INDISPENSABLE REISSUES & COLLECTIONS
July 2026
by Kristine England
July 31, 2026
Alice Cooper
Welcome to My Nightmare
The Godfather of Shock Rock released his solo concept album in 1975 after shedding his band, with whom he had made seven albums. Welcome to My Nightmare follows the dreams of a child named Steven. Enlisting producer Bob Ezrin, renowned for his theatricality, the record was an international hit and yielded the single, "Only Women Bleed," a song about domestic violence. This release is an exanded version of the 2011 reissue, featuring a newly mastered 2CD digipak /3LP Gatefold (45 RPM) vinyl set with seven bonus tracks, including live performances of "Poison" and "No More Mr. Nice Guy."
FEATURED TRACK: "Welcome to My Nightmare"
Curtis
Curtis Mayfield
Moving away from the more pop-oriented soul of his band the Impressions, Curtis Mayfield's debut album has been dubbed "the Sgt. Pepper's album of '70s soul" (Bruce Eder, All Music). Darker and funkier than his previous work, Curtis features the classic, "Move on Up" and "If There's a Hell Below." The black vinyl reissue from Rhino Records (with lacquers cut from the original analog was mastered by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab.
FEATURED TRACK: "If There's a Hell Below"
Lee Morgan
Leeway
Trumpeter Lee Morgan's 1960 session for Leeway boasted a powerhouse quintet, with Art Blakey on drums, Jackie McLean on alto sax, Bobby Timmons on piano, and Paul Chambers on bass. Creating what All Music's Scott Yanow described as "hard bop with a strong dose of soul," the group covered two Cal Massey tunes, a McLean original, and one of my favorite Lee Morgan tracks, "The Lion and the Wolff," a nod to Blue Note Records' founders Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff, who signed back in 1956 and with whom he spent most of his tragically short career. Part of the Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition, this release is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.
FEATURED TRACK: "The Lion and the Wolff"
Flesh and Blood
Roxy Music
Flesh and Blood was my first exposure to Roxy Music. While the band's earlier art rock aesthetic had been replaced by a smoother, sleeker pop vibe, Bryan Ferry still manages to seduce with what is one of my favorite voices. This Dolby Atmos reissue is an expanded Blu-ray set, mixed by engineer Bob Clearmountain from the original multi-track tapes.
FEATURED TRACK: "My Only Love"
The J. Geils Band
Live: Blow Your Face Out
Two concerts from 1975, one at Boston Garden and the other at Detroit's Cobo Arena, were released in 1976. Part of Rhino's Spirit of '76 series, this set has been released as a Double LP on Black Vinyl, 140g, Stereo. The album has been remastered from the original analog masters by Bernie Grundman.
FEATURED TRACK: "Detroit Breakdown"