All this week on Melting Pot we’re taking a look back at the best music in 2010. Today’s post focuses on the best reissues of the year. 2010 was another solid year for reissues, with some great anniversary collections, more unearthed previously unreleased material from legendary performers and musical discoveries from all over the globe. Here is my list of the top 5 reissues I heard in 2010, let me know what you think and what was in your own top 5!
***Honorable Mentions: Groove Merchant 20 (Ubiquity), Miles Davis – Bitches Brew 40th Anniversary (Sony Legacy), Iggy & the Stooges – Raw Power (Sony Legacy), Afrosound of Colombia (Vampi Soul), Black Man’s Cry: Influence and Inspiration of Fela Kuti (Now-Again), The World Ends: Afro Rock & Psychedelia in 1970s Nigeria (Soundway)
5. TL Barrett & the Youth For Christ Choir – Like A Ship – Light In The Attic
TL Barrett & the Youth for Christ Choir – Nobody Knows
I first heard TL Barrett on the Good God collection that is also on this list. “Like A Ship” sent me soaring as I drove home during the early morning hours after my now defunct KCRW show. Later in 2010 Light In The Attic had the good sense to reissue to whole LP, and even threw in a 7” too. The “real” story of TL Barrett is more complicated than perhaps it should have been, but there’s no doubting the power of this music. Few releases this year sent more shivers down my spine than this one. Automatic uplift when you give this a spin.
4. Good God: Born Again Funk – Numero Group
The Victory Travelers – I Know I’ve Been Changed
I’ve already said quite a bit about this one. When I first got the promo for this collection in Dec. 2009, I knew it was golden, with so many fantastic and funky gospel tracks. One of my fondest memories from KCRW was being able to play “I’m Drunk & I’m Real High” on Morning Becomes Eclectic and having some one take note saying something to the effect of “Gospel? On MBE? Awesome!” Indeed it is.
3. Jimi Hendrix – West Coast Seattle Boy – Experience Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix Experience – Are You Experienced? (Instrumental)
As a major Hendrix fan I am completely flabbergasted that here 10 years into the 21st century we are STILL discovering unreleased Hendrix tunes! My hope is that in 2011 we get full instrumental versions of the classic Experience records…until then there is “Are You Experienced” and the mountains of unreleased and alternate material on this exceptional collection from the greatest guitarist to ever walk the face of the earth.
2. Syl Johnson – The Complete Mythology – Numero Group
Syl Johnson – Don’t Give It Away
The Complete Mythology deserves to be on this list just for the amount of work that the Numero group put into the packaging. Gorgeous LP sized booklet, with loads of rare pictures and great stories (I still can’t get over the fact that that’s Minnie Ripperton laughing on “Different Strokes”!), then there’s the inspired choice to release the music on both CDs and LPs instead of offering separate boxsets. As noted in my review, the really exceptional thing about this project is the re-negotiating of royalties for Syl. With this collection, the legacy of this undervalued soul singer is all but assured for many generations to come.
1. Sound Of Siam: Leftfield Luk Thung, Jazz & Molam in Thailand 1964-1975 – Soundway
Saknatee Srichiangmai – Nom Samai Mai
I’ve barely had a chance to play this comp. on the radio show, but to me it was the biggest revelation and included some of the most astounding sounds I heard all year. Yet another market for diggers is opened up by the folks at Soundway. Absolutely amazing!