Musoscribe’s Best of 2010: Reissues
Concord merits mention yet again, this time for being responsible for two of the best reissued CDs of 2010. They’re also the two (of these five) by artists you’ll likely recognize. Ray Charles’ Genius + Soul = Jazz gets the deluxe treatment via superb sound, relevant bonus tracks galore and scholarly liner notes from Will Friedwald. If you’re one of those people who admires Charles’ work but finds some of it a bit too stylized, this is a perfect entry point that could change your mind.
That label also brought forth the latest in its ongoing Frank Sinatra reissue series: the mid-sixties Strangers in the Night. Released at the height of the rock era – but wholly uninfluenced by it — this album has nonetheless worn extremely well. A few bonus tracks and excellent liner notes from Ken Barnes make is even better.
The remaining three are seriously obscure titles from virtually unknown artists. Midwestern rock act Spur completed an album in the very early 70s, and it was released regionally. Then they faded from the scene. What they left behind was an amazing folk-rock-psych album influenced by the Byrds, Moby Grape and other greats, yet with its own identity. Now Of the Moments has been reissued on vinyl with an altered track listing; this is one amazing listen. Its release confused this writer to no end, as the review explains.
Poobah was a heavy, heavy heavy group of the early 70s. Their debut LP Let Me In went on to become a collectors’ holy grail of sorts. It’s now been reissued with a ton of bonus tracks (essentially doubling the album’s length), and there’s nary a weak one in the bunch. For fans of the Black Sabbath and Uriah Heep brand of rock, this is a definite don’t miss disc. The group is still at it in 2011.
Esquerita taught Little Richard how to play piano. Then Little Richard got famous thanks (in part) to Esquerita’s brand of technique and delivery. So then Esquerita decided to get in on the action himself. Weirder and wilder than his student, Esquerita produced some of the rawest, craziest music of the early rock era. His best sides are collected on Wildcat Shakeout. You have been warned.
Next we’ll look at my favorite concerts of 2010, and then we’ll wrap up with the Academy Award for Best Pic…er, no, the best new albums of 2010.
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 since 2018). The 4000-plus 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 is co-teaching a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 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: 40 Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.