uk albums reissues (lp/mc)
Virgin reissued the band’s albums over the years, starting with their own pressings of the
Arista Quintet (Life In A Day,
Real To Real Cacophony,
Empires And Dance and
Celebration).
Most reissues were released around a forthcoming new album release; if stock was running low, and with potential
renewed interest, then Virgin often pressed up new copies of an existing album to ensure the shelves were full in the shops.
The label had three ranges to choose from: their full-price ‘new’ album range (with V and TCV catalogue numbers), their mid-price
range (with VM and VMC catalogue numbers) and their budget ranges (with OVED and OVEDC catalogue numbers).
The cover artwork was fully reproduced but extras (such as inserts and inner sleeves) gradually disappeared as albums
were reissued in the cheaper ranges. Labels were never reproduced and Virgin used their generic designs
(red-and-green in the early 1980s, and black-and-white in the late 1980s).
Releases gradually dropped off by the end of the 1990s.
These reissues were eventually superseded by the 2002 remasters. From then on,
until the Super Deluxe releases, all reissues were based on the remasters
and not the original albums.
Special mention goes to Disky who took the time and effort to produce some of the best packaged reissues, with
their CDs appearing in the 1990s.
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