ALBUM RELEASE NEWS

As the 1980s gave way to the 1990s, legendary British Invasion songwriter, singer, guitarist, and all-around rock icon Pete Townshend of The Who was working hard, reinventing himself as something of a senior statesman clearly not ready to follow the directive of his iconic band’s October 1965 breakout hit single, “My Generation.” To that end, two of his more adventurous solo releases have just been reissued as new half-speed mastered 180g vinyl editions: June 1989’s The Iron Man: The Musical by Pete Townshend and June 1993’s Psychoderelict: Music Only — the latter making its first appearance on vinyl ever, and as a 2LP set to boot. Read Mark Smotroff’s combo review to see if either/both of these underappreciated latter-era Townshend solo LPs belong in your collection. . .

Sounds caress my ear and the story is quite clear, as Led Zeppelin have just announced plans for how they’re going to celebrate the 50th anniversary of 1975’s seminal double-album extravaganza Physical Graffiti. To that end, the mighty Zep will be releasing a) an all-new Live E.P. on 180g vinyl, in addition to b) an updated 50th Anniversary edition of 2015’s Physical Graffiti Deluxe Edition 180g 3LP set, both of which are coming out on September 12, 2025. Read on to get all the related analog graffiti, including details about the new E.P.’s four previously unreleased live tracks and which legendary Zep shows they’ve been culled from. . .

Fortune, fame, mirror vain. If you automatically know the next lines are “Gone insane / But the memory remains,” then the next upcoming mondo Metallica box set is clearly for you. Read on to see AP editor Mike Mettler outline what you can expect from the Bay Area band’s ReLoad Remastered 5LP/15CD/4DVD limited edition deluxe box set that will be released on June 26, 2026 (and, yes, there will also be a standalone 180 2LP reissue of the core album as well). . .

Welcome to our new weekly New Wax Wednesday column, in which we will highlight upcoming new LP releases and/or important vinyl reissues worthy of preordering and spinning again and again once they arrive in prime, direct from doorstep to turntable fashion. What better way to start off this new series than by commencing with a calling out to transit, as the saying goes — as in, sharing the news that R.E.M.’s Radio Free Europe 2025 five-track benefit EP is set for release via Craft Recordings on September 12, 2025. Read on to see what rare tracks and new mixes will appear on this limited-edition 10-inch orange-vinyl EP. . .

The future is so bright, we gotta cue up some Pat Metheny vinyl, STAT. Well, ECM must have gotten wind of our wishes, for the renowned label has just announced it will reissue Metheny’s groundbreaking debut LP, March 1976’s Bright Size Life, on 180g vinyl on August 2, 2024, as part of their rightly vaunted Luminessence Series. Read to see more details about this highly anticipated reissue. . .

Are we ready for Record Store Day 2026 yet? This year’s big event starts bright and early tomorrow, Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 8 a.m. EST (give or take). See you there? In the meantime, AP editor Mike Mettler shares an exclusive RSD-oriented and vinyl-centric conversation with Romeo Void vocalist Debora Iyall about all the steps taken to ensure the band’s Live ’81-’85 2LP RSD release is up to our respective vinyl standards. . .

Record Store Day 2024, the Black Friday edition, is soon upon us — just two days from now on November 29, 2024, in fact. Read on to see ten cool RSD 2024 picks from AP editor Mike Mettler and chief LP reviewer Mark Smotroff that might be worth adding to your own shopping list for that special day. . .