The Year in Reissues, Part III: The Gold Bonus Disc Awards

Well, another New Year is in sight, the CD still isn’t dead (told you so!) and celebration is in the air at The Second Disc. Back on December 23, Mike shared The Year in Reissues both here and over with our pals at Popdose. Do not pass go, do not collect 200 bucks until you read these indispensable columns!

Are you back with me? Good. Now, I’d like to take this opportunity to take a fun look back at a few of my favorite things via Joe’s Gold Bonus Disc Awards! I’m awarding these to the reissues that have raised the bar over the past 12 months. You’ll notice a number of titles that have already been praised by Mike, as well as new entries, but overall, I’ve simply tried to recognize as many diverse, worthy releases as possible. It’s my sincere hope, though, that you’ll take a chance on a title previously unknown to you; all of the artists, producers, and labels mentioned here have kept great music alive in 2010.

Friends, as always, please share your thoughts and comments below. Without further ado, let’s celebrate 2010’s best of the best. Welcome to the Gold Bonus Disc Awards!

Which releases take home the gold?  Hit the jump to find out!

The Final Burton/Elfman Non-troversy

If there’s any ongoing bad blood about Warner Bros. The Danny Elfman & Tim Burton 25th Anniversary Music Box, The Second Disc accepts full responsibility. We were excited when it was announced and we were floored by the track list (and the price). But when other retailers started taking orders for what was supposed to be a limited edition, direct-order set, there was a lot of confusion in the air. Then, after the limited first run had sold out, direct buyers were promised a signed bonus disc – arguably not the best way to announce it, after there was no chance of ordering a copy for oneself.

Well, a Film Score Monthly message board user has received his bonus disc. And if you were hoping for some exclusive content…well, keep hoping. The bonus disc acts as a sampler for the whole set, distinguished of course by the composer’s signature on the case itself. But there is not – we repeat, not – any new or exclusive music on the bonus disc.

In a way, that’s a good thing. Yes, the FSM boards will bitch (oh, how they will bitch!), but first-run buyers now have a nice exclusive – Elfman’s signature – and no other music with which to taunt second-run buyers on Amazon and elsewhere. Of course, this sigh of relief could have been prevented had there been more up-front, transparent info from the get-go – but that argument is getting more and more repetitive, isn’t it?

Without further ado, hit the jump for the bonus disc track list.