Guns N' Roses - Use Your Illusion (Super Deluxe 7 CD + BDRip, 2022) [FLAC + FLAC-HD]

Guns N’ Roses are to reissue their 1991 albums Use Your Illusion I & Use Your Illusion II across nine different physical formats including 7CD+blu-ray and 12LP vinyl+blu-ray super deluxe editions.

Both albums have been “fully remastered for the first-time ever”, from hi-res 96/24 transfers from the original stereo 1/2-inch analog masters. Use Your Illusion I includes an updated version of the single ‘November Rain’ which features a newly recorded 50-piece orchestra (this has been mixed by Steven Wilson, incidentally).

The 7CD+blu-ray super deluxe features both remastered albums, Live in New York (from the Ritz Theatre in May ’91) across two CDs, Live in Las Vegas (from the Thomas & Mack Center in January ’92) across three CDs. Both have been newly mixed from the multi-track tapes.

The bonus blu-ray video disc features the complete Live In New York concert film, “newly transferred from 35mm film prints to 4K UHD”.

 

John Lee Hooker - The Healer (1989) [24-192]

The Healer was a major comeback for John Lee Hooker. Featuring a wide array of guest stars, including Bonnie Raitt, Johnnie Johnson, and Los Lobos, The Healer captured widespread media attention because of all the superstar musicians involved in its production. Unfortunately, that long guest list is what makes the album a fairly unengaging listen. Certainly there are moments were it clicks, but that's usually when the music doesn't greatly expand on his stripped-down boogie.

John Lee Hooker was 73 years old when the album was released. It was his first Grammy win and was the album that had placed highest on the Billboard charts in his forty-year career. The album had such success that it "permitted John Lee Hooker to live out the end of his life in comfort". Powers recounts with joy sending a large royalty check to Hooker, and the deep gratitude he felt for the opportunity to help him to finally achieve the recognition he deserved. 

 

The Byrds - Transmission Impossible [3 CD, 2015]

 

Featuring three full length FM Radio Broadcasts of performances by different incarnations of The Byrds, in 1968, 1973 and 1978 (albeit by then billed as McGuinn, Clark and Hillman) this boxed set provides an excellent showcase of this ever-changing groups live work during the decade that immediately followed their pop career in the earlier part of the 1960s. The first show featured, from the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco in November 1968, was performed at a time of great change and uncertainty. Gram Parsons, who had joined a faltering line up in early 68, had departed prior to a disastrous tour of South Africa for which McGuinn notably had received much criticism. By September 1971, when the performance on the second disc of this set was transmitted, the only further change in line-up had been the replacement of John York - who had been asked to leave in September 1969 - with session bassist Skip Battin. Requiem for the Timeless, is the often overlooked McGuinn, Hillman & Clark project of 1978/79. The album they recorded together was lacklustre and featured an irritating disco-ish backing, but the live shows were magnificent. And at one-such hosted by The Boarding House venue in San Francisco on February 9th 1978, those present were treated to four original members for the price of three when David Crosby showed up. Disc Three of this package features this legendary show in its entirety.

Black Sabbath - Complete Studio Albums 1970-1978 (8 CD, 2014) [24/96]

Disc 1 - Black Sabbath 1970

Disc 2 - Paranoid 1970

Disc 3 - Master of Reality 1971

Disc 4 - Vol. 4 1972

Disc 5 - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath 1973

Disc 6 - Sabotage 1975

Disc 7 - Technical Ecstasy 1976

Disc 8 - Never Say Die 1978

Jethro Tull - A (Steven Wilson 2021 remix) [24-96]

Breakouts from the Jethro Tull - A (The 40th Anniversary Edition) release. This CD will feature the Steven Wilson Remix of the original album and an additional 5 tracks associated to the album also remixed by Steven Wilson.

01. Crossfire (4:05)

02. Fylingdale Flyer (4:35)

03. Working John, Working Joe (5:07)

04. Black Sunday (6:43)

05. Protect And Survive (3:38)

06. Batteries Not Included (3:52)

07. Uniform (3:34)

08. 4.W.D. (Low Ratio) (3:45)

09. The Pine Marten’s Jig (3:26)

10. And Further On (4:25)

11. Crossfire (Extended Version) (4:39)

12. Working John, Working Joe (Take 4) (5:16)

13. Cheerio (Early Version) (0:40)

14. Coruisk (6:30)

15. Slipstream Introduction (2:52)