INDISPENSABLE REISSUES & COLLECTIONS
March 2026
by Kristine England
March 1, 2026
Hawkwind
Hall of the Mountain Grill
The fourth album from the legendary space rock band is counted among fans and critics as one of its finest. The departure of the group's lead vocalist paved the way for Lemmy Kilmister to join founder/guitarist Dave Brock on vocals. On featured track, co-written by Brock and Lemmy was eventually be re-recorded by the latter on Motorhead's debut album, released two years after Lemmy's abrupt departure from the band.
This This 9-disc limited edition box set (7CD/2Blu-ray) includes a remaster from original tapes, bonus tracks, and three previously unreleased concerts from 1974 (Edmonton, Chicago, and Cleveland) along with '(st74, Chicago '74, and Cleveland '74. New liner notes and an illustrated booklet.
FEATURED TRACK: "Lost Johnny"
Pretty in Pink
Various Artists
Gen X-ers will recoil when they realized this movie came out four decades ago. The soundtrack is the epitome of 80s music, with songs from OMD, the Psychedelic Furs (the title, naturally, albeit a different version from the original), Echo and the Bunnymen, INXS, Suzanne Vega and more. Older tunes from earlier eras are also offered, including bonus track Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness.” Another bonus is Talk Back’s “Rudy. Available on limited edition pink vinyl, the packaging has a gatefold sleeve featuring original film photography.
FEATURED TRACK: Echo & The Bunnymen "Bring on The Dancing Horses"
Frank Zappa and the Mothers with Captain Beefheart
Bongo Fury
Essentially the last Mothers album, Bongo Fury was mostly recorded live at Austin's Armadillo World Headquarters in May 1975, with a few done in the studio at The Record Plant in Los Angeles. Zappa's old friend from his high school days, Don Van Vliet returned in his Captain Beefheart persona to contribute lead vocals on (one of my favorites) "Sam with the Showing Scalp Flat Top" and most of the other tracks, along with harp, soprano sax and madness.
For the 50th Anniversary there are five CDs of material (nearly 80% previously unreleased) of studio outtakes and live tracks plus the two Armadillo concerts complete and remixed from the original 16-Track Masters. Previously unreleased photos and liner notes from band member, Denny Walley, plus Vaultmeister Joe Travers are included along with a Blu-Ray features new Dolby Atmos, 5.1 mixes, and high-resolution stereo audio with bonus surround experiences from Zappa’s vault.
FEATURED TRACK: "Muffin Man"
Even in the Quietest Moments +2
Supertramp
Three Supertramp releases from the late 70s to early 80s found the prog pop/rock group in their most commercially successful period. Building on the momentum their first gold record in the states, Even in the Quietest Moments (1977), driven by the top 20 single, "Give a Little Bit," Breakfast in America was a true breakthrough. Released in May 1979, the album yielded three top 20 singles in the US and earned three Grammy nominations (earning two awards). Led through the years by the primary songwriters and founders of the group, Roger Hodgson (vocals, keyboards and guitars) and Rick Davies (vocals and keyboards), Famous Last Words would be the final album to feature the two of them. Hodgson left not long after its release, and Supertramp entered a new era.
All three titles have been been remastered by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios and will be released on 180g black vinyl, continuing the series of half-speed remasters the began last summer.
FEATURE TRACK: "Give a Little Bit"
Adrian Belew
The Atlantic Years: 1989-1992
After stints with Frank Zappa, David Bowie, the Talking Heads, and King Crimson (serving as frontman). His post-Crimson career found him forming his own group, The Bears, and releasing solo albums. Beginning in 1989, Belew released a series of albums for Atlantic Records, including Mr. Music Head, Young Lions, and Inner Revolution. All three were well-received and lauded for Belew's musicianship. On Mr. Music Head, Belew played nearly all the instruments himself. The subsequent album featured a guest appearance from Bowie who co-wrote the duet, "Pretty Pink Rose."
The three-CD set is being issued in a clamshell box.
FEATURED TRACK: "Pretty Pink Rose"