Out This Week / 30 September 2013

John Martyn  / The Island Years (18-disc box set)

This week’s mega-set is the John Martyn box The Island Years. 17 CDs collect all his Island-era albums with bonus tracks, including previously unreleased mixes, outtakes and unheard songs. Also comes with a DVD, hardback book, poster and more. 

The Grateful Dead / Sunshine Daydream (3CD+DVD and Vinyl box sets)

Very much looking forward to this Grateful Dead box. You get the full Sunshine Daydream concert from August 1972 (across three CDs) plus a DVD that includes the previously unreleased concert film with new stereo and 5.1 audio mixes. A vinyl set is also available. 

Rush / The Studio Albums 1989-2007 box set

A seven-CD box set of Rush‘s Atlantic albums from 1989-2007, this Studio Albums collection also includes a newly remixed version of Vapor Trails which is supposed to be a massive improvement on the original (it’s also available separately). 

Be Bop Deluxe  / At The BBC 1974-1978 box set

A 3CD+DVD box set of Be Bop Deluxe‘s BBC sessions. The DVD looks particularly good with lots of footage from The Old Grey Whistle Test and the BBC Sight and Sound in Concert series. 

Crosby, Stills & Nash / CSN (repackaged box set)

Following on from the Woodstock and Last Waltz sets, comes a similarly repackaged Crosby, Stills & Nash box. Although the presentation is different, CSN contains exactly the same tracks (77 in total) as before – a healthy mix of demos, outtakes, studio and live versions. 

Madonna / Something To Remember (Vinyl Reissue)

Something To Remember, Madonna‘s excellent 1995 collection of ballads and romantic numbers, gets a vinyl reissue. The somewhat forgotten single You’ll See is a highlight. 

ABC  / Skyscraping  (2CD reissue)

ABC‘s 1997 album gets a modest, but welcome two-CD reissue.