(PR) On March 30, Beastie Boys' third album Check Your Head will be the next B Boys classic to receive the remastered expanded reissue treatment by Beastie Boys and Capitol/EMI, with pre-orders beginning at beastieboys.com for multiple configurations ranging from a high quality DRM-free digital download of the album (including its numerous and classic b-sides and bonus tracks) to an ultra-deluxe 4 LP 180HQ vinyl version packaged in a fabric-wrapped hardcover coffee table book case and limited to 2000 copies. The retail release date of all physical editions other than the 4xLP version will be April 7, with the ultra deluxe following close behind.The Check Your Head reissue news coincides with the announcement today that Beastie Boys will headline the Hollywood Bowl on September 24. Following on a confirmed appearance at this summer's Bonnaroo festival and ongoing speculation regarding the band's appearances at various summer festivals, the Hollywood Bowl show is both the first headline show in the run-up to a new Beastie Boys album due later this year, as well as the first time Beastie Boys have ever headlined the hallowed L.A. venue.
Originally released in April 1992, Check Your Head was a milestone for Beastie Boys on multiple levels: It was the first B Boys album to be produced in its entirety by Mario Caldato Jr. and to feature keyboard player Keyboard Money Mark, as well as the first to be recorded at the band's own G-Son studios in Atwater Village, CA. Most significantly, however, Check Your Head marked the return of live instrumentation to the forefront and backbone of the Beastie Boys sound, with the bulk of the album featuring Mike D on drums, Adrock on guitar and MCA on bass for the first time since the band's early 1980s hardcore punk recordings.
On the strength of now-classic singles and videos "So What'cha Want," "Pass The Mic," "Gratitude," and "Jimmy James"--all of which are included in their original 12" vinyl incarnations in the ultra deluxe version--Check Your Head stormed the U.S. Top 10, ultimately returning Beastie Boys to hard-touring, platinum-selling status, and setting the band up for the pop cultural dominance it would achieve in the decade to come.
The full list of Check Your Head reissue configurations is as follows:
* Digital Download (album and b-sides)
- Deluxe Digital Option (also includes videos and video commentary)
* Deluxe, limited collector's vinyl + Digital Download
* Standard double vinyl + Digital Download
* Ecopack double CD + Digital Download
* Shirt combos:
- Deluxe Digital + shirt
- Standard Vinyl + shirt
- CD + shirt
- Deluxe, limited collector's vinyl + shirt