ARCHIE'S ALBUM COVER GALLERY: THE LEGACY ERA, Part THREE
THE LEGACY ERA
ARCHIE'S ALBUM COVER GALLERY
Part Three
In early 2027, The Archies will begin recording again after a hiatus of twelve years. From then until the year 2033 when they officially disband, they will complete over 250 masters: Brand new studio tracks, live tracks and overdubs of older material. The years 2029 to 2033 will be the most productive period of their entire career, as well as the most lucrative and critically-acclaimed. Part Three of THE LEGACY ERA goes forward to the past, tracking the group's catalog of vintage recordings into the late 22nd century. During this period, The Walt Disney Company assumes control of both Vox Sound + Image and Discos Fuentes, consolidating 90% of the Archies' music catalogue. One-hundred years of Rock 'n' Roll is documented here!
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Produced by JEFF BARRY
Recorded @ Studio RKO/Sonix in Paris
Discos Fuentes, 2090
(South America only)
An expanded, 100th anniversary version of an Archies EP originally released on the Kirshner label in the year 1990.
SOUL DEEP
Vox Sound + Image, 2091
The success of this two-record set will interest The Walt Disney Company in acquiring the Archie Records catalogue.
THE CALENDAR RECORDS EP COLLECTION
box set
Vox Sound + Image, 2092
A box set of Kirshner-era Archies EPs originally marketed in Europe on the Vogue label.
FILET OF SOUL
Produced by BARCLAY SINGH
Recorded @ Han River in Seoul
Vox Sound + Image, 2094
The first vinyl release of a live-in-concert album recorded in South Korea, originally marketed in 2014 as a music download.
ARCHIE AROUND THE WORLD
Vox Sound + Image, 2096
A collection of Archie Records masters recorded in various languages. It expands on the concept realized so successfully in 2037 with GRANDES ÉXITOS LATINOS.
THE AUSTRALIAN SINGLES COLLECTION box set
Vox Sound + Image, 2097
Highly collectable Australian pressings of Archies singles, featuring mixes that differ from those released in North America. Australia was the only country in the world that regularly marketed Archies singles on vinyl after the turn of the 21st century.
HEAVEN HELP THE NON-BELIEVER
Produced by THE ARCHIES
Recorded @ Sun Studio + Ardent Studios
in Memphis
Vox/Philles, 2098
(Asia only)
The first un-remixed release of tracks recorded for a never-completed 2005 Country music album. Remixed versions were previously released as downloads in 2045. Greeted by a deluge of rave reviews, HEAVEN HELP THE NON-BELIEVER becomes the follow-up chartbuster to PLAIN AND SIMPLE that Vox will have been waiting for.
ARCHIE IN NEW ORLEANS
Recorded @ Spanish Eddie's Bar + Grill
in New Orleans
Vox Sound + Image, 2099
A collection of Archie Records masters recorded at Spanish Eddie's Bar + Grill in New Orleans, all engineered by Veronica's favorite sound man, Eddie Roxchild.
ONLY IN AMERICA box set
Vox/USO, 2105
A superb overview of the Archie Records era, compiled by deejay and former soldier Don Señorito Cartoon. Manufactured for sale on military bases, ONLY IN AMERICA will not be released to the general public.
ARCHIE'S EXTENDED PLAY COLLECTION box set,
Vol II
Vox Sound + Image, 2107
This is actually Volume III, since it will have been preceded by two EP compilations. However, the most recent one covered the Kirshner Records era only. The first one from 2086 documented the group's most popular extended-play releases on the Archie label. This follow-up rounds up the rest of them, some of which are coveted rarities.
ARCHIE ON BROADWAY
Vox Sound + Image, 2111
A new Archies hits compilation generated by the success of "Archie On Broadway", a previously-unreleased song that will top the dance music charts.
ABBA-NORMALITY
Produced by THE ARCHIES
Recorded @ Hansa Tonstudio in Berlin
Vox/Polar, 2114
Belated release of The Archies' legendary German sessions covering the hits of ABBA. The ABBA organization will have legally blocked its distribution for decades! Now it reaps a royalty bonanza as the tribute album spins off half a dozen smash hit singles. ABBA-NORMALITY will be 2114's Catalogue Album of the Year!
HOT, SWEET + LIVE! box set
Vols I, II + III
Vox Sound + Image, 2114
Reissue of 2005's HOT, SWEET + LIVE!, the first live-in-concert Archies album ever marketed. Naturally, the package includes bonus live tracks (augmented by unique sound mixes found on a 2004 double-EP that preceded the LP) as well as two previously-unissued concerts! Rolling Stone will point to this box set as "proof that The Archies were one of Rock 'n' Roll's most exciting bands to see and hear on stage."
ARCHIE'S ALBUM BOX
Vox Sound + Image, 2115
Nearly the group's entire domestic album catalog on Archie Records, collected for the first time! However, certain essential LPs are missing: ARCHIE @ THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL and FILET OF SEOUL, which were issued in South America and Asia, respectively, and the compilation GREATEST HITS OF ALL-TIME.
THE FUENTES SINGLES COLLECTION box set
Coda/Fuentes, 2116
Beautiful vinyl pressings of Archies singles issued "south of the border" on the Fuentes label. This box set will be a rare worldwide Discos Fuentes release.
TITTY TWISTER
Discos Fuentes, 2117
(South America only)
The chart-topping posthumous Archies single "Titty Twister" prompts the release of no less than three new compilations. This one is aimed at the group's Spanish-speaking fan base, even though all the selections are in English.
REPREHENSIBLE
Vox Sound + Image, 2117
(Europe + Asia only)
For decades, Vox and Discos Fuentes will have been in the habit of mutually ceding territory. The same LP is typically marketed on both labels, with Vox covering Europe, Australia and Asia and Fuentes handling the Americas and Africa. However, to promote "Titty Twister" the labels commission two completely different albums - a sign of turmoil behind the scenes. Indeed, these releases signal the end of their longstanding "sister label" relationship! The balance of selections on both releases are demo tapes recorded by individual group members.
ARCHIE XXI
Vox Sound + Image, 2117
A worldwide release celebrating 21 international chart-topping singles, including "Titty Twister".
ARCHIE @ ABBEY ROAD
Recorded @ Abbey Road Studios in London
Discos Fuentes, 2118
Having a relationship with The Archies that goes back to 2005, Discos Fuentes has knowledge about their catalogue that Vox Sound + Image can't hope to match. Going forward, Fuentes will use that depth of knowledge to become the dominant Archies reissue label. Here they present the complete Archie Records sessions captured at the most famous recording studio in the world! ARCHIE @ ABBEY ROAD will be a Grammy-award-winning Catalogue album.
MOVE IT!
Vox Sound + Image, 2120
Although recorded in 2010, The Archies' double-length EP tribute to Sir Cliff Richard won't be released until the year 2115! The success of that package justifies Vox expanding its theme to encompass an album five years later. Unfortunately, MOVE IT the album won't be the big seller that Vox hopes for.
ARCHIE + HIS NEW PALS
ORIGINAL TELEVISION SOUNDTRACK
Produced by RON DANTE
Recorded @ The Capitol Tower in Hollywood
Coda/Vox Sound + Image, 2120
In the Summer of 2020, Vox will début the never-before-issued 1989 soundtrack to the very first Archies TV special, which combined animation with live-action footage. The only way to hear these songs previously will have been to track down a rare Italian album by The Eighth Day which was released concurrently. A coveted release like this one is sure to be profitable unless profits get diverted toward defending against a lawsuit! That's what Vox has to do for having dared to include the Coda logo - a Fuentes trademark - on packaging for ARCHIE + HIS NEW PALS. The marriage between the two imprints is definitely over!
THE REPUBLIC YEARS box set
Discos Fuentes, 2121
The Archies abandoned the Archie label in late 2014, leaving a contract unfulfilled. After much litigation with new label owner Jason Blossom, the group reached a settlement in which they were required to deliver eight compilations and/or new studio albums. Released between 2030 and 2035, all of those contract albums are collected here. Ironically, this box set hits the market just as Vox hits Fuentes with a counter-lawsuit seeking to wrest full control of the Archies catalogue away from them!
SAY GOODBYE TO RIVERDALE
box set
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK RECORDING
Discos Fuentes, 2121
Two different mixes were made of live recordings from The Archies' 2032 Farewell World Tour. One mix was issued as the album ¡ADIÓS AMIGOS! in 2033. The other mix was heard in the documentary SAY GOODBYE TO RIVERDALE from the same year. Considered by fans to be the superior one, it has gone unreleased until now. The lavish box design will win a Grammy award but amid ongoing litigation, the soundtrack fails to turn a profit for either Vox or Discos Fuentes - both companies claim ownership of the material, and by court order, both labels appear on the packaging. However, when the Vox's lawsuit against Fuentes gets thrown out of court, their battle for control of the Archie catalogue is essentially lost.
THE FUENTES ALBUMS box set
Discos Fuentes, 2125
In 2124, Buena Vista Media acquires Vox Sound + Image and retires its imprint. Simultaneously, the Disney subsidiary negotiates the right to distribute Discos Fuentes product worldwide. Where Vox failed to secure undisputed ownership of the Archie catalogue, the mighty Walt Disney Conpany will succeed - but it takes several decades for that to happen. This box set will be the first Archies release both manufactured and distributed by Buena Vista/Disney. It includes every Archie Records album released since 2005, when Fuentes began distributing the label in South America. Despite its success, Fuentes will step aside and let Disney A + R people handle the Archie catalogue for a few years. Those albums are documented in a Pop Culture Cantina feature called THE BUENA VISTA ERA.
ARCHIE LOVES LAURA
OLGUITA + REGINALD w/THE ARCHIES
Recorded @ Iglesia Madre de Dios in Durazno
Coda/Fuentes, 2143
In the 2040s, Discos Fuentes staff begins supervising the Archie catalog again, and they unearth a real collector's item. Back in 2060, Discos Fuentes and Vox Sound + Image will have had a legal skirmish over the right to release FURY IN MY SOUL. It was the soundtrack of The Archies' televised tribute to songwriter Laura Nyro. This related recording features demo vocals for the TV special sung by former Archies member Reggie "Gino" Mantle and his wife Olga San Quentín. The Archies are only heard as backing musicians. Most music critics and many fans will declare these demo versions of Nyro songs superior to those that were telecast. Subsequently, the album FURY IN MY SOUL will go the way of the defunct Vox label, and this gem of a platter will take its place in the catalogue.
FAREWELL!!!
ORIGINAL TELEVISION SOUNDTRACK
Produced by FOX PRINTEMPS
Recorded @ Holy Family Catholic Church on Staten Island
Discos Fuentes, 2144
A document of The Archies' final television appearance, on an edition of the long-running "MTV Unplugged" series in early 2033. These recordings were never intended for commercial release and are only of interest to diehard Archies fans.
ARCHIE IN THE THIRTIES box set
THE FUENTES SESSIONS sampler
Coda/Fuentes, 2145
Consumer interest in The Archies will spike following the successful release of ARCHIE LOVES LAURA. Ignoring market trends, the Fuentes label follows up with the FAREWELL!!! soundtrack and a new box set that collects every master that the group cut for them between 2031 and 2033. Simultaneously, a generous two-record sampler is marketed. Fans are spoiled for choice, but many opt to choose none of the above!
WHOLE WORLD SHAKIN'
THE ARCHIES @ FALCON STUDIOS
Produced by ROD MACK
Recorded @ Falcon Studios in El Paso
Coda/Fuentes, 2145
Among the masters included on ARCHIE IN THE THIRTIES is the legendary unreleased live-in-studio album WHOLE WORLD SHAKIN'. Chronologically, it's The Archies' last full album recording. Historic interest is such that Fuentes decides to issue it as a stand-alone album along with the box set and the box set sampler! It's a gamble that backfires - the market is saturated, and even while critical plaudits rain down, sales for all three releases are dismal. A whole decade will pass before Fuentes reactivates the catalogue.
SUGAR + SPICE:
SONGS BY DANTE + WINE
Coda/Fuentes, 2159
As of January 2157, the Walt Disney Company will have taken full control of Discos Fuentes. This two-record set that combines the GET IT ON TODAY and HEAVEN HELP THE NON-BELIEVER albums is the first Archies release under the new régime.
SMOKE STACK
Recorded live @ The Apollo Theater
in New York City
bootleg, 2158
Buena Vista Media will have to contend with LP pirates, just as the Republic and Vox labels did in their day. A thriving Archies bootleg business will have existed at least 50 years before Disney's acquisition of Discos Fuentes. The most popular Archies boots are live recordings, and of those the most famous is SMOKE STACK, a rip-off of the group's appearances at the Apollo Theater's 1990 Motown Festival. Although they performed a variety of Motown tunes, this LP zeroes in on the Smokey Robinson songs that were Veronica's favorites. Even with the official release of those shows in THE KIRSHNER ALBUM COLLECTION, this under-the-counter platter will remain popular. Rumors persist that it was the work of one of Chicago's most famous deejays - but we're not naming names! Roughly every decade, a fresh pressing of SMOKE STACK pops up! The 2158 edition is shown here.
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25 GREATEST HITS!
Coda/Fuentes, 2160
SUGAR + SPICE pulls decent sales, so Buena Vista greenlights a new Archies compilation - and for the first time, a compilation producer is smart enough to mix hits by the original group with those of their successors, sometimes called The New Archies. As a hits package, 25 GREATEST HITS is superior to its thematic predecessor ARCHIE-MANIA! and fans show their appreciation by giving Disney a tidy profit to log in their ledgers.
Coda/Fuentes, 2163
So many Archies favorites will have been left off of 25 GREATEST HITS, a follow-up compilation is only logical - but Disney makes the fans wait three years for it!
STAGE DOOR box set
Coda/Fuentes, 2164
The Archies were known as one of Rock 'n' Roll's best live bands, so there's constant fan interest in their concert recordings. To satisfy that demand, Buena Vista Media compiles two limited-edition box sets aimed squarely at the live performance connoisseur. Destined to bag a Grammy nomination, STAGE DOOR is the first one; the package gathers together a dozen of the band's best-known concert LPs.
F*CKING AWESOME ARCHIES!
box set
Produced by NICHOLAS FREUND
Recorded live @ The Awesome Venue in Riverdale
Coda/Fuentes, 2164
For the less moneyed collector, Buena Vista Media markets F*CKING AWESOME ARCHIES, a collection of live performances dating from 2003 to 2033. All were captured @ The Awesome Venue, the Riverdale Rock club secretly owned by Archies manager Nicholas "Big Nipsy" Freund. Although these concert box sets are released simultaneously, Disney avoids saturating the market
as it will have done 20 years earlier.
ARCHIE SINGS SOUL
Coda/Fuentes, 2165
This re-imagined version of a failed 2065 Soul music compilation will be the best-selling Record Store Day release of all-time!
20 ROCK 45 box set
20 ROCK LP
Coda/Fuentes, 2166/67
The greatest of all Archies box sets was six years in the making. In 2029, widely condemned for alleged racial insensitivity and not knowing if they'd ever record again, The Archies commit to tape three dozen archive recordings. These were songs that they'll have long wanted to track but somehow never got around to cutting. Now, with plenty of time on their hands, they'll rent a Honolulu studio in January and bear down on the project until early Summer with Italian producer D'Angelo Wong overseeing the work. Additional songs tracked in India and Australia will be added to the cache of covers in the Summer of 2033. Over the years, a handful of these selections will trickle out on compilations, usually in remixed versions. In the 2070s, the cache goes missing - Vox Sound + Image wants to market the songs in an album series, only to find them either lost or stolen. Fortunately, it's the former situation rather than the latter: A deep excavation into Riverdale's Archie Archives retrieves the misplaced masters in 2160. A box set will be scheduled for later that year, but feeling that the time isn't yet right, Buena Vista Media holds it back and markets 25 GOLDEN HITS instead. It tops the Catalogue album chart, and so does a 2163 follow-up, NEW GOLD HITS. A pair of best-selling concert box sets drop in 2164, solidifying the commercial terrain even more. Six years later, Disney finally gives Discos Fuentes the go-ahead to begin production.
The song selection on 40 ROCK turns out not to be random. They're cover versions of tunes either originated or revived by Del Shannon, one of the great rockers of the Sixties. Newest group member Kevin Keller and founding member Reggie "Gino" Mantle, appearing as a guest artist, sing most of the leads. Recent product will have solidified perception of The Archies as a Soul band, but this quadruple-length album lands them squarely back in Hard Rock territory! Its ferocity and rawness, reflecting group members' anger at being falsely accused, shows them in a brand new light - or more accurately, a light that hadn't shined on them for a long time. Music from the set dominates the Pop scene in 2166, even while it fails to meet sales expectations. Disney gambles on a single disc version that concentrates on the hit songs, just in time to bag the international chart-topper they'll have anticipated. A limited-edition 45 RPM box set version of 20 ROCK will make the 2167 holiday season very profitable. In the coming years, Rock critics will reach a consensus: 40 ROCK is not only the best of all Archies recordings, but one of the finest boxed long-players in the history of Rock 'n' Roll.
U.S. OF ARCHIE box set
Produced by CHUCK CLAYTON + TONY BRISEÑO
Recorded live @ Patrick Air Force Base
Coda/Fuentes, 2167
(limited edition)
Even after the twin truckloads of STAGE DOOR and 40 ROCK, there's still a healthy appetite for Archies recordings - live ones in particular. What better way to satisfy it than with a fresh take on what most fans consider the best Archies concert ever - their 2003 gig at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida? That show was recorded for an Independence Day TV special and now, over 150 years later, it can be heard unedited from beginning to end. Except for bootlegs and re-packages of already-released recordings, U.S. OF ARCHIE will be the last live Archies album.
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BABY GRAND
Produced by KRISTIN GORRIE
Recorded @ Baby Grand Recording Services
in Honolulu
Coda/Fuentes, 2168
It seems fitting that the last important studio recording by The Archies to surface does so exactly 200 years after their first tracking date under that name! The selections on BABY GRAND were intended for the soundtrack of a 2034 indie film called Philadelphia Freedom, but the movie's producer found them unsuitable. Producer Kristin Gorrie held on to the tapes and her grandson will stumbles across them while preparing for an estate auction. Archies fans are delighted to hear yet another Soul-oriented collection, boasting covers of classic songs by Burt Bacharach, Kenny Gamble, Ashford + Simpson and Dusty Springfield that many will say are definitive. Just as on the released soundtrack LP, the voices of Betty Cooper and Kevin Keller are prominently featured, and future Country music star SonSeri is part of the production team. Rather than link the album to the movie, the compilation's producers choose to name it after the studio in Hawaii where it was recorded. BABY GRAND will win the 2169 Grammy Award for Best Catalogue album - no other contender even comes close.
The timeline created for The Archies here at Pop Culture Cantina stretches from the late 1980s to the mid-2160s. At no point on that timeline do you find them playing Hip-Hop/Rap, Indie Rock, hardcore Techno, so-called Americana or any of the bastardized genres that dominate the current music scene.
Cue up one of our imaginary Archies tracks, and all you're gonna hear in your mind's ear is genuine Country music, Latin music, Blues, Jazz, Disco, Metal, Punk, Pop ballads, fusion sounds and/or classic Rock 'n' Roll played like the great acts of the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s would play them.
There's no corporate Rock to slog through here, no dance beats strewn with racist, misogynist and homophobic lyrics, and no sounds designed for the ears of smug and snooty elitists. Dig it: The Archies are the best antidote to elitism that you could ever find!
As re-imagined by your favorite Pop Art cartoonist, Stuffed Animal, Riverdale's Royal Family of Rock is your vehicle to the some of finest music ever played on this grand old American continent of ours. C'mon and ride!
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Heartfelt thanks to public libraries throughout New England for giving a homeless cartoonist the time and space to create this series. Thanks also to the City of Boston.
