ole Label Group announced today, September 29, 2017 will see the release of the definitive 8-disc vinyl and CD box sets, for Canadian hard rock icons Max Webster. The Party (ole Label Group / Anthem Legacy / Universal Music Canada), will feature newly re-mastered albums, exclusive unreleased studio and live songs, the long-out-of print Kim Mitchell self-titled EP and a comprehensive booklet packed with rare photos and memorabilia.
“I’ve been trying since the day I was first hired at Anthem Records over 12 years ago to re release the Max Webster catalogue and the Kim Mitchell EP. Finally seeing this happen is a thrill,” said Andy Curran, Senior Consultant – A&R, ole Label Group.”There is no other band like them, I’m a massive fan and Kim has been a huge influence on me and so many Canadian musicians…it’s about time!”
“The re-mastered records beautifully present more musical detail for your ears to chew on, as well we unearthed and mixed never heard before songs. You’ll hear different musical approaches/arrangements as we worked it out in the studio and live,” said Kim Mitchell. “We’ve included the warm sound of quality vinyl in the package. I kept thinking ‘where has some of this been for all these years’, we carefully picked moments for the box set where the band proved it was definitely strapped to a foreign rock ‘n’ roll.”
The complete Max Webster vinyl box set includes a thirty-two page booklet, filled with rare photos, quotes and memorabilia, a vintage Max Webster poster, a Universal Juveniles fan club ID card and an introductory foreword by Q107’s John Derringer. The vinyl and CD box sets include the newly re-mastered albums Max Webster, High Class in Borrowed Shoes, Mutiny Up My Sleeve, A Million Vacations, Live Magnetic Air, Universal Juveniles, Kim Mitchell EP and special edition The Bootleg which features unreleased studio and live tracks remixed by Terry Brown and Greg Wells.
Formed in 1973, Max Webster soon became one of the most original and popular rock bands in Canada. Their first three albums, Max Webster (1976), High Class in Borrowed Shoes (1977) and Mutiny Up My Sleeve (1978) achieved gold status in Canada. Their platinum selling album A Million Vacations (1979) saw the first single “Let Go The Line” reach No. 41 on the Canadian charts and the follow up “A Million Vacations” hit No. 80 in Canada. The album’s third and final single “Paradise Skies” reached No. 21 in Canada and No. 43 on the UK Singles chart. The band appeared on “Top of the Pops” in 1979 and headlined two New Year’s Eve shows at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens. Max Webster were also close friends of fellow Canadian rock icons Rush. In a 1979 interview, Rush bassist and vocalist Geddy Lee, commented that he enjoyed their music and both bands frequently toured together in Canada, the USA and the U.K. during the 1970s. The band went on to be twice nominated for JUNO Awards for ‘Group of the Year’ in 1980 and 1981 respectively.
Listen to The Bootleg 4 Song Unreleased Teaser below
