Musoscribe’s Best of 2024: Reissue/archival
From my perspective, 2024 has been another great year for reissues and archival releases. I’ve reviewed nearly 60 of ’em since January 1. Among those, there are five titles that stand out above the rest. As ever, there’s plenty of music that (a) I simply missed or (b) that you dig but I, alas, did not, but herewith are my Top Five archive and/or reissue titles of the year. In no particular order, by the way. Links to more details (reviews, in fact) for each.
UFO – Lights Out
Hard rock, ‘70s variety; it rarely got better than this, and it didn’t need to. Top-notch playing, writing, production, arrangement. The bonus disc make it even better.
Pete Ham – Gwent Gardens
There has been a surprising bounty of previously-unheard Badfinger-related material of late. Surprising, that, in light of the fact that the band’s two leading light – Tom Evans and Pete Ham – both left this dimension more than 40 years ago. With all of the posthumous odds-and-endistry, one might think we’d be barrel-bottom-scraping by now. Again alas: no. Dig if you will, and you should.
The Brat – Straight Outta East L.A.
Most of the artists on this roundup are acts you known for all these years (to coin a phrase). Here’s betting you didn’t know about The Brat. You should, as they shoulda been contenders. Waaaay better than one would have any right to expect from an unknown L.A. band of the ‘80s.
Chick Corea – Trilogy
I was lucky enough to interview Chick a few years back, and I’ve long been a fan of his work. This monumental set has been lovingly put together. It’s a brick for sure, and it ain’t cheap. But it’s worth the investment, with all the sparking brilliance that is (was) a Corea live concert experience.
King Crimson – Sheltering Skies
1980s King Crimson was something like no other (well, at least until BEAT came ‘round; more on that presently). Back in the day, joining the trilogy of albums of that era (Discipline, Beat and Three of a Perfect Pair) there was a cleverly-packaged bootleg called Unpronounceable; that unauthorized LP was a document of a live 1984 concert in Japan. This one is from two years earlier, in Frejus. It has seen release in truncated form (as The Noise) on VHS – albeit more than a quarter-century ago – yet this is the one to have. In some ways, it’s even superior to the studio material.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day for several years). The more than 5000 interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- some 40 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 30 Great Concept Albums is available now. Read even more about him here.