INDISPENSABLE REISSUES
September 2023
Kristine England
September 30, 2023
The Who
Who’s Next - Lifehouse
After Tommy, Pete Townshend began work on another ambitious work called Lifehouse. Conceived as a film and live concert, the project faltered, and many of the songs were instead included on Who’s Next. Lifehouse never saw the light of day until now. A 10 CD set (155 tracks in all) features unreleased demos, songs from various recording sessions, live performances, and new mixes of classic material. A 100-page book is also included, along with concert posters, and more. Who’s Next - Lifehouse has also been released on vinyl.
"Bargain"
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
Live in 1967 – Volume Three
John Mayall turns 90 this November. His group the Bluesbreakers was the breeding ground for many up-and-coming musicians since its formation in 1963, most famously Eric Clapton after his departure from the Yardbirds and Mick Taylor before his stint with the Rolling Stones (during their best era). Other musicians, featured on this record, would also go on to do great things. Not long after this recording, guitarist Peter Green, bassist John McVie, and drummer Mick Fleetwood would leave the Bluesbreakers to form Fleetwood Mac. This record was originally captured by a fan on his one-channel reel-to-reel tape recorder.
"Your Funeral and My Trial (Manor House)"
Various Artists
A Mighty Wind: The Album (Vinyl Reissue)
Though perhaps not as well-known as This Is Spinal Tap, A Mighty Wind is a musical triumph exploring a very different genre. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer once again demonstrate their ability to create serious music for a comedy. A highlight of the both movie and the soundtrack, "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" was written by McKean and his wife, actress Annette O’Toole (performed in the film by Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara). It’s a real gem. This is the first LP reissue of the record, pressed on forest green vinyl.
"A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow"
Steely Dan
Aja (Vinyl Reissue)
Steely Dan’s most commercially successful album, Aja was originally released in 1977. Containing perennial radio favorites “Peg” and “Deacon Blues,” the record hit the Top 5 on both the US and UK album charts. Aja constituted one of the most effective amalgams of jazz with rock, and remains highly praised by critics and audiophiles, with even the US Library of Congress citing the record as "culturally, historically, or artistically significant." The vinyl reissue has been remastered using analog tape copies.
"Deacon Blues"
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Ongaku Zukan
Ryuichi Sakamoto, who passed away in March this year, was one of Japan's most famous musical exports. His fourth solo album was originally released in Japan in 1984 in two different editions with either bonus tracks or a three-track EP. Now both will be available to international audiences, with remastered audio, original gatefold artwork, and new liner notes from Andy Beta. Ongaku Zukan features contributions from Yellow Magic Orchestra’s Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, Yasuaki Shimizu, Tatsuro Yamashita, and Toshinori Kondo.
"Hane No Hayashi De"