Blondie, Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Notorious B.I.G.: Some Of 2022’s Notable Reissues

Judging by the amount of archival music or reissues that came out in 2022, you would be hard-pressed to complain about the lack of variety. From classic rock to pop to alternative rock to hip-hop, there is definitely something for the most discerning and sophisticated music fan. Usually featuring unreleased tracks along with the classic hits, deluxe packaging and detailed liner notes, music reissues are usually the perfect all-in-one gifts and proof that there’s something special about owning or receiving music in physical and tangible form compared to a stream or download. Here in no particular order or ranking is a partial list (emphasizing ‘partial’) of just some of the noteworthy archival music released this year.

Joni Mitchell

The Asylum Albums (1972-1975)

(Asylum/Rhino)

The latest volume in the Joni Mitchell Archive Series focuses on the albums that the legendary singer-songwriter recorded for the Asylum label between 1972 and 1975: For the Roses, Court and Spark, the double live record Miles of Aisles and The Hissing of Summer Lawns—all of which found Mitchell branching away from her folk roots in the early part of her career towards jazz and the avant-garde.

Blondie

Against the Odds: 1974-1982

(Numero Group)

The Grammy-nominated Against the Odds box covers the first era of Blondie’s career from their early incarnation as downtown New York City punk rockers to international pop stars. The deluxe edition contains the band’s first six albums (Blondie, Plastic Letters, Parallel Lines, Eat to the Beat, Autoamerican and The Hunter) as well as a treasure trove of unreleased recordings in the form of demos and outtakes.

Christine McVie

Songbird (A Solo Collection)

(Rhino)

Before her recent passing, the great Fleetwood Mac co-singer and songwriter Christine McVie released her first-ever solo compilation, drawing material mostly from her two albums, 1984’s Christine McVie and 2004’s In the Meantime. The highlights of this set are the previously unreleased track “Slow Down” and a new orchestral version of McVie’s signature song “Songbird” that was originally from Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 magnum opus Rumours. Songbird is now a fitting tribute to a beloved musician who was arguably the heart and soul of the Mac.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Live at the Fillmore (1997)

(Warner Records)

In the early part of 1997, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers played a then-unprecedented string of 20 shows at the famed Fillmore in San Francisco; the music from those concerts has now been released in this new set. More than just playing their hits, the band also threw in a generous amount of cover material (songs by the Rolling Stones, the Byrds, Little Richard, the Grateful Dead and more) during those spontaneous performances.

Madonna

Finally Enough Love (50 Number Ones)

(Warner Music)

For the entirety of her career, Madonna ruled the club scene with her dance music bangers. Finally Enough Love collects all her singles that topped Billboard’s Dance Club chart, spanning from her iconic 1983 single “Holiday” to 2019’s “I Don’t Search I Find” from the Madame X album. In between are such memorable hits as “Express Yourself,” “Vogue,” “Frozen” and “Beautiful Stranger.”

Rolling Stones

Live at the El Mocambo

(UMe)

The World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band performed some secret concerts in 1977 (a year before the release of the Some Girls album) at Toronto’s famed El Mocambo club—now the music from that legendary appearance has been officially released on this 2-CD/4-LP collection. Here are performances of signature Stones songs (among them “Brown Sugar” and “It’s Only Rock and Roll (But I Like It)”) nestled alongside deeper cuts (“Luxury,” “Melody” and “Worried About You,” the latter ending up on 1981’s Tattoo You album)—as well as covers such as Bo Diddley’s “Crackin’ Up” and Muddy Waters’ “Mannish Boy.”

Little Feat

Waiting for Columbus: Super Deluxe Edition

(Rhino)

Not only Little Feat’s most popular record, but 1978’s Waiting for Columbus has been regarded as one of the greatest live albums of all time. Essentially a career-spanning collection of the Los Angeles-based Feat’s best works under the leadership of the late Lowell George, Columbus has now been re-released a super deluxe 8-CD set that also contains three previously unreleased concerts from 1977 recorded in Manchester, London and Washington D.C.

David Bowie

Divine Symmetry

(Parlophone)

First released on December 17, 1971, Hunky Dory became David Bowie’s breakthrough album and laid the groundwork for his hugely successful persona as Ziggy Stardust. Containing such beloved hits as his signature song “Changes,” “Oh! You Pretty Things” and “Life on Mars?”, Hunky Dory is not only one of Bowie’s best works but one of the greatest albums of all time. The 4-CD/1 Blu-ray set Divine Symmetry examines the 12 months of music Bowie recorded (demos, studio, live performances and BBC radio sessions) leading up to the release of Hunky Dory—including 48 tracks never before released.

The Cure

Wish: 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

(Elektra/Fiction/Rhino)

This 1992 album by the popular British post-punk Goth rockers led by Robert Smith truly broke them into the American mainstream with hits like “High” and “Friday I’m in Love.” To mark its 30th anniversary, Wish has been reissued as a 3-CD set featuring the original album and accompanied by 24 previously unreleased tracks.

The Police

The Police Around the World (Restored and Expanded)

(Mercury Studios)

Representing the first time in years that the Police revisted their vaults, Around the World is a 1982 documentary film of the popular New Wave trio’s groundbreaking international tour between 1979 and 1980. More than 40 years later, it has been finally reissued on DVD and Blu-ray with and additional CD of live performances from that period.

The Notorious B.I.G.

Life After Death 25th Anniversary

(Bad Boy/Rhino)

The legendary Notorious B.I.G. would’ve turned 50 years old in 2022. Commemorating that milestone legacy as well as the 25th anniversary of Biggie’s second album, the swansong Life After Death, comes a super deluxe 8-LP box set of the record. This special edition features the original double album as well as the 12-inch versions of Hypnotize,” “Mo Money Mo Problems,” “Sky’s the Limit” and “Nasty Boy.”

The Human League

The Virgin Years

(UMe)

In 1980, it seemed like the Human League’s future was in doubt after their first two albums didn’t make a commercial dent for the synthpop band, resulting in two of the original co-founders leaving. The remaining members, singer Phil Oakey and keyboardist Adrian Wright, rebounded by revamping the band lineup, especially with the addition of singers Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall. The new League then made a huge comeback with 1981’s Dare album and the massive global hit “Don’t You Want Me.” That cornerstone album is included in this new vinyl box with the other records (Fascination, Hysteria, Crash and Romantic?) that the League recorded during their tenure at Virgin Records.

Seal

Seal: Deluxe Edition

(Warner/Rhino)

With incredible performances, anthemic lyrics and state-of-the-art production by Trevor Horn, Seal’s self-titled debut album from 1991 was destined to become a success—and it indeed was a smash throughout the world in addition to the singer’s native U.K. Featuring such massive hits “Crazy” and “Killer,” Seal launched the artist’s career. Marking its 30th anniversary, the special 4-CD/2-LP edition of the record also contains remixes, rarities and a previously unreleased concert recorded in Dublin in 1991.

Rush

Moving Pictures: 40th Anniversary Super Deluxe

(UMe/Mercury/Anthem)

1981’s Moving Pictures was the album that truly broke the Canadian rock trio into the mainstream. Working off the sonic template set by 1980’s Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures found the band writing and recording somewhat shorter yet accessible songs and prominently incorporating synths into the mix. The record became sort of a greatest hits collection for Rush, featuring such popular tracks as “Tom Sawyer,” “Red Barchetta” and “Limelight” that are still hallmarks of classic rock radio. Marking the landmark record’s 40th anniversary is this deluxe reissue containing the original album and previously unreleased live material from 1981.

The Beatles

Revolver (Super Deluxe)

(Apple Corps/Capitol/UMe)

Following the recent reissues of Sgt. Pepper’s, The White Album, Abbey Road and Let It Be as special editions in the last five years, the Beatles went back into the vaults again this time for a brand new remix of the 1966 masterpiece Revolver. Under the supervision of Giles Martin and Sam Okell, the sound from this latest remix really pops and draws in the listener as if they were in the recording studio with the band. Along with the stereo and mono versions of the album are two discs of alternate takes and demos from the sessions that feel like the Holy Grail for Beatles fanatics—as well as the Revolver EP containing the non-LP singles “Paperback Writer” and “Rain.”

Sex Pistols

The Original Recordings

(UMe)

Released to coincide with the broadcast of the FX docudrama series Pistol from earlier this year, this collection features the best of the best during the iconoclastic British punk band’s brief but influential career–drawing music from their only studio album, 1977’s Never Mind the Bollocks, as well as non-album singles and soundtrack material.

Guns N’ Roses

Use Your Illusion I & II

(UMe)

Upon its release in 1991, Use Your Illusion I & II could be considered Guns N Roses’ version of the Beatles’ The White Album—a double-disc set of songs that saw Axl Rose and co. branching out stylistically from the hard rock/metal music of their now-iconic 1987 debut Appetite for Destruction. Both volumes, which were sold separately at the time, were huge successes with such popular songs as “You Could Be Mine,” “November Rain,” “Don’t Cry,” Estranged,” “Civil War,” and the covers of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” and Paul McCartney’s “Live and Let Die.” On their 30th anniversary, both volumes of Use Your Illusion have been re-released and housed in a new deluxe box with two never-before-released live shows from New York City’s The Ritz and Las Vegas’ Thomas and Mack Center in 1991 and 1992 respectively.

The Clash

Combat Rock + The People’s Hall

(Epic/Legacy)

The penultimate album from the iconic British punk band, the Clash’s Combat Rock was both a critical and commercial success with memorable songs as “Rock the Casbah,” “Should I Stay or Should I Go” and “Straight to Hell.” This 40th-anniversary edition of the record is accompanied by a second disc, The People’s Hall, featuring 12 tracks recorded during the Combat Rock period—including an alternate version of “Know Your Rights.”

Steve Hackett

Genesis Revisited Live: Seconds Out and More

(InsideOut Music)

Forty-five years ago, the British progressive rock band Genesis released Seconds Out, a double live album of their musical output at that point in their history with then-new lead singer Phil Collins. Here on Revisited Live, former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett, who appeared on that original live recording, revisits the collection in its entirety with his own touring group; in addition to replicating Seconds Out’s original track list, this set features choice selections from Hackett’s solo career.

John Mellencamp

Scarecrow: Deluxe Edition

(Mercury/UMe)

Originally released in 1985, Scarecrow became another consecutive hit record for the heartland rocker, featuring the classics “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.,” “Lonely Ol’ Night,” and “Small Town.” A new deluxe edition of the album contains a bonus disc of unreleased demos and rarities, including the track “Carolina Shag.”

Queen

The Miracle Collector’s Edition

(Hollywood)

Queen’s 13th studio album from 1989 is revisited as an eight-disc box set featuring a slew of bonus material that had never seen the light of day until now—including the much-talked-about power ballad “Face It Alone.”

Pink Floyd

Animals (2018 Remix)

(Pink Floyd/ Legacy)

After much talk and delay, the long-awaited remix of Pink Floyd’s 1977 LP Animals was released. Not often mentioned in the same breath as The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and The Wall, Animals is the British progressive rock band’s dark-horse masterpiece; its Orwellian themes about society still feel relevant today as they did 45 years ago.

Lou Reed

Words and Music, May 1965

(Light in the Attic Records)

The debut release from the Lou Reed Archive series, Words and Music, May 1965 is somewhat historic in that it contains songs by the late rocker recorded two years before the Velvet Underground’s iconic debut album. The previously unreleased material in this collection contains the earliest demos of such beloved Reed/VU classics as “Pale Blue Eyes,” “Heroin” and “I’m Waiting for the Man”

Miles Davis

That’s What Happened 1982-1985 (The Bootleg Series Vol. 7 )

(Columbia/Legacy)

The latest installment in Davis’ Bootleg Series focuses on the bandleader’s output during the first half of the 1980s (covering the albums Star People, Decoy and You’re Under Arrest). The first two discs of this new set consist of previously unreleased recordings from the aforementioned albums’ studio sessions, while the third disc is a never-before-heard 1983 concert in Montreal. Capturing Davis’ jazz-fusion-pop phase, the set is punctuated by the legend’s renditions of Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature,” Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time,” and Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It.”

King Crimson

In the Court of the Crimson King: King Crimson at 50

(DGM/Inner Knot)

Filmmaker Toby Amies’ documentary from this year explores the inner workings of the iconic British progressive rock band led by guitarist Robert Fripp, featuring interviews with the most recent Crimson lineup as well former band members from their five-decade history. Scheduled for release on DVD and Blu-ray formats, In the Court of the Crimson King is not your typical music documentary usually presented in a chronological fashion and with narration and archival footage; rather, it’s centered more in the present, capturing moments that are at times awe-inspiring, humorous and poignant.

Michael Jackson

Thriller 40

(Epic/Legacy/MJJ)

Upon its release in late 1982, the King of Pop’s sixth studio album transformed the singer into the biggest star on the planet and changed music forever. Yielding such iconic hits as “Beat It,” “Billie Jean,” “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” and the title song, Thriller went on to sell 100 million copies worldwide and became a pop culture touchstone. This new 40th-anniversary edition features both the original album and a second disc of demos and rarities, including the tracks as “Starlight” (a precursor to “Thriller”) and “Can’t Get Outta the Rain”; the digital version of this reissue contains 15 additional bonus tracks—among them the demos of “Beat It” and “Billie Jean.”

Various Artists

Revenge of the She-Punks

(Tapete Records)

Inspired by Vivien Goldman’s 2019 book of the same name, Revenge of the She-Punks is an impressive 2-CD/4-LP compilation of the music by female and women-fronted punk rock acts throughout the decades: from the 1970s Britain (X-Ray Spex, the Slits, the Raincoats) and America (Patti Smith, Blondie) to the 1990s Riot Grrrl (Sleater-Kinney) and the present (Big Joanie). In between are artists such as Neneh Cherry, Grace Jones, Bush Tetras and Goldman herself whose songs used the liberating power of punk to challenge the patriarchy and society’s inequities.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Los Angeles Forum: April 26, 1969

(Experience Hendrix/Legacy)

The latest archival release from the Hendrix vaults draws from the original Experience’s 1969 show at the Forum and now presented in its entirety for the first time. It features a setlist of the legend’s popular songs such as “Purple Haze” and “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” along with a cover of Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love.”

PJ Harvey

B-Sides, Demos and Rarities

(UMe/Island)

Ever since the release of her 1992 debut album Dry, British musician PJ Harvey remains one of the most compelling artists in alternative rock who has carved an acclaimed career. On the 30th anniversary of that first record comes a 3-CD/6-LP collection of rarities and deep cuts with a good number of them having been previously unavailable and unreleased—among the highlights include a never-before-released demo of “Dry.”