If you’re wanting to talk about big hitters, we’re in the mood to talk about big hitters.
We start this new week in the Neil Young Archives, and it is sounding great! Oceanside Countryside is the last of his great “lost” albums to be released under the Analog Original Series (AOS) banner. Recorded from May to December 1977, the album precedes the release of Comes A Time in 1978, sharing those same rich country hues and mellow energy. Although some tracks have appeared in the Archive CD boxes, this sequence is as it was originally planned to be released and is available on vinyl for the first time ever. Features one of my absolute favourite takes of The Old Homestead. Magic.
+ Available on limited Clear colour vinyl.
"These songs are the original mixes done at the time of the recordings. I sang the vocals and played the instruments on Oceanside, in Florida at Triad studios and Malibu, at Indigo studio. I sang the vocals and recorded with my great band of friends at Crazy Mama’s in Nashville on Countryside. I hope you enjoy this treasure of an Analog Original recording as much as I do.”
– Neil Yong
To celebrate its 43rd year, 11th month and twentieth-odd day anniversary, Grace Jones’ all time blazing Nightclubbing is reissued on a limited Gold vinyl pressing with new artwork. Jean-Paul Goude’s iconic sleeve has been updated (we can only assume a licensing issue), but the main event here is the audio. In keeping with its reputation as one of the best sonically sounding albums of the '80s and for the first time since its debut on CD in 1987, Nightclubbing has been comprehensively remastered using the latest studio technology. Pull on up folks, man it’s still sounding so good.
We have absolute magic from the Sonic Youth bootlegs with Hold That Tiger. In October 1987, four months after the release of their critically acclaimed Sister LP, Sonic Youth showcased their latest work in a blistering set at Cabaret Metro, Chicago. The concert was introduced by Big Black’s Steve Albini (who at the time was banned from the venue) and subsequently released as a semi-official bootleg under the title Hold That Tiger on writer/provocateur Byron Coley’s impishly Geffen-baiting label, Goofin’. As with the previous bootlegs, this one has been done real well. Loud and lashing, this really is such vital stuff.
+ First-time reissue with speed-corrected master.
+ Liner notes by Thurston Moore and Aaron Mullan.
+ Available on limited Blue colour double vinyl.
Last week’s New Music Friday (7th March) marked the exact 50th anniversary of David Bowie’s Young Americans and we have an all-new Half-Speed Master LP to celebrate. Another record really sounding so lush! Did you know that John Lennon was one of the co-writters on Fame? I didn’t.
Two real-nice jazz records in the racks for those that do this week. Stan Getz’s Getz Au Go Go is released under Verve’s Acoustic Sounds series, featuring transfers from analog tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging. Recorded in 1964 at the venerable Greenwich Village venue, Café Au Go Go.
Then, Groovin’ Blue is a hard-swinging collaborative album from tenor saxophonist Curtis Amy and drummer Frank Butler. Also one of the earliest recordings to feature vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson! Produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI, and packaged in a deluxe tip-on jacket.
Lastly in today's short but ludicrously stacked set of reissues is a more contemporary essential, with a repress on the self-titled Tristwch y Fenywod album. Man alive, it just gets better and better!