RSD 2026: ALBUMS IN REVIEW pt. 3 (j-m)
OH, HELL YEAH!
The Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, “Live at the Ritz NYC 1981” RSD 2026 release (limited to 4,500 copies) is one of those archival drops that instantly reminds you why early‑’80s Joan was a force of nature. The performance is pure ignitio, sharp, fast, loud, and completely unvarnished. You can hear the room and that gritty, pre‑corporate New York energy. And you can hear a band that’s hungry, tight, and absolutely convinced they’re about to take over the world. Joan’s voice has that perfect serrated edge, the guitars slice instead of shimmer that makes the whole set barrel forward. This has the kind of urgency that only happens when a band is still fighting for its place. As a document of her early live power, it’s top‑tier; a perfect snapshot of an artist who didn’t just play rock ’n’ roll, she embodied it.
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts - “Live at the Ritz NYC 1981”
4500 Pressings
1 LP - “BLACK” vinyl
$28 VINTAGE MIO RECORDS
But the packaging… that’s where this release stumbles hard. For a show this historically charged, the presentation feels shockingly cheap. The sleeve is flimsy enough to warp just by looking at it. And the artwork, both the cover and “ticket” artwork are blurred, muddy, and not in any intentional punk‑aesthetic way either. They look like a low‑resolution scans someone printed five minutes before deadline. It’s a frustrating mismatch; the music is explosive, alive, and absolutely worth the release, while the physical presentation feels like an afterthought. This could have been a complete celebration of a pivotal moment in Joan Jett’s rise. I get it, you don’t spin the cover or silly and odd ticket, but come one. We still however have a killer live album wrapped in packaging that doesn’t come close to honoring the fire inside.
Back cover
Standout tracks - “Bad Reputation” - “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)” - “You Drive Me Wild”
0.0-Packaging. That’s “zero point zero”
5 Star Sweet Lou Review- The Blackhearts RAW POWER!
But the packaging… that’s where this release stumbles hard. For a show this historically charged, the presentation feels shockingly cheap. The sleeve is flimsy enough to warp just by looking at it. And the artwork, both the cover and “ticket” artwork are blurred, muddy, and not in any intentional punk‑aesthetic way either. They look like a low‑resolution scans someone printed five minutes before deadline. It’s a frustrating mismatch; the music is explosive, alive, and absolutely worth the release, while the physical presentation feels like an afterthought. This could have been a complete celebration of a pivotal moment in Joan Jett’s rise. I get it, you don’t spin the cover or silly and odd ticket, but come one. We still however have a killer live album wrapped in packaging that doesn’t come close to honoring the fire inside.
Judas Priest -”
Live in Los Angeles '90”
4900 Pressings
1 LP-Purple vinyl
$28 VINTAGE MIO RECORDS
The pressing itself is strong, with a clean, punchy soundstage that does justice to the band’s sheer force. the tracklist plays like a victory lap through their classic catalog. What elevates this release is how alive it feels. It’s not a sterile board tape, but a show with sweat, grit, and volume baked into every groove. The packaging is solid if not extravagant by any means. Has that 80's/90’s Priest vibe leaning more on authenticity than flash, which, duh, fits the era and the performance. For fans who lived through this period or collectors who want a snapshot of Priest at their most confident and combustible, this RSD edition is a worthy addition. It’s a reminder that in 1990, Judas Priest weren’t just surviving the changing metal landscape, they were still bending it to their will.
Back cover-insert is true Priest of the times.
Standout tracks - “Electric Eye” - “Metal Gods” - “Painkiller”
3/5 Packaging-basic
4.5 Star Sweet Lou Review
The Ma Rainey – “Black Bottom” (RSD 2026) release is one of those rare Record Store Day titles that feels less like a reissue and more like a reclamation. Pressed with care and presented with a reverence she’s owed, this edition brings Ma Rainey’s thunderous, swaggering blues into the modern vinyl landscape without sanding down a single edge. This was one of THE “must have” albums that I wanted and Lord is it amazing. The recordings still crackle with the force of a performer who didn’t just influence the blues, hell no. She invented the emotional vocabulary that later powered rock ’n’ roll. Her voice is huge, commanding, and unbothered by the limitations of early recording technology. She barrels right through the grooves with the confidence of someone who knew she was changing the game. It’s a vivid reminder that Ma Rainey wasn’t just a foundational figure, she was a rock star decades before the word existed
Ma Rainey’s- “Black Bottom”
1500 individualy numbered pressing (420/1500)
1 LP-Black Bottom vinyl
$28 VINTAGE MIO RECORDS
This RSD pressing also underscores her long‑overlooked influence on artists far beyond the blues world, including Elvis Presley. Elvis absorbed the phrasing, attitude, and emotional extremity of singers like Rainey long before he ever stepped into Sun Studio. Hearing Black Bottom in this restored form makes that lineage unmistakable. All the grit, the theatricality, the rhythmic looseness, the sense that the singer is performing from the gut rather than the throat. The packaging is clean and respectful, the mastering is warm without being overly modernized, and the whole release feels like a long‑overdue spotlight on a woman whose impact is still echoing through American music. For collectors and historians alike, this is one of the most meaningful RSD blues titles in years. It’s a reminder that Ma Rainey didn’t just open the door for rock ’n’ roll, she kicked that bitch off its hinges.
Back cover-sweet liner notes
Standout tracks - “Black Bottom”- ”Moonshine Blues”-“Shave ’Em Dry Blues”- this whole damn album is a ONE HUNDRED YEAR OLD BANGER!
5/5 Packaging
5 Star Sweet Lou Review
The RSD 2026 pressing of Madonna’s “The Confessions Tour – Live From London” should have been a victory lap. It should have been a celebration of one of her most acclaimed tours, a dance‑floor cathedral of a show that defined her mid‑2000s resurgence. Instead, the release stumbles right out of the gate with a baffling rearrangement of the setlist that strips the performance of its original narrative arc. The Confessions Tour was designed as a seamless, DJ‑driven journey with emotional peaks, club‑floor drops, and theatrical transitions that told a story. By shuffling the order, this vinyl turns a meticulously crafted show into something that feels more like a playlist. Collectors and longtime fans agree; the momentum is broken, the flow is gone, and the magic of the original staging doesn’t survive the re-sequencing.
Madonna “The Confessions Tour Live”
5700 pressings
2 LP-tarburst Pink/Purple Splatter vinyl
$45 VINTAGE MIO RECORDS
The sound doesn’t fare much better. Rather than delivering the explosive, bass‑heavy, high‑gloss energy that made the 2006 tour such a sensory overload, this pressing feels compressed and oddly flat. It’s as if it was mastered from a secondary source rather than the pristine mixes fans expected. The crowd is pushed too far back, the dynamics are muted, and the whole thing lacks the punch and shimmer that defined the original audio release. Across forums and collector circles, the verdict is the same… “this RSD edition feels like a missed opportunity. The release that should have been a showpiece but instead lands as one of the year’s biggest letdowns. For a tour built on precision, spectacle, and sonic power, this vinyl doesn’t come close to honoring the legacy. Truly disappointed.
Back cover
Standout tracks-“Future Lovers / I Feel Love”-“Hung Up”-“Music Inferno”
3/5 Packaging-should have been a little more “Madge”
2 Star Sweet Lou Review
The RSD 2026 pressing of Mama Cass’s “Dream a Little Dream” arrives with the kind of anticipation that only a truly beloved voice can generate, and thankfully, this limited run largely delivers on the promise. Cass Elliot’s debut solo album has always been a warm, technicolor burst of late‑’60s pop‑soul, and this edition brings that charm forward with a clarity and intimacy that flatters her unmistakable tone. The mastering leans warm and full, giving her vocals a velvety presence that sits beautifully atop the orchestral arrangements and folk‑pop textures. For an album that thrives on personality and emotional nuance, the vinyl treatment feels respectful and lovingly handled. The packaging is clean and era‑appropriate, and while not overly elaborate, it captures the spirit of the original release without cutting corners.
Mama Cass - “Dream a Little Dream (Expanded Edition)
1500 Pressings
1 LP- Opaque Violet vinyl
$35 VINTAGE MIO RECORDS
Where this RSD edition shines most is in how it reminds listeners, i.e., me, of Cass’s singular ability to make a song feel both effortless and deeply felt. Tracks like the title cut and “California Earthquake” benefit from the improved warmth and separation, revealing layers that often get lost in digital versions. Some collectors have noted that the pressing isn’t quite as explosive or audiophile‑grade as they hoped, a fair, but inaccurate critique, at least t me, given the limited run and the expectations surrounding such a cherished album. The consensus however is that it’s a strong, faithful, and emotionally resonant reissue. For fans who’ve waited years for a proper vinyl revival of Dream a Little Dream, this RSD release feels like a small treasure…it’s intimate, lovingly assembled, and a reminder of just how irreplaceable Mama Cass truly was.
Back cover
Standout tracks-”Dream a Little Dream”-“Blues for Breakfast”-“Talkin’ to Your Toothbrush”
3/5 packaging-A nice audiophile sleeve would have been great
5 Star Sweet Lou Review
The RSD 2026 edition of Megadeth’s “Hidden Treasures” is the rare archival release that feels both historically important and genuinely fun. Originally a CD‑era oddity collecting soundtrack cuts, covers, and stray singles, this new 12‑track vinyl version finally gives the material a proper home and the remastering does real work. The guitars hit harder, the low‑end has more definition, and Mustaine’s vocals sit cleaner in the mix without losing that snarling mid‑’90s bite. The four Japan‑exclusive tracks fold in seamlessly, turning what was once a short, uneven EP into a surprisingly cohesive snapshot of Megadeth at their most technically sharp and creatively restless. The alternate cover art is a nice touch too. It’s not gimmicky, but a genuine upgrade that makes the LP feel like a real release rather than a compilation afterthought.
Megadeth-”Hidden Treasures”
6500 Pressings
1 LP-Purple & Black Marbled vinyl
$27 VINTAGE MIO RECORDS
What makes this pressing shine is how well the material translates to vinyl. Tracks like “Go to Hell,” “Angry Again,” and “99 Ways to Die” finally get the analog punch they always deserved. The soundtrack cuts that are often buried in their original contexts, feel revitalized here. Even the covers and demos benefit from the warmth and separation of the remaster, giving the whole album a sense of purpose it never quite had before. Some collectors have noted that the pressing isn’t as explosively dynamic as Megadeth’s classic studio albums, but that’s more a reflection of the source material than the RSD treatment. As a whole, this release succeeds in turning Hidden Treasures into something more than a footnote. This is a fully realized, high‑energy, surprisingly essential piece of Megadeth history, finally given the spotlight it deserves. Pressed on a sharp‑looking, color‑vinyl 1LP, that even I appreciate
Back cover
Standout tracks- “Angry Again”-“99 Ways to Die”-“Go to Hell”
4/5 Packaging-again, a protective inner sleeve would be great, but, great liner notes.
5 Star Sweet Lou Review-For a compilation, it’s a true “BANGER”
The RSD 2026 edition of Michael Schenker Group’s “Best Of Live MSG: 1980–1984” is a tightly assembled, career‑defining snapshot of Schenker’s most explosive era; the years when he was playing with a level of precision, melody, and sheer attack that few guitarists on the planet could match. This 1 LP Pressing pulls from multiple tours and lineups, but the sequencing is smart enough that it feels cohesive rather than patchwork. The remastering gives the guitars a sharper edge and more midrange bite, while the rhythm section finally gets the low‑end presence that many early bootlegs and radio broadcasts lacked. Vocals vary slightly from track to track; a natural consequence of spanning four years. the overall sound is surprisingly consistent and energetic. The alternate cover art is a welcome touch, giving the release its own identity rather than leaning on recycled imagery.
Michael Schenker Group “
Best Of Live MSG – 1980 – 1984”
2000 Pressings
1 LP-Blue & Red Splatter vinyl
$30 VINTAGE MIO RECORD
What makes this compilation work is how well it captures Schenker’s live persona; fluid, aggressive, melodic, and absolutely locked‑in. The performances chosen here highlight the full spectrum of his strengths…the UFO‑era carryovers, the MSG staples, the extended solo showcases, and the tight, riff‑driven anthems that defined the band’s early years. While some buyers (me included) wished for a 2LP treatment to avoid the inevitable. As in the compression of squeezing a “best of” era onto a single disc, however, the consensus is that this RSD edition is a strong, well‑curated tribute to Schenker’s peak. It’s a release that feels both archival and alive, giving longtime fans a clean, powerful document of one of hard rock’s most technically gifted and criminally underrated guitar heroes.
Back cover
Standout tracks-"Armed And Ready"-"Doctor, Doctor”-"Cry For The Nations"
3/5 Packaging-Just average
4 Star Sweet Lou Review
The RSD 2026 pressing of Motörhead’s “The Lost Tapes, Vol. 7” captures Lemmy’s infamous 50th birthday show. The night he walked onstage dressed as a Nazi officer, the night Slash and other friends dropped in, the night the Whisky a Go Go practically shook itself off its foundations. This release is raw in the best possible way. It’s a warts moles-and‑all soundboard recording that preserves the chaos, the volume, and the absolute lack of pretense that defined Motörhead’s mid‑’90s live presence. The remastering doesn’t sterilize anything, it just gives the guitars a little more bite, and the bass a little more definition. Lemmy’s vocals are given enough clarity to cut through the wall of noise without losing that sandpaper snarl. The color vinyl pressing is surprisingly clean, and the packaging leans into the moment’s mythology without feeling gimmicky.
Motörhead - “The Lost Tapes, Vol.7”
3000 Pressings
2 LP-”Crystal” clear vinyl
$35 Discogs
What makes this release stand out is how alive it feels. This isn’t a polished live album…it’s a time capsule of a band that thrived on volume, danger, and spontaneity. The setlist leans heavy on the classics, and the performances are fast, sloppy in the right ways, and full of that Lemmy‑driven momentum that never let up for a second. Fans and collectors have praised this volume as one of the strongest entries in the Lost Tapes series, both for the historical significance of the show and for the sheer energy captured in the recording. It’s not audiophile Motörhead, who wants that? This is the real Motörhead, loud and unapologetic, exactly as Lemmy would’ve wanted it.
Back cover
Standout tracks-”Overkill”-”Killed by Death”-”No Class”
5/5 Packaging-solid
5 Star Sweet Lou Review
