We had it first with CDs in the 1980s and 90s, more recently with resurgent vinyl. The big record labels want us to rebuy our past! And in many cases there are re-releases of re-releases. Why, oh why, can’t they get it right first time?

Frequently we are subjected to “new remasters” which suggests – rightly – that the original CD albums sounded crap and were poorly transcribed to digital, but to hook in the collector we are presented with unreleased material, Bluray content, memorabilia. All makes for a “nice package” and lightens the wallet.

In this feature we signpost some releases this year worthy of your attention…

Reviewing in 2014, Pete Feenstra commented “Love’s influences sound even more derivative than ever before. Yet there’s no denying the way they blended those influences into the classic ‘Forever Changes’ album, before ‘Four Sail’ confirmed another step in Arthur Lee’s Hendrix influenced musical progression.

Back in 1966, Love made the most of their Byrds influenced jangling guitars, The Move, Beatles and Moody Blues inspired harmonies, Stones riffs, Zombies vocals and frequent Floyd influences.”

As Pete mentions, the band early punk inspired garage rock gave way to “chamber pop” and psychedelic art rock before morphing into Arthur Lee’s more direct rock format.

During 1966-1969 the band released several singles, collected here in their original picture sleeves including two exclusive to this set: the promo only ‘Que Vida!/ Hey Joe’ and the never released ‘Always See Your Face/August.’ And, wait, they are “newly remastered” from the original reels!

The impressive Expressions Tell Everything (New Land) box also includes a 64 page booklet by original guitarist Johnny Echols and 2 pull out promo postcards. To make this endeavour all the more enticing this is billed as a limited edition one-time pressing.

This collection is fairly and squarely targeted at a key demographic, the 65 plus somethings with disposable cash who will remember Love in their late 1960s heyday. ****

We reviewed another singles box, this time by Emerson Lake & Palmer (BMG) and opined “This box set will appeal to ELP die-hards and collectors who like a “nice item” to put on the shelf perhaps never to be played. There is little duplication in the tracks and it does emphasise that the band were not all about pomp and prog excess.

Housed in their original picture sleeves and on coloured vinyl, with art cards, liner note booklet, and foreword by Carl Palmer, it makes for an attractive collectors’ package.” *****

Making one or two reviewer best of lists this year is Marillion and Holidays In Eden the last but one of the EMI “definitive versions”.

We would caution that the 1991 album was issued in 1998 as a double CD and contains all the contemporaneous bonus tracks as well as a 24-bit master and extensive liner note. That said, this latest “deluxe version” with all the trimmings (upgraded 48bit, 5.1 mix, live recordings, promo video, making of) is all you’ll ever need. And it’s a great album. *****

Of course, the box set can also be a painless introduction to a particuar genre, or artist. Cherry Red are masters of the box set and one of their most recent releases is Wind Of Change, focusing on progressive rock in 1973.

All the major players are here such as Procol Harum, Yes and ELP but, as Brian McGowan says, ”They provide the glue that holds this collection together, but are often outshone by bands who weren’t favoured by fortune, but leave a lasting legacy nonetheless.” Lesser mortals who never made the A-List: Kevin Ayers, Renaissance, Edgar Broughton, Rare Bird, Curved Air, Gong. *****

The singer songwriter Harry Chapin who tragically died at the age of 39 is celebrated in the 9 albums-on-6-CD box set from Cherry Red, Story Book, The Elektra Albums, 1972-78

Brian McGowan: “Chapin had a sharply observational eye for the things that we can all relate to like love, joy, anger, sadness and hurt….socially aware songs and morality tales, with each album finding popularity with his huge fanbase.” *****

Steve Gibbons began playing in strip clubs and ended up touring with The Who, Little Feat and Lynyrd Skynyrd amongst others whilst recording albums that still sound relevant today. As Brian McGowan notes Rollin’ – The Albums 1976-78 “catches the band on the rise in the seventies, moulding blues, country, pop and pub rock into one homogenous sound that began to resonate loudly in the UK.” Lots of bonus tracks in this 5-CD collection from Cherry Red, many derived from John Peel radio sessions. ****

If not strictly a “box set” there have been many multi-disc releases this year. To demonstrate GRTR! eclecticism Brian reviewed one such in June: Bubblerock Is Here To Stay: Volume 2: The British Pop Explosion, 1970-73 (Cherry Red).

As he says: “In the world of sixties and seventies pop, the single was the king. And what the original Bubblerock compilation (2020) told us has been reinforced by Bubblerock Vol 2… that the era had something for everyone.”

Featured artists include Slade, The Sweet, Blue Mink, Christie, The Big Three, Marmalade, Gilbert O’Sullivan and The Tremeloes. Some artists proved less durable or a novelty such as Lieutenant Pigeon’s ‘Mouldy Old Dough’ and The Pipkins’ ‘Gimme Dat Ding’. *****

Brian McGowan and Joe Geesin (our resident vinyl junkie and reissue guru) highly rate the Cactus box set released in October by Cherry Red. This contains 8 CDs and is sub-titled “The Atco Years” 1970-1972. The 4 CDs of live material although previously released make this a comprehensive trawl through the band’s history.

They were a supergroup of sorts formed by two ex-Vanilla Fudge musicians, Carmen Appice on drums and Tim Bogert on bass and rounded out by revered guitarist Jim McCarty, ex of Buddy Miles Express and The Detroit Wheels.

More recently Cleopatra Records released the latest band iteration (Tightrope, 2021) featuring Carmine Appice and a new album is scheduled with guitarist Pat Travers.

Back in their heyday, Brian mentions the contemporary rock writer Bill De Young: “There was never anything ‘showbiz’ about them; the goal, both onstage and off, was to rock like there was no tomorrow.” *****

One other aspect of the reissue world in 2022, there have been various vinyl re-boots. So BMG reissue the two Dio-led Black Sabbath albums Heaven And Hell and Mob Rules with unreleased bonuses (also on CD). ****

Coloured vinyl also makes an impact. If that’s your bag, the splattered vinyl of Slade – Alive/ Slade In Flame – (BMG) should fit the bill. This sneaked out towards the end of 2021 but was only reviewed (by Joe Geesin) in 2022. *****

Compilation by (newly remastered) David Randall

Feature: Christmas singles 2022

Feature: An Introduction to Christmas Rock Music (and playlist)

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 24 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 26 November 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)