News Catch-up 17 June 2023

Welcome back! With the likes of Taylor Swift, Aerosmith, Pete Townshend and Prince (or at least The Artist Formerly Known As) on offer, we don't have a moment to lose. Let's get to it!

Before she hits Australian stages next year, Taylor Swift fans can get their music fix with the recently announced Taylor's Version of Speak Now.

The Taylor's Version series has so far been a huge success and given new life into the earlier album that fans have loved over the years; and this release of Speak Now promises to be no different.

In the words of Taylor herself: "I first made Speak Now, completely self-written, between the ages of 18 and 20. The songs that came from this time in my life were marked by their brutal honesty, unfiltered diaristic confessions and wild wistfulness. I love this album because it tells a tale of growing up, flailing, flying and crashing … and living to speak about it. With six extra songs I’ve sprung loose from the vault, I absolutely cannot wait to celebrate Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) with you on July 7th"

Taylor Swift Speak Now (Taylor's Version) will be available on triple lilac marble vinyl and is available to pre-order HERE.

There will also be an orchid marble edition (available HERE).

And a voilet marble edition (available HERE).

Fans of The Who's Pete Townshend have reason to rejoice this July, as his solo albums, Rough Mix and Empty Glass are getting the half-speed master treatment.

Rough Mix was originally released in 1977 (during a hiatus for The Who). It was a colloboration with Small Faces bassist, Ronnie Lane and features contributions from The Who bassist John Entwistle, Rolling Stones drumer Charlie Watts, and Eric Clapton.

Empty Glass was releasaed in 1980 and remains one of the most introspective of Townshend's career, focusing on a lot of his personal issues at the time, including the death of fellow The Who member Keith Moon.

Overseen by The Who engineer Jon Astley and cut for vinyl by Miles Showell of Abbey Road Studios, these half-speed masters are being released with brand new OBI strips and certificates of authenticity.

Pete Townshend Rough Mix half-speed remaster is available to pre-order HERE.

Pete Townshend Empty Glass half-speed remaster is available to pre-order HERE.

Originally released in 1979, Night In The Ruts was the 6th studio album by the hard rock group, Aerosmith. Recorded amidst substance abuse and financial trouble induced chaos, the album went on to suffer negative reception and plummeted down the charts - but reception has warmed in the 40-plus years, with fans (as well as frontman Steven Tyler) listing it as their favourite Aerosmith album. 

Remastered from the original master tapes and pressed on 180gm black vinyl, Aerosmith's Night In The Ruts is available to purchase from our webstore HERE.

Having completely reshaped the music industry during the 80's with a legendary catalogue of albums and a musical style that defied genre, Prince began the 1990's at a crossroads. In part due to an ongoing legal dispute with his record label, and part due to his need to be something unexplainable; Prince did the only thing he could: change his name to an unpronounceable symbol and release an album with some of his best songs ever recorded.

The Gold Experience dropped in 1995 and showcased a range of raw emotions; from the romantic The Most Beautiful Girl In The World, to the defiantly-charged I* Hate You. *stylized as an 'eye' symbol. The Gold Experience has now been re-released as a double LP edition. Although a 'deluxe' version was given a limited release for Record Store Day last year, this newer version has been given a non-limited commercial release.

Prince The Gold Experience 2 LP is available HERE.