ALBUM RELEASE NEWS

Sure to go running through your soul, like the stories told of old: Today (December 10, 2024), Rhino announces the launch of a new audiophile vinyl series that’s been dubbed Rhino Reserves, which purports to offer “legendary albums” on 180g premium-quality black vinyl. Rhino Reserve LPs will be pressed locally at Fidelity Record Pressing’s brand-new plant in Oxnard, California, and will be cut by respected mastering engineer Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab. That said, for the inaugural pair of releases in this series that are ID’ed below, the lacquers have been cut by Chris Bellman of Bernie Grundman Mastering.

According to Rhino, the Rhino Reserves series is “focused on preserving the authenticity of original packaging while delivering exceptional sound quality.” Each release in the series will be cut from the original analog tapes and feature heavyweight board jackets, Rhino Reserve-branded labels, and a Fidelity-branded poly sleeve. Rhino Reserve titles will each sport an SRP of $31.98, and will be made available at Rhino.com, and select retail locations.

In a press statement, Patrick Milligan, Senior Director, A&R Rhino Entertainment, said, “The Rhino Reserve series [is] a new chapter in our commitment to audiophile-quality vinyl. Following the success of our High Fidelity line, we wanted to offer a more accessible option for fans and collectors that still delivers exceptional sound. We’re especially excited to partner with Fidelity Record Pressing for this series. Their state-of-the-art facility and dedication to craftsmanship have resulted in test pressings for our first releases that sound absolutely phenomenal.”

Added Fidelity Record Pressing’s co-owner Rick Hashimoto, “We at Fidelity Record Pressing are very excited to be partnering with Rhino for the Rhino Reserve Series. My sons, Edward and Alex, and I have 75 years of cumulative audiophile record pressing experience, and our plant has the most modern presses and infrastructure. These, along with a staff of people passionate about vinyl, are the key ingredients for high-quality vinyl production.”

Kicking off the new Rhino Reserve series are two iconic 1970s releases: 1) Allen Toussaint’s Southern Nights, originally released in May 1975 on Reprise, and 2) Eddie Hazel’s Game, Dames and Guitar Thangs, originally released in July 1977 on Warner Bros. Both of these LPs are set to drop on January 31, 2025, and they are also considered to be part of Rhino’s Start Your Ear Off Right campaign, which officially commences on January 2, 2025.

A concept album at its core, Southern Nights showcases Toussaint’s unparalleled ability to blend funk, soul, and R&B in such a way that many acknowledge as defining the sound of his career. The title track, considered to be the late artist’s signature tune and one that was also later designated as a Louisiana state song, chronicles Toussaint’s swamp-fueled recollections of many memorable nights spent with his Creole family. (Toussaint passed away at age 77 in 2015.) Other standout cuts here include “Last Train” (choo- choo!) and the swinging, swaying “Country John.”

Best known for his futuristic/funktastic guitar work with Parliament-Funkadelic, Eddie Hazel’s Game, Dames and Guitar Thangs, the only solo album released during the guitar maestro’s lifetime, is an acknowledged masterpiece of funk rock that features his virtuosic playing style and smooth vocals. (Hazel passed away at age 42 in 1992.) Standout tracks on Game include his reimagined psychedelic-soul take on The Mamas & The Papas’ hit 1965 single “California Dreamin’,” plus his extended, 9-minute crack at The Beatles’ 1969, Abbey Road Side 1-closing classic, “I Want You (She’s So Heavy),” and “What About It?”, an instrumental revamp of the Funkadelic classic “Wars of Armageddon,” which originally appeared in a much longer version at the end of Side 2 on July 1971’s Maggot Brain LP on Westbound.

Considering yours truly only has in hand via Water’s 2006 reissue CD and Game on the limited-edition CD released by Rhino Handmade in 2004, I am very much looking forward to getting and listening to these two Rhino Reserve releases quite specifically — and whatever else the series has in store down the line.