MUSIC UPFRONT - 02.02.08: Catalogue reviews.

NWA: Straight Outta Compton/Eazy E: Featuring... (Priority/EMI 5141572/5077062)

When Straight Outta Compton was released in 1988, it set NWA on the road to becoming revered and notorious hardcore rappers. This reissue marks its 20th anniversary, which includes a bonus live track plus cover tributes from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Snoop Dogg, Mack 10 and WC. Featuring... collects collaborations, solo tracks and previously unreleased recordings made by Eazy-E from the time NWA split to his premature demise from Aids in 1995.

Marvin Gaye: Here, My Dear (Motown B 001031502)

When wife Anna Gordy served divorce papers in 1978, Marvin Gaye was forced to hand over the royalties from his next album to her, hence the title for this anguished, angry and highly personal masterpiece. It sold poorly at the time, partly because Motown boss Berry Gordy was Anna's brother, but now it is rightly regarded as one of Gaye's finest albums. To mark its 30th birthday, this two-disc edition includes a remastered original plus a bonus CD featuring alternate versions mixed in by current producers.

Various: The Golden Age Of American Rock `N' Roll - The Follow-Up Hits (Ace CDCHD1190)

Having featured most significant US hits from 1954 to 1963 on previous instalments, Ace now presents a set of follow-ups to major hits that charted, but more modestly. Most artists remain along the same lines as their big hits, thus Santo & Johnny's Teardrop recalls Sleepwalk, Danny & The Juniors' At The Hop is reborn as Rock & Roll Is Here To Stay and Cozy Cole's Turvy II bears a resemblance to... ...