Rhino's Rocktober Series Returns with 43 Exclusive Limited Edition Reissues and New Release LPs

Rhino Entertainment again celebrates Roctober with 43 limited edition reissues and new release LP offerings. For 2025, the series presents an eclectic mixture of rare and previously unreleased LPs, including box sets, ultra-cool colored-vinyl LPs, and multiple selections from both the premium Rhino Reserve and Rhino High Fidelity series. A broad range of musical genres are represented from a notable selection of Warner and Rhino artists. Many of the LPs are pressed on standard-weight 140 gram vinyl, though quite a few are pressed on heavier 180 gram LPs, from pressing plants scattered across the globe including Memphis Record Pressing, Precision Record Pressing in Canada, and Optimal in Germany. The surfaces of the LPs were consistently flawless and glossy, and many arrived inserted into rice paper-lined inner sleeves, with a few featuring facsimiles of the original printed inner sleeves. The cool colored vinyl versions of many of these classic albums will have significant appeal to fans and collectors alike.

Scant information was provided in terms of mastering, origin sources, etc., but it's obvious that all of these releases were given a superior level of care in advance of the LP pressings. Which were generally superb and offered exceptionally quiet playback—Rhino did an excellent job with this batch of reissues. Roctober LPs are not available at Rhino's web store; the individual titles can be found at brick and mortar locations like your local independent record store and at select online vendors. The actual selling price of each LP may vary slightly across those locations; you can see a list of available retailers in your area by clicking on the Record Store Day site HERE.

The individual release dates are scattered throughout October, dropping each week on Friday. Here's a list of the available album titles in the series:

October 3:

Deep Purple - Made in Japan (Steven Wilson Remix), 2 LPs on 180-gram Black vinyl
Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, 1-LP on Clear vinyl

October 10:

Fleetwood Mac - Tusk, 2 LPs on Translucent Blue vinyl

October 17:

Black Sabbath - We Sold Our Soul for Rock and Roll, 2 LPs on Translucent Green vinyl
David Lee Roth - The Warner Recordings (1985-1994), 5 LPs on Black vinyl
Death From Above 1979 - You're a Woman, I'm a Machine, 1-LP on Pink Splatter vinyl
The Doors - Greatest Hits (Rhino Reserve), 1-LP on 180 gram Black vinyl
Lenny Kravitz - Black & White America, 2 LPs on Black vinyl
Morphine - Good (Remastered Edition), 1-LP on Forest Green vinyl
New York Dolls - ‘Cause I Sez So, 1-LP on Red vinyl
Porno For Pyros - Porno For Pyros (Rhino Reserve), 1-LP on 180 gram Black vinyl
Spain - The Blue Moods of Spain, 2 LPs on Blue vinyl
The Distillers - Coral Fang, 1-LP on Red with Black Splatter Vinyl
The Von Bondies - Pawn Shoppe Heart (Rhino Reserve), 1-LP on 180 gram Black vinyl
Type O Negative - The Least Worst, 2-LPs on Black vinyl
Yes - Big Generator, 1-LP on Orange vinyl
Yes - 90125 (Rhino Reserve), 1-LP on 180 gram Black vinyl

October 24:

Dream Theater - Octavarium, 2 LPs on Clear vinyl
Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, 2 LPs on Clear vinyl
Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos, 2 LPs on Clear vinyl
Dream Theater - Train of Thought, 2 LPs on Clear vinyl
Fleetwood Mac - Bare Trees (Rhino Reserve), 1-LP on 180 gram Black vinyl
Jethro Tull - Minstrel In The Gallery (50th Anniversary Steven Wilson Edition), 1-LP on Marbled vinyl
Ministry - The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste (Expanded Edition), 2 LPs on on 180 gram Black vinyl
Ministry - Psalm 69 (Expanded Edition), 2 LPs on on 180 gram Black vinyl
Mr. Bungle - California, 2 LPs on Translucent Ruby vinyl
Mr. Bungle - Disco Volante, 2 LPs on Translucent Light Blue vinyl
Mr. Bungle - Mr. Bungle, 2 LPs on Translucent Orange Crush vinyl
Stone Temple Pilots - Stone Temple Pilots, 1-LP on Red vinyl
Warren Zevon - Learning To Flinch (Live), 1-LP on Black vinyl
Warren Zevon - Mutineer, 1-LP on Black vinyl
Warren Zevon - Mr. Bad Example, 1-LP on Black vinyl

October 31:

Bad Company - Rock N Roll Fantasy: The Very Best of Bad Company, 2 LPs on Silver vinyl
Faces - Early Steps, 1-LP on Black vinyl
Ramones - Pet Sematary, 12-inch single on Red vinyl
Rush - The Albums, 2002-2012, 7 LP boxed set on Black vinyl
The Stooges - Alternate Funhouse, 1-LP on Opaque White with Black vinyl
Warren Zevon - Excitable Boy (Rhino Reserve), 1-LP on 180 gram Black vinyl
ZZ Top - Deguello (Rhino High Fidelity), 1-LP on 180 gram Black vinyl *unnumbered
ZZ Top - El Loco (Rhino High Fidelity), 1-LP on 180 gram Black vinyl *unnumbered
ZZ Top - Eliminator (Rhino High Fidelity), 1-LP on 180 gram Black vinyl *unnumbered
ZZ Top - Afterburner (Rhino High Fidelity), 1-LP on 180 gram Black vinyl *unnumbered
ZZ Top - Recycler (Rhino High Fidelity), 1-LP on 180 gram Black vinyl *unnumbered

I received review LPs for 14 of the 43 titles being released; should any additional stragglers arrive between now and the expiration of the series, I'll update my comments. Here we go!

Deep Purple, Made in Japan (Steven Wilson Remix), 2 LPs on 180-gram Black vinyl

Deep Purple's first live album, 1973's Made in Japan, evolved mainly due to the proliferation of live bootleg recordings that were making the rounds in advance of the release of the band's official concert recordings. Neither the members of Deep Purple or their record label were particularly keen to record their live shows, but the band's unbelievable popularity in Japan prompted their label's Japanese division to order the release of a double LP that was originally only intended for that market. Made in Japan was released there in late 1972, but as import copies of the LP made their way across the globe, a worldwide release followed in early 1973. Within two weeks, the album went platinum in the US alone, reaching the number 6 position on Billboard's album chart. Other than a pair of limited LP reissues from DCC and Friday Music, Made in Japan has been out of print domestically on LP for over forty years.

Rhino's new reissue offers the Steven Wilson remix, which betters my original Warner LP set in every way possible; I always felt the live recordings for Made in Japan were a bit harsh, and Wilson has again worked wonders with a title deserving of his magic touch. The pair of LPs were pressed on 180 gram vinyl at Memphis Record Pressing, and the sound quality of the vinyl was a great improvement over my original, which was noisy from excessive playback under often less than pristine conditions. I was blown away by the clarity and realism of Rhino's Rocktober release; the sound quality of my original seemed almost flat in comparison. Rhino's Made In Japan (Steven Wilson Remix) comes very highly recommended!

Black Sabbath, We Sold Our Soul for Rock and Roll, 2 LPs on Translucent Green vinyl

In 1975 Black Sabbath signed a new contract with UK label NEMS, who wasted no time in issuing a compilation of Sabbath's most well-known songs in the guise of We Sold Our Soul for Rock and Roll. The album was released in 1976 with no input from the band, and Black Sabbath reportedly received no compensation for the album sales. And had no awareness of its existence until fans started showing up at concerts asking band members to sign copies of the LP, which Ozzy Osbourne claimed to have never seen before. We Sold Our Soul for Rock and Roll draws heavily from the band's first four classic albums, with single tracks added from Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and Sabotage. Despite already having the first six catalog albums, I grabbed a copy anyway upon its original release, and have always liked the flow of this "greatest hits" album of sorts. We Sold Our Soul for Rock and Roll eventually reached multi-platinum sales status worldwide, and has been a great companion to the band's catalog of studio albums.

My original LP copy is fairly beat, and Rhino's new reissue easily trounced its sound quality, with noise-free sides that had impressive clarity when compared to the original. The pair of Translucent Green LPs are beautiful, were mastered at Sterling Sound and pressed in Germany, and have deeper, more well-controlled bass than my original, which is always a plus on Sabbath albums. Color me impressed, and We Sold Our Soul for Rock and Roll comes highly recommended!

Morphine, Good (Remastered Edition), 1-LP on Forest Green vinyl

Boston alternative band Morphine released their debut album Good in 1992 on the indie Accurate/Distortion label; the album transitioned to Rykodisc following their signing of the band, whose catalog is now under the Warner/Rhino umbrella. While not as memorable or strikingly original as their follow-up album, Cure For Pain, the record featured all the band's hallmarks that would draw them a rabid following. Which included a blend of classic jazz influences, with leader Mark Sandman's beat-poet lyrics delivered in his inimitable vocal style accompanied by his unusual two-string bass played with a metal slide. Dana Colley's eclectic mix of saxophones and Jerome Deupree's drums solidified the effect. The album wasn't originally released on vinyl, and has only seen a couple of domestic LP releases since 2013. The beautiful Forest Green pressing from Memphis Record Pressing was mastered by Jeff Powell at Take Out Vinyl in Memphis, and the LP sounds magnificent in every respect! This is Morphine in their earliest incarnation, but fans of the band will find this LP essential listening. Very highly recommended!

Spain, The Blue Moods of Spain, 2 LPs on Blue vinyl

The Blue Moods of Spain was Spain's debut album in 1995, and features a mix of tunes that fall squarely into the realm of dreampop. All the songs were written by vocalist and bassist Josh Haden, and the album was praised by Melody Maker, who described it as "the most gorgeous music you'll hear all year," calling Spain "quiet masters of atmosphere, subtle craftsmen who weave a sumptuous, melodic spell with the lightest of instrumental touches." I completely missed out on Spain during the Nineties, though I saw the CD in stores and often wondered what the music was all about. I have no recollection of hearing the band on alternative Nineties radio back in the day, but upon experiencing Rhino's new LP, this album grabbed me from its opening notes with a style that's totally captivating, if perhaps a bit monochromatic in style.

The album cover is reminiscent of old Blue Note label album art from the Fifties and Sixties, and the beautiful pair of Blue vinyl LPs enhanced the impression of nostalgia that the very moody music was heavily imbued with. Taken all at once, the often somber mood might be a bit much, but I still found it to be fairly irresistible. Rhino's LP is the first mainstream release of The Blue Moods of Spain on vinyl; the LPs from Memphis Record Pressing were perfection incarnate, and offered this music with the kind of sound quality one dreams about. Highly recommended!

Yes, 90125 (Rhino Reserve), 1-LP on 180 gram Black vinyl

Following the disastrous tour for 1980's Drama, it became increasingly obvious that Yes might be actually dead, and that aggrieved me to no end. I loved Drama; Trevor Horn's vocals weren't perfect, but they were serviceable, and the rhythm section of Chris Squire and Alan White turned in what I consider their very best performance on record. And Steve Howe's guitar work absolutely smoked, but Horn struggled to make his vocals translate to the arena environment in the ensuing tour, which was abandoned only halfway through. Three years later, my wife and I were on vacation, driving to a beach, when this song came over the radio with the refrain "Owner of a Lonely Heart." My first knee-jerk reaction was that the lead vocalist in the song sure sounded like Jon Anderson, but the edgy, hip Eighties vibe I was hearing definitely wasn't Yes. I was totally bewildered—until I heard the song again later that weekend, and was able to hear the deejay call out to "the new song by Yes!" I totally flipped out, and immediately raced to the nearest record store to grab both the LP and a cassette for the car. And was totally blown away by what I was hearing—90125 stayed in constant rotation on my turntable and in my car for months on end. "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" quickly rose to number one on the Billboard singles chart, which was a first and only for the band, and 90125 went triple platinum, reaching number five on the US album charts.

I've obsessed over this album for decades now, and have multiple LP copies, multiple CD versions, and even an MQA CD from Japan. It's been a tossup for me between the original LP, the original West German CD, and the MQA CD. That is until now, especially among the relatively limited choice of LPs for this undeniable classic. In my book, the Rhino Reserve version of 90125 that's pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing is the cream of the crop in terms of overall sound quality. And features better dynamics, deeper and more refined bass content, and a significantly quieter background level that allows you to hear more deeply into the music. This LP version is the best of the best—rush out there and grab one before it's too late!! Very highly recommended!!

Yes, Big Generator, 1-LP on Orange vinyl

I freaked over 90125, even camping out to get concert tickets (it was definitely worth it!), and was certain it was the beginning of more greatness to come. And I loved Trevor Horn's involvement as producer; I felt his input really helped take Yes in a more modern, but truly effective direction I could get on board with. I hoped that would carry forward into another album, and was a bit disappointed it took almost four years for Big Generator to arrive in 1987. The album spawned a pair of singles, "Love Will Find a Way" and "Rhythm of Love," but I really loved the direction and energy of the more edgy title track. Of course, it was impossible in the pre-internet days to stay on top of what was going on in the music world, with the information from Rolling Stone and MTV fairly scant in terms of the behind the scenes turmoil during the recording process for Big Generator. Which apparently came close to breaking up the band, and actually mostly did following the end of the tour. Big Generator still went platinum in the US, but wasn't as musically and thematically consistent as 90125, and didn't receive the same level of critical praise as its predecessor.

At that point in 1987, I opted for a compact disc version of Big Generator, even though an LP was available, and never owned a vinyl copy until Rhino's new LP arrived. Other than a limited edition Friday Music reissue in 2013, Big Generator has been out of print domestically on LP since its original release. Rhino's new Orange vinyl LP was pressed at Memphis Record Pressing; the LP is gorgeous, and sounds fantastic over my audio system, helping make Big Generator seem much more even and essential now than it did 38 years ago. Highly recommended!

Dream Theater, Octavarium, 2 LPs on Clear vinyl

Dream Theater, Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, 2 LPs on Clear vinyl

Dream Theater, Systematic Chaos, 2 LPs on Clear vinyl

Dream Theater, Train of Thought, 2 LPs on Clear vinyl

Rhino's been re-releasing the catalog of albums from long-form prog-metal monsters Dream Theater over the last year or so as large-scale LP box sets; Dream Theater Volume 1 covered the albums from 1992-1999, and sold out immediately upon last year's release. Rhino then made the individual albums available a few months later in January's Start Your Ear Off Right series, with each LP pressed on clear vinyl. The second LP box set, Dream Theater Volume 2, spanned the era from 2002-2007, and also sold out immediately upon its issue mid-year. Following their previous pattern, Rhino has again chosen to offer the individual albums on clear vinyl double LPs, giving fans another welcome shot at getting copies of these otherwise hard-to-get LPs. And the sprawling Dream Theater Volume 3 is already in the pre-release stage, so grab those credit cards!

Most of the albums in the Volume 2 series have only been available in very limited LP releases from Music On Vinyl, so this is an excellent opportunity for LP lovers to grab copies of these albums. The current Rocktober versions are pressed on clear vinyl at Optimal in Germany, and the LPs sound incredible—I have to admit, I'm a fan of the band, but until hearing the LP box sets for Volumes 1 and 2, didn't really get the full fan frenzy effect. The ship has sailed for the first two box sets, but the Optimal LPs are equally superb, and the really cool clear vinyl adds to their mystique. If you're a fan of the band, you know where I'm coming from, and if not—you need to get thyself hence and grab these LPs as quickly as possible—you'll thank me later! Very highly recommended.

Fleetwood Mac, Bare Trees (Rhino Reserve), 1-LP on 180 gram Black vinyl

Bare Trees was Fleetwood Mac's sixth studio album upon its 1972 release, and was less than three years out from the band's last album with guitarist and vocalist Peter Green, 1969's classic Then Play On. American guitarist and vocalist Bob Welch made his first appearance on Bare Trees, and it was only the second Mac album that pianist, keyboardist, and vocalist Christine McVie appeared on as a full member of the band. Drummer Mick Fleetwood, bassist John McVie, and guitarist and vocalist Danny Kirwin were the only holdovers from the Peter Green era, with Kirwin still the principal lyricist and driving force of the band. But Christine McVie's songs helped push the band into less blues-focused territory, and the importance of Bob Welch's sterling musicianship can't be overstated—he easily was the biggest influence in transforming Fleetwood Mac into more of a Southern California entity. His five album tenure with the band directly preceded the Buckingham/Nicks era, which proceeded to turn a workmanlike band that regularly generated enjoyable albums chock with great tunes into multi-platinum megastars.

I spent much of my teenage years looking at Fleetwood Mac's albums in record stores, but the only one I bought prior to the Buckingham/Nicks era was Then Play On. Aside from the occasional hit that captivated the airwaves like Bob Welch's "Hypnotized," they didn't get enough airplay for me to take the leap and purchase any of the albums in between. Probably because Rolling Stone so bemoaned the departure of Peter Green, and how the band was not much more than a shadow without him. Hearing Bare Trees again after quite a long while proved to me how very wrong the critics were, and how fully-formed Fleetwood Mac was, with five superb songs from Danny Kirwin, and a pair each from Bob Welch and Christine McVie. Side two especially plays like a nearly perfect album side—I can't believe I've been neglecting this version of the band for so very many years now! It's especially poignant to hear the Danny Kirwin songs here; Bare Trees proved to be his swan song with the band, and he disappeared from the music world shortly after its release. The Rhino Reserve LP from Fidelity Record Pressing is superb in every respect, and will especially appeal to fans and collectors, considering the original has mostly been out of print for almost fifty years. Highly recommended!

Jethro Tull, Minstrel In The Gallery (50th Anniversary Steven Wilson Edition), 1-LP on Marbled vinyl

1975's Minstrel In The Gallery was Jethro Tull's eighth studio album, and the last that featured the shockingly consistent version of the band that stayed together across four classic albums in the mid-Seventies. That lineup included Ian Anderson, guitarist Martin Barre, keyboardist John Evan, bassist Jeffrey Hammond, and drummer Barriemore Barlow, who managed to soldier through Thick As A Brick, A Passion Play, and War Child as well as Minstrel In The Gallery. That's quite a chunk of the otherwise ever-evolving history of Jethro Tull, and a fairly remarkable achievement. I was personally always more focused on the band's period that encompassed Stand Up, Benefit, and Aqualung, and pretty much didn't pay attention for years following A Passion Play. So essentially, I missed Minstrel In The Gallery, and most everything between it and Stormwatch in 1979. Considering how prolific Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull typically tended to be, that four-year period was a lifetime of music I missed. Hearing Minstrel In The Gallery after all this time has made that perfectly clear to me, and it's a classic Tull album in every respect!

The Marbled vinyl LP was pressed in Germany, and it's not only beautiful to watch spinning on the table, but also offers superb sound quality that presents this music with stunning realism and clarity. Steven Wilson's remix/remaster is superb, and while I have no frame of reference for comparison, I own a number of his other Jethro Tull efforts, which are all miraculous. So I have no reason to doubt that his work on Minstrel In The Gallery has helped imbue it with the sonic goodness that abounds. Very highly recommended!

Stone Temple Pilots, Stone Temple Pilots, 1-LP on Red vinyl

Stone Temple Pilots was STP's sixth studio album; its release in 2010 followed a lengthy hiatus for the band starting in 2001, where vocalist Scott Weiland stepped away to become part of Velvet Revolver. After getting fired from that gig, a reconciliation occurred between Weiland and STP in 2007, and they headed to the studio to record what would become Stone Temple Pilots. Additional legal wrangling ensued between the band and Atlantic Records, delaying the album's eventual release for two more years. Despite the lengthy production process and countless studio problems, Stone Temple Pilots reached the number two position on the Billboard album charts upon its release, and appeared to be the comeback fans of the band had been hoping for. It would prove to be the final album for STP's original lineup; Scott Weiland was fired from the band for his increasingly erratic behavior and drug use in 2013, and died two years later. Following Weiland's split from STP in 2001, I basically stopped following the band, and also completely missed out on his involvement with Velvet Revolver from 2003-2008. Scott Weiland was a charismatic and dynamic performer, and his star power lifted STP to another level entirely.

Stone Temple Pilots is a great album of fantastic songs that are every bit on par with STP's classic catalog of albums, even though it proved to be the epilogue to the original band's legacy. I find it hard to believe that I've gone this long without hearing these songs, and regardless of where you happen to stand on STP's merit as a band, even at their most dysfunctional they were capable of crafting superb albums. The Red vinyl LP from Memphis Record Pressing was perfect, both functionally and as an objet d'art, and Stone Temple Pilots comes very highly recommended!

Ramones, Pet Sematary, 12-inch single on Red vinyl

"Pet Sematary" was the only single from the Ramones' 1989 LP Brain Drain, and was originally written for inclusion in the Stephen King film of the same name, although the song eventually only ended up playing over the film's final credits. It became the highest charting single of the band's career, peaking at number 4 on the Billboard singles chart, and was released at the time as a standalone single that was backed with the original version of "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" and "Life Goes On." "Pet Sematary" is presented on a really cool 12-inch Red vinyl maxi-single; Ramones' collectors and completists will definitely want to grab a copy!

Rhino's Rocktober releases will rock your Fall season!

With mostly-mid-priced LP series like Rocktober, a few scuffs and scratches are generally part and parcel to the experience. Surprisingly, that wasn't the case with any of the LPs I received; the sound quality of each was for the most part exceptional, and I no real complaints with any of the pressings. These are very limited availability releases, and will likely go quickly from record store shelves, so don't hesitate to pull out that credit card! I'll probably do just that, as there are several other titles in the series I'd love to hear (like the late-period ZZ Top Rhino High Fidelity albums!). Thanks to Miranda Alston at Rhino for her assistance; the LPs in the Rocktober series offer something for everyone, and come very highly recommended!

Rhino Entertainment

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All images courtesy of Rhino Entertainment.