Record Rack: A round-up of the week’s new albums, expanded reissues and/or box sets, appearing each Monday on Slicing Up Eyeballs. All releases due out this Friday unless noted.
Various Artists
RELEASE: Manchester North Of England: A Story Of Independent Music
BACKSTORY: Cherry Red this week releases a 7-disc, 146-song box set compiling music by Manchester acts spanning 1977 to 1993. Includes New Order, Joy Division, Morrissey, The Fall, The Stone Roses and more. (Tracklist)
BUY: Amazon.co.uk
Pet Shop Boys
RELEASE: Nightlife, Release, Fundamental
BACKSTORY: The Pet Shop Boys begin a new reissue series this week with expanded “Further Listening” editions of three albums, each now accompanied by two or three bonus discs of bonus material. (Tracklists)
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, iTunes
The Cars
RELEASE: Candy-O, Panorama
BACKSTORY: Rhino Records this week reissues The Cars’ second and third albums in expanded editions featuring audio remastered under bandleader Ric Ocasek’s supervision and previously unreleased tracks and mixes. (Tracklists)
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, iTunes
James
RELEASE: Justhipper: The Complete Sire & Blanco Y Negro Recordings
BACKSTORY: Cherry Red Records this week releases a new compilation that brings together James’ first two albums — 1986’s Stutter and 1988’s Strip-mine — and associated singles and B-sides in a two-disc package.
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
Bronski Beat
RELEASE: The Age of Reason: Deluxe Edition
BACKSTORY: Steve Bronski debuts a new lineup of Bronski Beat (singer Stephen Granville, programmer Ian Donaldson) with this reworking of the The Age of Consent. Features a bonus second disc filled with remixes.
BUY: Amazon.co.uk
Howard Jones
RELEASE: Best 1983-2017
BACKSTORY: Cherry Red Records this week releases a new 3CD best-of celebrating HoJo’s entire career, including favorites such as “New Song,” “No One Is To Blame,” and “Life in One Day.” Third disc is a bonus with live cuts.
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, iTunes
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- New releases: Ramones expand ‘Leave Home’ with 3CD/1LP box set with new mix, rarities
- New releases: Violent Femmes live record, plus new double album from the Melvins
- New releases: The Cure on vinyl, plus ‘C88’ and ‘Silhouettes & Statues’ box sets
- New releases: Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ expanded, plus Lou Reed, John Cale, Nico live set
