Though most of these reissues are replete with bells and whistles — extra tracks, remastering, super-duper deluxe editions, hot-and-cold runnning water — a few are of the no-nonsense refresher-course variety. All worth perusing and considering, however, to some degree.
1) Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True (Extra Tracks, Deluxe Edition, Original Recording Remastered)
Okay, we’ve had Columbia, Ryko, Rhino, a single disc edition of My Aim is True in a Digipak and now this release — so there may be nothing essential for everybody here, but then again it does include session out-takes, demos and live material, with 26 tracks previously unreleased, and the complete Live at the Nashville Rooms, August 7, 1977 concert recording, one of the Attraction’s earliest shows (and the appeal for me). Then there’s the main Aim itself: It’s more pub than punk, and pre-Attractions with pre- above-the-fold News. It has plenty of bite without the all-out venom of This Year’s Model, pervasive pop smarts without the richly-layered propelled-pop production of Armed Forces, and is rough-edged without the raw immediacy of Get Happy. But with such songs as the perversely poignant “Alison,“ and the spittle-in-the-grooves tracks like “Welcome to the Working Week,” “Miracle Man,“ and “I’m Not Angry,” Elvis Costello’s My Aim Is True remains a classic of balladry and bristle, making it one of the best debut albums in the history of, um, debut albums. Now with the added attractions. And Attractions.
2) Warren Zevon - Stand in the Fire (Original Recording Remastered)
You’ll enjoy every sandwich listening to this ferocious and fiery concert album — one of the best live albums ever — filled with fervor and fun, amassed with cherry-picked cuts (“The dog ate the part we didn’t like,” states the liner notes). With Stand Zevon was at a peak performance level, trailing clouds of big-hit glory with radio staples like “Werewolves Of London” and “Excitable Boy,” and garnering critical kudos for such albums as a self-titled 1976 release and Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School. Zevon proves himself a commanding, expressive performer, and a strong personality adept not only at striking up the band but in revving up the crowd. At one point in the often gruesome “Excitable Boy,” during the point when our highly-strung titular psycho “dug up her grave and built a cage with her bones,” a blood-curdling Hollywood-style scream, off in the background, can be heard — right on cue. Send lawyers, guns, and money — the defecation has hit the oscillation!
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
My Xmas list just got longer. Thanks
2 - Glen Boyd
I'm still waiting for the reissue of the third Twilley album, caled just "Twilley." Those first two are also great, but the third was always my favorite. On songs like "I Wanna Make Love To You," the Brian Wilson-esque production sweep is just gorgeous.
Great list Gordon.
-Glen
3 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
EB: Oh there's plenty of time, er, ... oh wait...
Glenn: Thanks for the reminder on that one--I'll need to rummage for it, but I think I still have it, and anything with such a shimmering Wilson production is due for a resissue. Don't discount solo Phil Seymour, though: his 1980 album had a hit with "Precious to Me," but also had a great cover with Bobby Fuller's terrific "Let Her Dance."
4 - Douglas Mays
Good choices! Faces, Magazine and yes, ELO are my picks from your list.
Of course, the thing that worries me about reissues is the mastering of the product. How compressed is the sound? Modern day digital technology sounds like shit. The main reason I have never downloaded a single song onto my computer. Glorified transistor radio. A complaint I have had about music and the computer world since day one.
The music industry will bounce back once people find out what shitty sound is. As long as the industry starts selling quality sound....
Ooh la la,
DM
5 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Thanks, Douglas, for the the comments--well said.
6 - Jon Sobel
Ah, so few Magazine fans there are it seems! Great list, thanks.
7 - Douglas Mays
Gordon, thank you. You know what I am talking about regarding the remastered sound! Also, let me put in a thumbs up for your selection of the Pretenders.
Jon, yes, a Magazine fan, for sure. Dig those posted lyrics to 'Permafrost'! Oh, this is 'Real Life', hehe. My favorite tune by Magazine. I saw them once in Seattle, '82 or so. Man, they had incredible live sound! Very crisp and full. Better than sitting at home listening to studio monitors.
best,
DM
8 - Lisa McKay
Gordon, you're weakening my resolve not to invest in another round of Costello reissues. Damn.
9 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Lisa--
I'm going to say it once again 'til I instill it:
Hip-O Records wants you to make another investment
10 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Thanks Jon, and Douglas, just want to put in my bid for the Pretenders as a great live act, too.
Also, another fave from Magazines' "Believe That I Understand":
Here is the lie of the land
Once again, once again
You squeeze yourself
Out of your thin inner world...
11 - Bernie
Gordon,
Excellent post and Happy Holidays. I think 2008
Should be a big year for vinyl reissues.
Bernie D
12 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Thanks, Bernie, and Happy VinylDays to you, too.
13 - Douglas Mays
You know, amidst my complaints about remastering and the highly compressed anti-audiophile sound designed for computers and the digital world...Something that our wonderful re-issues suffer from...
There is something out on the market for our audiophile consumer in this modern age. The ReQuest S4.2500 server. It restores computer compression to studio standards.
Only $18,500!!!! Let's all go get 2 of them...
Oh, as an afterthought, I noticed a copy of Faces 'A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse' on the Amazon list below the article. One of my all time favorite albums. It has a version of Chuck Berry's 'Memphis' that is the most rockin' thing you have ever heard...A creative interpretation, yet smokin' rock.
best,
DM
14 - Douglas Mays
Oh my god, how could I forget!!!!!
JOY DIVISION 'Unknown Pleasures/Closer/Still
YOUNG MARBLE GIANTS "Colossal Youth'
JD's 'Closer' is one of my all time favorite albums.
Anyway, throw those into the loop....
best,
DM