Their first two albums have been on CD for the first time for apparently two years now, but I missed them. You can save a dollar or two getting them from the record label, but it's much easier to get them from Amazwan. The first of the two is the best, but they're both very good.



Jon Butcher Axis
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078D2KK92/?tag=imwan-20



Stare At The Sun
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C5HMXRX/?tag=imwan-20

Jon Butcher Axis were a pretty good band.

Jon was from Philly and ended up in Boston.

The Axis had lots of MTV hits and many people would be surprised that they were on the radio a lot, scoring 8 hits between 1983-89 and two of those made the Top 10.

However, these CDs are being trashed online as bad needle drops from some bogus label called Escape Records.

Can you confirm if these are needle drops?

Honestly, I haven't listened close enough to tell needle drop versus something else, but I'll admit that it wasn't the most amazing sound that I've ever heard. I'd be looking for these two albums for a long time, so I was happy to get them, but would I prefer better sound? Absolutely, it could be better.

Such a shame that Capitol doesn’t even care enough to do a decent comp of all the hits.

Two of my favorite albums- imo both are all killer, no filler. I was hoping this post was announcing a new reissue by BGO or Rock Candy or some such label... alas not so.

The Escape versions are better than nothing, at least it’s the first time they’ve ever been “officially” released on CD so I give them some credit for that. The sound quality is not terrible, but it’s definitely not great either ... not sure what they used, but if they’re not needle drops they might as well be.

There was a very good sounding Best Of CD on Razor & Tie back in 1998 called “Dreamers Would Ride“. It was a fine compilation of the “hits“ but there’s just way too many great Jon Butcher songs for a 1 CD collection. I’d love to see quality remasters/ reissues of his first 5 albums... but I doubt that’s ever gonna happen.