George Harrison remasters and Dark Horse Records: 50 Years On

George Harrison at the Princes Trust appeal, 1987.

 George Harrisons family signed a deal last year with BMG to move distribution of his solo label Dark Horse Records and administration of his publishing. His old friend Bob Dylan started the trend (even though he outright sold his work). A few reissues have already come out, primarily on vinyl, such as the first two solo releases Wonderwall Music and Electronic Sound on limited edition picture disc, to straight reissues of the last couple Cloud Nine and Brainwashed. The newest is Living in the Material World 50th Anniversary (albeit a year and a half too late, but it can only "Be Here Now" [where oasis got the names of both that and "Wonderwall"]). Getting more praise now like his former colleague John Lennons solo album from 1973 Mind Games, expanded last year by their Sean, which was underrated when the elder Lennon and Harrison were both still alive ("You know how it is," the former would say).

One reviewer said that All Things Must Pass had been done enough. However, because of the new contract, one must consider that like Paul McCartneys solo and Wings output prior to 1975, it is no longer on Apple (although his first two had licenced it for new LP reissues for old times' sake). Back to Harrison, his triple smash could either do the same thing, or it would be like in 2001 less than a year before his passing when it was remastered with a new design and was neither on Apple or Dark Horse, but on a one-off vanity label called GnOM (you'd have to look it up, and it was the last solo reissue in his lifetime). The more recent edition would be out again with the new information, but Apple could be loaned out just like Parlophone is with Beatles proper reissues for up to 1967 since EMIs sale in 2013.

Late 1974s Dark Horse album may be next. Named to fill the void since Harrisons old deal wouldn't be done until January 1976. Rolling Stone slated the tour and he never lived it down. His voice was a state. I wonder if Peter Jacksons MAL AI technology could be used to do up a live show if a recording made by Harrison himself exists, coming after Get Back and "Now and Then", or if a decent bootleg is available since it technically can be claimed. Live albums used to have studio overdubs in those days, but this is something Live at the Star Club is reportedly getting (that'll be considered for a future post).

1981s Somewhere in England could have an expanded edition because a number of songs were declined by then-distributor Warner Bros./WEA (Warner Music Group), which were only available later as B-sides, remaster bonus tracks, on Sothebys-rare limited edition CD EPs that came with a book, or on bootlegs (the diehards get it). Their Dhani has his work cut out. There may be even more in the vaults.

Then there's the complication of compilations. The Best of George Harrison was supposed to be the best of both worlds (largely the old guard), but was just a sendoff by EMI to compete with Thirty-Three and a Third in November 1976. The Best of Dark Horse: 1976-1989 is the only one he approved of and is long out-of-print and has no Beatles tracks whatsoever. Let It Roll was a posthumous release. It would be having to licence Beatles tracks from Universal, Apple or Sony (Concert for Bangladesh versions outside North America because of Dylans [on Columbia US/then-CBS, yet on sister label Epic] return to the stage and industry policies at the time, as well as for pre-1968 publishing). Even a new collection could be considered.

Dark Horse in recent years returned to its original vision of signing other people. Joe Strummers estate (The Clash) and Billy Idol are two of the latest to join the fray. Reissues of past artists like Splinter, Henry McCullough (Wings), Keni Burke and Stairsteps, Attitudes and Ravi Shankar (we can't forget him, of course) should be explored, although some already are reissued, so I'm just catching up here.

Absolutely no ChatGPT was used. George would be very concerned about AI if he were still with us, I'm quite sure. He probably would have approved of it being to used to clean up the audio, but not to replicate voices and instruments, because that's what people are afraid of, and Ringo had to assure everyone that John wasn't being imitated by a bot, because it's not like the "new" Steve Marriott album (which is a mockery at a level even Yoko wouldn't stoop to, but we won't go there today). I just know that Harrisons legacy is in capable hands and will continue to bring in new generations of fans.

REO Speedwagon: REO-gate

REO Speedwagon in happier times (cliché, I know!) at Red Rocks, CO Capital Region, 2010

Sjgkfe, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 Seems that it's never too late for a band to have problems. Just as oasis come back, other bands fall apart, particularly ones from before thirty years ago I grew up seeing in the charts and on MTV & VH1. It's like a marriage that ran its course, A trite comparison but it's true. REO Speedwagon are no stranger to this, and now they're on the way out because of a row over bass player Bruce Halls medical recovery and frontman Kevin Cronin. A similar situation occurred twice in the late '90s with their friends Styx and contemporaries Journey, as well as Yes less than a decade later, so it's not uncommon, especially as one gets on in age. The jury are out on this one. We've just seen Hall & Oates and Janes Addiction become Behind the Music material (now on Paramount+, sister streamer to MTV and VH1).

 Remaining founding member Neal Doughty stopped touring in 2022 and I saw the band for the last time and without him last year, and it wasn't the same. I also learned co-founder and original drummer Alan Gratzer is originally from Syracuse. I didn't go the year before because I couldn't afford to go to that and Elton John, who was wrapping up his life on the road, and his bass guitarist Matt Bissonette (Greggs brother) has just taken over for Hall to boot. I just didn't go this year also because I had to cut back on shows like a lot of people are on less essential activities in this economy. Perhaps the spirits of Gary Richrath and the more recently departed Gregg Philbin told me not to go this time as they turn in their graves over this. I might have even skipped Cronins birthday this year because of how he allegedly stabbed his longtime colleague in the back or I'm focussed on other bands and priorities right now. We're riding a real (two in the south at the time of this writing) and proverbial storm out here. It'd be too easy to throw in some Gene Shalit-style puns to what is a sad end to a nearly six decade legacy that started in the Champaign-Urbana area at uni in the bar scene and became an AOR-corporate rock punchline to many. We're all experienced at being human and life is one big Pandoras box. Terry Luttrell from the 1971 début (later of Starcastle) and would-be vocalist Greg X. Volz (who joined Petra instead, who I once liked, while Cronin returned after the Mike Murphy period in 1976) found the Lord.

  It's a right shame to see a band I've known for over forty years' time since I was very young get to this stage so far along, but let's hope they can sort out their differences so they can end the band with some integrity and dignity for the sake of the fans.

UPDATE: The final lineup will now tour under Cronins name. They will tour with Styx and Don Felder (late of Eagles) in summer 2025, including Syracuse (Styx were in the same boat on a river, while Felder had left, but says never checked out of his old band).

The last REO proper show I attended at the NYS Fair

Tickets, Touts, and Taylor

David Gilmour at the Peter Green Tribute Concert, 25/2/20

 When oasis announced their reunion tour, fans made a mad rush for tickets, even though they were hundreds of pounds, and they were slated for it. Even worse, touts were already reselling them for even more, so the band are putting a stop to it by making the tickets exclusively for who bought them, just as Kate Bush had a decade ago for her rare residency at the Eventim Apollo (formerly Hammersmith Odeon). On the contrary, her old friend and mentor David Gilmour is about to have his own tour, and  when I looked at downstates dates coming after another event in the tri-state I would like to attend (story for another day, but I'd stay at the same hotel to save time, even if I'd be on the tube late at nights, or run into his former colleague), one was sold out, and the other a right fortune. Ironically, when I went to an article on Pearl Jam (who boycotted Ticketmaster in 1996) and there was a link to a third-party reseller, both dates were available and had seats at a remotely doable price and distant location in the arena. Last time I went there or the region was to see Paul McCartney. He and Peter Gabriel (you can connect the dots by now) were at Taylor Swifts concert in London a while ago (the old guard come to her). Swifties seem to spend less by going overseas than trying to see her in the US. I know it's too easy these days to write about missus, but even she's a scapegoat of the Live Nation/Ticketmaster monopoly. I'm lucky to get to one name show this year, which is Duran Duran back Upstate at the casino, but I'd have to win the pools well before that since I need time to plan and pay for the lot. I also have to see what they're doing with the Fairfield County do the night of Durans own show at the Garden because it can be too much and they're not that close together since it's a big area. Like most people at this stage, essentials come first in this economy before even considering hols or big shows anywhere.

oasis: 30 Years On

oasis at the Patriot Centre in Fairfax County, VA (DC area); 20/12/08

 The return of oasis after fifteen years time is something many fans hoped for, but thought would never happen. The volatile relationship of Liam and Noel Gallagher has long been a sticking point. Reports of a tour next year are coming out now with ticket prices reaching as much as thousands of pounds. Nothing about a new album has been announced yet. More as this develops.

Latest Oasis News With stopcryingyourheartout.com: Noel Gallagher Talks About The New Oasis Album

Dig Out Your Soul Tour, Centre Bell; Montréal (Québec), Canada (the last tour), 2008

Latest Oasis News With stopcryingyourheartout.com: Noel Gallagher Talks About The New Oasis Album

oasis Update

Be Here Now press photo

Legendary Northerners oasis have moved their whole catalogue in the US and Canada to Reprise Records, and not just their swan song, Dig Out Your Soul, after being with Epic for over a decade. They may have become unhappy with Sony in North America because their success has waned here for the past ten years time and reduced promotion, yet could still close the place in cities such as Cincinnati. In their backyard, they had been indie, starting with Creation and later vanity label Big Brother. The last row between Noel and Liam Gallagher may be the final blow, and no reconciliation is on the horizon, so "Our Kid" and the rest of the band after Noel's departure will launch a spinoff band. Time Flies: 1994-2009 will cover their whole career while Stop the Clocks, which mainly focused on early days, left out some UK hits. It will be released this June. emusic now has the catalogue in most countries (Sony catalogue releases now qualify).

UPDATE: oasis announce reunion tour in September 2024!

Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds: Back the Way We Came Vol 2

Noel Gallaghers HFB in Melbourne, VIC on Chasing Yesterday tour, 2015

 Last year, oasis spinoff Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds released their first compilation Back the Way We Came Vol 1, even though they only have three studio albums and EPs each to date.  There are a number of tracks that are hard to find outside Japan that could fill a second volume.  A live album is also imminent, yet the new studio album Council Skies is on the way.  The second disc could be remixes.

A Simple Game of Genius

The Good Rebel

I'd Pick You Every Time

Shoot a Hole Into the Sun

Alone on the Rope

Let the Lord Shine a Light on Me

Leave My Guitar Alone

God Help Us All

Here's a Candle (for Your Birthday Cake)

The Girl with the X-Ray Eyes (demo)

Rattling Rose

Sail On

Evil Flower

Wandering Star

Come Outside

We're Gonna Get There in the End (demo)

Trying to Find a World That's Been and Gone Pt 1 (demo)

The Darkness - 10th Anniversary

The pattern continues! Another new band! The first this year! This time, it's The Darkness! How they wound up here is a bit different from the others. There's this one song of theirs that was on Planet Rock last week, and I thought it was another. When I realised it was going to be a challenge, I weeded through their short career. I always knew that they were trying to be the new Queen, as the press pointed out regularly. Many Darkness songs do remind me of Queen. They even got former Queen producer Roy Thomas Baker to produce their last album!
The band came to an end four years ago because brothers Dan and Justin Hawkins were becoming the new Liam and Noel Gallagher (oasis), if you know what I mean! Also, Justin fell into the rock 'n' roll clichés and was admitted to the clinic. He started the spinoffs British Whale and Hot Leg, while Dan and remaining members Richie Edwards and Ed Graham started over as the Stone Gods. These offshoots are indie-signed as Atlantic/Warner UK couldn't handle the sum of the parts.
I might go lightly on this one this time, as there's not much to work with. There are a few bootlegs out there to fill the void, but I'm afraid The Darkness will stay dark, although the rumour mill is on again.  Watch this space! (UPDATE: Band are back together.  More to follow!)