Record Rack: A round-up of the week’s new albums, expanded reissues and/or box sets, appearing each Monday on Slicing Up Eyeballs.
R.E.M.
RELEASE: MTV Unplugged 1991, MTV Unplugged 2001
BACKSTORY: R.E.M. this week releases individual 2LP sets of its 1991 and 2001 “MTV Unplugged” sessions, which had been issued as a 4LP box set on Record Store Day, and on CD and digitally in recent months.
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
The Call
RELEASE: A Tribute to Michael Been
BACKSTORY: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s Robert Levon Been pays tribute to his late father by fronting the reunited Call in this live CD/DVD document of the band’s California shows last year.
BUY: Amazon.com
Game Theory
RELEASE: Blaze of Glory
BACKSTORY: Omnivore this week reissues Blaze of Glory in its original form for the first time since 1982, supplementing the 12-track record with 15 bonus tracks — including 11 previously unreleased recordings (tracklist).
BUY: Amazon.com
My “Blaze of Glory” just arrived in the mail today. Excellent!
Okay, now that I’m really digging into this, I want to say that the package is really first rate on every level, with a great collection of archival photographs and outstanding liner notes.
The latter includes “From a Spark to a Blaze: An Oral History of Game Theory’s Early Years,” with lengthy comments from former band members, associates and contemporaries like Steve Wynn.
Anyone who ever liked Game Theory and Scott Miller’s singular talent will really enjoy this release. BUY IT!
And serious kudos to everyone involved. I can’t wait for the next reissue in the series, this first one is that good.