In recent years, even as CD sales decline, there have been numerous reissues of albums on CD. Recent reissues in the past few years include the Pretenders's first four albums, Whitney Houston's first album (a 25th commemorative reissue), Carole King's seminal "Tapestry", Erasure's "The Innocents," Elvis Presley's "Elvis in Memphis," and, of course, most notably, the recent Beatles remasters. Even Bananarama and Samantha Fox have reissued their back catalogues.
This month, Hip-O-Select is reissuing Diana Ross' 1973 "Touch Me in the Morning" album. Like many reissues, this will feature remastered sound, plus bonus tracks. In this case, fans will get a whole other album in addition to the 1973 release. Originally the album was intended to be a collection dedicated to Ross' first-born daughter Rhonda, but was scrapped in favour of a more pop-sounding release. Ross has had a number of her '70s releases reissued on CD, so having "Touch Me" added to this growing list of reissues is a plus for fans.
But there are many other albums waiting to be reissued. For the most part, they need to be remastered because the original CD releases featured poor sound and need an upgrade. Here is a list of albums I would like to see reissued.
1) Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A" - one of The Boss's biggest selling albums really needs the reissue treatment only to upgrade the '80s sound quality of the album's original CD release. Plus, it's one of the biggest albums of the '80s and it's time to revisit this classic, and give it the redux treatment that "Born To Run" received.
2) Prince's Warner Bros catalogue - this will probably NEVER happen as Warner Bros and Prince seem to still bask in their feud that has been going on for years (case in point, Warner Bros did not feature any Prince songs in their career-spanning box set "Revolutions in Sound" - or perhaps Prince would not allow WB to use his songs). But who wouldn't want to see deluxe packages of "1999," "Purple Rain" and "Sign O' The Times," plus all the other classic Prince albums from the late '70s and throughout the '80s?
3) Anita Baker's "Rapture" - Baker's surprise 1986 smash featuring her special brand of jazzy R&B desperately needs a sound upgrade, not to mention a remastering job which will allow her stunning vocals to shine through.
4) Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt's "Trio" - this album featuring three of music's finest female vocalists was a deserved hit in 1987, but their three voices really need to shine on an upgraded CD remaster.
5) Natalie Cole - Live! - This brilliant concert album was issued sometime in the '90s on CD but quickly disappeared. Cole was very popular in the mid-70s as an R&B queen, then reinvented herself in the early '90s by covering her father's catalogue (and other jazz classics). But Cole was never better than on this 1977 live album. She really belts it out on this one, and it's time someone belts out a new CD of this classic.
6) Madonna's "Like A Prayer" - Madonna's critically acclaimed 1989 album could use a sound upgrade, not to mention I am sure there are some demos and unreleased tracks that could be added to a reissue, in addition to the popular club remixes of the title track and "Express Yourself."
7) George Michael's "Faith" - one of the biggest albums of the '80s, released in 1987, like Springsteen's "Born in the USA" is begging for a reissue. Surprisingly, there was not a 20th commemorative reissue in 2007. Perhaps a 25th anniversary reissue in 2012?
8) Donna Summer's "Live and More" - Perhaps not as essential as Summer's "Bad Girls," but "Live and More" was her first number one album in the US, not to mention it featured the popular 17-minute opus "MacArthur Park Suite," featuring her disco cover of the Richard Harris classic. This album was one of the most popular - and significant - albums of the disco era, alongside the Saturday NIght Fever soundtrack.
9) Nirvana's "Nevermind" - As it approaches its 20th anniversary, Nirvana's breakthrough album has - perhaps surprisingly - never been reissued since its release in 1991. I imagine we will see a commemorative reissue in 2011.
10) "Here at Last... Bee Gees... Live" - say what you will about the Bee Gees, they released some incredible singles and were known to put on a good show. Surprisingly, they have only released a few live albums. This live album from, released in 1977, captures the Brothers Gibb just before they would shoot into the stratosphere with "Saturday Night Fever."
So, music listeners, what albums do you think should be given the deluxe treatment?
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
The Holy Grail of CDs
So, here it is. Finally. After months of trying to obtain a copy of what is becoming the Holy Grail of CDs: a box set of newly discovered live performances by Ella Fitzgerald from the early '60s, I finally have one in my hands. Yes, I am now the owner of Fitzgerald's "Twelve Nights in Hollywood."
I had a chance to buy a copy in November of last year at Soundscapes, one of Toronto's few remaining CD stores, but I didn't have enough money at the time, and when I returned to Soundscapes a week later, they were sold out. It was the same scenario on Amazon.com, which would quickly sell out of the set even when a new shipment came in. Who knew that a CD box set would be such a hot item in this digital age? I mean, who buys CDs anymore? And who buys box sets?
Surprisingly, there have been a number of excellent box sets released in the few years. Sony/Legacy has released some superb box sets on Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Hall & Oates and Elvis Presley in recent years. Labels Atlantic Records, Motown and Warner Bros have released box sets covering their respective histories. I imagine the high prices for these sets give the record companies a good profit; otherwise, we wouldn't see so many box sets released these days.
But I'm most impressed by the success of Verve's "Ella Fitzgerald: Twelve Nights in Hollywood." There has been such a high demand for this collection of unreleased live performances by the legendary jazz vocalist. Fitzgerald's releases are readily available on CD (her Songbook series has been very successful on all formats from vinyl to CD), but this latest box set will surely be a collector's item. Word has it that Verve has only pressed a certain amount of copies, making this collection a limited edition.
I still buy CDs regularly, but the release of "Twelve Nights in Hollywood" has been a true event. Obviously, finding unreleased material by Fitzgerald is significant enough, but as with their previous releases of Fitzgerald's work, Verve has done a superb job with the packaging of this set. Now that it is in my hands, I cannot wait to listen to the four discs of Fitzgerald giving an intimate performance at the Crescendo in the early '60s.
Many music fans are willing to pay big money for this set. Perhaps you will, too, especially if you're a jazz fan. I'm sure this will be a CD set you will want in your collection.
That is, if you can find it.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Does Kate Beckinsale...
...look for scripts that scream "CRAP" on the front page?
Whiteout? Seriously??
A once promising actress, Beckinsale has pushed aside period pieces in favour of crappy horror films like the Underworld series and now the ridiculous looking Whiteout.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Going to the movies... is a pain
Remember the days when movies were $2.50? Okay, I am showing my age here, but I DO remember the days when movies were cheap.
And there were no cell phones. No blackberries.
When popcorn and a coke wasn't veering on $15.
When butter was free.
Ah... butter. Butter has become a contentious issue for me at the movies in the past few years. When movie theatres (namely, Cineplex) started charging fifty cents for a squirt of popcorn, it made butter-on-my-popcorn lovers roll their eyes, but they would fork over the fifty cents, nonetheless.
Now, butter (at Cineplex theatres) is 69 cents. But if you want "layered butter," you have to pay extra. Meaning, you have to pay for each squirt of butter. Ridiculous! (This is why I like AMC. they do not charge for butter - they have self-serve butter and you get UNLIMITED BUTTER!! Also, their popcorn is way better!)
By the time you get your layered butter, your order for a large combo is almost $20. It's crazy.
And when you get into the theatre, you have to deal with 20 minutes of bad commercials (what is with those cow/milk commercials?), obnoxious couples talking throughout the movie, people twittering/texting/CALLING people DURING the movie, people sneaking into the movie halfway or three-quarters into the movie (imagine someone sneaking into Empire Strikes Back AFTER Darth Vader has revealed himself as Luke's father - if this was 1980, I'm sure it would happen!).
Maybe I wax nostalgic for the '80s, but I don't remember going to the movies being such a pain until the last 10 to 15 years when prices became ridiculously high and patrons began bringing in every piece of hardware they could find into theatres.
I love going to the movies. I love the experience of enjoying a film WITH an audience. But I prefer watching a movie with an audience who wants to experience the film - not their cellphone, not their iPod or keep getting up and down from their seat. And the prices of movies (save for Rainbow Cinemas) has become a turn-off.
I have a projector at home. Perhaps I should watch my films at home.
And I can have as much butter as I want - without paying 69 cents per squirt.
And there were no cell phones. No blackberries.
When popcorn and a coke wasn't veering on $15.
When butter was free.
Ah... butter. Butter has become a contentious issue for me at the movies in the past few years. When movie theatres (namely, Cineplex) started charging fifty cents for a squirt of popcorn, it made butter-on-my-popcorn lovers roll their eyes, but they would fork over the fifty cents, nonetheless.
Now, butter (at Cineplex theatres) is 69 cents. But if you want "layered butter," you have to pay extra. Meaning, you have to pay for each squirt of butter. Ridiculous! (This is why I like AMC. they do not charge for butter - they have self-serve butter and you get UNLIMITED BUTTER!! Also, their popcorn is way better!)
By the time you get your layered butter, your order for a large combo is almost $20. It's crazy.
And when you get into the theatre, you have to deal with 20 minutes of bad commercials (what is with those cow/milk commercials?), obnoxious couples talking throughout the movie, people twittering/texting/CALLING people DURING the movie, people sneaking into the movie halfway or three-quarters into the movie (imagine someone sneaking into Empire Strikes Back AFTER Darth Vader has revealed himself as Luke's father - if this was 1980, I'm sure it would happen!).
Maybe I wax nostalgic for the '80s, but I don't remember going to the movies being such a pain until the last 10 to 15 years when prices became ridiculously high and patrons began bringing in every piece of hardware they could find into theatres.
I love going to the movies. I love the experience of enjoying a film WITH an audience. But I prefer watching a movie with an audience who wants to experience the film - not their cellphone, not their iPod or keep getting up and down from their seat. And the prices of movies (save for Rainbow Cinemas) has become a turn-off.
I have a projector at home. Perhaps I should watch my films at home.
And I can have as much butter as I want - without paying 69 cents per squirt.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Kelly Clarkson - Already Gone?
For a pop star who was manufactured through the American Idol system, Kelly Clarkson is refreshingly honest.
Unlike so many artists who spin the typical record company PR, Clarkson remains blunt and down-to-earth, eight years into her career as the first - and most successful American Idol winner.
A few years ago, when Clarkson released My December, she and Clive Davis got into a public debate over the album's lack of commercial hits: Clarkson wanted to follow her heart as a serious songwriter, while Davis wanted Clarkson to record another album of monster radio hits, something she had done on her previous album, Breakaway. In the end, Clarkson stuck to her guns and was able to release the album she wanted. While the album was not as big a seller as Breakaway, Clarkson found new respect amongst fans for not being another record company puppet.
Clarkson compromised a little by recording All I Ever Wanted, a more pop-leaning album than My December, and with the album's first hit single, My Life Would Suck Without You. The album's third single, Already Gone, is courting controversy because the single, written by Ryan Tedder, sounds similar to another song Tedder wrote for Beyonce, entitled Halo, and which was recently a Top 10 hit.
According to a CBC interview, Clarkson explains her side of the story:
We wrote about six songs together, four or five of them made the album. It was all fine and dandy. I’d never heard of a song called ‘Halo.’ Her album came out when my album was already being printed. No-one’s gonna be sittin’ at home, thinking ‘Man, Ryan Tedder gave Beyonce and Kelly the same track to write to.’ No, they’re just gonna be saying I ripped someone off. I called Ryan and said, ‘I don’t understand. Why would you do that?’”
Clarkson fought the record label from releasing it, but the song has been released to radio. Sure there are similarities, but Clarkson's vocal performance is strong - as usual. But, again, it shows Clarkson's courage in defying her record company. Some may call her ungrateful or bratty, but I find her refreshing and honest, traits you don't see in a mostly cookie-cutter pop world. It's even more surprising considering Clarkson comes from American Idol, which is about singing other people's songs and molding in one's self into America's fantasy of an ideal pop star.
There are rumours Clarkson may be dropped from her record label and Clive Davis' good graces. That would not be surprising, considering Clarkson appears unwilling to censor herself. I hope Kelly doesn't change.
Unlike so many artists who spin the typical record company PR, Clarkson remains blunt and down-to-earth, eight years into her career as the first - and most successful American Idol winner.
A few years ago, when Clarkson released My December, she and Clive Davis got into a public debate over the album's lack of commercial hits: Clarkson wanted to follow her heart as a serious songwriter, while Davis wanted Clarkson to record another album of monster radio hits, something she had done on her previous album, Breakaway. In the end, Clarkson stuck to her guns and was able to release the album she wanted. While the album was not as big a seller as Breakaway, Clarkson found new respect amongst fans for not being another record company puppet.
Clarkson compromised a little by recording All I Ever Wanted, a more pop-leaning album than My December, and with the album's first hit single, My Life Would Suck Without You. The album's third single, Already Gone, is courting controversy because the single, written by Ryan Tedder, sounds similar to another song Tedder wrote for Beyonce, entitled Halo, and which was recently a Top 10 hit.
According to a CBC interview, Clarkson explains her side of the story:
We wrote about six songs together, four or five of them made the album. It was all fine and dandy. I’d never heard of a song called ‘Halo.’ Her album came out when my album was already being printed. No-one’s gonna be sittin’ at home, thinking ‘Man, Ryan Tedder gave Beyonce and Kelly the same track to write to.’ No, they’re just gonna be saying I ripped someone off. I called Ryan and said, ‘I don’t understand. Why would you do that?’”
Clarkson fought the record label from releasing it, but the song has been released to radio. Sure there are similarities, but Clarkson's vocal performance is strong - as usual. But, again, it shows Clarkson's courage in defying her record company. Some may call her ungrateful or bratty, but I find her refreshing and honest, traits you don't see in a mostly cookie-cutter pop world. It's even more surprising considering Clarkson comes from American Idol, which is about singing other people's songs and molding in one's self into America's fantasy of an ideal pop star.
There are rumours Clarkson may be dropped from her record label and Clive Davis' good graces. That would not be surprising, considering Clarkson appears unwilling to censor herself. I hope Kelly doesn't change.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Whitney's Return
Whitney Houston's long-awaited comeback is in full swing. And the most anticipated part of her return has been whether or not her voice is still there.
Of all the pop singers of the past 25 years, Houston has been considered "The Voice." More so than Celine Dion and Mariah Carey. In her prime, nobody could sing like Whitney.
Carey's voice has deteriorated in the past few years, surprisingly, thanks to her meltdown in 2001 and evidently not taking proper care of her voice. Dion is still a strong singer, but her style of singing is simply not heard on radio anymore.
Houston rose to fame like Dion with her powerhouse vocals and syrupy ballads, which simply don't fly on pop stations carrying the latest R&B/hip-hop hits from Beyonce, Rihanna, and Flo Rida. So far, three tracks have been leaked from Houston's upcoming album I Look to You, including the title track (written by R. Kelly) and "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" (written by Diane Warren). The latter track is typical Warren-style schmaltz: full of tired cliches about finding strength in one's self. I'm sure it's supposed to pull the heartstrings considering what Houston has been through for the past ten years, but the song is so syrupy, even Houston cannot sell it. The other problem is, sadly, Houston's voice has deteriorated - badly. Houston's creamy smooth vocals have been replaced by a roughness that suggests that the luster in her voice has completely disappeared.
The title track is a better song, and a reminder that despite his, um, extra-curricular activities, R. Kelly is a superb songwriter (he provided Michael Jackson with his last number-one hit in America, "You Are Not Alone.") But Houston's performance, while heartfelt, is hampered by her haggard voice. Despite the excellent production, nothing can distract from the fact that Houston's voice is in rough shape.
Like many, I was hoping Houston's comeback would be a triumph a la Tina Turner in the '80s, or even Carey's a few years back. I've got to give Houston credit for pulling her life together.
But there's no avoiding the fact, "The Voice" is gone.
Of all the pop singers of the past 25 years, Houston has been considered "The Voice." More so than Celine Dion and Mariah Carey. In her prime, nobody could sing like Whitney.
Carey's voice has deteriorated in the past few years, surprisingly, thanks to her meltdown in 2001 and evidently not taking proper care of her voice. Dion is still a strong singer, but her style of singing is simply not heard on radio anymore.
Houston rose to fame like Dion with her powerhouse vocals and syrupy ballads, which simply don't fly on pop stations carrying the latest R&B/hip-hop hits from Beyonce, Rihanna, and Flo Rida. So far, three tracks have been leaked from Houston's upcoming album I Look to You, including the title track (written by R. Kelly) and "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" (written by Diane Warren). The latter track is typical Warren-style schmaltz: full of tired cliches about finding strength in one's self. I'm sure it's supposed to pull the heartstrings considering what Houston has been through for the past ten years, but the song is so syrupy, even Houston cannot sell it. The other problem is, sadly, Houston's voice has deteriorated - badly. Houston's creamy smooth vocals have been replaced by a roughness that suggests that the luster in her voice has completely disappeared.
The title track is a better song, and a reminder that despite his, um, extra-curricular activities, R. Kelly is a superb songwriter (he provided Michael Jackson with his last number-one hit in America, "You Are Not Alone.") But Houston's performance, while heartfelt, is hampered by her haggard voice. Despite the excellent production, nothing can distract from the fact that Houston's voice is in rough shape.
Like many, I was hoping Houston's comeback would be a triumph a la Tina Turner in the '80s, or even Carey's a few years back. I've got to give Houston credit for pulling her life together.
But there's no avoiding the fact, "The Voice" is gone.
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