INDISPENSABLE REISSUES & COLLECTIONS
May 2024
Kristine England
May 31, 2024
David Bowie
Diamond Dogs
For its 50th anniversary, a limited edition, half-speed mastered picture disc LP of Diamond Dogs has been. An amalgamation of a Ziggy Stardust musical (that never came to be), an adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984 with some William Burroughs influences sprinkled in, Diamond Dogs was the end of one of Bowie’s many incarnations (he was to veer off into funk on his next record, Young Americans, followed by yet another shift into his Thin White Duke person for Station to Station). A pre-release teaser in the form of “Rebel Rebel” reached the number five on UK singles chart and and number one on the album chart (hiting number 5 in the US).
FEATURED TRACK: “Sweet Thing-Candidate-Sweet Thing (Repr.)” Live
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
The force of nature that was Black Sabbath was unleashed unto an unsuspected world with the band’s eponymous debut in 1970. The Birmingham, UK’s powerhouse sound signalled a heavier version of rock music than most people had ever imagined, likely the first true metal album. And it was just the beginning.
Take your pick from Rhino’s release of Black Sabbath on limited edition 180-gram opaque red vinyl or a deluxe 2 LP set of Black Sabbath, Paranoid, and Master of Reality.
FEATURED TRACK: "The Wizard" Live 1970
War
The World Is a Ghetto
War’s classic, post-Eric Burton album The World Is a Ghetto was released in 1972 and went all the way to number one on the Billboard charts and was the best-selling album of the year. Containing the classic “Cisco Kid” and the title track, the record a time capsule of an era when rock, funk and psychedelic influences were employed to great effect by War and other contemporaries. The 50th Anniversary edition has been released as a four- CD this year (previously issued as a five LP box set).
FEATURED TRACK: “The War Is a Ghetto”
Exodus
Bob Marley & The Wailers
The man responsible for popularizing reggae had a surprisingly impactful career considering he died at age 36 from cancer. Recorded after fleeing to the UK after an assassination attempt, Exodus is a true classic and boasted four international hit singles, “Jammin,” "One Love/People Get Ready," "Three Little Birds," and "Waiting in Vain." The album hit number 20 on the US Billboard chart, where it remained for over a year. This reissue is packaged in a gatefold sleeve and also contains a 10-inch LP of rare tracks and notes by Jamaican historian Herbie Miller.
FEATURED TRACK: "Exodus"
John Lennon
Mind Games
Lennon’s fourth solo album was recorded when he and wife Yoko Ono were experiencing marital discord, and he was endlessly hounded by the FBI. That certainly explains the album’s material and mood. Not his most popular or well-received album, nonetheless, this reissue is massive. Six CDs and 2 Blu-ray discs, outtakes, a 20-page booklet, postcards, and a poster. There is a two-LP version with an eight-page booklet.
FEATURED TRACK: “Mind Games”