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Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Yoko Ono to reissue her albums, starting in November

Record label Secretly Canadian have teamed up with artist Yoko Ono to reissue her discography from 1968 to 1985. The albums will be released on CD, vinyl and MP3 format. Ono's albums were last reissued on the Rykodisc label sometime in the 1990s (which are now out of print and sell for high prices) while this will be the first time these albums see a digital retail release. In total, there will be 11 albums reissued- all newly remastered.

The campaign will begin on November 11th, with the albums being released in sets. The first three albums to be reissued will be Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins (1968), Unfinished Music No. 2: Life With the Lions (1969) and Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band (1970). In terms of bonus tracks, they are as follows...

Two Virgins will contain the non-album track "Remember Love"
Life With the Lions will have "Song For John" and "Mulberry"
Plastic Ono Band will have an extended version of "Why," "Open Your Box," "Something More Abstract" and "The South Wind."

As for the remaining eight albums, they are supposed to be released over the next few years. Those albums are (in the order RollingStone.com has them in)...

Fly (1971)
Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
Feeling the Space (1973)
A Story (recorded 1974, released 1992 and 1997)
Season of Glass (1981)
It's Alright (I See Rainbows) (1982)
Starpeace (1985)
Unfinished Music No. 3: Wedding Album (1969)

I'm happy to see that Yoko's albums will soon be re-released. I was able to get most of those earlier albums on CD some eight years ago and I'm glad I have them since they now go for $30 to $40! I don't know if I like that the albums being released over the next few years. On one hand, I would like to see them out as soon as possible. On the other, releasing them in sets would be easier on the wallet. Then again, I have the albums already so why am I complaining? I don't think I'll be getting the first three in the reissues. I've tried listening to Two Virgins and Life With the Lions and I gave up after a few seconds. I might get Plastic Ono Band, that is if there's any difference in the remastering. I'll just have to wait and see.