Here's another of my dreaded serious moments for you to plod through.  I was in attendance at a 50th birthday bash where I participated in a music-related discussion on the recently released Beatles remasters and on how well they were selling.  It eventually came up that there are a massive number of bands that are desireable and, while they may not sell into the stratosphere like The Beatles have, sales should be decent should definitive remasters, etc, be released.

I could think of a number of bands that many of us are very interested in should remasters the quality of what the Beatles remasters are, be produced.  Certainly the labels have tons of such desireable music in their vaults.  So, what's the problem?

Ok, there are obvious licensing deals to made with bands but where money is concerned, and potential grand remasters to glorify the band with, how much resistance can there be?  There is so much material out there that could be gathered for almost every band within the scope of this discussion, that it should be no hard task to assemble quality packages to provide fans with.

We all know that the Beatles remasters sold quite well.  Of course, The Beatles have a mystical hold over many people because of their well-deserved legend so they're going to sell.  A lot!  And they did.  But many of us want our hands on much loved music from our youthful days.  I'm not talking about the 35 and under age group.  I'm REALLY talking about those of us aged 35 and over, and particularly 45 and over.

Here's the deal, labels and bands.  We're getting older, in case you may not have noticed.  Many of us have already retired.  In a gripping recession, we went out and bought multiple copies of The Beatles' works.  Think of the steady stream of revenues that might be enjoyed if you started releasing classic past albums from revered bands, in beautiful and revealing remasters. Throw in some interviews, docs, a classic Live show on DVD, and you could find yourselves in a tsunami of cash.

The Rolling Stones are releasing a multi-disc 40th Anniversary Box for Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out.  I'll be in line for that one.  In a short time, U2's The Unforgettable Fire will join their building set of remasters.  I'll be in line for that one too.  Oh yeah, there's that Box coming for one of the greatest albums ever (and it is!!), Exile on Main Street.  And yes, I'll definitely be in line for that one as well.

We already have a grand, remastered Limited Edition of Born to Run (my pick for Greatest Album Ever).  So someone remind Jimmy and Robert (and the record companies too while you're at it) that we're not getting any younger, and neither are they.  It's the older generations that grew up with them and, thus, have the greatest appreciation for them.  Don't leave it for a future generation that could care less.  Your fans from the beginning are here now.

Faces? Springsteen? J Geils Band? Insert yours here (?).

We're waiting.

Hey, we got through 48 hours and no music-related deaths. I fI messed that up, let me know but I think we're in a hiatus here. Ok. In addition to what we have here, we also have a review of a Mobile Fidelity SACD of Music From Big Pink, the glorious debut from The Band. We'll see you on Monday with more Great Album Covers. Hopefully, we'll be minus our new heatwave here in So Cal. Hopefully! See you then!

I just got word that Rhino Records took a HUGE lay-off hit. WHAT? Annnnnnd who might be putting together the Special Editions for WEA that I was discussing in the opening notes above? Hmmm...

I had mentioned the upcoming vinyl releases of three Joni Mitchell classic titles (The Hissing of Summer Lawns, Ladies of the Canyon, Court and Spark). These three LP titles have been date-shifted to December 8. Also moved are the vinyl LP reissues of Pieces (Manassas), and Manassas (Stephen Stills), both 2LP, 180g.

RCA Records will release a 'best of' for The Foo Fighters called Greatest Hits. This collection will be released as a standard CD, a Deluxe Edition, and an LP version. Watch for this one on November 3.

The upcoming Weezer album, Raditude gets a date change. It is now scheduled for November 3. This is now slated for CD, DD, 2CD Deluxe Edition, DD Deluxe Edition, and vinyl LP. A Deluxe Edition of Pinkerton (1996) is planned for February 23, 2010 (but likely to change).

Hip-O Select will release Not Fade Away: The Complete Studio Recordings and More for Buddy Holly on November 24.

Eagle Vision will release a Billy Idol video called In Super Overdrive Live on both Blu-ray (BD), and DVD. Both formats are scheduled for November 17.

And that's it for this week. Drab and meagre, I know. Keep your fingers crossed for Monday gold.

Club Jazz fans should take immediate notice of City Life from the Jazz Quintet, The Dangling Success.  They build their endearing selection of songs, including a gracious rendition of The Rolling Stones' rockier “Beast of Burden,”into a collection of enjoyable instrumentals. 

The Niekrewicz experience is the centerpiece here with his saxophones.  But his accompanying band highlight his instrument with excellence, every note played in perfection.  The band's music is a time capture from the '70s and enjoyably so.  City Life is easy to fall in love with.  I highly recommend the full-album experience because you won't want to break this one apart. - ****

Imagine the AM radio Psychedelic Pop staples from the '60s and you're on target for the sound of the first album by Nurses.  Nurses is helmed by two pals who have recorded the body of this work, Apple's Acre, in attics and basements, delivering ten very cool-sounding retro-blasts that would have been at home in decades past.

This exploration of past musical styles have become the holy grail of bands, many who have dedicated themselves to the perfection of familiar sounds.  I'm not so sure that this is the case with Nurses as they sound like they would have invented the psychedelic/Pop style if it didn't already exist.  And that sentiment is very evident as you go from song to song.  Apple's Acre is a warm collection of songs that will have you interested from the beginning track. - ***

If you ever liked Echo and the Bunnymen, Siouxie and the Banshees, and/or killing Joke, then we have a new discovery for you. The Opposite Sex from DC has returned with an EP that juice those of you who appreciate good talent and that draws influence from the music that you loved in the past.

Their new (09/01) EP, Live + Burn follows their Violent Heartstrings from 2007 with more great music. I'll be surprised if you DON'T like 'em. To get you started, they are gifitng you with a free downloadable MP3 from the EP, "Frozen Heart, Frozen Mind."

They can be sampled further at their MySpace, Facebook, and LastFM. You can even follow 'em on Twitter.