Re me

The new string of reissues by rock & roll icons from Led Zeppelin to Kiss to Pink Floyd makes me scratch my head in wonder.. First off it is really strange for a group like Led Zeppelin to be releasing what they are because Jimmy Page (lead guitarist) had made the comment some ten years ago that while compiling the latest concert material for How The West Was Won and DVD that there was nothing left in the archive, don't even ask for more, that was IT!!  fast forward to now and here he is not only remastering the entire catalog but there is also remix material.. To me it is easy to do that to your music by way of eliminating the acoustic guitar or whatever, but they wouldn't do that to the music, would they?? 

Reissue to vinyl really loses me.. To have a reissue then place it on the ultimate analogue delivery.. Don't get me wrong, I liked my records collection.. I was really proud of it and I had every Led Zeppelin album.. Then got the remasters on compact disc.. While it might have been a slick sound, I liked it, no more background sound from the motor turning the disc platter..

Pink Floyd is in the middle of their third or forth or fifth reissue of the entire catalog of their music.. The reason??  New technology to make their music crisp.. Also to give the last two albums the vinyl release they never had..  Momentary Lapse of Reason and Division Bell, and redeluxe release of everything on digital form.. The discovery set shown above is having every album reissued in a box set..

Then there is the new KISS ultimate of ultimate sets, the everything on vinyl release.. And compact disc and extras that make you drool..

So what is it about these releases that people find attractive enough to shell out the big bucks for??  If you don't have but a couple albums by say Zep then you might want to go that route to get the latest version of the albums.. I got the Led Zeppelin vol II album that still lists Whole Lotta Love as being written by the four guys only.. Later they had to change and add Willie Dixon as a co-writer where actually they kinda stole the riff  from him.   The Pink Floyd set also includes the 5.1 mixes and never before seen videos.. So many little goodies to want, to need as a true fan of these groups.. To me, on the Pink Floyd releases where they missed out was releasing something fans would really dig into.. On The Wall release they added some of the demos done for the album.. I had heard them, and was able to get them by way of YouTube and other sites..   But demos are what I think a lot of people would love to hear by the Floyd, and in particular the original Momentary Lapse of Reason, you know the one where the album was deemed "not Floyd enough"  And for that matter the album that was nearly finished as the follow up to Division Bell..  Bits and pieces that were started but abandoned.. The household items album that they started but left in favor of Meddle..   There's so much they never released, I'd love to hear the demos to that.. Groups miss the boat on things like that because they think fans deserve only the finished material, and not some bits and pieces album.. But they would be surprised at how many people like to listen to the creative process that demos deliver..

I also don't know how much money the groups make from these releases.. For the most part, bands don't make much money from record sales and never really have, the money they make (made) was from touring.. That's why groups would go out on massive lengthy tours.. In the beginning KISS released an album every 8 months until they made it big then the tours got to be worldwide and the tours made the money to make the next album.  To me I had only a limited number of KISS albums, the original vinyl releases I had the first three albums via the album called the originals, and that was my first box set.. I remember the "trading cards" had strange things about the guys being able to jump over buildings on a single bound and these weren't far fetched to the fan in training days when I was in junior high.. Anything is possible, I mean look at their faces.. THEY'RE NOT HUMAN  are they?? 

Don't get me wrong, I would love to have these releases, all of them.. But mostly for the extras, the booklets, the pictures.. The remixed and 5.1 mixed albums..  But it isn't that big of a deal. I'm still a fan.. Still love these groups.. They are the IT of influence, I can't stand most of the music from now.. Most of todays music sounds like it was recorded on a bedroom demo tape machine and released as is, no need to make it better.. Well it doesn't have to be high fidelity, the speakers are those little tin fucks on the phones.. No need to sound good.. Or ear buds   eww barf....  I'd rather have ear muff style "cans" that fit over the whole ear.. But what I really like to hear my music on is the speakers.. Crank it up, the neighbors need a rock & roll lesson..

Badge Henry