The economy may have been in its worst recession since the Great Depression, but that didn’t stop record companies from putting out a bumper crop of box sets. Here’s a look at the best of the bunch, any of which would make great gifts this holiday season.
The Beatles: The remastered Beatles album catalog (Capitol)
In a busy year for special releases, there was no more hyped event than the release of the remastered entire Beatles catalog as box sets in stereo and mono and individually in stereo. It’s a chance to hear the 13 studio albums in vivid clarity.
Various Artists: Woodstock – 40 Years On: Back To Yasgur’s Farm (Rhino Records)
This six-CD set is the most complete audio document yet of Woodstock, boasting 30-plus previously unheard performances, including a spunky version of “Bad Moon Rising” from Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Who storming through “Amazing Journey” and “Pinball Wizard” and Joe Cocker rolling and tumbling through “Feelin’ Alright.”
Richard Thompson: Walking On A Wire, 1968-2009 (Shout Factory)
This four-CD set traces Thompson’s entire four-decade career, offering a superb and thorough take on this gifted artist, who may well be the most under-appreciated artist in all of rock.
Big Star: Keep An Eye On The Sky (Rhino)
For a band that only released three studio albums, it’s pretty amazing to think that Big Star could justify a four-CD box set. But this is precisely the case. Every studio cut that made Big Star one of the most influential power pop bands in history is included on Keep An Eye, as are outtakes and a complete 1973 concert.
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers: Live Anthology (Reprise)
As expected, there are stellar versions of many of the band’s hits on this four-disc set that spans performances from 1980 through 2007. But The Heartbreakers have also always had a special talent for covers, and Petty smartly included a
generous number of outside tunes (by Bo Diddley, the Grateful Dead and Van Morrison, among others). Still, even at 47 tracks, Live Anthology actually feels a bit thin.
Various Artists: Where The Action Is: Los Angeles Nuggets – 1965-1968 (Rhino)
The latest addition to the series of “Nuggets” box sets (devoted mostly to obscure pop gems from the mid-to-late-1960s) centers on Los Angeles. Some acts included here will be familiar — the Doors, Byrds and Warren Zevon, to name a few. Many other songs and bands are long forgotten. There are definitely some misses, but still enough quality to suggest that few cities had a more active and vibrant ‘60s pop scene as LA.
AC/DC: Backtracks (Columbia)
The venerable Australian band takes fans on a trip through its back pages with this set, available in two versions – the standard with a CD of studio rarities, a CD of live rarities and a DVD of videos and a very worthy deluxe edition that features additional studio rarities, a second CD of live songs and a DVD of a 2003 concert from Germany.
Elvis Presley: Elvis 75 – Good Rockin’ Tonight (RCA/Legacy)
The early ‘90s Elvis sets, The King Of Rock ‘N’ Roll (covering his ‘50s output) and From Nashville To Memphis (devoted to the ‘60s), remain definitive. But if you want a full career-spanning collection, Elvis 75is a good choice. It has all of Presley’s notable hits and a good sampling of his better album tracks.
The Rolling Stones: Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out: The Rolling Stones In Concert (Abkco)
This set adds five unreleased tracks to the famous original live album, as well as a disc documenting performances by opening acts B.B. King and Tina Turner. It makes an already great live album even better, capturing the Stones, as well as King and Turner at their late 1960s peaks.
Rod Stewart: The Rod Stewart Sessions 1971-1998 (Warner Bros.)
This four-CD set collects a bevy of alternate versions from Stewart’s vault of unreleased recordings. Some songs (an alternate take of “Maggie May” with different lyrics) are mainly curiosities. But others, like the edgy “Innocent (The Killing Of Georgie Part III),” an unreleased sequel to “The Killing Of Georgie” from the “A Night On The Town” album, are true finds.
The Doors: Live In New York (Rhino)
This six-disc set captures the Doors live with four complete concerts from January 1970. The band is especially energized during the two late shows, as it runs through songs from its forthcoming “Morrison Hotel” album, some big hits and quite a few covers.
Hank Williams: Revealed: The Unreleased Recordings (Time Life)
This three-CD set, a sequel to an earlier box set, The Unreleased Recordings, collects the best of the country legend’s performances on WSM radio in 1951. The songs, spiced with commentary from Williams, offer an up-close look at Williams at an early career peak.
by Alan Sculley/NUVO
