Weekend Reissue Roundup - Page 2

Joan Armatrading: Gold

Joan Armatrading isn't well remembered now; despite critical acclaim and a cult audience, she was never really able to sell very many records in America. Her biggest release was Me Myself I in 1980, which peaked at #28 on the album charts; her biggest single in the States was "Frop The Pilot" which reached #78 in 1983. The prospect of a 43-cut double-disc anthology may seem daunting to a first-timer, but it is a splendid opportunity to get to know a fine underappreciated artist. Born on the island of St. Kitts, West Indies, Armatrading was a versatile singer/songwriter/guitarist who combined elements of folk, pop, reggae, and soul into a distinctive style that did produce some hits in the U.K., "Love And Affection" from 1977 being the biggest. This collection skips her 1972 debut, a collaboration with fellow Hair castmember Pam Nestor, picking up the story with her 1975 sophomore disc Back To the Night. Track Record, from 1983, is the last album represented, which is an odd choice, since she released an additional five albums for A&M through 1992. Still, 1975-1983 was by far her greatest era, and in addition to the hits, "Show Some Emotion", "Down To Zero", "I'm Lucky", and "(I Love It When You) Call Me Names" are particular standouts.

Cameo: Gold

Cameo Gold is really the same as the 2002 Mercury release Anthology, with a different cover but same track listing and liner notes. Cameo, from New York, were one of the most influential and important funk bands of the 1970's and 1980's. Known for their flamboyant stage shows and image, they mined a similar approach as George Clinton's Parliament/Funkadelic with bigger commercial results. Gold spans from their 1977 debut through 1986, and includes such hits as "Rigor Mortis", "Find My Way", "I Just Want To Be", "She's Strange", and "Word Up!". Their commercial fortunes began to decline in the late 1980's, but released new albums through 2000; by focusing on their peak, Gold captures them at their funkiest and most outrageous. Lead singer Larry Blackman eventually became vice-president of A&R at Warner Brothers, who signed the group in 1992. Whether you get Gold or Anthology, there's enough here to keep old-school hardcore funksters happy.

Among other re-issues this week, some of the more notable are:

Rhino's 10-disc attempt to archive the 1990's, Whatever: The '90s Pop and Culture Box. This also marks the first major sign of 90's nostalgia creeping in (by all indications, nostalgia for the 90's is enormous already, well ahead of schedule. O these times we live in). Whatever's admirably inclusive track listing leans towards alternative rock and soul and goes light on electronica, hip-hop, and pop, but does make efforts to represent everything. Thus, we get 130 songs by R.E.M., Collective Soul, Sinead O'Connor, Black Crowes, Moby, Mudhoney, Des'ree, Pantera, C&C Music Factory, Divinyls, Belly, Hanson, Social Distortion, Helmet, Oasis, Wilco, Sneaker Pimps, LEN, and a similar mix of others all in one package, which is an admirably eclectic, but listenable melange. Missing are some big names: Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Britney Spears, Smashing Pumpkins, Elliott Smith, Public Enemy, Metallica, Phish, and others that are at least as indicative of the 90's as Marcy Playground, Snow, and Michael Penn. However, like the Rhino 70's series Have A Nice Day, this leaves the door open for future editions. It's intersting to listen to this collection and hear huge hits you somehow missed at the time, or dimly remember. Great care has gone into the 90-kitsch packaging, as is the traditional norm at Rhino. Do you need it? If you're just beginning to buid a 90's library, it's indispensible. If your tastes are fairly narrow, it'll be a bumpy listen.

Disky records has re-issued a 2001 Arrested Development compilation, Greatest Hits. The Southern hip-hop/alternative rap group Arrested Development was seriously championed as Next Big Thing after the 1992 smashes "Mr. Wendal", "Tennessee", and "People Every Day". What followed was one of the more spectacular failures of the 1990's as their next two albums tanked big-time; the group broke up in 1994. The 18-cut Greatest Hits is probably all you'll ever need. Also on Disky, the long-out-of-print Race With The Devil from U.K. all-female metal band, Girlschool. Originally released in 1986 on Raw Power, it came towards the end of their career. Another disky re-issue is The Collection, a 2002 Belinda Carlisle best-of.

Sony Japan has re-issued Radio K.A.O.S., an undistinguished and largely incomprehensible concept album about a deaf-dumb-blind and handicapped kid who communicates telepathically, or something like that, from Roger Waters. The album peaked at #50 in 1987 and vanished quickly, while Waters' erstwhile bandmates Pink Floyd made millions with A Momentary Lapse of Reason and its accompanying tour. Waters has only released one studio album since, Amused To Death in 1992.

Unidisc has put out four hard to find Del Shannon releases, Hats Off To Larry (1963), Little Town Flirt (1963), Handy Man (1964), and Drop Down And Get Me (1981). Some mistakenly classify Shannon under "teen idol", but in fact Shannon was one of the most credible rockers during rock's great pre-Beatles dry spell. The first three albums represent his first three original releases and all are good period pieces in the manner of his hits "Runaway" and "Hats Off To Larry". The 1981 release is a fine comeback effort produced by Tom Petty and featuring the Heartbreakers as backing band; Petty fans should check it out.

And: Doo Wop 45's on CD Vol. 13-16., on Collectibles, for the hardcore collector. Tropicalia master Caetano Veloso's 1971 self-titled effort, on Universal International, an unusually downbeat album. Two 70's albums from Jackie Lomax, former Apple recording artist who never fulfilled predictions of stardom, Home Is In My Head and Three, on Water records. Very Best of Lonnie Johnson on Collectibles, a fine overview of the legendary jazz-blues performer. Also look for Shake Some Action, the classic 1976 power-pop album from the Flamin' Groovies, their first (and best) after relocating from San Francisco to London. The title cut is maybe the greatest little rock tune ever.

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