As we roll into June, the summer touring season and festival season are in full force. Time on the road and not in the studio means a bit of a lull for the crowdfunding sites. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t reasons to check out your favorite site. A lull in new material is an opportunity to stock your back catalog, especially if you happen to be a lover of vinyl. This week, I’m going to focus on three campaigns from PledgeMusic. Two of them are vinyl reissues from a pair of the biggest names in rock and roll history. The third is a curated vinyl series from one of roots music’s most prolific labels.
The Rolling Stones- Studio Albums Vinyl Collection
It doesn’t get much bigger in the rock world than The Rolling Stones. While most people who enjoyed the Stones in their original form probably did so on vinyl, many have probably lost or damaged those original vinyl albums. Now is your chance to replenish as, on June 15, the band will release all 15 of their studio albums released between 1971 and 2016 in one massive collection. Everything from Sticky Fingers to Blue & Lonesome is included. All albums have been remastered and recut at half-speed for maximum quality. This collection is just for the true Rolling Stones hardcore fan, or at least the most obsessive vinyl completist. The package will set you back a whopping $488.
Grateful Dead- Anthem of the Sun 50th Anniversary
While never as big as The Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead arguably have even more obsessive fans, making a vinyl reissue a perfect sell for them. As the band’s albums turn 50, they are giving them each a vinyl release. In July, it’s Anthem of the Sun. While never their most commercially accessible album, it was notable for its experimental mix of studio and live recordings of each song, and for being the first for Grateful Dead percussionist Mickey Hart. The album is being reissued on both CD and limited edition picture vinyl, which will be limited to 10,000 copies. The release also includes a previously unreleased complete live show from 1967, the first known live recording of Hart with the band.
New West Records- 20th Anniversary Box
For two decade, New West Records has been one of the leading labels in root music, releasing albums from the likes of Drive By Truckers, Vic Chesnutt, and The Bottle Rockets. Now, to celebrate their birthday, New West is releasing three curated collections. The first is songs selected by the label’s owner, George Fontaine. The second will be chosen by the label’s fans. The third will be chosen by past and present New West artists. The first part of the 6 LP box set is shipping soon and the whole set is available for $89.98.
