Yes mini-LP reissues in April

Yes' albums have been released as mini-LP replicas in Japan several times.
(As I recollect they were among the first ones reissued in mini-LP style back in 1980s.)

Most recently they were released in 2009 on SHM-CD,
featuring new remasters and bonus tracks.
(It seems they had the same bonus tracks as 2003 Rhino reissues.)

On April 4, 2012, those 2009 editions of mini-LP SHM-CDs will be reissued,
to tie-in with Yes' upcoming Japan tour.
So if you missed any of them in 2009, here's a chance.

• Yes
• Time and a Word
• The Yes Album
• Fragile
• Close to the Edge
• Yessongs
• Tales from Topographic Oceans
• Relayer
• Going for the One
• Tormato
• Drama
• Yesshows
• 90125
• 9012Live: The Solos
• Big Generator

Note: Amazon doesn't distinguish the new pressings from the 2009 issues.
So, if you follow the links above, you may find some of them listed as "In stock"
while others are "In stock on April 5, 2012".

Fox Japan's June BD titles: Update

Here are some additional informations about Fox Japan's June BD titles I posted a few days ago.

Before going into the details...
according to The Digital Bits, Zorba the Greek and Grapes of Wrath are to be released in the US in June too.
Also, The Poseidon Adventure will be in April as WalMart exclusive.
(Maybe we can expect the general release some time later.)

So perhaps I don't need to write about these titles anymore,
but if only for the sake of comparison,
here are the details of the Japanese releases.


Chariots of Fire - 30th Anniversary Edition



Running time: 124 mins
Video: VistaVision 1920x1080p
Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (lossless) / Japanese DTS 5.1
Subtitles: Japanese / English

New master with 4K digital transfer
DigiPack packaging
Soundtrack CD (4 tracks including "Titles")

Special Features:

• Audio commentary by director Hugh Hudson
• Music track
• 1924 Paris Olympics
• David Puttnam featurette
• Hugh Hudson featurette
• Making-of
• The Runners' Reunion
• Additional scenes
• Original trailer

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)



Running time: 117 mins
Video: CinemaScope 1920x1080p
Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 4.0 (lossless) / Japanese DD Mono
Subtitles: Japanese / English

Embossed slipcase

Special Features:

• Unknown Truth about the Poseison Adventure (I think this is actually "Backstory: The Poseidon Adventure")
• The Cast Looks Back
• Falling Up with Ernie
• The Writer: Stirling Silliphant
• The Heroes of the Poseidon
• The Morning After Story
• The History of R.M.S. Queen Mary
• Interview with director Ronald Neame
• Stills gallery
• Storyboard-to-film comparisons
• Promotional videos

Unfortunately there's NO mention of audio commentaries which were available in the US 2-disc Special Edition DVD.
But it seems all the other extras have been carried over to this BD.


Zorba the Greek



Running time: 134 mins
Video: EuroVista 1920x1080p
Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono (lossless)
Subtitles: Japanese / English

New master with 4K digital transfer
Embossed slipcase

Special Features:

• Commentary by Director Michael Cacoyannis and Professor Demetrios Liappas
• Anthony Quinn bio featurette
• Alternate opening
• Fox Movietone News
• Trailers and TV spots

The Grapes of Wrath



Running time: 130 mins
Video: 4:3 standard 1920x1080p
Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono (lossless)
Subtitles: Japanese / English

New master with 4K digital transfer
Embossed slipcase

Special Features:

• Fox Movie Channel "Fox Legacy"
• Original trailer

Von Ryan's Express



Running time: 117 mins
Video: CinemaScope 1920x1080p
Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (lossless)
Subtitles: Japanese / English

Embossed slipcase

Special Features:

• Reliving the Adventure
• Hollywood and World War II Films
• The Music of Von Ryan's Express
• The Legacy of Jerry Goldsmith
• Original trailer

It seems Fox Japan selected some of the special features from
US 2-disc "Cinema Classics Collection" DVD,
but unfortunately not everything.
(But I was surprised it's not movie-only.)

Fox Japan's June BD titles

On June 22, 20th Century Fox Japan will release following Blu-ray titles:

• Chariots of Fire: 30th Anniversary Edition (Limited, with soundtrack CD)
• The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
• The Grapes of Wrath
• Zorba the Greek
• Twelve O'Clock High
• Von Ryan's Express

source: Fox Japan's promo page

AFAIK, with the exception of Twelve O'Clock High,
these titles are not available on BD in US and UK.

The specs are mostly unknown as of this writing.
They may be movie-only, I'm afraid.

Personally I hope Von Ryan's Express will include extras of
US 2-disc "Cinema Classics Collection" DVD,
but probably it won't.

I'll post updates when more informations become available,
unless they are announced in US/UK as well.



(Added: I've posted an update here.)

Manfred Mann & related mini-LP SHM-CD in May

To tie in with the Manfreds' Japan tour in June,
Universal Music Japan will release
paper sleeve mini-LP style SHM-CD editions of
Manfred Mann's and related albums on May 23, 2012.

[Update May 3: These releases appear to be delayed to June 20.]

All will use the latest remasters and include bonus tracks.

Manfred Mann's albums:

• Mannerisms
• As Is
• Mighty Garvey!
• Up the Junction
• What a Mann

Ex-members' albums:

• Paul Jones - Crucifix in a Horseshoe
• Mike D'Abo - D'Abo
• Mike D'Abo - Down at Rachel's Place
• Mike D'Abo - Broken Rainbows
• Mike Hugg - Somewhere
• Mike Hugg - Stress & Strain
• Hug - The Neon Dream

Bell Antique label's March mini-LP releases

On March 25, Japan's Marquee will release following albums on their Bell Antique label,
all as SHM-CD packaged in mini-LP paper sleeve.

Australian band Sebastian Hardie's first album in 36 years: Blueprint


French progressive rock band Pulsar's late 1970s works (remastered):
Pollen, The Strands of the Future, and Halloween:


French King Crimson follower Shylock's Ile de Fièvre
remastered, with one instrumental bonus track.


Samples of Sebastian Hardie and Shylock are available:

Kadokawa & Paramount Japan BD/DVD announcements

Kadokawa Pictures

March 16:

• Red Sun BD (first time) / DVD (previously available from other publishers)
  
  
• One From the Heart (2003 restored version) BD (first time) / DVD (reissue)
  
• Hammet DVD (reissue)
  
• Abel Gance's Napoleon (222 mins Coppola version) DVD (reissue)
  

Paramount Pictures Japan

April 13:

• Ken Russell's Tommy BD (DVD is already available) seems to have most of the extras of the previous UK DVD special edition (as with the Japanese DVD)
  
  

May 11:

• Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here BD/DVD
  
• 55 Days in Peking DVD (reissue)
  
• Terence Young's The Christmas Tree DVD
  

June 8:

• David Lean's Summertime BD (first time) / DVD (already available from other publishers)
  
• Ken Russell's Mahler BD/DVD
  
• Paper Tiger BD/DVD
  
• Monty Python's And Now For Something Completely Different BD/DVD
  
• Trouble In Mind BD/DVD
  
• The Whales of August DVD
  

I saw some BD titles listed above are not available in the US,
but Amazon.com have them as instant video.
On the other hand Amazon Japan doesn't offer instant video at all.
So this may mean the difference of the markets.
I mean, Americans are more toward online viewing than Japanese.

[EDIT Sep. 27, 2012: Repaired some broken links]

Steve Hackett & GTR reissues on HQCD mini-LP

On March 28, 2012, WHD Entertainment will release 2 Steve Hackett-related albums
remastered with K2HD technology, manufactured as HQCD, packaged in mini-LP replica.

• GTR - GTR (WHD page)
• Steve Hackett - Tokyo Tapes (WHD page)

While mini-LP CDs of both albums were already released some years ago,
this is the first time as K2HD+HQCD.

Amazon Japan and several other sources claim GTR is to include 5 bonus tracks (details unknown),
but they are not mentioned on the WHD website, as of this writing.

[UPDATE (Apr. 9): According to Amazon Japan's customer reviews,

GTR actually has only one bonus track, which is the single version of "When The Heart Rules The Mind" sourced from analog vinyl because the master tape has been lost.

Strangely, WHD website doesn't list this bonus track on their official site.]

The Byrds on Blu-spec mini-LP CD in Japan

[Edit (Apr. 14): I've added updated informations here]

On May 2, 2012, Sony Music Japan will release the Byrds albums on Blu-spec CD,
in paper sleeve mini-LP replica package.
The albums will feature both stereo & mono versions,
with some bonus tracks.

• Mr. Tambourine Man
• Turn! Turn! Turn!
• Fifth Dimension
• Younger Than Yesterday
• The Notorious Byrd Brothers

This may upset some fans though,
since Sony had just re-released Mr. Tambourine Man
in mini-LP style (albeit not Blu-spec CD) in this January.