Most highly anticipated LP reissues on 2022?

As Garth Brooks was in 1992 proving to the world just what gullible suckers are many Americans---his audience actually believing his music was/is Country, a new voice emerged to prove that there were indeed still new artists making great music. Iris Dement’s debut album---Infamous Angel---introduced lovers of true American Hillbilly/Country music to a singer/songwriter of unusual brilliance.

Even before that album’s release, other superior artists in the genre had become aware of her, some of them---Emmylou Harris and Jerry Douglas---appearing on the album. It---and its’ amazing 1994 follow-up My Life---were released by Philo/Rounder and Warner Brothers (respectively) on CD only. Both were finally issued on LP (vinyl for you youngins’ ;-) in 2013 by Plain Recordings. Unfortunately, those LP’s are not of the best quality (I have the My Life LP). In spite of that fact, the LP’s---now out-of-print---sell for over $100 each on Discogs (though I got ML for $50).

I have been aware of Vinyl Me Please Records for some time now, but have not been interested enough in their releases to sign up for a monthly (or longer) subscription (I bought their Albert King "King, Does The King’s Things" on Discogs. Fantastic!). VMP announces the releases for the upcoming month in their four categories: "Classics" (NOT Classical music), "Essentials", "Hip-Hop", and "Country", and one may make a subscription to one, two, three, or all four genres, each of which has one new reissue per month.

Yesterday I received my monthly promotional email from VMP, and to my surprise and great delight I saw that Infamous Angel was to be the January 2022 reissue in the "Country" genre. A month’s subscription runs you $43, which buys one the LP of your choice. VMP’s reissue was overseen by Iris herself, and features not just a 180 gram high-quality LP pressing, but a gatefold cover with extensive liners notes.

But here’s the thing about the monthly VMP reissues: the number of subscription preorders they receive determines how many LP’s they press. If they get 1,253 preorders, they press 1,253 LP’s. The LP immediately goes out-of-print! I placed my order today. A benefit of being a subscriber (if you sign up for one month, you may cancel your subscription at any time) is that you get a discount on all VMP non-subscription titles (how and why they offer them I don’t know). I am also getting the Irma Thomas album Down At Muscle Shoals---recorded in 1967 at Fame Studios with The Swampers---the fantastic studio band heard on all of Aretha Franklin’s Atlantic Records albums, but not released until 1984, and then only in Japan. Two great artists, both amongst my very favorites of all time. Can’t wait to hear them!

For those who haven’t yet heard Iris: she may be a more talented songwriter, singer, pianist, and guitarist than even Eno ;-) .