The upcoming re-release of Pink Floyd’s first gold album Atom Heart Mother seems like it’s going to be pretty disappointing. Traditionally, these re-release package things happen on the anniversary of the original release. Not in this case. The original album came out Oct. 2, 1970. This new package drops on a date more aligned with John Lennon — Dec. 8 — an awkward and insignificant 53 years ago.
Maybe if it was a photo of Herbie The Love Bug on the cover, instead of Lulubelle III, the 53 would make more sense. But OK, whatever.
It must be a new remaster or remix, right? Again, no. This is just a reissue of the 2016 remaster. With no extra tracks or outtakes. No inclusion of the 4.0 Quad mix, which you’ll pay big bucks for on LP or 8-track — or on the 1970 Devi/ation volume of the Pink Floyd Early Years box set ($100 on Amazon).
There is also no 5.1 mix with this new re-release. Oh, and it’s only on CD/Blu-ray, which means it’s in a ridiculously tiny 7″ gatefold sleeve. So, even the cool stuff like the 60-page photo book are the size of a piece of toast.
So, why are they doing this? Is there anything special about it? Sure. The sleeve has a nifty pseudo-OBI sleeve in Japanese because the new package includes new, better-quality footage from Floyd’s first Japanese concert — at the Hakone Aphrodite Festival in August, 1971 (still not an anniversary).
The band headlined the festival, and while audio of their performance of Atom Heart Mother Suite was included as part of the 1971 Reverber/ation volume of the Pink Floyd Early Years box set, footage of this quality was believed to have been lost for years. So, you get that — synced up with the previously released audio. It does seem cool:
The new re-release also includes a replica of the Hakone Aphrodite Festival pamphlet, a replica of venue map flyer, a replica of the Osaka show poster and a replica of Hakone Aphrodite ticket. Remember, within a 7″ package. So almost everything will be folded. Personally, I’ll just wait for the new footage to be up on YouTube. The old stuff already is, of course:
To pre-order the “new” Atom Heart Mother, go to pinkfloyd.com and expect to pay $70 CAD all-in, unless you want it faster.
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Area Resident is an Ottawa-based journalist, recording artist, music collector and re-seller. Hear (and buy) his music on Bandcamp, email him HERE, follow him on Instagram and check him out on Discogs.
