Years ago, when SACD still held the promise of better music for audiophiles everywhere, there was a title planned for release. It never made it to market. The album was Rocks by Aerosmith, whose previous Toys In The Attic had been already been released in the revered format.

Not very long ago, it was reported that a music fan, while rummaging through the "used" bins at Amoeba Records (LA), found an "official" Columbia SACD version of the title that was never released. That's quite a find! What happened afterward is what would naturally occur after news of such a find breaks. Fans began to hunt for others copies. If one copy is found, abandoned no less, than there must be others. To date, the first find remains the only find.

More recently, this SACD of Rocks was put up for sale on Ebay for (what I remember) $12,000+. Soon, the reality of no takers set in and the price was lowered to $8,000, eventually re-auctioned with a winning bid of $1,526. I haven't checked since but this indicates one very clear fact. Not only was this title remixed to SACD, it was manufactured.

I now have to ask. If a copy of the only known Rocks SACD to be found "in the wild" is that sought after, why doesn't Columbia Records do the right thing and release it? It'd sell out in a heartbeat. In fact, it's now one of those rare things that you know will sell before you bring it market.

Columbia Records, this is a plea on behalf of myself and every other Rocks fan, and mournful aficionado of SACD, please do the right thing and special release this disc. It's finished. It's ready. I'll buy it, I promise. If you don't wish to release it yourself, then license it out to Mo-Fi or someone who'll deliver a fine product. We'd greatly appreciate this act of good will.

This also brings me to another realization. How many finished titles are there that have never been released? I know that Fifth Dimension by The Byrds have not been released although slated at one time. There has to be more. Why not deliver the finished products and make many SACD fans happy. I'm not asking for a resurgence of new SACD titles...just the release of the ones that are already finished product. And yes, stereo works fine for me.

In a time of uncertainty, SACD titles like Rocks would be highly welcomed!

Lindsay Planer comes back with a new As The Disc Spins. In his new edition, he reviews the Complete Miles Davis Columbia Albums, as well as the Rhino Handmade Box for The Monkees called The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees. Also, he adds in the Love Me Hate Me EP by Rekless Youth.

I throw in with my review of the On Stage 2CD Elvis Presley set from RCA Records, which is still celebrating the 75th Birthdate of Elvis.

Have a great weekend!

I want to alert TAP readers to the fact that I have finally put together a FaceBook page with an easily remembered URL in http://www.facebook.com/musictap.  What this offers is the exact same thing as my Twitter feeds provide and that is first buzz on upcoming releases and free offered downloads, many announcements  that beat our main post, sometimes by days.  We also provide a Google BUZZ page that expands on most of the Twitter/FB feeds. On Buzz, you can even hear the music stream if a stream is offered.  There are still things that I'm working on in the FB page, like calender notes as well as links to great sites like The Second Disc.  I invite you to join us at our FB page and bookmark it.  Visit it daily and you'll be rewarded with much news and info.  Of course, you'll still want to come to the main MusicTAP page for our noisy commentaries.  Remember, with our Twitter feeds, you can elect to receive the news bursts as text on your mobile phone keeping you effortlessly up to date with stuff.  Lots of choices.  Find one, or two, that fits.

Business is slow as long as SxSW is full swing. In case you're unaware, SxSW (South by SouthWest) is an annual film/music showcase event held in Austin, TX. It gets quite busy there and PR, labels, and other 'necessary to TAP' contacts are lost within the confines of that wilderness.

Eagle Rock Entertainment has acquired the rights to release two Rolling Stones titles on DVD. The first is one that is expected in June, coinciding with the release of the Anniversary Edition of Exile On Main Street, Stones In Exile. Stones in Exile chronicles the recording process of that classic album and should be a wonderful companion to the new release of the album. The second is Ladies and Gentlemen...The Rolling Stones, a full concert from the 1972, Mick Taylor era of The Stones. This film is expected to be released theatrically and after, to be released as a DVD and BD (Blu-ray). That title is expected in the Fall of this year. We'll have the actual dates as we get closer.

Fat Possum Records will be re-releasing the 2006 album by Heartless Bastards, All This Time, in vinyl LP. This release is expected on April 27. This band is superb! All three albums! You should check them out.

Sarah McLachlan has announced that her new album, The Laws of Illusion, will be released on June 15.

One of our favorite sites, Pause and Play, has listed that the upcoming 3CD Disintegration '25th Anniversary Edition' by The Cure will be delayed until May 25.

Mercury Records plan a DD (digital download) of Fool's Parade by Peter Wolf on April 6.

Columbia Records and Legacy Vinyl will release an LP version of Child Is Father To The Man from Blood, Sweat & Tears on April 13 on 180g vinyl. Also being released on 180g vinyl are Head Hunters (Herbie Hancock), At Budokan (Cheap Trick), Social Distortion (Social Distortion), Remixed & Reimagined (Billie Holiday), and Passion and Warfare (Steve Vai).

Reprise Records will approach Record Store Day with their own vinyl LP offering with the re-release of Money and Cigarettes by Eric Clapton. Slated for April 27. Hey guys, what about No Reason to Cry?

The upcoming Meat Loaf album, Hang Cool Teddy Bear, will join their standard CD issue of the title with a 2CD Special Edition. Both are scheduled for May 11.