This week’s Release Round-Up has box sets and deluxe editions a-plenty…

The Pretty Things, Bouquets from a Cloudy Sky (Snapper) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

This box set is much in the style of last year’s Small Faces set Here Come the Nice, and contains 11 studio albums on CD with 42 bonus tracks, two rarities CDs with 45 previously unreleased tracks, 2 DVDs including a new documentary by Reelin’ in the Years Productions, a 10-inch replica acetate disc, posters, an art print, and a 100-page hardcover book!  In short, this looks to be the ultimate tribute to the hard-rocking Brit band!

Simple Minds, Sparkle in the Rain: Super Deluxe Edition (Universal U.K.) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

This new 4CD / 1DVD Super Deluxe Box Set of the Scottish band’s 1983 breakthrough LP expands that album to massive size, adding rare B-sides and extended mixes; BBC sessions; and a previously unreleased Glasgow Barrowlands concert.  The DVD presents promotional videos; Top Of The Pops and Oxford Road Show appearances; and DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround mixes of the album plus the album in high-resolution stereo.  The enclosed booklet boasts liner notes and interviews as well as track-by-track annotations and a replica concert program.  Whew!  If this package offers too much Sparkle, there’s also a single-CD remaster, an expanded 2-CD Deluxe Edition, a Blu-ray Audio disc with the hi-rez mixes, and a vinyl reissue of the original LP!  Access all these iterations at the above Amazon links!

Game Theory, Real Nighttime (Omnivore) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Omnivore continues its celebration of Game Theory with a 30th Anniversary reissue of Real Nighttime.  The Mitch Easter-produced album is expanded with 13 bonus tracks (10 previously unissued) including covers of songs by Gerry Rafferty and Queen.  Real Nighttime will be available on CD and digital download, as well as on a translucent red LP of the original album sequence (with download card for entire CD program).  This release includes rare photos and an interview with Easter and series co-producer Pat Thomas, as well as notes from Byron Coley and a remembrance from Carl Newman of The New Pornographers.  In addition, first 300 copies of the vinyl ordered directly from omnivorerecordings.com come with an original vintage 1980s flexidisc featuring a unique version of the song “Dead Center” – these flexidiscs were made for Option Magazine but never released!   Click on the banner at the top of this page to enter our special Game Theory contest LATER TODAY!

England Dan and John Ford Coley, The Atlantic Albums + (Edsel) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Edsel brings together England Dan and John Ford Coley’s four Atlantic LPs (including the hits “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” and “Love is the Answer”) on two CDs, adding three non-album bonus sides (including the Japan-only release “Keep Your Smile”) and a 36-page booklet!

Jim Croce, The Studio Album Collection and individual 2-CD album reissues (Edsel)

The Studio Album Collection: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
You Don’t Mess Around with Jim – Deluxe Edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
I Got a Name – Deluxe Edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Life and Times – Deluxe Edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Edsel reissues and repackages Jim Croce’s catalogue in a variety of releases.  All three of Croce’s ABC albums get expanded with an additional disc (studio rarities on You Don’t Mess Around with Jim and live recordings on the remaining two albums), while the 7-CD box set begins with his pre-ABC self-released debut Facets and goes through the posthumously-released I Got A Name.  Discs two and three are collaborative LPs with his wife Ingrid, and discs four, five and six represent his ABC discography. The final disc of this set features rare demo recordings. The booklet includes the lyrics and a new 5000-word note by Alan Robinson. The bonus discs from the individual reissues of the ABC albums are not included in the box.

The Notations, Still Here: 1967-1973 (Numero Group) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Numero collects the best of the Chicago R&B vocal group, produced by Syl Johnson and Curtis Mayfield, illustrating the group’s musical transition from smooth ballads to socially-conscious soul.

Basia, London Warsaw New York (Deluxe Edition) (Cherry Pop) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

1989’s U.S. Top 20 album London Warsaw New York gets the expanded treatment from Cherry Pop, revisiting the Polish singer-songwriter’s biggest U.S. hit “Cruising for Bruising” as well as “Baby You’re Mine” and her rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do.” This 2-CD deluxe edition includes all of the related single versions, B-sides, remixes, and alternate versions that were released during the promotion of the original album.  In addition, you’ll find instrumental versions and four previously unreleased demos from Basia’s archive, plus a 16-page booklet with liner notes, track annotations from Basia and Danny White (both of whom were members of pop combo Matt Bianco), written contributions from the album’s mixer Phil Harding, photos, illustrated discography, and lyrics!  Watch for full coverage of this title soon!

Anthony Phillips, The Geese and the Ghost (2-CD/1-DVD Deluxe Edition) (Esoteric) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Esoteric rediscovers the 1977 solo debut of founding Genesis guitarist Anthony Phillips on this lavish 3-disc set.  Featuring the participation of Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins, John Hackett (Steve’s brother), Viv Mcauliffe, Jack Lancaster and others, The Geese and the Ghost has an epic feel similar to Genesis’ best early works.  It’s been newly remastered from the original master tapes by Simon Heyworth and includes a new 5.1 surround mix of the album by Andy Myles and Simon Heyworth on DVD, plus a CD of demos and early versions. This clamshell mini-box set also premieres both sides of an abortive single from 1973, “Silver Song” and “Only Your Love,” both of which feature Phil Collins as lead vocalist.