BBC Radio this week

Click the links to hear these programs:

Suzi Quatro's Pioneers of Rock 
Suzi Quatro profiles acclaimed rock 'n' roll stars and unsung heroes.

The Brian Matthew Story
James Moir celebrates the Sony Award-winning Brian Matthew, a true icon of the airwaves.

Barry Letts - Who & Me 
The Doctor Who TV producer from 1969 to 1974 recounts his career.

The Goon Show 
Classic material from one of the all-time radio comedy greats.

The Michael Bentine Show 
Comedy programme with Goon Show-founder Michael Bentine.

The Price of Fear 
Horror and mystery series, hosted by Vincent Price.

The Scarifyers 
Author Professor Dunning and Inspector Lionheart team up to unravel spooky mysteries.

We Can Remember It for You Wholesale 
The story behind Total Recall by sci-fi master Philip K Dick.

6 Music Classic Concert 
Featuring The Kinks at London's Rainbow Theatre London in 1977.

The Jam: Made in Britain 
Jonathan Ross tells the story of The Jam with contributions from Paul Weller and others.

Pictures: Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer in Dark Shadows

Here's a look at Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins and Michelle Pfeiffer as Elizabeth Collins Stafford in the "Dark Shadows" movie, due out in May.

Top 5 Reissue Labels: Hip-O Select

Continuing our look at reissue record labels, here's Hip-O Select. Unlike some others on our list, this is actually a major in disguise, not a mom-and-pop outfit. But its catalog is pretty spectacular.

Created by the Universal Music Group, a big chunk of Hip-O's output includes reissues from the Motown catalog. You can't really go wrong with that. And Hip-O has shown itself to be a good curator and steward of all those great tunes in Barry Gordy's vault. The label's box sets collecting Motown singles, both familiar and obscure, including all the b-sides, are particularly impressive.

But that's not all Hip-O is up to. Other items under its banner include a reissue campaign focusing on the famed Chess blues label, also an embarrassment of riches. Then there are jazz reissues from the great Verve label, a series of boxes focusing on James Brown's singles output, a variety of rock and pop reissues (including a nice set of Buddy Holly's complete recordings) and much more.

In short, Universal has rights to a whole lot of great music and they're working to put it out in nice, great-sounding packages.

Hip-O releases are generally available online and in stores, and you can order them direct from the label's site. They even have a few items on vinyl.

Here's a look at some popular Hip-O releases. Click the links to order discounted items from Amazon.


Diana Ross 1976: Special Edition


Heart & Soul / A Retrospective by Etta James


Smokestack Lightning: Complete Chess Masters by Howlin' Wolf


Sweet Dreams: Her Complete Decca Masters 1960-1963 by Patsy Cline


Forever More: The Complete Motown Albums 2 by the Marvelettes



Mercury Albums Anthology by the Runaways


More Hits By the Supremes


Singles 11: 1979-1981 by James Brown


Solo Albums 6 by Smokey Robinson


Emitt Rhodes Recordings 1969-1973

Top 5 reissue labels: Sundazed Records

Starting off this new series in which we profile some of our favorite reissue record labels.

First up is Coxsackie, N.Y.-based Sundazed Records, started in 1989 by Bob and Mary Irwin.

As with other reissue labels we'll be mentioning, Sundazed's modus operandi is to reissue music that's slipped through the cracks -- the non-, almost and should've-been hits from multiple genres that still deserve a listen.

Unlike other reissue labels that focus on compilations, Sundazed tends to go the full-album routine, re-releasing entire LPs of overlooked artists such as the Knickerbockers, Shadows of Knight, Hank Garland, the Remains, Chad and Jeremy, Bruce and Terry and many more.
The label also has issued vinyl re-releases of classic albums by better-known artists such as Bob Dylan, the Byrds, the Animals and others, all in excellent-looking and -sounding packages.

Recent releases include albums by the Chocolate Watchband, Blue Cheer, Fever Tree, Mamas and Papas, Blue Project and Strawberry Alarm Clock. Sundazed also recently announced a series of Ventures reissues, both on CD and limited edition colored vinyl.

Along with vinyl of assorted sizes (including 10-inch), the Sundazed site offers turntables, CDs and even digital downloads. Check it out!

A sampling of popular Sundazed releases (click links to order discounted items from Amazon): 

 
Outsideinside by Blue Cheer


 Inner Mystique by the Chocolate Watchband



The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (180 gm Vinyl)



Walk Away Renée/Pretty Ballerina by the Left Banke



Roadmaster by Gene Clarke



Volume 2 by the Beau Brummels



The Meters



Incense & Peppermints by the Strawberry Alarm Clock



Raw Power [Vinyl] by Iggy and the Stooges



Oar by Skip Spence