Deluxe Legacy

Music collectors are all very well aware of Universal Music's Deluxe Edition series and Sony/BMG's Legacy Edition series. It is a cool concept. You take a classic or pioneering album and you add to it with a remaster and bonus material.

Occasionally, the consumer gets ripped off. One example is the Deluxe Edition of The Allman Brothers Band's epic "At Fillmore East." This release had major potential. Original producer Tom Dowd recorded 4 shows over two nights back in March 1971 to create the double album. The original album had 7 tracks, two of which were over 20 minutes in length. Over the years, additional tracks from this famous run of shows at the Fillmore East have been issued. This happened as early as 1972. Still, two shows worth of tracks have never been issued (and additional shows were recorded later in the year). This release was a chance for the vaults to open up and to give long-time fans a glimpse of the unreleased performances. Instead, Universal put every single previously released performance from the Fillmore East into one package. Nothing new, just a $30+ price tag. Remember, these types of releases should be aimed at the collector and the established fan base. What a waste.

But on the other hand, sometimes the consumer scores with one of these releases. This is the case with The Clash's Legacy Edition of "London Calling." In addition to the original album found on disc one, the second disc is the famous Vanilla Tapes made up of rehearsal sessions which include five new songs and the third disc is a DVD documentary about the making of the landmark album.

Another fantastic example is the Legacy Edition of Miles Davis' "'Round About Midnight" which obviously includes the original album, but also includes studio bonus tracks. The second disc is graced with a live performance of the title track at the 1955 Newport Jazz Festival and an unreleased live concert from 1956.

A couple of days ago I was talking about the major record labels and their catalogue. There is a lot of quality material stored away in the labels' vaults. Yes, it costs money to work with the tapes. But, the money was spent years ago to record all the additional material that is just sitting gathering dust. More importantly, a lot of these legacy artists have audiences that are getting older. Interests change and the fan base loses numbers due to the passing away of some. Why not capitalize on selling as much catalogue product as possible (and you know, it can be in the form of downloads....)? Not only does a label potentially earn money on an investment made years ago, but artists' legacies are enhanced with historically important documents being issued. It can be a winning situation for all. Hopefully, Sony/BMG and Universal continue developing this side of the business with these two concepts as there is unlimited potential.*

*I should not leave out Universal's Hip-O Select and Warner's Rhino Handmade collector's labels either as both have issued some incredible packages as well.

______________________________________


If you have a few more minutes to spare, here are a few fun ideas that come to mind. From time to time, I may post others as there are loads of possibilities. These initial ones are from a few of my favorite artists... This can be a cool exercise if you dig a particular artist and/or album and you know the potential is there to improve it.

The Who - Who Are You. The 1996 remix/remaster was a mixed result. Some fans do not like reissue producer Jon Astley's overall work with The Who's catalogue. Personally, I think he has done a pretty decent job overall (no one will be perfect). The 1996 reissue had some decent bonus material made up of alternate mixes, a demo, and a working demo. The one controversial move was replacing the original version of "Music Must Change" with an alternate that had different guitar parts. Nevertheless, this release could be extended to two discs and equipped with a nice booklet for the liner notes. The content could include:
*The original album (with the original mix of "Music Must Change").
*The bonus tracks from the 96 reissue + the alternate mix of "Music Must Change."
*Townshend demos for the album.
*Any other suitable alternate mixes remaining in the vaults.
*The bulk of Keith Moon's final show from 1977 at Kilborn State Theatre. Some will argue that it was a horrible show, but it was Keith's final show and this album was Keith's final album. Plus, having heard an underground tape of this show, it isn't the train wreck some label it as - and it has a very cool embryonic version of "Who Are You."

The Who - Who By Numbers. This one was apparently slated for a 2006 release. It never materialized, but it was referenced in a MOJO Magazine showcase for the band. One can assume that in addition to the original album, there would have been some newly unearthed alternates (like the known full-band version of "Blue Red & Grey") with the second disc being the bulk of the famous 1976 Swansea gig. If this Deluxe Edition is no longer being considered, hopefully the Swansea gig does see the light of day in some other capacity as it is one of the band's last stellar shows with Keith Moon.

Jeff Beck - The Jeff Beck Group. Now this isn't one of his best titles. In fact, it is one of his worst. The production is muddy and the material is sub par at best. So why issue it as a Legacy Edition? The second Jeff Beck Group (post-Rod Steward & Ron Wood) never had a proper representation on album. This album was a mildly successful album commercially in the early 70's and if it was properly mixed, mastered and augmented with bonus material, a positive light could finally be shed on this period of Beck's career.
*Original album remixed and remastered.
*Include alternate mixes/guitar solos as a bonus on disc one.
*Include some of the Motown tracks Beck and Cozy Powell recorded with James Jamerson in Detroit.
*On disc two, the famous 6/29/72 Paris Theatre gig for the BBC makes its official debut. This was an incredible live band. Beck was on fire and drummer Cozy Powell was a beast on stage. Most likely this fantasy release never sees the light of day, but, hopefully this concert does in some official capacity. Best case scenerio is a Jeff Beck Group BBC Sessions release with material from JBG1 with Rod & Ronnie and material from this JBG2 version of the band....

Beck Bogert Appice - Beck Bogert Appice. Now this was one sh**ty album by three amazing musicians. Still, it actually performed respectively well (and is a cult classic along with the "Live In Japan" album). The album never had a proper mix and the mastering was been below average at best. Again, why issue a Legacy Edition of this album? Well, the point is, Jeff Beck is a legacy artist. Does anyone think the Legacy Edition of The Byrds' "Sweetheart Of The Rodeo" sells well? It is deluxe package for hardcore fans. Granted, "Beck Bogert Appice" is not a milestone recording (a handful of Deluxe and Legacy edition reissues aren't), but there is a lot of material available in Sony's vaults to spice it up with (a fan can dream...). Make it a Legacy Edition and suddenly one of Rock's most notorious power trios has an intriguing album to explore.
*Original album remixed and remastered.
*"Things Go Better With Coke" commercial which brought the musicians together initially in 1969.
*One or two outtakes from Electric Lady Studios with Stevie Wonder.
*One or two outtakes from the Record Plant with Sly Stone (if anything usable was salvaged).
*A few gems from the unreleased second studio album like "Solid Lifter" and "Satisfied."
*Second disc consisting of the band's final gig at the Rainbow Theatre in January 1974 - a smokin' show.

Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced. Shockingly, Experience Hendrix has not agreed to issue a Deluxe Edition. There are a lot of outtakes from the groundbreaking "Are You Experienced" album. Some of them appeared on the "Jimi Hendrix Experience Box Set." With enough quality studio outtakes/alternates and incredible live material, "Are You Experienced" could be a stunning two disc retrospective (Actually, the same concept could be applied to Jimi's "Axis: Bold As Love").
*Original album with the 1997 remaster/remix.
*Outtakes/Alternates from the sessions.
*Live tracks such as the Monterey Pop Festival performance and the 9/5/67 Stockholm concert + other live gems in the Experience Hendrix vault.

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Soul To Soul. Not his best album, but that doesn't mean it isn't great. The 1999 reissue had a nice remaster with 2 bonus tracks. Well, this is where the Legacy Edition comes into play. There are TONS of outtakes/alternates from the "Soul To Soul" sessions. Literally hours and hours. There are still a lot of inspired and amazing performances in the vaults. Much like Hendrix, Vaughan as a few albums that could easily be enhanced by a Legacy/Deluxe Edition. "Couldn't Stand The Weather" is an obvious choice with lots of studio outtakes/alternates and live material gathering dust in the vaults....Here is what a remake of "Soul To Soul" could offer:
*Original album (with the original mix of "Life Without You").
*In addition to the 1999 reissue outtakes of "Little Wing/Third Stone From The Sun & Slip Slidin' Slim - add tracks such as "I'm Leaving You (Commit A Crime)," "Boot Hill," "May I Have A Talk With You," "Say What" (alternates), "Life Without You" (alternates), "The Sky Is Crying" "Chitlins Con Carne" (outtakes) to name a few options.
*Disc 2, you have the bulk of the professionally recorded 3/31/86 Dallas gig unedited or even the bulk of the 6/30/87 Philadelphia gig.