Music gift guide for this Christmas

Struggling for last minute ideas for ‘that’ special person in your life. Too much music, too much choice, too many formats?! Here’s our music Christmas shopping guide, to help navigate the choppy waters of buying music for friends and family…

These are recommendations based on our reviews and experience of these sets. We’ve provided UK and US amazon links after each item and kept prices in pounds, for simplicity. There may be some variance in US pricing.

Eighties pop-freak:

On-a-budget (£5 – 20)

• • Swing Out Sister – It’s Better To Travel 2CD Deluxe [UK – US]
• • Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Frankie Said [UK – US]
• • Bronski Beat – Age Of Consent 2CD Deluxe [UK – US]

Splashing out (£20-70)

• • Level 42 – Running In The Family Super Deluxe [UK – US]
• • Michael Jackson – Bad 25  Legacy Edition 2CD+DVD [UK – US]
• • INXS – Kick Super Deluxe Edition 3CD+DVD [UK – US]

The Indie boy (or girl)

On-a-budget (£5 – 20)

• • The Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream deluxe [UK – US]
• • Luke Haines – Outsider/In 2CD ‘best of’ [UK – US]
• • Manic Street Preachers – Generation Terrorists Legacy [UK – US]

Splashing out (£20 – 70)

• • World Party – Arkeology 5CD set [UK – US]
• • Suede – Live At The Royal Albert Hall deluxe [UK – US]
• • Rage Against The Machine – Super Deluxe [UK – US]

The 1970s Classic Rock fan

On-a-budget (£5 – 20)

• • Pink Floyd – The Wall Experience Edition (3CD) [UK – US]
• • Led Zeppelin – Celebration Day (CD+DVD) [UK – US]
• • Neil Young – Official Release Series box [UK – US]

Splashing out (£20-£70)

• Joni Mitchell – The Studio Albums 1968-1979 box [UK – US]
• Roxy Music – The Complete Studio Recordings box [UK – US]
• T-Rex – Electric Warrior Super Deluxe [UK – US]

The R&B/Soul nut

On-a-budget (£5 – 20)

• • Roberta Flack – Original Album Series (5CDs) [UK – US]
• • Otis Redding – Otis Blue: Otis Sings Soul (blue vinyl) [UK]
• • Booker T. & The MG’s – Original Album Series (5CDs) [UK – US]

Splashing out (£20-£70)

• • Bill Withers – Complete Sussex and Columbia Albums [UK – US]
• • Atlantic Soul Legends – Various artists 20CD box [UK – US]
• • Amy Winehouse – At The BBC box set [UK]

The Sixties swinger

On-a-budget (£5 – £20)

• • The Monkees – Music Box 4CD set [UK]
• • The Beatles – Sgt Pepper (Vinyl Stereo remaster) [UK – US]
• • The Rolling Stones – GRRR! (3CD) [UK – US]

Splashing out (£20-£70)

• • The Beatles – Magical Mystery Tour Box Set [UK – US]
• • The Searchers – Hearts In Their Eyes box set [UK – US]
• • Velvet Underground & Nico – Super Deluxe [UK – US]