Anyone have any information on these titles set for release in early January? Given the titles involved (e.g., What's Going On) my guess would be condensed versions of previously released 2CD sets, but I don't know for sure...

     

     

There are a lot more "Rarities Edition" titles coming out on the same day from UMe, not just Motown ones. Universal's first solicitation suggested what you guessed, that these will be one-disc distillations of previously released Deluxe Editions.

(I've changed your subject line from "Motown" to "UMe" ... unless these editions have some new things included they probably won't warrant more than one thread for the entire series.)

Thanks, Linda! Agreed that a single thread probably works best for collecting these releases... will keep an eye out for more details as the street date approaches.

I don't know if the others are following this pattern, but:

Weezer

Weezer (Blue Album) (Rarities Edition)

Geffen B001386002

Released on January 5, 2009 Commonly referred to as “The Blue Album,” Weezer’s self-titled debut album from 1994 received the Deluxe Edition treatment in 2004. The bonus audio from that collection consisted of b-sides, live and acoustic performances, demos and rare studio recordings. Weezer is proud to release this material by itself in the Rarities Edition series, allowing fans the opportunity to purchase just the bonus material related to one of the most important albums from the ‘90s.

Very interesting! It's a good idea, except for one problem — in the cases where the first disc (the original album) benefitted from the Deluxe Edition remastering.

Alright, I've added pre-order links to Cali's opening post. There will be 10 releases in the first batch of this series.

Like the Weezer entry, the Gin Blossoms CD does a great job rounding up HTF tracks from OOP EPs and singles, as well as soundtrack contributions and other goodies. Worthwhile if you skipped the deluxe edition of New Miserable Experience.

For those like me who may have struggled for a minute with the alphabet soup, UMe = Universal Music Enterprises

I made the mistake of waiting too long to buy it, and it ended up going out of print. I'm still looking for one (a new copy, that is).

Ven, I remember reading several complaints about the remastering of Experience for the Deluxe Edition, so maybe sticking with the original CD and pairing it with the corresponding Rarities Edition disc is the way to go.

I've purchased many of these Deluxe Editions, even though the prices have been fairly steep. I was rather unhappy with the New Miserable Experience remastering...way too loud. That's why I've held on to my original disc as well. On the plus side, the b-sides and rarities were fantastic. My favorites of the series have to be from Marvin Gaye.

The NME Deluxe wasn't mastered terrible well...pretty compressed, unfortunately. And the whole "the channels are in the right place for the first time" claim seemed bizarre, given as that disc went through multiple iterations and you'd think such a thing would've been caught earlier.

The B-sides disc, while nice, didn't collect everything. IIRC, the 1994 remix of "Until I Fall Away" was MIA, and the "Shut Up and Smoke" cuts were remixes.

Actually, on that topic: the 1994 remix of "Until I Fall Away" is somewhat revelatory in a production sense. The original album of New Miserable Experience has this somewhat "gauzy" effect layered across the guitars, ostensibly because that sound was in vogue at the time. The 1994 remix doesn't duplicate this, and as such sounds a lot less dated.

Our Miss Linda already said it best: these are single-disc distillations of UMe's Deluxe Editions series (or "Disc 2" sold separately, if you will). I'd like to elaborate on the Diana Ross disc inparticular (no surprise there - smile) because I saw the art mockup yesterday.

The second disc of the deluxe edition for the 1980 LP, "diana" was a compilation of uptempo songs and 12-inch club remixes entitled "Diana Dance". These were selections either recorded/created between 1976-1979; disco's high-water period. It doesn't really flow as a cohesive piece, but there's a few unreleased gems on there that make it worthwhile.

STILL so much in the UMe vaults, and not just Motown either. Amazing that this new series is all the braintrust could come up with. I suppose they'll treat this series like the budget 20th Century Masters line.

The question is: Who's gonna buy these? Seriously. The hardcore fans have already bought the deluxes and this won't be of interest to casual fans.

I agree-this is the living definition of useless retread. Who comes up with these horrible ideas? What fan would not have the deluxe editions (complete with their awful packaging) already?
And what casual fan would even bother with just rare tracks that they probaly stole off the internet anyway?
Pathetic, useless and a waste-in other words, pefect sense to a dying record label these days.

Sounds like a last gasp to me.

Bad idea, for sure. Isn't this just going to piss off some fans who already spent good money on the deluxe editions mainly so they could get the extra tracks?

Good point.......

Like I said, I don't really see who's actually gonna buy these things.

The one thing that might get me to bite is if they focused on bonus material from special editions that have never been released in America, such as ABC 's The Lexicon of Love and some of the Saint Etienne albums.

I just don't see how giving purchasers more options instead of less is a bad idea...

Shitty idea...though the Jamaican mix of Marley's "Catch A Fire" will be a revelation to those who passed on the Deluxe Edition. As would the Chic mix of "Diana", if those are included in these releases.