If there’s one thing we love more than new material from our favourite artists, it’s diving into the vaults and unearthing forgotten gems from their classic eras – the hallmark of a strong reissue.
This year, there have been plenty and in addition to revisiting iconic releases and sharing unreleased cuts, an increasing number of acts have taken to reworking and remixing their best-loved recordings for a new avenue of bonus material that bridges the gap between ‘then’ and ‘now’.
Looking back on highlights from the year, here are RETROPOP’s Top 10 Reissues Of 2023.
10. Siobhan Donaghy – Revolution In Me (London)
The debut solo album from the Sugababes star may not have been top of our list for anticipated reissues, but revisiting the record that largely went under the radar 20 years ago offered a newfound appreciation for the work, with a 16-song package of additional outtakes, B-sides and alternate mixes an extra treat. Together, it makes for an excellent reissue and proof that an album doesn’t have to shift millions of copies to warrant revisiting like this.
9. Jimmy Somerville – Read My Lips (London)
The debut solo album from Bronski Beat and The Communards frontman arrived ahead of its 35th anniversary on single and double vinyl, plus a double CD set, with remixes from William Orbit, AMYL, B-Sides, and rarities such as From This Moment On (from ‘Red, Hot and Blue’) and I Believe in Love (with Arthur Baker and The Beat Disciples). With alternate artworks and merchandise nodding back to the era, the attention to detail is particularly impressive.
8. Cicero – Future Boy (SFE)
An overlooked gem of an album from the Pet Shop Boys protégé, this year saw the LP widely available on wax for the first time since its release, with the addition of the ‘lost’ song, Pretend, and the ‘Cicerovision’ DVD, featuring music videos, live performance at London’s Heaven nightclub and the original press kit. Meanwhile, a 3CD edition boasts the record plus bonus material including the non-album song, Live For Today, and five excellent brand new remixes.
7. Dannii Minogue – Girl (90/9)
A second reissue from Dannii this year came in the form of another of our top releases of the past 12 months, this time seeing ‘Girl’ on vinyl for the first time and expanded with a CD box set containing the record along with a bumper run of remixes of the chart-topping dance tracks All I Wanna Do, Everything I Wanted and Disremembrance, plus promo release Heaven Can Wait. Another glorious collection!
6. Midge Ure – The Gift (Chrysalis)
The classic debut solo LP from the pop legend got another shot at the spotlight with a slick reissue housing an array of extra material, including his version of David Bowie’s The Man Who Sold The World as well as the one off single with Japan’s Mick Karn, After A Fashion. Along with B-sides, remixes and home recordings, it was accompanied by a brilliant, newly-mixed concert at Wembley Arena from 1985, showing Midge at the top of his game.
5. Toyah – The Changeling (Cherry Red)
The seminal 1982 album from Toyah was expanded across two audio discs – including 20 previously unreleased tracks – and a further three previously unavailable on any CD, for its latest reissue, which contains outtakes, B-sides, an alternate album sequence of ‘work in progress’ variations, and home demo recordings. Meanwhile, the accompanying DVD features a wealth of classic content, plus up-to-date commentary from the lady herself!
4. Ultravox – Quartet (Chrysalis)
It was the turn of Midge Ure’s third Ultravox album to be reissued this year, with the massive set bursting with 70 tracks in total – including 47 previously unreleased recordings – such as new stereo mixes by Steven Wilson, A-sides, B-sides and live tracks, previously unreleased Cassette Rehearsals and Monitor Mixes along with a newly-mixed concert recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon in December 1982. Phew!
3. a-ha – Hunting High And Low (BMG)
Clocking in at 60 tracks, the Norwegian group’s iconic 1985 LP has never sounded better than in its remastered configuration, as part of a tracklisting that includes demos, extended versions, alternate mixes, and B-sides. Documenting the creative process from conception to release and promotion, the set also boasts a series of commercial remixes, which helped propel the album to become a true ‘80s classic.
2. Soft Cell – Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret (Mercury)
Alongside the original LP, Soft Cell’s bumper reissue of their classic debut served up an abundance of extra content, including the entire album in extended 12” form, plus remixes, demos, outtakes and audio from BBC TV and radio appearances from across the years. The addition of ‘Non-Stop Intimate Cabaret’ – featuring the album tracks performed live in 2021 – proves just how timeless the record truly is.
1. Dannii Minogue – Neon Nights 20 (London)
The 20th anniversary edition of Dannii Minogue’s fourth album delivered the ultimate celebration of the classic LP, with CD, vinyl, cassette and DVD components for the complete ‘Neon Nights’ experience. A bumper 7CD singles collection brought together remixes and rarities from the era – along with a bunch of newly-commissioned edits too – while a disc of remastered music videos and live performances offers the perfect snapshot of ‘00s nostalgia! Unquestionably RETROPOP’s Reissue Of The Year!
