Page 9 - June Issue 2021

Lately, I’ve been wondering about bands who consistently re-release music, and why they do so.
As fans, we can see the reasoning behind some of it, we demand much of it. Anyone with a grasp on business knows how the money of it works- sell more albums, get more money. As both a fan and a fledgling small business owner myself, I can see some solid reasoning in several directions with this. Demand for an album can prompt reissues, and are a valid way to keep interest higher. Licensing deals with new issues of classics are particularly hot in mini van commercials, for example. Def Leppard and Liam Gallagher (who is proud of Oasis rereleasing Definitely, Maybe FOUR times) have both readily admitted reissues are money grabs, ways to spite old labels, and are, according to Gallagher, “old rope” fans buy to put money in artists pockets, so of course they’ll keep doing it (hint: he’s calling us patsies). Some artists have done it to complete lifelong goal albums, such as Brian Wilsons’ project with the Beach Boys SMiLE.
Some of the top selling albums of all time have been The Eagles (Greatest Hits), Michael Jackson (Thriller), The Eagles (Hotel California), AC/DC (Back In Black), Led Zeppelin (IV). All have had some remasters, reissues, or re-releases.
In the case of The Eagles Greatest Hits, it was the best selling album of the 20th century in North America, until Michael Jackson passed away in 2009. The album regained the title of best selling by 2018, and the National Recording Registry (Library of Congress) deemed the album “culturally, historically, or artistically significant”. Clearly, the album is something very important, and as medias have changed, listeners tastes have, too. re-releases are expected with albums like this. Fans beg for a cleaner sound, or new vinyl listeners want to get their hands on a pressing. I have two copies of this personally, one is a cassette tape. The Eagles went one step beyond, and released The Very Best Of in 2003, with huge success. This makes sense, given the fact they hold two of the best selling albums of all time, and demand has been steady.
Thriller has been re-released several times in various editions and formats, with some bonus and remastered tracks included. In 2001, Thriller: Special Edition
was released. This included content such as audio interviews, mixes Jackson himself did not approve of while alive, booklets and some artwork. In 2008, it was released yet again as Thriller 25, with Jackson himself as producer. Album sales spiked following his death in 2009. The original album also received designation from the NRR/Library of Congress. re- releases after an artists death are common, due to a spike in demand, collectors wanting more items, and estates wanting to make more money.
AC/DC have re-released “fan pack” editions of their work, and even released Back In Black as a cassette tape in 2018. 2500 copies made, and all were immediately gone. This was to celebrate Record Store Day, and spiked album sales for a time. This album was also remastered and re-released in 1994, 1997 (Bonfire Box set), 2003 (AC/DC Remasters Series). re-releases consistently sell, and forums are full of rabid fans who buy it up, if only to complain about the sound being different across formats. These re-releases have befitted estates (Bon Scott), and helped the band retire, for the most part. Brian Johnsons’ hearing has been an issue with new content, so demand stays high for the old.
Led Zeppelin crush this game, with the box set Led Zeppelin Remasters, released in 1990. Page claims this was all a sound and format issue, and he himself supervised mastering of the entire project. A second edition of the project was released in a Bonus Disc Edition, furthering their net gain on the project. Other re-releases included Presence, In Through The Out Door, and Coda. I personally own many of these, so I’m just as guilty of enabling on this one. They re-release something, and I say “Goodbye, money”. My justification is I can’t ever see them live. This is cheaper than concert tickets. This is fine. I need the fourth issue, with the bonus disc of content I already have elsewhere. Take. My. Money. A bonus was the artwork, sleeves, and a hardcover book. Worth it? Maybe not. But I have it.
So, I’m curious. Do YOU support a band consistently with remaster purchases, or do you feel it’s a waste of money? Do you prefer to purchase cleaner sounding reissues, for use with modern day systems? Do you purchase these as a fan after extras, or are you a hardcore fan who already has multiple copies of the same content, and get bummed out by lack of new content? Let me know at melissa@radiodowntown.ca or on Instagram @mel.issacamus
Happy Listening, folks! M
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Release
Melissa Camus
Talent Promotions.