I’m starting to feel a bit churlish for being so negative about the new Beatles song, and what with that and barrel-scraping from Kate Bush this week there’s been plenty of talk about acts who are trampling over their legacy with poor taste.
So as an antidote, let me ask this. Which acts in your opinion have a well-tended legacy?
King Crimson springs to mind. All their repackages and re-releases seem to be tasteful and good value for money.
Agree with you on King Crimson – although they tend to milk it with (I think) 30th, 40th and 50th anniversary editions! That said, they are always good value for money.
Another example would be XTC with their “Surround Series” boxset on a single Blu Ray reissues. Excellent remasters, remixes, original mix for those that want, loads of bonus material – all for approx £20. The only thing you could argue that it’s not a “well tended legacy” is that that still haven’t found the master tapes of some albums…….
Rick Wakeman has been good about releasing stuff. Except for Criminal Record for some reason.
Jethro Tull has done great releases of their albums, and the Residents pREserved series is fantastic.
Yes, the Tull reissues have been excellent: lots of extra material, 5.1 mixes of the album and often of a concert as well, plus informative books and nice packaging.
The same applies to Marillion’s series of deluxe editions, which also include feature-length documentaries that usually contain facts even die-hard fans didn’t know. Some fans have quibbled about the occasional missing version of a song or the choice of concert that’s included, but these have clearly been compiled with great care.
And both bands have managed to keep the price down to a realistic/acceptable level. Some of the Floyd reissues (The Later Years, the remixed Animals, etc.) have been very good, but price-wise they clearly use a different strategy to Tull and the Marillos.
Yes the Tull ones are great value plus sensible prices.
The Mothers of Invention’s CD reissues (until recently, when the prices have seemed to have moved to a more usual level) are superb, and cheap. The 3-CD Meat Light was £8.99.
Not an act but a label. Whenever I’ve dabbled in jazz and bought something on the Impulse label, I always feel like I’ve bought a quality product. Nice CD packaging, sensibly priced, recorded and mastered well, no bloated or tasteless added extras.
I think from a fan’s point of view, the Pet Shop Boys have done it correctly. Reissue the album remastered with a second disc of tracks contemporary to the album. Consistent artwork across the releases in a style that is very PSB. Plus with a booklet for each album with commentary by the band.
Wilco
Deluxe or Super deluxe editions of first 4 albums (so far), many many live downloads in excellent quality for bargain prices (if you buy at the right time) and their vinyl pressings are always superb
Wire.
Mentioned on another thread recently – they haven’t put a foot wrong: and the expanded reissues of the first three Harvest albums were excellent on all fronts.
Agree on XTC, Wilco and despite my falling out of love with them after ’78’s HH, Tull
Then, of course, there is BD and NY
The Who, although the recycling a barrel scraping can only go for so long.
300 quid for the Who’s Next box set says no! I am sure the audio content is pretty great but how much?
Hang on a few months and it may start to become sensible price. Thats my plan anyway
Not quite as old as some of the artist mentioned, but I do think Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys have kept their artist dignity intact over the last 40 years or so.
Always kept a fairly forward-looking perspective, with new music that is clearly done with passion, care and attention.
Sure, plenty of greatest hits collections etc. but I think they still offer substantial intrigue for hardcore fans, whilst also catering tastefully for the more casual audiences of 80s/electronic music. They both avoid those rather tiresome 80s tours. Could probably include New Order in to this as well.
The Thin Lizzy expanded editions were all worth having and their Rock Legend box set (naff title mind you) was outstanding with demos / alternative versions that are worthy of repeated listening.