Kossoff and Rodgers CD and LP re-issues 2021

Kossoff - 'Back Street Crawler'

Japan: Limited Edition SHM-2CD set

 

Paul Rodgers - 'Muddy Water Blues'

Europe: Limited Edition 2LP 180g yellow vinyl set

Okay, still hard at work here trying to get FAS issues that are ready to print sorted out and finishing the final issue for the 'Highway' series. It was 'Stealer' all day here yesterday! With the new lockdown, printing and finishing (cropping and stapling) is somewhat of a trial by fire, and yet again it's slowing things down to a crawl. Nothing we can do about it but plod on and try to get #155 out as soon as we can. When it goes into the post I'll put the usual notice up here to let you know, but it's not printed yet. My guess is it won't be for a few weeks.

In the meantime there are a couple of things going on that won't be mentioned in the new magazines anyway. In Japan Universal have issued the deluxe 2CD 'Kossoff - Back Street Crawler' set again. Paul's solo album. This comes on SHM-CD (for what that's worth) in mini LP packaging. On places like Ebay it comes in at over £40 (at best) but beware as they (Ebay) are now adding 20% VAT onto orders from overseas. Buyer beware! Why Ebay have suddenly become a tax collector I don't know, as if this gets stopped by customs coming into the UK what's to stop them charging you again? No, it's probably best if you can to buy direct and go to either CDJapan, HMVJapan or TowerJapan - all easy to find on google, but a little tricky to wrangle around if you are new to these Japanese sites.

I understand this release is limited to 150 sets, so if you want one don't hang about, and as the original is long deleted and seems to attract crazy prices, if you don't have a copy this might be a good time to buy. Also you should be made aware that shipping from Japan is currently very, very slow unless you pick a premium service like DHL (premium charge too!).

More reasonably priced is a new 2LP 180g vinyl issue of the Paul Rodgers 'Muddy Water Blues' set. This has never been issued on vinyl before is realistically priced at £25 (+P&P). It takes all of the original CD set, but none of the bonus material that has been made available previously. Why they decided to use the hideous yellow / orange (depends on the seller description of it!) coloured vinyl, no idea. This is limited to 2000 and all are individually numbered.

If you have the original releases here then really you don't need either of these, but I know there are people who will still want to pick them up. Whether the vinyl cut of PR's album here actually comes from an analogue or digital master I don't know, and nowhere seems to say. Bit of an oversight if it's all analogue as that's a vinyl junkie sales point, so I'd GUESS it isn't. Anyway, like with all these things please shop around to find the best price. I've seen huge variations.

Interestingly my understanding is that the Rodgers set isn't due for release until February 12th, and yet there are people who are already selling copies they quite obviously already have in their possession! So much for that then. The Kossoff 2CD came out in Japan on January 1st.