Best of 2013: Reissues/Archival Releases
It’s that time, again: the time of year when I coast to the New Year’s finish line and post a string of best-of lists. It’s not simply a place-holding exercise; I really do recommend these albums etc. and sincerely believe they deserve a look (or a second look). So forthwith…
2013 has seen a number of noteworthy reissue/compilation releases, but for me these are the Top Five. Click on the titles for a full review.
The prodigiously talented Badfinger leader was also, as it turns out, prolific. One pauses to wonder what more great music he might have given the world had he successfully battled his demons. It’s some consolation that Badfinger chronicler Dan Matovina worked tirelessly to bring this two-disc set of early home demos to light. Get it while you can (if you even still can).
Just when you thought all the old R&B labels (Stax, Hi, etc.) had been fully mined for their reissue value, along comes this set. Yes, many of the artists are lesser-known than their major-label counterparts, but the quality of the music belies its relative obscurity. The people at Omnivore clearly love music, and their efforts in bringing out sets like these prove it again and again.
The guitarist’s recording career was tragically short, but man, was he busy. Allman’s work at the helm of The Allman Brothers Band showed but one side of his talents. This lavish set displays all sides, and does so in a staggeringly impressive physical package. (There’s a cheaper/slimmed-down version available as well).
Rock Beat has picked up the baton that Rhino initiated with its multi-disc Nuggets sets, heading south of the border and unearthing all manner of goodies. Even hardcore garage fanatics are likely to find surprises here: the music’s quite impressive, running the gamut from garage to popsike to way-out, mostly done with a guileless, on-the-cheap aesthetic that keeps it real.
The music of one of America’s most important musical and cultural figures deserves a set like this, perhaps the classiest, most comprehensive collection of its kind ever assembled. True, most people who purchase it won’t have a way to play the 78rpm record, but the accessible content is wonderful enough for that not to matter much.
Honorable mentions:
Concord’s jazz reissues, Real Gone Music’s soul-jazz reissues on its Dusty Groove imprint, Jazzhaus‘ ongoing trip through German TV and radio archives, and Purple Pyramid’s reissue of classic space-rock albums from Nektar.
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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.