INDISPENSABLE REISSUES
April 2023
Kristine England
April 29, 2023
David Bowie
Aladdin Sane (50th Anniversary Reissue)
Bowie’s follow up to Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars was written during the tour supporting that album, on his trek through the US. Many of the songs were inspired by his perceptions of the States during the tour and his production projects with Lou Reed and The Stooges. The record features the Spiders and pianist Mike Garson, who added depth and a jazzy flavor to “Lady Grinning Soul” and the title track in particular. The 50th anniversary edition features a half-speed master black vinyl LP along with a vinyl picture disc.
“Drive In Saturday”
Miles Davis
Workin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet (Reissue)
Recorded during Miles’ 1960 Prestige sessions, the quintet comprised the stellar lineup of John Coltrane (tenor sax), Red Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass) and Philly Joe Jones (drums). Cut from the original masters, the release is on 180 gram vinyl.
“Trane's Blues”
Madness
One Step Beyond (2CD deluxe)
What a way to make a splash! One Step Beyond was the debut album by one of the era’s most well-known British two-tone groups, helping to bring ska to the masses. It’s hard to think of a band that was more fun to watch. This deluxe reissue is a 2 CD set (or red vinyl for the astute collector). Included in the set are 18 bonus tracks, including John Peel sessions, demos, and b-sides, as well as interviews with founding members Mike Barson, Chrissyboy Foreman, Mark Bedford and Daniel Woodgate.
“One Step Beyond”
Pharaoh Sanders
Black Unity (Vinyl Reissue)
Containing one 37-minute track that critic Joe Harrington called “an exercise in sustained harmonic groove that cannot be beaten," Sander’s 1971 avante-jazz opus is the latest in the Verve By Request reissue partnership between Jack Whites’ Third Man Records and the legendary jazz label. Sanders played soprano and tenor saxes and a balafon (a West African, gourd-resonated xylophone). He was joined by an impressive array of musicians (both Stanley Clarke and Cecil McBee on bass, Joe Bonner on piano, Billy Hart on drums, and more). The record remains an important influence for jazz artists to this day.
“Black Unity”
Small Faces
There Are But Four Small Faces
The record is a reissue of the first US release by the band, incorporating tracks from Small Faces, plus the single “"Itchycoo Park" and b-sides. Originally produced by Ronnie Lane and Steve Marriot, engineering duties were handled by Glyn Johns. The reissue has been remastered by producer/engineer Nick Robbins and includes colored vinyl, original artwork and in-depth liner notes.
"Itchycoo Park"