Friday, Dec. 12, 2003 | 8:40 a.m.
For a music fan, there's nothing better than opening up a gift box only to find ... another box inside!
Over the past 20 years boxed CD sets have become as much of a holiday tradition as menorahs and mistletoe. Virtually every major musical artist has released one, if not several, such collections chronicling their career.
As technology has changed, so have the contents of boxed sets. Several collections released in 2003 include not only audio material, but also video footage, on the increasingly popular DVD medium.
There's something for practically every taste in music among this year's boxed sets, from jazz to soul to all forms of rock.
If you don't see anything suited for the people on your holiday shopping list, though, fear not. Most of the old classics are still available, from Bruce Springsteen's "Live 1975-85" three-CD concert compilation to Led Zeppelin's four-disc self-titled career retrospective.
We begin our look at this year's choices with our annual Pick of the Year:
This breathtaking four-disc box is recommended for anyone who enjoys modern rock, or for those ready to break from their old classic rock albums and sample something a bit more current.
Be forewarned that the word "punk" is used rather loosely. Far from a simple accumulation of hits by the mohawked Brits of the late '70s, "No Thanks!" amasses prime cuts by acts linked only by a do-it-yourself aesthetic and a desire to take rock 'n' roll to an entirely new place.
True to form, the genre's most identifiable outfit, the Sex Pistols, declined to take part. But plenty of the genre's other seminal bands did play ball: The Clash, Ramones, Stooges and Buzzcocks, to name a few.
The true value of Rhino Records' latest collection, however, rests with the inclusion of many relatively obscure acts. The Adverts, Dead Boys, Sham 69 and The Only Ones might not be household names, but their contributions rank among the scene's most memorable.
The four discs are laid out in rough chronological order, from the roots of punk on Disc 1 (The Damned, The Modern Lovers, Richard Hell & The Voidoids) to its evolution into new wave on Disc 4 (Elvis Costello, The Cure, Joe Jackson). The liner notes also provide an excellent account of the punk movement, making this one of rock's all-time killer boxes.
Cost: $55-$60.
The other 2003 boxed sets we had the opportunity to review:
One of the great American swing bandleaders gets the deluxe treatment from Sony /Legacy. This four-disc set covers Basie's work on Columbia Records from 1936 through 1951, and includes an entire CD of unreleased live and radio performances.
The 90 tracks are presented smartly, beginning with Basie's smaller ensembles and ending with his years at the helm of his world-famous orchestra. The sound hisses at times (no surprise given the audio limitations of the source material) but that shouldn't prevent any serious fan of the Count, or anyone who enjoys early jazz, from picking this up.
Cost: $40-$45.
It's too soon to tell whether Campbell's DUI arrest last month will hurt or help sales of this October release, but it certainly has put the Rhinestone Cowboy's name back in the news just in time for the holidays.
Campbell's first boxed set is a four-disc affair, three collecting his best-loved tracks and a fourth presenting live cuts. Of particular note is a medley of Beach Boys hits, recorded 12 years after the country singer's short stint in that band ended.
Cost: $55-$65.
Chicago: "Chicago: The Box"
Say this for Rhino Records: It doesn't do boxed sets halfway. Chicago's retrospective is a mammoth six-disc affair, covering the group's run in and out -- and then in and out again -- of public consciousness.
The first three discs span the years before the death of founding guitarist/vocalist Terry Kath, when horns gloriously graced such rock anthems as "Beginnings" and "25 or 6 to 4."
The latter portion is filled with softer stuff, including '80s hits "Hard Habit to Break" and "You're the Inspiration." Disc 6 is a DVD featuring early live footage.
Cost: $55-$65.
Nat King Cole: "The Classic Singles"
Compiling 101 high-charting singles from 1942 through 1966, this four-disc set loomed as a bonanza for Cole fans when its release was announced early this year. But it has since come under considerable fire.
Many have complained about Capitol's lackluster mastering process. Some have lamented the selection of mono sources over stereo masters for several cuts. And still others have questioned the tracklist itself, pointing out that several of Cole's hits were skipped over.
Cost: $50-$60.
Culture Club: "Culture Club"
Another case of band overdose. Who, other than the most crazed Boy George fanatic, really needs four discs of Culture Club, a group that barely managed to escape one-hit-wonder status in the mid-1980s?
That said, the 74-track set truly is a treasure trove for serious fans of the new-wave outfit, filled with unreleased alternate versions and several Boy George solo concoctions.
Cost: $50-$55.
Miles Davis: "The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions"
Sony's massive Miles Davis reissues project -- the greatest thing to happen to jazz music during the past decade -- trucks on with yet another boxed set release.
This one expands the trumpeter's 1971 fusion classic, "A Tribute to Jack Johnson," from a single two-track LP to a comprehensive five-disc motherlode. That may sound wildly superfluous to some, but the extra material -- recorded during 16 weeks of sessions in 1970 -- is every bit as essential as the original album.
The playing, which includes contributions from guitarist John McLaughlin and pianists Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett, is magnificently hypnotic, and superb packaging and informative liner notes complete one of the year's most successful archival releases.
Cost: $55-$65.
Miles Davis: "In Person Friday and Saturday Nights at the Blackhawk, Complete"
Pair this up with the "Jack Johnson" set, and you begin to get a sense of Davis' amazing stylistic range. Where that material is heavy, funky and electric, "In Person" presents a more traditional jazz approach, a tight quintet performing in a live club. Originally released as two single albums -- one each from April 21 and April 22, 1961 -- both Blackhawk nights have been doubled to two discs. Sample one as an individual two-CD set or take the plunge and go for the full four-disc box.
Cost: $35-$40.
Neil Diamond: "Stages: Performances 1970-2002"
Local Diamond fans will almost certainly want this all-live collection, as Discs 1 and 2 chronicle a complete MGM Grand Garden concert from Dec. 27. The show finds the popular singer in fine form, blazing through such hits as "America," "Sweet Caroline" and "Cracklin' Rosie."
Discs 3 and 4 chronicle Diamond's touring career, Disc 5 presents live Christmas material and Disc 6 offers a DVD glimpse at his onstage prowess. Obviously, this one's for Neil aficionados only.
Cost: $45.
Duran Duran: "The Singles 81-85"
On the surface, this 13-CD package may seem a bit ridiculous. But further inspection reveals a well-thought-out, cleverly packaged collection.
All 13 singles from the band's formative years are presented in individual paper sleeves, each with identical artwork from its original 7-inch counterpart. Several choice tracks ("Late Bar," "Khanada" and "Faster Than Light" among them) are exclusive to this release, making it a must-have for any serious Duranie.
Cost: $40-$45.
Bob Dylan: "The Limited Edition Hybrid SACD Set"
Sony's long-rumored Dylan reissues project begins with a big bang, 16 discs worth to be exact. This set presents 15 of the folk-rocker's catalog releases, from the absolute classics ("Highway 61 Revisited," "Blonde on Blonde," "Blood on the Tracks") to a few less essential pieces ("Street Legal," "Slow Train Coming," "Oh Mercy").
If you're hoping for unreleased gems, look elsewhere. The albums are presented as-is, save for some beefed-up liner notes and a bit more artwork.
The real revelation here is the dramatic sound improvement of the dual-layered discs, which contain both remastered CD and further upgraded Super Audio-CD versions of each. Several also include SACD surround sound renditions.
All 15 albums are also available individually. But if you're a Dylan diehard who will just end up buying them all, save yourself some cash and splurge for the box. Oh, and start saving up for round two next year.
Cost: $210-$225.
Guided By Voices: "Hardcore UFOs"
In an ideal world, every band would release this type of boxed set, one that rewards loyal listeners with a cornucopia of new delights.
For their third box in 10 years, the incredibly prolific indie-rock veterans present six discs chock full of unreleased and hard-to-find tracks. Highlights include a live compilation, the first CD release of debut EP "Forever Since Breakfast" and a DVD version of Guided By Voices' entertaining "Watch Me Jumpstart" rockumentary.
Newcomers should start elsewhere, perhaps with the band's new "Best Of" single disc (included as Disc 1 here with improved sequencing). If you're already a GBV devotee, however, motor your way straight to "Hardcore UFOs."
Cost: $50-$60.
Joni Mitchell: "The Complete Geffen Recordings"
Folk singer/songwriters were hardly en vogue during the 1980s, and Mitchell may have been the ultimate example of a talent lost in time. Throughout the decade, critics derided her for failing to produce sizable radio hits, many writing her off completely.
Listening to the four albums collected here -- 1982's "Wild Things Run Fast," 1985's "Dog Eat Dog," 1988's "Chalk in a Rain Storm" and 1991's "Night Ride Home" -- it's clear Mitchell had lost none of her wondrous songwriting prowess. Far from it, she was busy blending elements of jazz and pop, along with world beats, into her compositions.
A must for Mitchell fans, particularly since all four LPs have been commercially unavailable for a number of years.
Cost: $55-$60.
Motley Crue: "Music to Crash Your Car to"
You really have to wonder what the Crue were thinking with that title. Either the quartet has forgotten all about singer Vince Neil's 1983 car crash (unlikely), which killed the passenger in his vehicle, or they've hit a new low in marketing techniques (probably the case).
This four-disc set collects the first four albums by Los Angeles' quintessential hair-metal outfit, along with a slew of rare tracks, including an alternate "Leathur" mix of 1981 debut LP "Too Fast For Love."
It would seem to be a comprehensive look at Motley's fast and furious career. Which begs the question, why is the box labeled "Volume One?"
Cost: $45-$55.
New Order: "Retro"
The British electronic-rock wizards take a unique approach to boxed sets, allowing four band associates (mainly journalists and DJs) to select tracks for one disc apiece.
That leads to some interesting sequences, particularly on John McCready's "Fan" CD (the others are titled "Pop," "Club" and "Live"). But it also allows for a bit too much overlapping -- "Crystal," for example, appears three times -- and somehow resulted in the omission of several New Order classics ("Thieves Like Us" and "Subculture," to name two).
An interesting listen, but less-serious fans should opt for 1987's two-disc masterpiece, "Substance," or this year's "International" single-CD collection.
Cost: $45-$55.
Elvis Presley: "Close Up"
It's hard to believe that after all these years and all those posthumous collections, there could still be 89 unreleased Presley tracks in the vaults. Well, apparently there were, until BMG unleashed them this year on this four-disc windfall for Elvis fanatics.
Some of the songs on Disc 1, such as "Jailhouse Rock" and "Treat Me Nice," might look familiar, but these are alternate stereo masters which have never seen the light of day.
Disc 2 collects rare material from four of the King's movies -- "G.I. Blues," "Blue Hawaii," "Flaming Star" and "Wild in the Country" -- while Disc 3 houses outtakes from 1960s Nashville sessions.
Finally, Disc 4 may be worth the price of admission alone, presenting an entire live concert from San Antonio, Texas, April 18, 1972.
Cost: $55-$65.
Prince: "One Nite Alone ... Live!"
Technically, this one was released in 2002, but it hit shelves too late to be an option for any but the most last-minute holiday shoppers. As its name suggests, Prince's first box is all live, culled from a string of spring 2002 concert appearances.
The three discs feature funky workouts and soulful ballads, but don't be surprised by the dearth of familiar titles. As the Artist himself puts it early in the set, "For those of you expecting to get your 'Purple Rain' on, you're in the wrong house." Fun, but probably only for Prince loyalists.
Cost: $60.
Spinners: "The Chrome Collection"
The definitive word on Detroit's smoothest soul outfit. The Spinners' Motown and Atlantic years are covered thoroughly over three discs, righting the wrongs of previous greatest-hits efforts.
The 62 tracks are presented in chronological order, from Disc 1's early '70s hits "It's a Shame" and "One of a Kind (Love Affair)" to Disc 3's disco-era remakes "Working My Way Back to You"/"Forgive Me, Girl" and "Cupid"/ "I've Loved You for a Long Time." A sound holiday purchase.
Cost: $40-$50.
Talking Heads: "Once in a Lifetime"
Easily the most visually intriguing multidisc set of 2003. The three audio CDs and one DVD are housed in a slim hardback book that spans more than 2 1/2 feet when open.
The book's covers are adorned with colorful artwork inside and out, and its 80 pages include a band timeline, an array of wonderful photos and several outstanding essays.
Sadly, the discs themselves are short on rare material; of the five previously unissued tracks, four are simply alternate versions of album cuts. Why not include material from long out-of-print live record "The Name of This Band is the Talking Heads"?
The "Storytelling Giant" DVD collects the Heads' 13 videos and links them together with a series of strange non-sequitur comments and tales by several random individuals.
In the end, "Once in a Lifetime" suffers from an identity crisis common to boxed sets these days. Diehard fans will be disappointed by the lack of new material, while casual listeners will likely hunt for a more affordable collection.
Cost: $50-$55.
ZZ Top: "Chrome, Smoke & BBQ"
Texas' finest are headed to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and this four-disc retrospective helps explain why.
Tracks from the blues-rock trio's 10 pre-1991 albums are sequenced chronologically, with hits early ("La Grange," "Tush") and late ("Velcro Fly," "My Head's in Mississippi") accounted for. Also included are three cuts from guitarist Billy Gibbons' first band, the Moving Sidewalks, and six hard-to-find ZZ Top cuts.
Housed in a miniature replica of a Texas-style BBQ shack, the set includes a sheet of "Cut 'N' Play" ZZ Top paper dolls and liner notes featuring comments on each track by the band's three members. A fun gift, particularly for someone without much Top on their plate already.
Cost: $45-$55.
Various Artists: "Rhythm, Love and Soul: The Sexiest Songs of R&B"
Shout! Records rounds up 60 soul ballads from 59 different artists (Smokey Robinson makes it twice) of the 1960s and '70s on this three-disc set.
Most of the big names are included: Aretha Franklin, the Temptations, the Supremes, the Jackson 5, Otis Redding, the Four Tops, James Brown and Gladys Knight and the Pips among them.
"Rhythm, Love and Soul" is most valuable, however, for collecting hits by artists whose legacies have faded over time, such as the Delfonics, the Emotions and Dobie Gray.
Cost: $35-$45.
Other noteworthy 2003 Boxed Sets: Curtis Amy -- "Mosaic Select: Curtis Amy;" Bunny Berigan -- "The Complete Brunswick, Parlophone and Vocalion Sessions of Bunny Berigan;" Bjork -- "Live Box 1993-2002;" David Bowie -- "Sound + Vision" (expanded reissue); Buzzcocks -- "Inventory: Singles Collection;" Johnny Cash -- "Unearthed;" Paul Chambers -- "Mosaic Select: Paul Chambers;" The Doors -- "Complete Studio Recordings" (reissue); Roy Eldridge -- "The Complete Verve Roy Eldridge Studio Sessions;" Bennie Green -- "Mosaic Select: Bennie Green;" The Hollies -- "Long Road Home 1963-03;" Carmell Jones -- "Mosaic Select: Carmell Jones;" Grachan Moncur III -- "Mosaic Select: Grachan Moncur III;" Gerry Mulligan -- "The Complete Verve Gerry Mulligan Concert Band Sessions;" Charlie Parker -- "The Complete Verve Master Takes;" John Patton -- "Mosaic Select: John Pa tton;" Duke Pearson -- "Mosaic Select: Duke Pearson;" Queensryche -- "Revolution Calling;" Paul Simon -- "American Tunes;" ! Nina Simone -- "Four Women: The Nina Simone Phillips Recordings;" Slayer -- "Soundtrack to the Apocalypse;" The Stranglers -- "Singles Collection Vol. 2;" Jack Teagarden -- "The Complete Roulette Jack Teagarden Sessions;" Randy Weston -- "Mosaic Select: Randy Weston;" Various Artists -- "Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues;" Various Artists -- "The Folk Years: A Singers and Songwriters Collection."
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