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! 2014 has brought an amazing array of deluxe (and super deluxe!) special editions and box sets - plus a number of holiday-themed releases - all of which prove the vitality of music released in physical formats. We've highlighted the crème de la crème - over 40 titles! - right here to make your spirits bright, whatever your musical taste!
Bob Dylan, The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete and Raw (Columbia/Legacy)
Complete: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Raw:
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. or Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
At long last, here are the complete and unexpurgated Basement Tapes - 6 discs and over 140 songs recorded in the creatively fertile days of 1967 and 1968 by Bob Dylan, Robbie Robertson, Garth Hudson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Levon Helm. Quite simply, this treasure trove of Americana may well be the Catalogue Music Event of the Year. Joe explores the set in detail here.
The Paul McCartney Archive Collection: Wings, Venus and Mars and Wings at the Speed of Sound (Hear Music/MPL, 2014)
Venus and Mars: 2-CD/1-DVD Deluxe Book Edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / 2-CD Standard Edition: Amazon U.S. /Amazon U.K. / Gatefold Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Wings at the Speed of Sound: 2-CD/1-DVD Deluxe Book Edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / 2-CD Standard Edition: Amazon U.S. /Amazon U.K. / Gatefold Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Paul McCartney continues his Archive Collection with deluxe, bonus-packed editions of two Wings classics: 1975's Venus and Mars and 1976's Wings at the Speed of Sound! Full details including track listings and more can be found right here!
Chuck Berry, Rock and Roll Music: Any Old Way You Choose It (Bear Family) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Bear Family's massive 16-CD survey of the complete career of the rock and roll pioneer includes every single and LP track recorded in the studio by Chuck Berry plus special bonus material! This might be the ultimate gift for the rock and roller on your Christmas list this year!
Simon and Garfunkel, The Complete Albums Collection (Columbia/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
This 12-CD box includes all five of Simon & Garfunkel's stereo studio albums released between 1964 and 1970, newly remastered from first-generation analog sources plus first-time remasters of The Graduate soundtrack and 1981's The Concert in Central Park; 1972's Greatest Hits album (which contained some unique performances unavailable elsewhere); and the live concert albums from 1967, 1969 and 2004, as first released in 2002, 2008 and 2004, respectively.
The Velvet Underground: 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition (UMe)
6-CD Super Deluxe Box: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
2-CD Deluxe Edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
UMe continues its series of deluxe, hardcover book-style editions of The Velvet Underground's small but seminal discography with this 6-CD edition of the band's 1969 release including live and studio rarities. Highlights are also available in a 2-CD edition.
Bruce Springsteen, The Album Collection Vol. 1 1973-1984 (Columbia/Legacy)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Amazon MP3: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Collected here in one 8-CD or vinyl LP box set for the first time in newly-remastered editions are the artist and icon's first seven albums. It's the ultimate "Boss" collection.
Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin / Led Zeppelin II / Led Zeppelin III / Led Zeppelin IV / Houses of the Holy (Atlantic/Swan Song)
This was the year of Led Zeppelin, with the legendary band's first five albums all receiving super deluxe box sets packed with bonus material!
Led Zeppelin Super Deluxe Box Set: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Led Zeppelin II Super Deluxe Box Set: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Led Zeppelin III Super Deluxe Box Set: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Led Zeppelin IV Super Deluxe Box Set: Super Deluxe Box Set: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Houses of the Holy Super Deluxe Box Set: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Crosby Stills Nash and Young, CSNY 1974 (Rhino)
The legendary supergroup documented its so-called "Doom Tour" for its 40th anniversary in an absolutely stunning package containing 40 songs, over 3 hours of music (on CD or Blu-ray Audio), a nearly 200-page book and a bonus video DVD with eight additional performances. If much-publicized personal differences between David Crosby and Neil Young won't see the group reforming any time soon, this is the next best thing!
3 CD/1 DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Blu-ray Audio/DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Highlights Disc: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Donna Summer, Donna: The CD Collection (Driven by the Music U.K.)
The CD Collection (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
The Vinyl Collection (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
The beloved dance diva's overlooked Geffen and Atlantic oeuvre is collected on this new box set available on both CD (with bonus tracks) and vinyl!
Henry Mancini, The Classic Soundtrack Collection (RCA/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
The Classic Soundtrack Collection features 18 of Mancini's most memorable soundtrack albums for RCA, Columbia and Epic Records on nine CDs, spanning the period between 1960's High Time and 1978's Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?, and adds bonus material from vocalists including Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams and, on a previously unreleased track, the incomparable Julie Andrews.
George Harrison, The Apple Years 1968-1975 (Apple/Universal, 2014) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Here, at last, are George Harrison's complete albums for Apple Records, all beautifully remastered and featuring select bonus material. These six albums are available in a deluxe box set with a bonus DVD or as individual reissues.
The Beatles, The U.S. Albums (Apple/Capitol/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
This 13-disc box features The Fab Four's original, unique American releases on Capitol/United Artists from 1964 to 1970 (including six titles from that first year alone). Joe's review can be read right here!
The Beatles, The Beatles in Mono (Apple/UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Here it is - a massive white box filled with 14 newly-remastered vinyl LPs from the Fab Four, all in original mono - just the way the boys intended all those years ago!
The Monkees, The Monkees: Super Deluxe Edition (Rhino Handmade) (Exclusively available directly from label)
Hey, hey! It's Monkeemania all over again: Davy, Micky, Peter and Michael are back with a 3-CD expansion of their debut album featuring 100 tracks - a whopping 45 of which are previously unreleased!
Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, The Classic Albums Box / Frankie Valli, Selected Solo Works (Rhino)
In conjunction with Clint Eastwood's film adaptation of Jersey Boys, Rhino released two box sets - one with most of The Four Seasons' classic albums, and another with most of Valli's solo efforts (his Motown works are omitted) - which are essential listening for any fan of the true Jersey boys.
The Four Seasons: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Frankie Valli: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Bob Gaudio: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Jethro Tull, WarChild: 40th Anniversary Edition (Chrysalis) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
This 2-CD/2-DVD hardbound book-style set features the original WarChild album plus bonus tracks, all remixed in 5.1 and stereo by Steven Wilson, plus 10 orchestral pieces written for a proposed film soundtrack (four remixed in surround and stereo) plus flat transfers of the original LP mix, the original 4.0 quadraphonic mix, promo footage and more!
Johnny Mathis, The Global Albums Collection (Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
A Columbia artist since 1956, Johnny Mathis departed his label home just once - recording some eleven albums (ten of which were released) under the imprimatur of his own Global Records production company between 1963 and 1967, at which time he returned to Columbia. Legacy's new box set collects all eleven LPs plus two discs of singles and previously unissued rarities, plus a booklet containing album-by-album notes from Mathis. Check out Joe's review right here!
Joni Mitchell, Love Has Many Faces (Rhino) (Amazon U.S. /Amazon U.K.)
The legendary Miss Mitchell has transformed a sequence of her songs originally intended for the ballet stage into a thematically-arranged four-CD box set which doubles as a highly personal, undoubtedly idiosyncratic and always fascinating career retrospective.
Judy Garland, The Garland Variations: Songs She Recorded More Than Once (JSP) (Amazon U.S. /Amazon U.K.)
This exciting set rounds up, on five CDs and 115 tracks, songs the immortal Judy Garland recorded in the studio on multiple occasions between 1937 and 1962! Watch for a full review from Joe soon!
Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton, Just Between You and Me: The Complete Recordings 1967-1976 (Bear Family) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Bear Family has a brilliant six-disc box set chronicling the dozen-plus RCA Victor albums created by this immortal country duo, not to mention more than a dozen rare and unreleased tracks.
Elvis Presley, That's the Way It Is: Deluxe Editions (RCA/Legacy)
The King regained his crown with a 1970 stint at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, as depicted in the acclaimed documentary of the same name. A new box set features the original album on CD along with seven recorded live shows plus that documentary in two separate cuts on DVD! Don't miss Joe's full review here!
8CD/2DVD box set: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
2CD Legacy Edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
TTWII Blu-ray: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Billy Joel, A Matter of Trust: The Bridge to Russia (Columbia/Legacy)
The Piano Man's 1987 sojourn to the USSR is chronicled anew, with expansions of both the original KOHUEPT album and video program and a newly-filmed retrospective documentary on Billy's trip.
2CD/1DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
2CD/1BD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
DVD: Amazon U.S.
BD: Amazon U.S.
Frank Sinatra, London (UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
This 3-CD/1-DVD swingin' affair spans 1953-1984 and features over 50 previously unreleased tracks on CD and DVD - all dedicated to Sinatra's performances in the great city. At its centerpiece is an expanded and remastered edition of Sinatra Sings Great Songs from Great Britain, the Chairman's only studio album recorded outside of the United States! Available October 9.
Bryan Adams, Reckless: Super Deluxe Edition (A&M)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
BD Pure Audio: Amazon U.S.
2CD/DVD/BD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Bryan Adams is marking the 30th anniversary of his breakthrough Reckless with a variety of reissues including a super deluxe set with 2 CDs (featuring both studio outtakes and a previously unreleased live concert), 1 DVD (Reckless: The Movie) and a BD-Audio disc with stereo and surround mixes in high resolution.
Big Star, Live in Memphis (Omnivore)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Vinyl with Download Card: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
For the Big Star fan in your life, Omnivore has a never-before-released live concert from 1994 in both audio and video formats, featuring Alex Chilton, Jody Stephens, Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow bringing the band's classics to life!
John Denver, All of My Memories: The John Denver Collection (RCA/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
This new box set traces the beloved, late troubadour's career over four CDs and 90 songs recorded between 1964 and 1997. Joe's review can be found here!
Captain Beefheart, SUN ZOOM SPARK: 1970-1972 (Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
This new 4-CD box set revisits three albums from Don Van Vliet and his Magic Band - Lick My Decals Off, Baby, The Spotlight Kid, and Clear Spot- in freshly remastered editions, and adds a fourth disc containing fourteen previously unreleased outtakes and alternates from Beefheart and his musical cohorts.
Bee Gees, The Warner Bros. Years 1987-1991 (Warner Bros./Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
This five-disc box collates the Bee Gees' E.S.P. (1987), One (1989) and High Civilization (1991) - the first two of which have bonus tracks - and 1991's One for All live concert, released for the first time on CD.
Elton John, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: 40th Anniversary Edition (Mercury/Rocket/UMe)
Elton's classic double album comes back to glorious life with several lavish editions, featuring new covers of songs from the set, B-sides, live material and more.
1CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
4CD/1DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
1BD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
The Kinks, The Kinks Anthology (BMG/InGrooves) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
This 5-CD set due on December 16 looks to be the most comprehensive overview yet of The Kinks' storied career!
Deep Purple, Made in Japan: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Editions (Universal U.K.)
No less than six formats of the band's breakthrough live album are now available overseas. All together now: "Smooooooke on the waaaaaater!"
1CD remaster: Amazon U.K.
2CD deluxe edition: Amazon U.K.
4CD/1DVD box set: Amazon U.K. / Amazon U.S.
2LP remaster: Amazon U.K.
9LP box set: Amazon U.K.
Blu-Ray Audio: Amazon U.K.
Philadelphia International: The Collection - 2o Original Albums (Sony Music U.K.) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. )
In 2014, Sony Music announced its acquisition of all post-1975 Philadelphia International Records masters, which brought the label's entire catalogue under one roof. The celebration of Messrs. Gamble, Huff, Bell and co. began with this 20-CD box set sampling PIR's greatest releases.
Little Feat, Rad Gumbo: The Complete Warner Bros. Years 1971-1990 (Warner Bros./Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
The eclectic rock band's near two-decade run on Warner Bros. is celebrated in this new box set, featuring all the band's original studio albums, an expanded edition of the live Waiting for Columbus and a bonus disc of recordings sourced from the band's 2000 box set Hotcakes & Outtakes. Want more details? See Joe's review!
Wilco,What's Your 20 and Alpha Mike Foxtrot (Nonesuch)
What's Your 20? Essential Tracks 1994-2014 (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
Alpha Mike Foxtrot: Rarities 1994-2014:
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Nonesuch has two new collections celebrating the 20th anniversary of Chicago alt-rock band Wilco in high style! Alpha Mike Foxtrot, a new box set (4 CDs, 4 LPs or digital), brings together rare studio and live recordings culled from the band's archives. What's Your 20, the first-ever compendium of Wilco's previously released studio recordings, is also now available on 2 CDs or digital.
Tears for Fears, Songs from the Big Chair: Super Deluxe Edition (Mercury)
Box Set: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
2-CD Deluxe Edition (Discs 1 & 2 of box set only): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Vinyl (Original Album): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Blu-ray Audio (Stereo and 5.1 Mixes): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Mercury has a variety of formats coming for Tears for Tears' landmark 1985 album, including a 4-CD/2-DVD box set!
Ronnie Milsap, The Complete RCA Albums Collection (RCA/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
This 21-CD set chronicles the Country Music Hall of Famer's career at RCA Records, from 1973 to 1991, plus his return to the label in 2006!
Michael Bloomfield, From His Head to His Heart to His Hands (Columbia/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
One of the best (and most unfairly obscure) guitarists of the 1960s gets his due in a new career-spanning box set featuring three CDs of favorites and rarities and a new film about the late performer, who played with Bob Dylan, Al Kooper, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and others. Joe explores the set here.
Johnny Winter, True to the Blues: The Johnny Winter Story (Columbia/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
This 4-CD, 58-track retrospective is the perfect way to remember the late, great blues guitar legend. Joe's review can be found here.
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, The Complete Epic Recordings Collection (Epic/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. )
Epic and Legacy have a true "Texas flood" with twelve discs from guitar hero Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble! Here's Joe's full-length review!
Various Artists, Blue Note: Uncompromising Expression (Blue Note 0600753550939, 2014) (Amazon U.S. /Amazon U.K.)
This 5-CD, 75-track box set is the perfect gift for a jazz collector or novice, featuring key tracks from the venerable label's long history!
Holland-Dozier-Holland: The Complete 45s Collection: Invictus/Hot Wax/Music Merchant 1969-1977 (Harmless) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
The H-D-H compositions/production triumverate didn't stop after the trio left Motown; Brian, Lamont and Eddie in fact created several labels and did an awful lot of work for them, as evidenced by this massive eight-disc box set of their works for three labels through the late '60s and '70s.
Various Artists, Chicago Hit Factory: The Vee-Jay Story 1953-1966 (Charly) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
This import box set tells the story of great R&B label Vee-Jay Records via a whopping 10 discs, 269 tracks (including 112 hits) by more than 120 different artists, and a 72-page book. Artists include Jerry Butler, The Four Seasons, The Beatles, Gene Chandler, Little Richard, Betty Everett, The Dells and The Standells! Jazz, gospel, blues and doo-wop all figure prominently along with the label's trademark soul and R&B sounds. The full track listing can be found here.
Various Soundtracks, The Legacy Collection (Walt Disney Records)
2014 saw the first four releases in Walt Disney Records' ongoing series celebrating the finest music to emerge from the House of Mouse: The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Sleeping Beauty and The Little Mermaid. This "practically perfect" archival reissue series will continue with more film and theme park music through mid-2015 (at least). Click on each film name above for ordering information on each title!
Ray Parker Jr. & Run-DMC, Ghostbusters: Stay Puft Edition Super Deluxe Vinyl (Legacy)
The Marshmallow Man is back! The Stay Puft Super Deluxe Edition Vinyl is a limited edition collectible that every Ghostbusters fan will want to take home! Co-produced by The Second Disc's own Mike Duquette, this set contains the No. 1 hit single "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr. and the "Ghostbusters" rap by Run-DMC for the film's hit sequel, with both tracks on a white 12" single in a deluxe, puffy, package that smells like marshmallows!
Robert Goulet: The Complete Columbia Christmas Recordings (Amazon U.S. /Amazon U.K.) / Andy Williams and the Williams Brothers: The Williams Brothers Christmas Album (Amazon U.S. /Amazon U.K.) / The Statler Brothers: The Complete Mercury Christmas Recordings Featuring the Albums "Christmas Card" & "Christmas Present" (Amazon U.S. /Amazon U.K. ) / The Brothers Four: Merry Christmas (Expanded Edition) (Amazon U.S. /Amazon U.K. ) / The Kingston Trio: The Last Month of the Year (Amazon U.S./Amazon U.K. ) / Rosemary Clooney: In Songs from the Paramount Pictures Production of Irving Berlin's White Christmas (Expanded Edition) (Amazon U.S. /Amazon U.K.) / Frank DeVol and the Rainbow Strings: The Old Sweet Songs of Christmas (Amazon U.S. /Amazon U.K.)
Real Gone Music reigns as the top purveyor of classic Christmas music this year with no less than seven Christmas albums including rare holiday treats from Rosemary Clooney, The Statler Brothers, The Kingston Trio, Frank DeVol and The Brothers Four! And that's not all. We're particularly excited about two of Real Gone's releases. Joe compiled and annotated Robert Goulet's Complete Columbia Christmas Recordings featuring both of Goulet's classic holiday LPs plus a host of bonus tracks, and he has also written the notes for the first CD reissue from the original master tapes of Andy Williams and the Williams Brothers' Christmas Album!
Various Artists, The Classic Christmas Albums (Legacy)
Legacy is also keeping the Christmas music flame burning with a new batch of Classic Christmas Albums, and the Johnny Mathis and Frank Sinatra titles both feature previously unreleased and new-to-CD music unavailable anywhere else! Click on the above link for full track listings and order links for all eight titles from artists also including Barbra Streisand, Perry Como, Il Divo and more! And don't forget to check out The Legacy Vault, where more rare Christmas titles are available as digital downloads.
Rough Shop, Lit Up Like a Christmas Tree (Perdition Records)
Last but not least, we were thrilled to receive an early gift this year from one of our readers! Spencer Marquart was kind enough to share the latest release from his band Rough Shop: a new holiday album entitled Lit Up Like a Christmas Tree. We were lit up by this festive, eclectic treat from Spencer (drums/percussion/vocals) and his cohorts in Rough Shop - Andy Ploof (guitars/vocals), Anne Tkach (bass/percussion/vocals), John Wendland (guitar/bouzouki/vocals), and Jon Parsons (piano/organ/vocals). Lit Up is a soulful and sparkling collection for the holidays, featuring melodic original songs ranging from the jovial (the hip, finger-snapping "Santa, What You Got in the Bag?" and the funky "Soul of Christmas") to the melancholy ("Sick Again"). The album is made even more special with the inclusion of some well-chosen covers. Anne Tkach channels Carole King on Goffin and King's rocking "I Wish You a Merry Christmas," while a shimmering cover of Marvin Gaye's "Purple Snowflakes" conjures a Motown groove. The St. Louis band also revisits Stackridge's "North St. Grande" and reinvents Lambert, Hendricks and Ross' '"Gimme That Wine" as, appropriately, "Gimme That Twine." The band is appearing on Saturday, December 6 at Off Broadway in St. Louis for its annual Holiday Extravaganza. Based on Lit Up Like a Christmas Tree, attendees will be in store for an evening of Yuletide merriment and impeccable musicianship!
