REISSUES
By Wilhelmina Steppenwolf
18 June 2012
18 June 2012
Copyright 2012, The Turntable Times
PRINCE in the CLOSET
When Burt "Chubby" MacInnis first unleashed his 27-minute opus, "Prince in the Closet" upon an unsuspecting public, he changed the course of musical history, as well as his own.
Known at the time for his catchy, albeit "safe" pop singles, MacInnis had tasted mild success with his albums, "Here Comes Chubby" and "Make Room for Chubby." But these records could not possibly prepare the world for the grandeur of "Prince in the Closet."
A sprawling, aural masterwork, "Prince in the Closet" was the first of its kind -- a "concept single." Over nearly a half-hour, MacInnis wove the musical tale of a confused young man, destined to struggle with physical and psychological hardships. The scope of the project was staggering. The density of the music was unheard of. And, as we all know by now, the result was so impressive, that the song was famously pressed on both sides of the record.
And now, in what is shaping up to be an epic year for MacInnis' band, the Little Blue Men, Heavy Minstrel Records is re-issuing "Prince in the Closet" in several deluxe formats:
Known at the time for his catchy, albeit "safe" pop singles, MacInnis had tasted mild success with his albums, "Here Comes Chubby" and "Make Room for Chubby." But these records could not possibly prepare the world for the grandeur of "Prince in the Closet."
A sprawling, aural masterwork, "Prince in the Closet" was the first of its kind -- a "concept single." Over nearly a half-hour, MacInnis wove the musical tale of a confused young man, destined to struggle with physical and psychological hardships. The scope of the project was staggering. The density of the music was unheard of. And, as we all know by now, the result was so impressive, that the song was famously pressed on both sides of the record.
And now, in what is shaping up to be an epic year for MacInnis' band, the Little Blue Men, Heavy Minstrel Records is re-issuing "Prince in the Closet" in several deluxe formats:
Burt MacInnis
DELUXE VINYL EDITION
180g audiophile quality 10" vinyl, two-disc set
Gatefold cover with original and new artwork
Newly re-mastered
Gatefold cover with original and new artwork
Newly re-mastered
While the original EP single was notably pressed on both sides of the same record, this deluxe re-issue offers TWO records, each with the song on both sides! That's right, you get:
Side A: "Prince in the Closet"
Side B: "Prince in the Closet"
Side C: "Prince in the Closet"
Side D: "Prince in the Closet"
Side B: "Prince in the Closet"
Side C: "Prince in the Closet"
Side D: "Prince in the Closet"
DELUXE 2CD/1DVD EDITION
Newly re-mastered, with original and new artwork
DVD includes "The Making of a Prince" documentary
DVD includes "The Making of a Prince" documentary
Again, each CD features the song twice, so that's nearly two hours of "Prince in the Closet" over two discs. And the behind-the-scenes doc is a must-watch for any die-hard Chubby fans. Long presumed lost, the footage is fascinating and offers a rare glimpse into the writing process of a true legend.
DIGITAL DOUBLE DOWNLOAD
320 Kbps download of the newly re-mastered track, available TWICE
Keeping pace with the digital revolution, Heavy Minstrel is offering high-quality downloads of "Prince," and keeping with tradition, they are making each download of the song available twice.
It's wonderful to see such an influential recording get a top-shelf re-issue. Heavy Minstrel has spared no expense with this release in making it extraordinarily special. Chances are, you already own "Prince in the Closet," but trust me -- you've never heard the tale of the dwarf quite like this! Pick it up today and thank me later!