of 20-Year-Old Album ‘THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND YOU IS THAT I’M NOT ON FIRE’ Out Now

Posted on by JL

5 October 2024

Welsh notorious post-punk bulldozer MCLUSKY (originally known as Best)
was formed in 1996 by angry young man, singer/guitarist Andrew Falkous
and drummer Matthew Harding. In the following 9 years they released
3 longplayers.

In 2005 Falkous started the awesome Future Of The Left.

In 2014 Mclusky reunited and brought their sonic past back
on stage.

Their 3rd LP, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND
ME IS THAT I’M NOT ON FIRE turned 20 last April.

Pitchfork said: This album is like a delicious soup you eagerly
bring to your lips, only to jerk away because it’s too damn hot. “

To celebrate, a 180 gram remastered vinyl is out now. Order info here.


Photo credit Stefan DeBatselie

You can stream/buy the album
digitally, right here via Bandcamp.


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Mclusky: Story

MARK LANEGAN – 20th Anniversary Edition Of Album ‘BUBBLEGUM’ Out Now

Posted on by JL

28 August 2024

MARK LANEGAN who was a member of many bands/projects (Screaming Trees,
QOTSA, The Gutter Twins and more) and scored 12 solo LPs, passed away in 2022,
at the age of 57. No cause of death was revealed.

One of his most praised albums, BUBBLEGUM
turned 20, two weeks ago, on August 10, 2004.

A 20th Anniversary Box set that includes a remastered double LP edition of the original album and a 4XLP/3XCD/Digital release containing 40 remastered tracks, 12 of which are previously unreleased, is out now. More info here.

BUBBLEGUM XX


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MARK LANEGAN: Instagram – Story

MARK LANEGAN – 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Reissue Of ‘BUBBLEGUM’ Out On August 23

Posted on by JL

13 July 2024

MARK LANEGAN who was a member of many bands/projects (Screaming Trees,
QOTSA, The Gutter Twins and more) and scored 12 solo LPs, passed away in 2022,
at the age of 57. No cause of death was revealed.

One of his most praised albums, BUBBLEGUM
came out 20 years ago, on 10 August 2004.


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A 20th-anniversary edition of the longplayer will be released as BUBBLEGUM XX
with a 2xLP vinyl reissue of the original album and a 4xLP/3xCD/digital release containing
40 remastered tracks. A dozen of those are previously unreleased, including ‘Union Tombstone’ with Beck and six tracks recorded in various hotel rooms with Queens Of
The Stone Age bandmate Troy Van Leeuwen.


Mark Lanegan Band; Belgium, 2015 – Photo by Turn Up The Volume

Van Leeuwen: “So these hotel demo sessions were basically forgotten…When I heard the news of Mark’s passing, these memories started rushing back to me. I searched through my archive of drives and somehow magically was able to open up these sessions. I thought to myself, “That NEVER happens.

These ideas couldn’t be more fresh out of the tap. The original rough mixes are a real time capsule that stands up to the 20 years that have passed. It’s a true gift from Mark to those
of us who love him and his unvarnished expression of beauty. With every listen, I am humbled and honored to share his gift with you.”

The reissue box contains also a 64-page hardcover book with essays by Van Leeuwen,
Josh Homme, Chris Goss, Alain Johannes, David Catching, Greg Dulli, Duff McKagan, and
Brett Netson along previously unseen photographs by Steve Gullick.

More info and pre-order details here

It also includes an expanded edition of Lanegan’s 2003 EP Here Comes That Weird Chill,

In his 2017 memoir I Am The Wolf, Lanegan wrote about Bubblegum.

“I had been awake for days and nights, crazed from no sleep and illegal stimulants, and was sitting cross-legged on the studio floor with sheets of paper covered in handwritten lyrics, notes, and ideas strewn out around me in a ten-foot circle. While I had been out of my mind making records in the past, this was a new peak… or low, depending on one’s perspective… Many of the songs came from a place of dejection and ennui.”

When the singular voice passed away 2 years
ago I made myself a playlist of
15 Mark Lanegan diamonds.


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Mark Lanegan: Story

THE SAINTS – Trailblazing Debut LP ‘I’M STRANDED’ (1977) Gets Deluxe Reissue Treatment

Posted on by JL

15 June 2024

The trailblazing debut LP I’M STRANDED by Australian punks THE SAINTS
who were led by the late great Chris Bailey (1956-2022) gets a deluxe reissue
treatment. The LP was originally released 1 January 1977, almost 50 years ago

A 4 x vinyl box set is slated for release on
November 15th through In Red Records.

The special edition features four LPs covering all recordings, both studio and live,
between 1976-1977, including a previously unreleased 1976 mix of the album.

Kuepper “It’s great to be given the opportunity to run through this set of songs again and especially the chance to work with a group of people of the calibre of Mark, Mick, Pete and especially Ivor, who is one of the most distinctive drummers I’ve had the pleasure to work with. I’m feeling chuffed that they’re all on board for this. We will be concentrating exclusively on material from and around the first three albums”.

Bob Geldof: “Rock music in the ’70s was changed by three
bands, the Sex Pistols, the Ramones and the Saints.”

On top of it comes the news that for the occasion a new look The Saints will play some live shows in Australia. The band will feature original members Ed Kuepper (guitar/songwriter) and Ivor Hay (drummer). They’ ll be joined by Saints Mark Arm (Mudhoney), Peter Oxley (Sunnyboys), and Mick Harvey (The Birthday Party).

TITLE TRACK

ALBUM


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The Saints: Story – Instagram

VIRGIN PRUNES – Deluxe Edition Of Legendary Irish Mavericks’ 1983 Compilation Album ‘A NEW FORM OF BEAUTY 1-4’ Out Now

Posted on by JL

11 March 2024

Experimental Irish new wave mavericks VIRGIN PRUNES (1977-1986), were known as
“the most overtly subversive rock group ever to come out of the genre.” Their reputation was built on outrageous stage performances and a unique collection of record releases. The band disbanded in 1986 after co-founder and driving force Gavin Friday left to pursue
a solo career.


Photo Credit: Colm Henr via Big Mouth Publicity

They only released two LPs. …If I Die, I Die (1982), and
The Moon Looked Down and Laughed (1986).


Original artwork ‘A New Form Of Beauty 1-4’

In 1983 the band had a compilation album out A New Form of Beauty Parts 1-4
featuring 7″single A New Form of Beauty 1 (A plus B-sides), 10″ single A New Form of
Beauty 2, four-song 12″ EP A New Form of Beauty 3 and a cassette A New Form of Beauty 4 .

The album perfectly showcases the pioneering avant-garde elements of the band’s sound, combining elements of industrial, post-punk, darkwave, and sound collage – it’s no wonder why they’ve earned fans in everyone from Trent Reznor, Billy Corgan, Michael Stipe, Mark E Smith, Courtney Love, and many, many more. Singer and songwriter Gavin Friday’s career has spanned four decades and has seen him collaborate with his childhood friends in U2 (The Edge’s seclusive brother, Dik Evans was also in Virgin Prunes), as well as The Fall, Sinead O’Connor, Dave Ball, Scott Walker, Hal Willner, and Quincy Jones, and create music for Academy Award nominated films such as “In the Name of the Father” and “In America”.

A deluxe edition, remastered from Tape on 3LP contains
brand new remixes on 2CD & Digital Deluxe is out now.

You can order the set here.

I’m pretty sure lifelong VP fans already purchased their copy. For all other music addicts who are interested in avant-garde punk of yesteryear this is a, exemplary treasure.

STREAM ALBUM


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VIRGIN PRUNES: Bio – Facebook – Instagram

NEIL YOUNG And CRAZY HORSE – 1975 Album ZUMA Becomes DUME With Its Double Vinyl Reissue

Posted on by JL

6 March 2024

ZUMA was the 7th NEIL YOUNG LP recorded with Crazy Horse.

It appeared in 1975.

Neil Young told Rolling Stone back then: “I’ve got all these songs about Peru, the Aztecs
and the Incas. Time travel stuff. We’ve got one song called “Marlon Brando, John Ehrlichman, Pocahontas and Me.” I’m playing a lot of electric guitar and that’s what I like best. Two guitars, bass and drums. And it’s really flying off the ground too. Fucking unbelievable. I’ve got a bet with Elliot that it’ll be out before the end of September.

After that, we’ll probably go out on a fall tour of 3000 seaters. Me and Crazy Horse again.
I couldn’t be happier. That, combined with the bachelor life. I feel magnificent. Now is the
first time I can remember coming out of a relationship, definitely not wanting to get into another one. I’m just not looking. I’m so happy with the space I’m in right now. It’s like
spring. [laughs] I’ll sell you two bottles of it for $1.50.”

Now, almost 50 years later the classic is reissued on vinyl, including 7 previously unreleased songs from the Zuma recordings sessions. For the re-issue occasion,
the album is rebaptized DUNE and comes in 2 LPs.

Order info here.

Young: “Zuma was full of great music by Crazy Horse, but not all of it was included. Dume is a complete look at that period. When you hear Dume, you can see why some of the tracks were not released on Zuma. They have flaws here and there, but now, looking back at that time, they provide a clear picture of us playing in David Brigg’s Dume home with our tube board and analog machines. The earliest Crazy Horse versions of Ride My Llama and Powderfinger are included. Enjoy Dume, an almost complete picture of Zuma. Sedan Delivery, the only missing example of Dume, is available on Chrome Dreams, which was just released.”

Cortez The Killer is the most memorable and best-known track on Zuma.

Side A

1. Ride My Llama
2. Cortez The Killer*
3. Don’t Cry No Tears*
4. Born To Run

Side B

1. Barstool Blues*
2. Danger Bird*
3. Stupid Girl*
4. Kansas

Side C

1. Powderfinger
2. Hawaii
3. Drive Back*

Side D

1. Lookin’ For A Love*
2. Pardon My Heart*
3. Too Far Gone
4. Pocahontas
5. No One Seems To Know

Song titles in bold are the previously unreleased ones.

Neil Young Store

COCTEAU TWINS – A Vinyl Reissue Of Their Two Final Albums ‘MILK & KISSES’ And ‘FOUR-CALENDER CAFE’ Out Now

Posted on by JL

15 January 2024

Even after almost 30 years since their farewell, Scottish ethereal dream-pop heroes COCTEAU TWINS, with key members Elizabeth Fraser (vocals) and Robin Guthrie (musical architect), still have a huge following (more than 270,000 followers on FB).

Great news for all these fans. The band’s final two LPs, FOUR-CALENDER CAFE (1993)
and MILK & KISSES (1996) were reissued on vinyl last week.

Info and order details here.

FOUR-CALENDAR CAFE (1993)

It’s their seventh LP. It was originally released on 18 October 1993 on Fontana. The album distinguished itself from the rest of the Twins’ catalogue in two major areas: The sound was much more pop-oriented and less ambient than previous works, and Liz Fraser’s lyrics were much more intelligible than usual. It peaked at #13 on the UK charts.

Original LP


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MILK & KISSES (1996)

Although not intended so at the time, Milk and Kisses, released in March 1996, became
the final album issued by the group. The trio worked separately but effectively – Raymonde would work in the daytime, Guthrie at night, leaving Fraser to add her vocals. Because of the aftershocks of her split with Guthrie, lyrics came easy to her. Although work had begun on a follow-up album the band split up in 1997.

#17 on the UK Charts, #24 in Scotland

Original LP


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CT: Bio – Discography – Facebook – Instagram