It’s one thing to reissue a classic album. All ya gotta do is run it through some software to “remaster” the sound and bada-bing-bada-boom, everyone will talk about how XYZ was such an amazing and timeless release and you might even get a few retrospective articles. Or, if you’re feeling fancy, you can add a second disc of bonus tracks or a live album, which allows fans to dig the album as something new, for a second time. There’s no shame in that, mind you, and thank goodness labels do this. There’s no point in making art if it is going to languish away in the $2.99 bin.
But, the more difficult challenge is the re-issue of the not classic album. Do you put it out and argue that it was wrongfully overlooked or ahead of its time? Do you acknowledge its faults and make the argument that it’s still worthy of documentation? Do you polish it up and try to sift the gold from the silt?
But, the more difficult challenge is the re-issue of the not classic album. Do you put it out and argue that it was wrongfully overlooked or ahead of its time? Do you acknowledge its faults and make the argument that it’s still worthy of documentation? Do you polish it up and try to sift the gold from the silt?
