David Bash's Best of 2012, Part 2.

Here's Part 2 of David Bash's comprehensive year-end lists. Today's installment covers 2012's best reissues.

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Reissue Categories

For this category, at least one of the following criteria must be met for the album to qualify:

a. those that are on CD for the first time
b. those that had been previously issued, but are now out of print or difficult to find
c. those in whose current issue have lots of bonus tracks, or some other unique feature
d. those reissued on LP where they never had been

A CD or LP which contains exclusively previously unrelesed material which is not from current times is still considered a “reissue” in my ranking structure.

With the above in mind, while quality is the major factor in determining the rankings, other factors such as number and type of bonus tracks, liner notes, sound quality, etc…do come into play.

Those marked with an * are LP-only.

I. Top 75 Proper Albums

1. Small Faces: Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake: Deluxe Edition (Universal/Decca/Charly)
2. The Beach Boys-Today! Mono/Stereo (Capitol)
3. Paul and Linda McCartney-Ram: Deluxe Edition (MPL)
4. The Beach Boys-Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!): Mono/Stereo (Capitol)
5. The Byrds-Younger Than Yesterday: Mono/Stereo (Sony Japan)
6. The Beach Boys-Pet Sounds Mono/Stereo (Capitol)
7. The Beach Boys-Sunflower (Capitol)
8. The Beach Boys-Surf’s Up (Capitol)
9. Durocs-Durocs (Real Gone)
*10. Jellyfish-Spilt Milk (Omnivore)
11. Klaatu-Hope: 2012 Remaster (Klaatunes)
12. Rick Springfield-Beginnings (Real Gone)
13. Sugar-Copper Blue: Deluxe Edition (Edsel)
14. Small Faces: The Immediate Album: Deluxe Edition (Universal/Decca/Charly)
15. Daughters Of Albion-Daughters Of Albion (Now Sounds)
*16. Paul and Linda McCartney-Ram: Mono (MPL)
17. Kirsty MacColl-Desperate Character (Salvo)
*18. Jellyfish-Bellybutton (Omnivore)
*19. Shoes-One In Versailles (Numero)
20. Del Shannon-Home & Away (Now Sounds)
21. The Byrds-The Notorious Byrd Brothers: Mono/Stereo (Sony Japan)
22. Small Faces: From The Beginning: Deluxe Edition (Universal/Decca)
23. The Alan Bown-Outward Bown (Grapefruit)
24. Kirsty MacColl-Kite (Salvo)
*25. Shoes-Black Vinyl (Numero)
26. The Late Show-Portable Pop (Trashy Creatures)
27. Curved Air-Air Cut (Repertoire)
28. The Beach Boys-All Summer Long Mono/Stereo (Capitol)
29. Gilbert O’Sullivan-I’m A Writer, Not A Fighter (Salvo)
30. Spider-Spider (Air Mail)
31. The Byrds-Mister Tambourine Man: Mono/Stereo (Sony Japan)
32. Cotton Mather-Kontiki: Deluxe Edition (The Star Apple Kingdom)
33. The Jam-The Gift: Deluxe Edition (Universal)
34. Harpers Bizarre-Anything Goes (Now Sounds)
35. The Electric Light Orchestra-The Electric Light Orchestra 40th Anniversary Edition (EMI)
36. Kayak-See See The Sun (Esoteric)
*37. Octopus-Restless Night (Guerssen)
38. The Beach Boys-Shut Down Volume 2: Mono/Stereo (Capitol)
39. Small Faces-Small Faces: Deluxe Edition (Universal/Decca)
40. Strawbs-Of A Time (Witchwood Media)
41. Curved Air-Airborne (Repertoire)
42. Sugar-File Under Easy Listening: Deluxe Edition (Edsel)
43. Tir Na Nog-Strong In The Sun (Esoteric)
44. Candy-Whatever Happened To Fun…(Rock Candy)
45. Brewer & Shipley-Down In L.A. (Now Sounds)
46. Kayak-Royal Bed Bouncer (Esoteric)
47. Steve Miller Band-Brave New World (Edsel)
48. The Beach Boys-Smiley Smile Mono/Stereo (Capitol)
49. Gilbert O’Sullivan-Back To Front (Salvo)
50. The Byrds-Turn! Turn! Turn!: Mono/Stereo (Sony Japan)
51. Phil Seymour-1 (Fuel)
52. True Hearts-True Hearts (Kool Kat)
53. The Sex Pistols-Never Mind The Bollocks: Deluxe Edition (Universal)
54. Blur-Parklife: Special Edition (Food/Parlophone)
55. The Beach Boys-Little Deuce Coupe Mono/Stereo (Capitol)
56. Jamie & Steve-English Afterthought (Air Mail)
57. Lyres-On Fyre (Munster)
58. The Byrds-Fifth Dimension: Mono/Stereo (Sony Japan)
59. R.E.M.-Document: Deluxe Edition (Capitol)
60. The Spinners-Truly Yours: Their First Motown Album w/Bonus Tracks 1963-1967 (Kent)
61. T. Rex-Electric Warrior: Deluxe Edition (Universal)
62. Chubby Checker-Chequered (Sunbeam)
63. The Mamas & The Papas-People Like Us (Now Sounds)
64. Kayak-Kayak (Esoteric)
65. Curved Air-Phantasmagoria (Repertoire)
66. The Brotherhood Of Lizards-Lizardland (Kool Kat)
67. The Glitter Band-Listen To The Band (7 T’s)
68. My Bloody Valentine-Loveless (Sony Music)
69. The Tokens-It’s A Happening World (Real Gone)
70. Nervous Rex-Nervous Rex (Air Mail)
71. Sugar-Beaster: Deluxe Edition (Edsel)
72. Family-Music In A Doll’s House (Pucka)
73. The Beach Boys-Surfer Girl Mono/Stereo (Capitol)
*74. Rockin’ Horse-Yes It Is (Sing Sing)
75. Wally Tax-Love In (Relics)

II. Top 5 Two-Fers, Three-Fers, and Four-Fers: Proper Albums

1. Peter & Gordon-Peter & Gordon 1964/In Touch With/Hurtin’ ‘N Lovin’/Peter & Gordon 1966 (BGO)
2. 20/20-20/20, Look Out (Real Gone)
3. SRC-SRC/Milestones/Travellers Tale (BGO)
4. Sam & Dave-Hold On, I’m Coming/Double Dynamite (Edsel)
5. Peter & Gordon-Sing And Play The Hits Of Nashville/Woman/Hot Cold & Custard (BGO)

III. Top 25 Compilations, Single Artist

1. The Association-The Complete Warner Bros & Valiant Singles Collection (Now Sounds)
2. The Beach Boys-50 Big Ones: Deluxe Edition (Capitol)
3. The Byrds-Original Singles A’s & B’s 1965-1971 (Sony Japan)
4. Jellyfish-Stack-A-Tracks (Omnivore)
5. Shoes-35 Years: The Definitive Shoes Collection 1977-2012 (Real Gone)
6. The Critters-Younger Girl: The Complete Kapp & Musicor Recordings (Now Sounds)
7. The Pencils-Anthology (Kool Kat)
8. Every Mother’s Son-Come On Down: The Complete MGM Recordings (Now Sounds)
9. The Knack-Rock & Roll Is Good For You: The Fieger/Averre Demos (Zen)
10. The Fifth Estate-Anthology Volume I: The Witch Is Dead (Fuel)
11. The Jackson Five-Come And Get It: The Rare Pearls (Hip-O-Select)
12. Kaleidoscope-Further Reflections: The Complete Recordings 1967-1969 (Grapefruit)
13. The Hollies-Radio Fun (EMI)
14. Carole King-The Legendary Demos (Concord Music Group)
*15. Shoes-Pretense: Demos 1978-1979 (Numero)
16. Alex Chilton-Free Again: The “1970” Sessions (Ace)
17. The Knack-Time Waits For No One: The Complete Recordings (Now Sounds)
18. The Electric Prunes-The Complete Reprise Singles (Real Gone)
19. MC Squared-Tantalizing Colours: The Reprise Recordings (Now Sounds)
20. Jackie DeShannon-Keep Me In Mind: The Complete Imperial and Liberty Singles Vol. 3 (Ace)
21. Hotlegs-You Didn’t Like It Because You Didn’t Think Of It: The Complete Sessions 1970-1971 (Grapefruit)
22. The Move-Live At The Fillmore 1969 (Right Recordings)
23. Design-One Sunny Day: Singles and Rarities 1968-1978 (RPM)
24. Amen Corner-Round Amen Corner: The Complete Deram Recordings (RPM)
25. Christie-No Turn Unstoned (Angel Air)

IV. Top 20 Compilations, Various Artists

1. Buttons: From Champaign To Chicago (Numero)
*2. Fading Yellow Volume One: Times Pop-Sike & Other Delights 1965-1969 (Flower Machine)
3. Down Under Nuggets-Original Australian Artyfacts 1965-1967 (Warner Music)
4. Smash Boom Bang!: The Songs And Productions Of Feldman-Goldstein-Gottehrer (Ace)
5. Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968 (Rhino)
6. Power Pop Prime Volume 1: 1996-1997 (Pop Geek Heaven)
7. Power Pop Prime Volume 2: 1998-1999 (Pop Geek Heaven)
8. Piccadilly Sunshine Part Ten: British Pop Psych and Other Flavours 1966-1969 (Particles)
9. Honey Honey: The Sound Of Bubblegum Pop (Sony Music)
10. All Kinds Of Highs-A Mainstream Pop/Psych Compendium 1966-70 (Ace/Big Beat)
11. Mixed Up Minds: Obscure Rock & Pop From The British Isles 1968-1972 Part Three (Particles)
12. Something Good: From The Goffin & King Songbook (Ace)
13. Da Doo Ron Ron: More From The Ellie Greenwich & Jeff Barry Songbook (Ace)
14. Piccadilly Sunshine Part 7: British Pop Psych and Other Flavours 1966-1970 (Particles)
15. Piccadilly Sunshine Part 9: British Pop Psych and Other Flavours 1964-1970 (Particles)
16. Fading Yellow-Volume 14: Spanish Pop Psych and Other Delights 1967-1973 (Flower Machine)
17. Mixed Up Minds: Obscure Rock & Pop From The British Isles 1969-1973 Part Two (Particles)
18. The Red Bird Girls-Very First Time In True Stereo 1964-1966 (Real Gone)
19. Sassafras & Moonshine: The Songs Of Laura Nyro (Ace)
20. Action!: The Songs Of Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart (Ace)

V. Top 20 Box Sets: Single Artist

*1. The Beatles-Stereo Vinyl Box Set (EMI)
2. Paul and Linda McCartney-Ram: Superdeluxe Edition (MPL)
3. Dusty Springfield-Goin’ Back: The Definitive Dusty Springfield (Universal/Mercury)
4. 10CC-Tenology (Universal)
5. Manfred Mann’s Earth Band-40th Anniversary (Creature Music)
6. The Searchers-Hearts In Their Eyes: Celebrating 50 Years of Harmony & Jangle (Universal)
7. The Kinks-At The BBC (Universal)
8. George Harrison-Living In The Material World (Universal)
9. The Beatles-Magical Mystery Tour (Capitol)
10. Blue Rodeo-1987-1993 (Warner Music)
11. Cheap Trick-The Complete Epic Records Collection (Sony Legacy)
12. Pink Floyd-The Wall: Immersion (EMI)
13. Green Day-The Studio Albums 1990-2009 (Warner Bros.)
14. Roxy Music-The Complete Studio Recordings (Virgin)
15. Bill Withers-The Complete Sussex and Columbia Albums (Sony Music)
16. Heart-Strange Euphoria (Sony Music)
17. T. Rex-Electric Warrior: Superdeluxe Edition (Universal)
18. The Velvet Underground & Nico-The Velvet Underground & Nico: 45th Anniversary Superdeluxe Edition (Universal)
19. World Party-Arkeology: Diary & Music Collection (Seaview)
20. The Yardbirds-Glimpses 1963-1969 (Easy Action)

VI. Top 3 Box Sets: Various Artists

*1. The Rubble Collection-Volumes 1 To 5 (Pilot)
2. Surf-Age Nuggets: Trash & Twang Instrumentals 1959-1966 (RockBeat)
3. Mind Expanders: 80 Rare Trips From The ‘60s & ‘70s (Particles)

VII. Top 5 Reissue Labels

1. Now Sounds
2. Futureman
3. Ace
3. Real Gone Music
4. Salvo

Note: Capitol and Universal would definitely be on this list somewhere, but since they’re not exclusively reissue labels, I decided not to include them.

Note 2: Some of the sharp-eyed among you might wonder how Futureman finished at #2 without having any albums place on any of my reissue lists. It’s because Futureman specializes in download-only releases, and for reissues I don’t wish to place download-only albums on my lists. Having said that, Futureman has done a wonderful job of bringing about awareness of several awesome powerpop albums from the last 10 years, by artists like Starbelly, Liquor Giants, Gladhands, Lisa Mychols, and so many others, and for that they deserve plenty of kudos (as well as a #2 ranking here!).