In 2021, the conversation around this pivotal album reignited with the release of the edition. While "RAR" is a cataloging shorthand used by specific high-end reissue distributors (often denoting "Rare Audiophile Recordings" or exclusive licensee pressings), the 2021 variant specifically refers to a resurgence of interest in the album’s master tapes, remastered vinyl pressings, and long-lost B-sides that surfaced digitally that year.
A deep cut about the death of Hornsby’s brother. In the 2021 transfer, the piano’s lower register is devastating. You feel the sustain pedal ringing out into silence. This is the emotional heart of the RAR edition; the warmth of the vinyl cut makes the grief palpable rather than clinical. In 2021, the conversation around this pivotal album
This track benefits most from the high-frequency roll-off of the analogue cut. The cymbal work doesn't sizzle harshly; it shimmers. Hornsby’s commentary on Reagan-era homelessness sounds hauntingly prescient in a post-2020 world, and the clarity of the backing vocals (The Range: George Marinelli, Joe Puerta, John Molo) allows the gospel influence to surface. Side B 4. "Jacob’s Ladder" Yes, the Huey Lewis cover. But Hornsby wrote it. The 2021 RAR reveals the subtle syncopation between Molo’s drums and Hornsby’s left hand. Previously buried in the mix, the accordion track (played by Hornsby) now sits perfectly in the stereo field. In the 2021 transfer, the piano’s lower register
Listen loud. Listen on vinyl. Listen to the Southside. This track benefits most from the high-frequency roll-off