RSD 2026: ALBUMS IN REVIEW pt. 2 (c-G)
In the immortal words of one Kevin McCallister, do ya give up or are you ready for more?! This is round two, we’ll be going from C to F on this trek. Hope you are enjoying my “faux professional writer” schtick. Ah, if only I never met Frank Sakelhide, miserable English Lit/Writing teacher…and his uninspiring, spirit draining teaching skills. Meh, why cry over spilled red ink, am I right?! Fucking “F”. We’re not here for that, my therapist appointment is Friday.
BEST ROUND EVER…
Chalk full of greatness and it feels like the first time!
We’re hear for part 2, the C’s through the F’s. This is where not one, but two of my “must get at any cost” albums were. Thankfully, my man ‘Mando had several copies on the video feed!
Ready, set…LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
The Cars - “Heartbeat City Live”
3500 pressings
2 LP - clear vinyl
$36 Vintage Mio Records
The Cars’ “Heartbeat City Live”RSD 2026 pressing is the release that makes you remember why this band mattered in the first place. This was one of my “MUST HAVE AT ANY COST” picks. I instinctivly knew with 3,500 copies, cleanly pressed, beautifully packaged, and finally giving this 1984 broadcast the fidelity it always deserved', this was going to vanish. And it did, within minutes the resellers were flipping for $150 plus. And there’s a reason…
The remaster pulls the band into focus; Elliot Easton’s guitar is razor‑sharp without getting shrill, Greg Hawkes’ synths shimmer like neon rain, and Ric Ocasek sounds exactly like Ric Ocasek should: cool, detached, and somehow still emotional. Lest we forget the real secret sauce, Benjamin Orr; Orr’s bass is tight and muscular, his vocals on the tracks he fronts cut through with that cool, effortless tone that quietly anchored half their catalog.
For $36, tFor $36, this feels like a steal, especially when the resellers immediately tried to turn it into a $150 panic buy. And I would have buckled.
This pressing has punch, clarity, and that glossy MTV‑era sheen without the brittle top‑end that plagued so many ’80s live mixes.
Back cover
Standout tracks-”Drive” (Benjamin Orr on vocals)-“You Might Think”-“Magic”
3.5/5 Packaging-Liner notes/words dammit…they’re needed!
5 Star Sweet Lou Review
What makes this release essential is how it captures The Cars at their commercial peak without pretending they were something they weren’t. They were never a sweaty, chaotic live band; they were a precision machine, a studio act that just happened to take the stage. This ressing embraces that. The setlist leans heavily into Heartbeat City, and the songs land with a confidence that makes you wonder why this show wasn’t released decades ago. It’s slick, it’s polished, it’s unapologetically synthetic and it absolutely works. You buy this one because it’s a snapshot of a band ruling the world on their own terms, because it sounds better than it has any right to, and because it’s the rare RSD release that actually earns its hype instead of coasting on nostalgia. This is The Cars, frozen at their peak, finally sounding as big as they looked.
John Coltrane Quartet
France 1965: The Complete Concerts
2500 pressings
4 LP-BLACK VINYL w/Poster
$60 VINTAGE MIO RECORDS
What makes this RSD pressing so spectacular, especially for someone who lives mostly in the rock trenches, is the sheer force of it. Elvin Jones is a hurricane disguised as a drummer, McCoy Tyner is throwing down chords like tectonic plates shifting, and Jimmy Garrison keeps the whole thing tethered to Earth by the thinnest, most heroic thread. You can hear the room reacting, you can hear the band listening to each other with predatory focus, and you can hear Coltrane pushing himself toward the spiritual free‑fall that would define his final years. It’s not polite, it’s not smooth, it’s not background, what it is…it’s a band in full combustion mode, and the fact that this was limited to 2,500 copies almost feels like a cosmic joke. This is the kind of release that reminds you why you collect vinyl in the first place.
back cover
Stand out tracks - “Naima”, “Impressions”, “Afro‑Blue”
5/5 Packaging-audiophile sleeves, gatefold with a great read, and the poster is cool AF.
5 Star Sweet Lou. review
The RSD 2026 edition of Wheels of Fire: Live at the Fillmore Auditorium & Winterland Ballroomis the first time these legendary 1968 performances have been treated like the historical documents they are instead of being scattered across decades of half‑hearted reissues. With 4,500 copies pressed, it’s limited enough to feel special but not so scarce that it becomes a trophy for speculators. The remastering is the real revelation with Jack Bruce’s bass finally has the thunder it always deserved, Ginger Baker’s drums sound like they’re being played in a room instead of a tin can, and Clapton’s guitar cuts through with that molten, blues‑on‑fire tone that defined the band’s peak. For $30, you don’t just get a deal, you get a release that finally does justice to the chaos, brilliance, and sheer volume of Cream onstage in ’68.
Cream - “Wheels of Fire”
3500 pressings
3 LP-Black vinyl
$30 Vintage Mio Records
What makes this pressing essential is how it reframes the band’s live legacy. These shows were the moment Cream stopped being a studio supergroup and became a force of nature. three musicians pushing each other to the edge of collapse, improvising like their lives depended on it. The RSD sequencing pulls the best of the Fillmore and Winterland sets into a cohesive, explosive narrative; “Crossroads” with its razor‑wire tension, “Spoonful” stretching into a psychedelic fistfight, “Toad” giving Baker the kind of spotlight that reminds you why drummers still argue about him. This isn’t polite, curated classic rock, it’s Cream at full burn, captured with a clarity that makes the old versions sound like AM radio.
Back cover
Standout tracks: “Crossroads” - “Spoonful” - “Toad”
4/5 packaging. Would have been a perfect score if sleeves were printed into a booklet and replaced with audio file sleeves
5/5 Star Sweet Lou review…again the sound and performance. I won’t deduct for the audiophile press of 2 or 3 songs per side.
And of course, the flipper market did exactly what you’d expect. While I walked out with mine for $30, early resale listings shot up fast…$80–$90 on the low end, $120+ from the usual opportunists, and a few delusional sellers pushing $150+ hoping someone panics. Meanwhile, legit retailers who still have stock hover around $42–$50, proving once again that patience beats panic every time. But none of that matters as much as this RSD edition finally gives these performances the respect they’ve earned for 56 years. It’s loud, it’s raw, it’s unfiltered, and it’s Cream the way Cream was meant to be heard. Very simply, three geniuses trying to outrun each other onstage and accidentally inventing half of modern rock in the process.
Def Leppard - “Slang”
3500 pressings
2 LP-Pink vinyl
$40 Vintage Mio Records
The 30th Anniversary RSD 2026 edition of “Slang” is the rare Def Leppard reissue that actually feels necessary. Not just a repress, it’s a reclamation project. The band’s weird, transitional, mid‑’90s outlier finally gets the sonic respect it deserved, pressed on clean, heavyweight vinyl with a remaster that pulls the grit, the warmth, and the experimental edges into focus. The guitars have body, the drums have space, and Joe Elliott’s vocals sit in that perfect pocket between glam swagger and ’90s introspection. For a record that confused half the fanbase in 1996, this pressing makes the case that Slang wasn’t a misstep, it was a band refusing to calcify. And for me, grabbing it at retail instead of letting the flippers fleece you? That’s the real victory lap.
Back cover
Standout tracks: “Slang” - “Work it Out” -”Blood Runs Cold”
From the bonus album-”Move With Me Slowly”
5/5 packaging. Stellar
5/5 Star Sweet Lou review…some things age better with time, this is it.
What makes this anniversary edition hit harder is how it reframes the album’s intent. Slang was Def Leppard shedding the glossy, Mutt Lange‑polished skin and trying to survive the decade with their dignity intact. No stacked harmonies to hide behind, no arena‑sized drum triggers, no “Hysteria Part II” safety net. Just a band leaning into darker textures, stripped‑down arrangements, and a kind of emotional honesty they’d never really shown before. The RSD sequencing and bonus material deepen that story. the B‑sides, demos, and alternate takes show a band genuinely searching, not pandering. It’s messy, it’s bold, and it’s way more interesting than anyone gave it credit for at the time.
This is the sound of Def Leppard refusing to become their own tribute band, the sound of a group trying to evolve in a decade that didn’t want them to. And in 2026, it plays like the most honest thing they ever did.
The Doors -Strange Days 1967: A Work In Progress, Part 2
7830 pressings
1 LP-Transparent Turquoise Vinyl, with poster included.
$30 Vintage Mio Records
The Doors’ Strange Days 1967: A Work In Progress, Part 2 (RSD 2026) is the kind of archival release that reminds you why this band’s studio mythology still hits like scripture. With 7,830 copies pressed, it’s wide enough for real fans to get it but still limited enough to feel like a proper vault excavation. What makes this set special is the intimacy. These aren’t polished album takes, they’re the raw, unvarnished moments when the band was still shaping the dark, surreal world of Strange Days. The RSD mastering gives everything a warmth and immediacy that the old bootlegs and scattered bonus tracks never captured. You hear the room, the tape hiss, the band breathing between takes. It’s not nostalgia, it’s archaeology.
What Part 2 does better than anything is show the band working. Morrison isn’t the myth yet, he’s the singer in a room, trying different inflections, pushing and pulling against the band. Ray Manzarek’s keys feel more exposed, more skeletal, like the spine of the whole operation. Robby Krieger’s guitar sits closer to the mic, revealing the small hesitations and sparks that would later become iconic lines. And John Densmore? He’s always the secret weapon. He sounds even more alive here, his jazz‑trained instincts guiding the band through these half‑formed versions with a looseness the final album never allowed. These aren’t alternate takes for the sake of novelty; they’re glimpses into the creative engine of a band at its most fearless.
Back cover w/ Poster (?)
Standout tracks: “People Are Strange” – Early Vocal Pass - “Strange Days” – Alternate Arrangement Sketch - “Love Me Two Times” – Instrumental Work Tape
4.5/5- The poster; not a poster, a printed glossed photo.
5/5 Star Sweet Lou review…a musical documentary in 2 parts.
The sequencing on this RSD edition is what elevates it. Instead of scattering the material, it builds a narrative; the band moving from rough sketches to near‑final forms. They’re letting you hear the evolution of songs that would become pillars of the psychedelic canon. The sound is rich, warm, and surprisingly full for 1967 work tapes. It’s the kind of release that rewards deep listening, the kind you spin late at night when you want to feel like you’re sitting in the studio with them. Part 1 was a revelation; Part 2 is the confirmation; proof that Strange Days wasn’t just a great album. Strange Days was a process, a world being built in real time. And this pressing finally lets you hear that world being born.
En Vogue - ev3
1100 pressings
2 LP-Forest Green vinyl
$74 Vintage Mio Records
I know I’m supposed to be the “rock guy”, but En Vogue were a different beast for me. I knew I had to POUNCE on grabbing this early and I missed. Armando had sold out, The Exchange sold out, everyone sold out and then…
I sent a message to Armando for some titles that the guys from work wanted to buy and I joked, “Find an extra En Vogue anywhere?” Lo and behold he told me that he found a copy someone “accidentally” put in the wrong area. WOOO HOOO, I didn’t care. BUT, he said, he had to stick to RSD MSRP on this because of the “flipping” on this one. No problemo Mando, I don’t sell, flip or throw away vinyl hahahaha.
The RSD 2026 pressing of En Vogue’s EV3 is one of those releases that proves scarcity can actually make sense. With only 1,100 copies pressed, this thing didn’t just sell, it evaporated. Copies were gone before half the line even made it through the door, and for good reason. This is the first time EV3 has ever hit vinyl, and the presentation is gorgeous. Heavyweight forest‑green wax, sharp packaging, and a remaster that finally gives the album the warmth and dimension the original CD never delivered. The harmonies are the real engine of En Vogue and they bloom on this pressing, layered and powerful without ever feeling compressed or crowded.
What makes this edition hit harder is how it reframes the album’s legacy. EV3 came out of chaos with Dawn Robinson’s departure. Not to mention shifting producers, a changing R&B landscape, yet, the music itself never buckled. The RSD cut highlights the group’s resilience. The vocals are airtight, the arrangements sleek, and the songwriting stronger than people remember. Tracks that once felt overshadowed by the drama now stand on their own legs. You hear a group evolving, experimenting, and refusing to let internal fractures define the work. This pressing doesn’t hide the tension; it reveals the artistry that pushed through it.
Back cover
Standout tracks: “Whatever” - “too Gone Too Far” - “Let It Flow”
4/5 packaging. Due to crap inner sleeves
5/5 Star Sweet Lou review…Brilliant!
And the real victory is how good the album sounds on vinyl. The low end is fuller, the midrange cleaner, and the big moments…the belted choruses, the stacked harmonies, the emotional peaks; they land with more impact than they ever did in 1997. Even the bonus tracks, especially the Japan‑only cuts, feel integrated rather than tacked on. This RSD edition isn’t just a collector’s piece it’s a reclamation. It reminds me that En Vogue weren’t just a ’90s girl group with hits; they were a vocal powerhouse operating at a level most acts couldn’t touch.
FALL OUT BOY - So Much For (2our) Dust
20,000 pressings
3 LP-White, Glitter, and season colors
$59 Vintage Mio Records
The RSD 2026 pressing of Fall Out Boy’s “So Much For (2our) Dust: Live at Madison Square Garden” is the rare modern live album that actually justifies its existence. With 20,000 copies pressed, this wasn’t some boutique, blink‑and‑you‑miss‑it drop either. It was a major release meant to get into the hands of real fans, and it still moved fast because the performance earns it. This is the straight, non‑deluxe edition with no bloated extras, no gimmicks, just the full MSG show pressed clean and sequenced tight. The mix is surprisingly warm for a contemporary arena recording, with Patrick Stump’s voice front‑and‑center and the band playing with the kind of urgency that only comes from stepping onto one of the most iconic stages in the world.
What makes this release land is how alive it feels. The MSG crowd is loud, emotional, and fully present without ever overwhelming the band. That’s a tough balance most modern live albums fail to strike. The guitars have weight, the drums crack with real physicality, and the choruses erupt in a way that feels earned, not engineered. This isn’t a nostalgia act coasting on mid‑2000’s goodwill; it’s a band that outgrew the punchline, outlasted the scene, and walked into Madison Square Garden like they belonged there. The RSD mastering gives the show a clarity and presence the streaming version never captured, making this the definitive document of the tour.
Back cover
Standout tracks: “Love From the Other Side”- “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race” - “Sugar, We’re Goin Down”
4/5 packaging. Should have been a printed booklet.
5/5 Star Sweet Lou review…Brilliant!
And the sequencing translates beautifully to vinyl. The pacing is sharp, the emotional arc is intact, and the setlist flows in a way that feels almost cinematic. You hear a band that’s older, sharper, and still swinging like they’ve got something to prove. This RSD edition isn’t about reinventing Fall Out Boy, nope, it’s about capturing them at full power. Just a band, a stage, a crowd, and a night that deserved to be pressed into wax.
And with 20,000 copies released, don’t kid yourself, not an easy find for the $59 at regular pricing.
Foreigner - “
Foreigner 4 Live Tour 1981-82”
2500 pressings
2 LP-old skool black vinyl
$33 Vintage Mio Records
The RSD 2026 pressing of Foreigner’s 4 Live Tour 1981–82 is the kind of release that hits you in the chest before the needle even drops. With only 2,500 copies pressed, this wasn’t just a collectible for me, it was a scramble, a must‑have, it was the must have, a “don’t you dare walk out of the store without it” moment. For me, it wass more than vinyl. It’s the sound of 1981, the soundtrack to my first date with my wife (October 23, 1981-Pittsburgh Civic Arena)…the music that was playing when the whole story started. The pressing itself is clean, loud, warm, and full of that early‑’80s arena‑rock electricity. Lou Gramm’s voice is a weapon, Mick Jones’ guitar tone is molten, and the whole band sounds like they’re playing with something to prove.
What makes this release so powerful is how alive the band is in this era. Foreigner in ’81 wasn’t a legacy act, they were a monster. Gramm is at his absolute peak, belting with a mix of soul and grit that nobody else in rock could touch. Mick Jones is in full command, ripping through riffs with swagger and precision. Even the synth‑heavy tracks from 4 feel rawer and more urgent in this live setting. With a peak soon comes the descent, as Foreigner would learn in a few short years.
Back cover
The review…a critic should never let emotion in the way of being unprejudiced. Good thing I’m not a professional…
5+ stars all around
The RSD mastering gives the whole show a clarity and punch that the old radio broadcasts and scattered bootlegs never captured. If you were there at the time, this is the band you remember; the band you saw and the band that defined a moment in your life. Not to mention, a lot of children were probably conceived to a song off this album
The sequencing on this edition is perfect. It plays like a real show , no filler, no dead air, just a band firing on all cylinders. “Juke Box Hero” hits like a meteor, “Urgent” is pure adrenaline with that unhinged sax solo, and “Waiting for a Girl Like You” lands with a tenderness that feels almost cinematic. The crowd is loud but never intrusive, the mix is balanced, and the whole thing feels like stepping back into 1981 for an hour. This isn’t just a live album, this is truly a time machine for me. And for me, it’s the one RSD release that wasn’t optional…it was destiny.
GRATEFUL DEAD - “Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA 6/11/76”
6100 Pressings
5 LP -black vinyl
$130 vintage mio records
The Grateful Dead’s, “Boston Music Hall, 6/11/76” box set feels like opening a time capsule from a band rediscovering itself in real time. ’76 Dead is all about patience, space, and that newly rebuilt post‑hiatus elegance, and this pressing captures it with a warmth that feels almost intimate. Jerry’s tone is buttery and unhurried, Phil is playful without overwhelming the mix, and the drummers are in that rare sweet spot where they’re driving the band without stepping on anyone. The whole show has this gentle, glowing confidence of a band easing back into the world, not trying to blow the doors off. The Dead are just playing with a kind of relaxed mastery that only comes from surviving the chaos of the early ’70s and choosing to breathe again.
Back of box set
Stand outs - “Crazy Fingers” - “Slipknot!” - “St. Stephen”
5/5 Packaging-for pricing between $100-150 it should be.
4.5 Stars Sweet Lou Review- Look a Dead show has to be seen and felt physically, but pretty damn spectacular
The presentation? Gorgeous, as usual with these RSD Dead Box Sets. The box cover looks like something you’d actually want displayed, not shoved on a shelf, and the booklet is one of those rare RSD inclusions that feels essential instead of obligatory. The 5‑LP spread gives the music room to breathe, and the pressing quality. While not flawless, it is strong enough to let the show’s warmth and nuance shine. Limited to 6,100 copies, it has that perfect balance of collectability and substance. It’s a release that feels premium without being pretentious, and a snapshot of the Dead in a moment of quiet, confident rebirth. If you’re a fan of the band’s more contemplative eras, this one hits like a slow sunrise.
