This now annual event sees the reissue by Rhino of a selection of classic rock albums, with some now appearing on coloured vinyl for those who collect that sort of thing.
I’m just going to pick out just a couple here.
Dream Theater’s Train of Thought – now on clear vinyl, this is a double album dating from 2003 that saw the band adopt a much heavier sound than on recent releases, but still very much in the territory of prog, with most of the tracks clocking in over the ten minute mark. Trivia fact – the opening chord on the record is a continuation of the closing theme on its predecessor Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, while its closing notes are continued on its follow up Octivarium. Perhaps not the most accessible of their canon so maybe not the best entry point for newcomers, but long standing fans will know and love this record, and there are several more of the band’s albums also reissued in this series.
Clockwork Angels, the final Rush album, is another double set, this time on traditional black vinyl. Originally released back in 2012, this really is an overlooked classic in their catalogue. For some reason, it appears to go under the radar with a lot of fans, but the song writing and musicianship are both at the top of their game – in fact, I might be temped to put this in their top three albums, and certainly in the top five. Again, this music will already be familiar to diehard fans, but if you’re only a casual listener who dips in and out of the music of Rush, then you should certainly give this a listen, as it’s certainly the best of their post hiatus records.
Available October 3
Rush – Clockwork Angels
2-LP on Black vinyl
Available on October 17
Lenny Kravitz – Black & White America
2-LP on Black vinyl
Morphine – Good (Remastered Edition)
1-LP on Forest Green Vinyl
New York Dolls – ‘Cause I Sez So
1-LP on Red vinyl
Spain – The Blue Moods of Spain
2-LP on Blue vinyl
The Distillers – Coral Fang
1-LP on Red with Black Splatter vinyl
Type O Negative – The Least Worst of…
2-LP on Black vinyl
Yes – Big Generator
1-LP on Orange vinyl
Available on October 24
Dream Theater – Octavarium
2-LP on Clear vinyl
Dream Theater – Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
2-LP on Clear vinyl
Dream Theater – Systematic Chaos
2-LP on Clear vinyl
Dream Theater – Train of Thought
1-LP on Clear vinyl
Ministry – The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste (Expanded Edition)
2-LP on 180-gram Black vinyl
Ministry – Psalm 69 (Expanded Edition)
2-LP on 180-gram Black vinyl
Mr. Bungle – California
2-LP on Translucent Ruby vinyl
Mr. Bungle – Disco Volante
2-LP on Translucent Light Blue vinyl
Mr. Bungle – Mr. Bungle
2-LP on Translucent Orange Crush vinyl
Stone Temple Pilots – Stone Temple Pilots
1-LP on Red vinyl
Warren Zevon – Learning to Flinch (Live)
1-LP on Black vinyl
Warren Zevon – Mutineer
2-LP on Black vinyl
Warren Zevon – Mr. Bad Example
1-LP on Black vinyl
Available on October 31
Faces – Early Steps
1-LP on Black vinyl
2CD
The Stooges – Alternate Funhouse
1-LP on Opaque White with Black vinyl
I don’t do vinly, but I’m curious to hear your Dream Theater advice.
I like prog, but I’ve struggled with them. I’ve got Live at Budokan and the live-with-orchestra Score, but I find them a bit “widdly-widdly… listen to what good musicians we are… long guitar solo…”
Are there any studio albums for a newcomer, ideally with tunes?
Images and Words is usually considered to be their most accessible album.
Thanks very much, BP. I shall investigate.
I’m going to get the Morphine album if I can… huge fan here.
Seconded.
Only ones of interest are the Warren Zevon.
But thanks for posting.
The Blue Moods of Spain is a lovely, if understated, record. One that seems like it would be right up your alley. I always come back to it, but it may just be one of those albums that hit me right at the time. Certainly it’s not stylistically groundbreaking, but there’s a depth of songwriting and a Cowboy Junkies adjacent vibe that retains lasting appeal.
I agree with your assessment of Rush’s Clockwork Angels BP, it’s my favourite album from Rush
Me too. Since the news of their new tour, I’ve been re-listening to it a lot, and it’s definitely my fave from them.
One highlight is The Garden, which I think has an absolutely beautiful finale, especially live, with the strings going great guns:
So there’s Record Store Day (Black Friday version), National Album day and Rocktober all in the October/November period. Quite a lot
Plus Black Thursday
And none of them can convince me to pay the thick end of £30 or so for an LP. Now, if there was a day dedicated to special/rare CDs, I’d be there like a shot…
Strange what they decide to release. The 3 Warren Zevon records were made with Giant, and none charted, so maybe they got permission cheap.
I love Mr Bad Example. It didn’t chart, so Giant totally slashed Zevon’s budget in the studio and on tour. They agreed to make a live album, so Zevon toured, solo, that is, without a band. Just Zevon with that 12 string guitar. They obviously hired pianos too. The result was Learning To Flinch. I like this one too.
I don’t own Mutineer and I’ve never heard it. I’ve never read a decent review of it. Only the title track makes it on to Genius(the best of). Because he had no budget, the album was made in his home studio, and he played almost all the instruments, as well as the vocals obviously. I definitely wouldn’t buy this. I’m fairly new to vinyl recently and already have a Zevon LP so I won’t be getting the others either….well not right now. Maybe farther down the line when they’re cheaper.
Learning to Flinch is probably, overall, my favourite Zevon album.And one of my favourite live by anyone. The 12 string sound is astonishing.