Don't have time to make that list and check it twice? Looking for that perfect present to place under the tree this holiday season? Look no further! 2013 has brought an amazing array of deluxe (and super deluxe!) special editions and box sets, so we have highlighted the cream of the crop right here to make your spirits bright, whatever your musical taste!
The Animals, The Mickie Most Years and More (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Real Gone Music jumps into the box set market with this 5-CD (and 1 T-shirt!) collection of vintage Animals albums (including “The House of the Rising Sun,” “We Gotta Get Out of This Place,” “Don’t Bring Me Down” and more) produced in cooperation with ABKCO Records.
Burt Bacharach, Anyone Who Had a Heart: The Art of the Songwriter (UMe) (U.K.-only 6-CD box set) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Universal U.K.’s 6-CD box set coincided with the 2013 release of Burt Bacharach’s memoir Anyone Who Had a Heart, and features an array of varied and unusual recordings of the composer’s best.
The Band, LIve at the Academy of Music: The Rock of Ages Concerts (Capitol) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
A 4-CD/1-DVD box set chronicles Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Rick Danko and Richard Manuel’s 1971 concerts at New York’s Academy of Music, featuring arrangements by New Orleans great Allen Toussaint.
The Beach Boys, Made in California (Capitol/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. )
Catch a wave with this 6-CD set commemorating the 50 years of remarkable music made by Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, David Marks, Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar. 60 previously unreleased tracks make this a must-have for Beach Boys collectors.
The Beatles, Live at the BBC: The Collection (Capitol/Apple) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
The Beatles' new On Air - Live at the BBC Volume Two is packaged with the upgraded, remastered edition of 1994's original Live at the BBC in one handy slipcased 4-CD box.
Eric Clapton, Give Me Strength: The 1974/1975 Recordings (Polydor/UMe, 2013) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
5 CDs and 1 BD chronicle the productive 1974/1975 period of Eric Clapton's career which yielded the albums 461 Ocean Boulevard, There's One in Every Crowd and E.C. Was Here. All three albums are included along with rare bonus material plus new and vintage surround mixes.
The Clash, Sound System (Columbia/Epic/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. )
London Calling! This massive boom box from the classic rockers contains five remastered studio albums on eight CDs plus three more CDs of rarities and previously unissued material, a DVD and numerous memorabilia replicas.
Miles Davis, The Original Mono Recordings (Columbia/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Nine of jazz legend Davis’ Columbia albums released between 1957 and 1964 are issued on CD in their rare original mono mixes on this new box set.
Bob Dylan, The Complete Album Collection Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
This 47-CD box set is one-stop shopping for every one of the iconic artist's core studio and live albums, and truly essential for all fans of American popular song.
Ella Fitzgerald, The Voice of Jazz (Verve) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. )
A new 10-CD box set bills itself as “the first to offer a comprehensive look at her six-decade recording career” and includes two live discs as well as performances with Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, Count Basie, Andre Previn, and the orchestras of Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Paul Weston, Marty Paich and Buddy Bregman.
Woody Guthrie, American Radical Patriot (Rounder) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. )
This 85-song, 6 CD/1 DVD/1 78RPM single box set takes a new look at folk-singing troubadour Woody Guthrie’s relationship with his country, including his complete recordings with historian Alan Lomax and various recordings made for the U.S. government.
Herbie Hancock, The Complete Columbia Recordings (Columbia/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Legacy has unveiled the long-awaited 34-CD box dedicated to Grammy Award-winning pianist and composer Herbie Hancock’s 1973-1988 Columbia discography. Eight albums make their U.S. debuts here.
Donny Hathaway, Never My Love: The Anthology (Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
The late soul great’s career is reviewed on a 4-CD box set with two discs of previously unheard live and studio material.
Lee Hazlewood, There’s A Dream I’ve Been Saving: Lee Hazlewood Industries 1966 – 1971 (Light in the Attic) (Amazon U.S. - Standard Edition / Amazon U.S. - Deluxe Edition / Amazon U.K. - Standard Edition / Amazon U.K. - Deluxe Edition)
Light in the Attic celebrates the iconoclastic producer-songwriter-singer behind the LHI Records label with an overview of the label’s output. The box is available in both a standard 4-CD edition and a lavish deluxe edition adding three data DVDs with the label’s entire discography save one LP.
Humble Pie, Performance: Rockin’ the Fillmore – The Complete Recordings (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
One of the most beloved concert recordings in the classic rock canon has just grown bigger and better with Omnivore’s new 4-CD expansion of Humble Pie’s Performance: Rockin’ the Fillmore!
King Crimson, The Road to Red (Panegyric) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
21 CDs, 1 DVD, and 2 Blu-rays exhaustively tell the story of King Crimson’s 1974 U.S. tour leading to the recording of the prog-rock band’s landmark album Red. 16 concerts are featured across 20 discs, with a new mix of the classic album appearing on the 21st CD. One DVD and two Blu-rays feature high resolution mixes of much of the material.
Matt Monro, The Rarities Collection (Parlophone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
This impressive 3-CD set draws on and upgrades material first released on the great vocalist’s The Rare Monro and Uncovered – The Rarer Monro. Quite simply, this is one of the best bargains you’ll find this year, and a master class for the art of singing.
Van Morrison, Moondance: Deluxe Edition (Warner Bros./Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Christmas might be a marvelous night to revisit Van Morrison’s third and most beloved album in expanded box set form. The remastered Moondance is available in 1-CD, 2-CD and 4-CD/1-BD editions, with the latter premiering hours of session material plus a stunning 5.1 surround mix.
Harry Nilsson, The RCA Albums Collection (RCA/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
One of the most significant box sets of the year, The RCA Albums Collection puts the remarkable career of Harry Nilsson into perspective over 17 discs, 14 albums and more than 50 previously unheard tracks.
Buck Owens, Buck ‘Em! The Music of Buck Owens 1955-1967 (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Omnivore Recordings offers an alternate history of the late, great Buck Owens with this new 2-CD, 50-track anthology, proving that there was much more to the singer-songwriter than just Hee-Haw!
Elvis Presley, Elvis at Stax: Deluxe Edition (RCA/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
This 3-CD box includes all of The King’s master recordings made at Memphis’ Stax Studios plus rare outtakes and alternates!
Otis Redding, The Complete Stax/Volt Singles Collection (Shout! Factory) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Show some R-E-S-P-E-C-T: 70 single sides on 3 CDs remind listeners of why the late Otis Redding will always be one of the true kings of R&B and soul music.
The Rolling Stones, Sweet Summer Sun: Hyde Park Live (Eagle Rock) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
This 2-DVD/2-CD/1-BD book-style box set contains The Rolling Stones' 2013 Hyde Park concert film on DVD and BD, its audio on 2 CDs, a 60-page hardback photo book, and a special bonus DVD with the band's 1969 performance at the famed London landmark!
Paul Simon, The Complete Albums Collection (Columbia/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Hello, darkness, my old friend…This 15-CD set collects the singer-songwriter’s twelve studio albums and two live recordings plus previously issued bonus material.
Frank Sinatra, Duets: Twentieth Anniversary Edition (Capitol/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
The Chairman of the Board’s final two studio albums, from 1993 and 1994, are combined in one box set with both albums on CD and LP, a behind-the-scenes DVD, and a smattering of bonus material.
Sly & The Family Stone, Higher! (Epic/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Legacy wants to take you higher with this new 4-CD, career-spanning overview of the joyous music created by the Sly and the Family Stone. Higher! includes rare and unreleased material among its psychedelic treasures.
The Velvet Underground, White Light/White Heat: 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition (Verve LP V-5046/V6-5046, 1968 – reissued Universal, 2013) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Before his tragic passing, Lou Reed gave his blessing to this three-CD deluxe version of The Velvet Underground’s sophomore LP, which features rare mono mixes, alternates and previously unissued live material.
The Who, Tommy: Super Deluxe Edition (Geffen/Universal) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Pete Townshend’s rock opera about the world’s most famous deaf, dumb and blind boy gets the super deluxe treatment in a new 3-CD/1-BD box set containing the remastered original album, previously unreleased demos and live tracks, and a 5.1 surround mix on Blu-ray.
Yes, The Studio Albums 1969-1987 (Atlantic/Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
This 13-CD box collects all of the prog-rock collective's studio LPs released between 1969 and 1987 in expanded form, including the first domestic reissue of the band’s final album for ATCO, 1987′s Big Generator, with bonus tracks.
Various Artists, The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 12B: 1972 (Motown/Hip-o Select) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Hip-o Select’s groundbreaking series chronicling Motown’s Detroit years via every one of its 45 RPM releases finally comes to a close with the final 5-CD box set dedicated to the latter half of 1972.
Various Artists, Disney Classics (Walt Disney Records) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Four CDs in this new box set tell the diverse Disney story – of Timeless Classics, Modern Classics, Television Classics, and Theme Park Classics.
Various Artists, Released! The Human Rights Concerts 1986-1998 (Shout! Factory) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel, Miles Davis, U2, Sting and Lou Reed are among the artists who raised their voices in song for Amnesty International’s concerts over the years. A 6-DVD box set contains the original concert films and a plethora of bonus material, while the 2-CD version offers audio highlights from the box set.
Various Artists, Verve – The Sound of America: The Singles Collection (Verve) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
The Sound of America isn’t a complete singles overview for the legendary jazz label, but it brings together five CDs and 100 tracks from artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Bill Evans, Louis Armstrong, Stan Getz and Diana Krall.
