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The best reissues, box sets and archival recordings of summer 2026\u00a0uncovered a typically high number of recordings from music’s past. Whether it’s blues, punk, psychedelic, synth-pop or\u00a0unmistakable rock ‘n’ roll, the past three months weren’t short on terrific historical sets.<\/p>\n
The collections highlighted below cover nearly a century, starting with an essential chronicle of one of blues’ pioneering singers from more than 100 years ago through the early 21st century, as a Grammy-winning artist covers a celebrated singer-songwriter on a handpicked compilation.<\/p>\n
Some of rock’s biggest names released archival sets over the past three months, including\u00a0David Bowie<\/a>\u00a0(a collection of his pre-fame singles and demos),\u00a0Grateful Dead<\/a>\u00a0(more pre-fame, courtesy of an early-Independence Day live show) and compilations from\u00a0New Order<\/a>\u00a0(repackaged hits and remixes from the electronic greats) and Joy Division<\/a> (a career-spanning live box), who are due to be inducted together into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame<\/a> in November.<\/p>\n READ MORE:\u00a0<\/strong>2026 Album Reviews<\/a><\/p>\n Various artists’ compilations examine Eastern music’s influence on Western rock ‘n’ roll and the collision and merging of punk and dub in the late ’70s and early ’80s, while a three-disc anthology compiles recordings from one of David Bowie’s earliest bands, not included in the\u00a0other<\/em>\u00a0Bowie compilation discussed below.<\/span><\/p>\n Also, there are\u00a0no-frills remasters of classic albums by proto-punk agitators\u00a0the Stooges<\/a>\u00a0(an audiophile-worthy upgrade of the noise masterpiece\u00a0Fun House<\/em><\/a>) and by singer-songwriter hitmaker\u00a0Cat Stevens<\/a>, along with three ’80s Whitesnake<\/a> albums returning to their original U.S. mixes. Plus, a deep dive into a celebrated ’80s\u00a0LP and a previously unreleased album by a New York City band that fused punk, rockabilly, surf and garage rock even in its earliest recordings.<\/p>\n The best archival sets from the hottest three months of the year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Michael Gallucci<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nReissue Roundup: Summer Sets From David Bowie, Grateful Dead and More<\/h2>\n