Out This Week / on 11 November 2016

Pink Floyd / The Early Years (27-disc box)

This giant journey through Pink Floyd‘s Early Years is probably the most expensive music box set you’ve ever pre-ordered. However the depth and reach of the material which features unreleased tracks, BBC Radio Sessions, remixes, outtakes and alternative versions, live and TV performances and original quad mixes is undoubtedly impressive. In total, over 25 hours of audio and video performance. 

Bob Dylan / The 1966 Live Recordings (36CD box set)

Someone on the SDE facebook page asked (presumably rhetorically) of this set “Who has got the time to listen to 36 CDs?”. The answer to that question is that you have the rest of your life, which is hopefully a long time! This Bob Dylan box set contains “every known recording from his legendary 1966 tour” and is an important historical document that will be treasured by many. 

David Bowie / Legacy

No David Bowie fan needs another ‘greatest hits’, but on the other hand us Bowie fans love to buy Bowie releases! Legacy does offer a few slivers for collectors, including rare radio edits of Lazarus and I Can’t Give Everything Away as well as a new mix of Life On Mars. 

Sting / 57th & 9th (new album)

Sting‘s first ‘proper’ rock/pop album since 2003’s Sacred Love is released this week. The contradiction in terms that is the CD+DVD ‘super deluxe’ stayed at £51 on Amazon UK for ages before becoming ‘unavailable’. Best advice is to forget that and go for the reasonably priced one-CD deluxe edition. 

The Beatles / Live at the Hollywood Bowl (vinyl)

Two months after the CD edition comes the vinyl version of the remixed and expanded version of The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl. That cover doesn’t get any better. The blu-ray of the film is also out on 21 November.  

Simple Minds  / Acoustic

This better-than-expected collection of “stripped down and re-imagined” reinterpretations of Simple Minds classics includes Someone Somewhere in Summertime, Alive and Kicking, Don’t You (Forget About Me) and Promised You A Miracle featuring fellow Scot, KT Tunstall.  

Crowded House / 2CD Deluxe Reissues

These Crowded House deluxe sets were supposed to be released last Friday, but were postponed for a week at the last minute. The SDE interview with Jeremy Ansell (co-producer of these sets) is recommended reading.  

The Band (and friends) / The Last Waltz

Various 40th anniversary editions of the classic live extravaganza that is The Last Waltz are being released, including a 6LP vinyl version of the complete 54-track (as issued on 4CDs). 

The Rolling Stones / Havana Moon (various editions)

The Rolling Stones‘ gig in Cuba in March this year is celebrated with the usual array of editions and options including 3LP+DVD and 4-disc deluxe book set. 

Robert Palmer / Collected (2LP vinyl)

Originally an intelligent 3CD career overview, the Robert Palmer Collected compilation is ported to double vinyl where is loses the rarities but remains a decent proposition. 

Temple Of The Dog (2LP vinyl)

The double-vinyl version of Seattle supergroup Temple of the Dog‘s only album is issued this week after the September release of the other reissue variants. 

Black Sabbath / Paranoid (super deluxe edition)

This four-disc super deluxe edition of Black Sabbath‘s 1970 album includes two live concerts, a hardcover book and bizarrely, the quad mix delivered in stereo on CD. 

Ennio Morricone / Morricone 60

A new collection from the film music maestro. Morricone 60 is “conducted, recorded and curated” by the man himself and features new recordings with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. 

Thomas Dolby / Original Album Series

This new budget 5CD box set contains Thomas Dolby‘s entire studio album discography apart from 2011’s A Map of the Floating City. 

• • UK Order: Original Album Series
• • USA Order: Original Album Series
• • GERMANY Order Original Album Series

Various Artists / Lost Highway (vinyl)

This fantastic soundtrack to a typically confusing film from David Lynch features music from David Bowie, Trent Reznor, The Smashing Pumpkins, Lou Reed and Marilyn Manson, as well as contributions from Lynch’s longtime musical partner Angelo Badalamenti. 

Yoko Ono / The Plastic Ono Band (vinyl reissue)

Yoko Ono‘s 1971 album which featured no less than John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Klaus Voorman and Ornette Coleman is reissued on vinyl (and CD). Other Ono titles also available.

• • UK Order: The Plastic Ono Band
• • USA Order: The Plastic Ono Band
• • GERMANY Order: The Plastic Ono Band