Got this e-mail from Rhino Handmade today:

"Chris Bell
I AM THE COSMOS -
DELUXE EDITON
First 1,000 Orders Receive
Special 7" Single
$39.98 - 2 CDs
Click For Info

Chris Bell was an immensely gifted songwriter, performer and producer. As a founding member of Big Star and as a solo artist he struggled to have his songs heard. Sadly, the Memphis-born artist did not live long enough to see the enormous impact his music would have on future generations. Rhino Handmade celebrates Bell's influential legacy with a remastered version of the artist's acclaimed solo sessions, first compiled by Ryko in 1992, on disc one, plus a second disc with rare and unreleased music. Among the wealth of unissued recordings are eight alternate versions and mixes of Cosmos tracks, including "You And Your Sister" with Mellotron in place of the original's string arrangement, and a later version of "Get Away" featuring Big Star's Alex Chilton on guitar, Ken Woodley on bass and Richard Rosebrough on drums.

I AM THE COSMOS - DELUXE EDITION will be released September 28th, but pre-orders are available now with a BONUS 7" replica Car Records single of "I Am The Cosmos" going to the first 1000 orders.

Click here for more information

MORE HANDMADE ON THE WAY
Fans of Rhino Handmade will be happy to hear that this is the first of many more special releases that are coming soon. We have been very busy in the vaults, so keep an eye out for news about more discoveries in the weeks ahead. As a newsletter subscriber, you'll be the first to know about all Rhino Handmade releases. If you have friends who share your great taste in music - please invite them to join as a subscriber.


Big Star

Click here for
pre-order information

NEW BIG STAR BOX ALSO AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER
Big Star's KEEP AN EYE ON THE SKY is a 4-disc boxed set with 98 tracks spanning 1968 to 1975. It's loaded with unreleased demos, alternate versions and unused mixes. The deluxe packaging includes extensive liner notes, rare and never-before-seen photos, and insightful essays about the cult of Big Star and the band's history."

So am I to understand that the Chris Bell package is not limited edition (just the 7")?

The fact that it is being issued via the Handmade website would still (normally) mean that it is a limited run. In the past Handmade releases always gave out the run quantity as limited editions as soon as the release was listed, but that doesn't seem to be the case here. Common runs have been 3,000; 5,000. Would be nice to know how many beyond the first 1,000 with the promo vinyl are going to be manufactured, but so far no indication that i can see.

The price is a bit steep for the Chris Bell but I could not resist. I guess that is why they priced it like that, they knew that fanatics would order anyways.

Let's hope and pray that they have the good sense to release the rest of the 2005 Cream reunion material on Handmade. All of the shows were filmed in their entirety. There's also lots of rehearsal footage on film.

Does anyone else keep getting these "Your back/special order has not yet arrived" messages from Rhino, or did I do something wrong?

(Also, yeah, the Chris Bell is limited... they emailed me)

Yeah, I got the same emails. I'm sure that they will be shipped to coincide with the release of the Big Star box set.

Rhino Handmade's website seems to indicate that the Chris Bell has been pushed back to 9/28. Question for those of you who have ordered already: does Rhino Handmade bill you at time of shipping, or as soon as you pre-order? (It's been so long since I've ordered from them!) Thanks.

I stopped getting there emails. Don't know why.

re: Chris Bell 2CD

Received this e-mail yesterday, 9/28:

"Your back/special order has not yet arrived. Please know that we are working on getting it for you as soon as possible. As soon as it arrives, your order will be shipped! In the event the product becomes unavailable, we will notify you. Thank you for your patience."

I keep getting the same email as well.2 of them so far.

There's some good news on the general Rhino Handmade front, in the wake of the Rhino label being reconfigured. The Rhino Handmade label is promising a lot of upcoming releases, including material from the Monkees...which hopefully means a continued reissue campaign.

Great, but are there people left who can make the same quality releases as before?

Did you get this info from the website or from a contact?

It's from an official announcement on the Rhino site...somewhere...can't find it now that I'm looking for it, though. Too bad; it mentioned more artists than just The Monkees.

Maybe they'll reissue the "Headquarters Sessions" set...I'd also like the "Genuine Texas Groover" set from Doug Sahm. More vintage Melanie would be cool as well.

I know it's not the same as getting a physical copy, but at least Rhino has made many of their sold out Rhino Handmade releases available on iTunes, including the Monkees and Doug Sahm sets that were mentioned.

For any still waiting on "I Am The Cosmos" deluxe, my copy arrived in today's mail. Hooray! I think i had received at least 4 of those "Your item is on backorder" emails before the official release date passed. That was strange. Still kept getting them after the release date, but received one last Friday afternoon saying it had been shipped.

Sadly, as i am still wading through the Beatles boxes (such a punishment of a chore, eh?), this one goes under the Big Star 4-cd box for future listening. I only need to hear the Beatles stuff once to begin with, but i know i'll be immersing in that Big Star box for some time. So my strategy is to get the well-known music done first and save the unheard (largely, at least) rarities for dessert. Beatles will be revisited often, down the road.

The idea of Rhino Handmade releasing product again is certainly something that's nice to hear. Now if someone could only convince Hip-O Select that there are recordings worth releasing from the Universal vaults that are NOT Motown. I love Motown, but COME ON, there are other things languishing in the vaults.

Got the Chris Bell deluxe edition today. Man, is it sweet. Everything on disc 2 sounds like a keeper. Beautiful package.

It's a great time to be alive for Big Star fans.

I agree.

My Chris Bell arrived, and boy, it's every bit as exciting a package as I'd hoped! But did the producers actually drop "You And Your Sister (Country Version)" from the last Ryko reissue? This kind of stuff drives me crazy...it does appear that the one alternate of "I Am The Cosmos" is a longer edit of the Ryko's "slow version" but the "country" track is gone entirely. Or have I missed something?