The ethos of Iconoclassic Records is perfectly captured in the company's name. Iconoclassic Records reissues classic titles by iconic artists, many of whom have handled their careers in an uncompromising, iconoclastic manner.
A CD reissue label focused on rock, pop, and R&B music of the 1970s and '80s, Iconoclassic Records specializes in notable albums that have never been released on CD, as well as classic titles that have fallen out of print.
Iconoclassic Records takes its inspiration from the sterling work of Legacy Recordings, Rhino Records, and Sundazed, among others, as well as from the music itself. Working with Grammy®-winning mastering engineers, acclaimed art directors, and incisive liner note writers, Iconoclassic Records delivers high-quality CD reissues. "Iconoclassic is run by the same people you see on the message boards and blogs: fans delighting in well-mastered and packaged reissues, and voicing their disappointment when their favorite titles are either unavailable or reissued in a manner not befitting their classic status," says label President Frank Ursoleo, a 25 year veteran of the music industry. "Having previously presided over the launch of BMG Entertainment reissue division Buddha Records, we've once again harnessed that passion and knowledge to bring underexposed musical treasures to light."
New Releases:
Lou Reed New Sensations
Kicked off with “I Love You, Suzanne,” as close as Lou Reed ever came to a
straight “pop” song, New Sensations is the most uniquely positive album in
Reed’s canon. Also featuring the title track and “My Friend George,” New
Sensations introduced Reed to a new, younger audience through MTV and major
college radio airplay. However, longtime fans took heart in the fact that Lou’s
legendary sarcasm was still very much intact. Out of print in the U.S. for well
over a decade, New Sensations has been digitally remastered from the original
master tapes, and augmented with new liner notes and expanded packaging. Click
here to visit our site for more information.
Lou Reed Legendary Hearts
Originally released on RCA Records in 1983 as the follow-up to the highly
acclaimed The Blue Mask, Legendary Hearts teamed Lou Reed with Robert Quine,
Fernando Saunders and Fred Maher, resulting in one of his leanest, most
band-oriented records. Continuing the soul-searching that he had begun on The
Blue Mask while lightening the mood slightly, Legendary Hearts teems with
underappreciated Lou Reed classics like “The Last Shot,” “Betrayed,” the
humorous “Don’t Talk To Me About Work” and the title track. Out of print in the
U.S. for well over a decade, Legendary Hearts has been digitally remastered from
the original master tapes, and augmented with new liner notes and expanded
packaging. Click
here to visit our site for more information.
Isley, Jasper, Isley Broadway's Closer To Sunset Blvd.
The excellent debut album of the “younger” half of the classic Isley Brothers
3+3 lineup makes its worldwide CD debut on the Iconoclassic label. The trio had
taken over the songwriting, production and musician chores for the Isley
Brothers as the seventies had evolved into the eighties, and IJI had entertained
splitting from the older trio as early as 1980. Their newer more “eighties”
direction and recording techniques (as popularized on “Between The Sheets”) were
not a comfortable place for the elder Isleys but Ernie Isley, Chris Jasper and
Marvin Isley jumped into the deep end and did not look back. Iconoclassic’s
first-time-on-CD release of Broadway’s Closer To Sunset Blvd. includes extensive
liner notes by A. Scott Galloway, drawn from new interviews with Ernie Isley and
Chris Jasper, as well as a bonus track of the 12” version of “Kiss And Tell.”
Click
here to visit our site for more information.
Mott The Hoople Mott The Hoople Live - Expanded Deluxe Edition
When Mott The Hoople Live was originally released in November 1974, little
did we know that this album would be their swansong; Mott ceased to exist six
weeks after Mott The Hoople Live hit the record racks. The original Mott The
Hoople Live has been enhanced and expanded into this astonishing 21 song
Expanded Deluxe Edition 2 CD set. 13 additional tracks have been added to the
original album, capturing two legendary concerts nearly in their entirety: the
late-1973 Hammersmith show, where the set over-ran so long that the theater
owners lowered the curtain on the band; and a taste of the group's triumphant
Broadway season six months later, when Mott became the first rock band to sell
out a week of concerts in New York's theater district. In October 2009, the
original lineup of Mott The Hoople will reunite for the first time ever,
performing at the current Hammersmith venue, making this the perfect time to
introduce Mott The Hoople Live – Expanded Deluxe Edition into the U.S.
marketplace for the first time. Click
here to visit our site for more information.
The Guess Who Wheatfield Soul
Wheatfield Soul was The Guess Who's U.S. debut album and launched the Canadian
group to international stardom with the classic Top 10 hit "These Eyes." The
classic lineup of The Guess Who (with Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman) display
their eclectic mix of influences on Wheatfield Soul, numbering pop, garage rock,
Doors style psychedelia, jazz, and folk. Iconoclassic Records' 40th Anniversary
Edition of Wheatfield Soul has been digitally remastered from the original
master tapes and features extensive liner notes and song commentary with new
interviews from all of the band members. Additionally, three rare and sought
after single sides (two making their worldwide CD debut) have been added as
bonus tracks, making this the definitive edition of a landmark album. Click
here
to visit our site for more information.
Laura Nyro
Mother's Spiritual
Laura Nyro’s ninth album Mother’s Spiritual was the second of her two “maternal”
albums (1978’s Nested being the first). Mother’s Spiritual broke a long silence
upon its release in 1984, being Nyro’s first new release in over five years, and
was itself followed by a nearly decade-long absence from the studio. In contrast
to the wild, adventurous music with which Nyro first made her reputation (Eli
and the Thirteenth Confession, New York Tendaberry), Mother’s Spiritual exhibits
a calm, serene, piano-centered sound. At the same time, Nyro introduces
political, motherhood (both of a child and of the earth), feminist, and
environmentalist themes into her writing. Thematically ahead of its time upon
its initial release, Mother’s Spiritual was incredibly prescient with lyrics
that are relevant to today’s world. Cherished by longtime fans, Mother’s
Spiritual has never before been widely available on CD. Click
here
to visit our site for more information.
Jefferson Airplane
Thirty Seconds Over Winterland
Thirty Seconds Over Winterland, originally released in 1973, was the final
original album release from rock icons Jefferson Airplane. Captured live in
concert, the album finds the early '70s edition of the Airplane (with Grace
Slick, Paul Kantner, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady joined by Papa John Creach,
David Freiberg and Johnny Barbata) at their hardest rocking, on a set that
focuses on their latest material while acknowledging the Hot Tuna splinter group
and glancing backward to their groundbreaking '60s work. Although their
contemporary studio albums were somewhat disjointed, Jefferson Airplane were
still a unified force onstage and many fans regard this period as the Airplane's
live peak. Iconoclassic Records' deluxe reissue of Thirty Seconds Over
Winterland remasters the original 7-song album, and then adds 5 additional
tracks from their final Winterland appearances, newly mastered by Grammy
Award-winning engineer Vic Anesini from the original master tapes. Click
here
to visit our site for more information.
Weather Report
Tale Spinnin'
Recorded and originally released in 1975, Tale Spinnin’, Weather Report’s fifth
studio album, is an overlooked gem that stands with anything recorded during the
“jazz-rock fusion” era. On a range of fresh, intriguing originals by the band’s
co-founders and principle composers, keyboardist Joe Zawinul and saxophonist
Wayne Shorter, Zawinul’s pioneering interest in what we now call world music is
in evidence, and his synthesizer sophistication is growing along with the
available technology. Shorter’s work on soprano sax is more animated than on
Weather Report’s previous two albums, and Alphonso Johnson brings his melodic
bass to the fore. "Tale Spinnin' sets up a hypnotic groove, loose and funky with
more than a touch of Afro-Latin in the rhythm section and engaging melodic
detail on top. . . Spinnin' convinces once again that Weather Report is the most
adventurous, meticulous and consistently stimulating band working in the
electric-jazz idiom." - Rolling Stone. Jazz Album of the Year, 1975 Down Beat
Readers Poll. Click
here
to visit our site for more information.
Mott The Hoople The Hoople
The last in the triumvirate of Mott’s classic glitter rock albums, The Hoople
(1974) was the band’s third album release on CBS/Columbia Records, following the
classic All The Young Dudes and Mott LPs. The Hoople featured a refocused band
after the departure of Mick Ralphs (who left to join Bad Company) and the
arrival of Ariel Bender (aka Luther Grosvenor, from Spooky Tooth). Singer Ian
Hunter was now established as the undisputed band leader and his songwriting
progresses by leaps and bounds on this recording, providing a preview of what
would later become an outstanding solo career. This special expanded reissue of
The Hoople features 7 bonus tracks, including studio recordings with Mick Ronson
(who had replaced Bender on lead guitar), as well as the hits "Roll Away the
Stone" and "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll." Click
here to visit
our site for more information.
The Isley Brothers
Showdown
This Top 10 Platinum smash, originally released in 1978 on The Isley Brothers'
own T-Neck label, has remained criminally out of print on CD in the U.S. … until
now! Boasting the 1 hit "Take Me To The Next Phase (Part 1 & 2)" and "Groove
With You," and classic, frequently sampled jams like "Coolin' Me Out" and the
title track, Showdown was the perfect follow-up to The Isley Brothers'
groundbreaking Go For You Guns album. The 3 + 3 lineup—combining the vocals of
the 3 elder brothers (Ronald, Rudolph and Kelly) with the writing and producing
skills of younger brothers Ernie and Marvin and brother-in-law Chris Jasper—was
on fire at this point, producing hit after hit while innovating constantly.
Perhaps their funkiest album, Showdown was built to rock the house, as Chris
Jasper explains in his detailed, all new liner notes. Click here to visit our site for more information.
The Isley Brothers
Go All The Way
The Isley Brothers kicked off their fourth decade with this Platinum, 1 album
originally issued in 1980. Previously unreleased on CD in the U.S., Go All The
Way is highlighted by 1 hit ballad "Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time For Love)"
and finds The Isley Brothers embracing new technology while fortifying their
proven strengths. Go All The Way features a half dozen extended fan favorites
and chart hits (including "Here We Go Again" and the title track) that have not
previously been heard in pristine digital sound. One of their most melodic
albums, all was not quite as harmonious behind the scenes for the 3 + 3 lineup
at this point, as revealed in former Isley Brothers songwriter/keyboardist Chris
Jasper's enlightening liner notes. Jasper rates Go All The Way as one of his
favorite Isley Brothers albums, and millions of Isley fans agree. Click here to visit our site for more information.
Laura Nyro
Nested
Originally released in 1978, Nested marked a departure from Laura Nyro’s acclaimed early work (“Wedding Bell Blues,” “Eli’s Comin’”), with its lyrical focus on impending motherhood and a more organic sound. Across Nested’s 10 self-penned tracks, Nyro also reviews her up-and-down love life, rails against music business greed, and muses on the nature of the universe, backed by instrumental contributions from John Sebastian (The Lovin’ Spoonful), Felix Cavaliere (The Rascals), Vinnie Cusano (KISS’s Vinnie Vincent), Tony Levin, and Andy Newmark, among others. Largely ignored or misunderstood upon initial release, Nested, Nyro’s eighth album, can now be heard as the fulcrum on which her early and later career pivoted.
Nested is ripe for reappraisal as one of Laura Nyro’s most personal, moving, and artistically successful projects.
The new CD reissue of Nested from Iconoclassic Records presents the definitive version of this important musical work. In addition to faithfully reproducing all the elements from the original LP (including lyrics), the Iconoclassic reissue adds an incisive new 1,200 word essay by Michelle Kort, author of the definitive Laura Nyro biography Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro. Additional photographs of Nyro by acclaimed fashion photographer Adger W. Cowans, who shot the original album cover, enrich the package. The CD is mastered by Grammy Award®-winning engineer Vic Anesini, making Nested a warm, inviting sonic experience befitting its lyrical theme. Click here to visit our site for more information.
Laura Nyro Season of Lights...Laura Nyro in Concert
Originally conceived as a double live album, but released as a 10 song single LP
in 1977, the Iconoclassic Records reissue of Season of Lights…Laura Nyro in
Concert restores the set to its full 16 song length. The single LP version as
originally released contained a solo piano rendition of "Timer," whereas a full
band performance of that same song was slated for release on the double album
version. The Iconoclassic CD includes both the solo and full band versions.
One of the factors that makes this live release so compelling is the involvement
of jazz players (John Tropea, Richard Davis, and Mike Mainieri) that had
performed on Nyro's then-current studio album Smile. As incredible as Laura was when performing live solo with just her piano as accompaniment, this is the place to experience her interaction with a full live band.
Iconoclassic Records' deluxe CD reissue of Season of Lights...Laura Nyro in
Concert features signature tracks from her early period ("And When I Die,"
"Sweet Blindness," "Emmie," etc.) mixed with newer songs from Smile and
exclusive material like "The Morning News" which was never recorded in the
studio and appears only here. Over 75 minutes of music remastered by Grammy®
Award winner Vic Anesini. Includes a 16 page booklet with full lyrics and new
liner notes by Nyro biographer Michele Kort. Click here to visit our site for more information.
I love Laura Nyro. She was too often overlooked in an era of such good music. Thanks for the add, from Dallas, Texas home of the art and media revolution and the scariest music, now banned by all media, Post-Bands music.
Laura Nyro Birthday Feature Monday On Internet Radio--Laura was born on Oct. 18,1947 and I'll be celebrating by playing lots of her music on my show Monday,12-4 PM CDT at www. uicradio. org . Thanks for releasing "Nested" and "Season Of Lights"!
Thank you so much for re-issuing "Nested" and "Season of Lights" from my favorite artist, Laura Nyro! Please let me know if you are able to re-issue her 1980s albums, "Mother's Spiritual," and "Live at the Bottom Line". I would buy them in a heartbeat!
You folks have done a great job remastering "Nested". It's like listening to it for the first time! Of course being a Nyro fanatic, I had the LP as well as the Japanese CD import. But now I feel free to say that I've really heard it!!
Hope you have some other "goodies" up your sleeve!
You guys at Iconoclassic are awesome . . . many thanks for recognizing the brilliance of Nyro and bringing some of her lesser-known work into public awareness. She deserves this and so much more . . . but we sense the groundswell movement and it starts with people like you. Thanks a million - can't wait to hear the reissues. peace and ciao. tone
Thank you Icon for doing Laura Nyro right! She was one of my first voice and songwriting teachers when I was a teenager listening to her music. She is someone I revere, her music is a gift to the Universe and all of us on planet Earth. I sing her songs with Poetic Notion Chorus, directed by Rob Darnell (myspace. com/poeticnotionchorus and www. poeticnotionchorus. com). We won a best live performance award from Soul-Patrol (www. soul-patrol. com) for our "Re-Inventing Laura Nyro" show at University of the Streets in December of 2006. Bless Icon Classic Records for bringing back one of the long-awaited Laura Nyro classics. Peace and love, lisa roma
