Case of the Spins: CD fans dizzy with holiday gift options

Spencer Patterson

Monday, Dec. 20, 2004 | 8:46 a.m.

The age of digital downloading is upon us, but plenty of music fans still prefer to get their tunes the traditional way: on compact discs they can see and touch.

For such CD enthusiasts, there's often no better holiday gift than a boxed set, maybe a multiple-disc collection they've been eyeing in record stores for months. This year's boxed set options include something for virtually every taste in music, from multi-artist compilations focusing on college rock, hip-hop or bluegrass to releases centered on a single artist, be it Miles Davis, Michael Jackson or Nirvana.

Of course, if 2004's options don't excite you, most of music's classic boxes are still available, including Eric Clapton's "Crossroads," Led Zeppelin's self-titled retrospective and Bruce Springsteen's "Live 1975-1985."

We begin our annual boxed set roundup with a look at our Pick of the Year: Various artists: "Left of the Dial: Dispatches From the '80s Underground" Many music fans are quick to dismiss the 1980s as the era of Madonna, Hall & Oates and hair metal, but this four-disc, 82-track Rhino Records box offers powerful proof to the contrary.

The follow-up to last year's excellent Rhino punk primer ("No Thanks! The '70s Punk Rebellion"), "Left of the Dial" gathers songs you aren't likely to hear on retro '80s radio.

Not that some of the names won't be familiar to most. R.E.M., the Cure, Depeche Mode, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, New Order, the Pretenders, the Smiths, Sonic Youth, the Pixies and Jane's Addiction, for example, are all represented.

Most of the set's acts, however, operated well outside the mainstream, instead serving as the soundtrack to the decade's spectacularly diverse college rock scene.

From the shoegazing of the Jesus and Mary Chain and the Stone Roses to the hardcore of Minor Threat and Black Flag, from the dream-pop of the Chameleons UK and the Sugarcubes to the post-punk of Husker Du and Mission of Burma, "Left of the Dial" crosses the Atlantic Ocean and shifts styles at a dizzying pace.

Liner notes include essays on the period, along with detailed tracklistings for those interested in delving further into some of the source material.

So if you're tired of "99 Luftballoons" and "Tainted Love," tune to "Left of the Dial" and hear more of, as Rhino puts it, "Music that mattered from the decade that didn't."

Cost: $50-$55.

The Beatles: "The Capitol Albums Vol. 1"

The long-deleted U.S. versions of the Fab Four's first albums make their modern debut here with "Meet the Beatles!" "The Beatles' Second Album," "Something New" and "Beatles '65" reproduced on CD and housed individually in cardboard sleeves.

Why should anyone care? Aside from diehard collectors or those steeped in Beatlemania nostalgia, they probably shouldn't. The songs are all available on the proper (U.K.) albums, and though sound is somewhat improved, the advice here is to wait until the Beatles finally remaster their main catalog.

Cost: $50-$60.

Black Sabbath: "Black Box: The Complete Black Sabbath 1970-1978"

The heavy metal godfathers' first era with Ozzy Osbourne as frontman is covered lavishly with this gargantuan nine-disc Rhino retrospective. Included are all eight of the lineup's studio albums, which range from essential to atrocious, and a bonus DVD with early live footage.

Despite its odd, felt covering, the accompanying black book is chock full of goodies, including lyrics and a black-and-white photo gallery of Sabbath at the height of its dark powers. For serious fans only, obviously.

Cost: $85-$95.

Blondie: "Singles Box"

The first 15 singles by Debbie Harry and her new-wave mates are collected here, each one sleeved separately in packaging faithful to the original 45s.

Though the tracks are available elsewhere, the format can give fans a true appreciation for Blondie's ability not only to pen hits, but to load excellent B-sides onto their singles.

Cost: $40-$50.

Dave Brubeck: "For All Time"

Sony/Legacy's jazz archivists pay tribute to the pianist and composer with this five-disc set chronicling his explorations outside the traditional 4/4 time signature.

Three of the box's five albums -- 1962's "Countdown: Time in Outer Space," 1963's "Time Changes" and 1965's "Time In" -- were previously unreleased on CD in the United States, making "For All Time" a must-have for Brubeck fans.

Cost: $35-$40.

The Cure: "Join the Dots: B-Sides and Rarities 1978-2001 (The Fiction Years)"

B-side collections tend to be spotty endeavors, but this four-disc set actually manages to paint a fairly comprehensive picture of Robert Smith's goth-rock outfit. The 70 selections, most of which were hard to find or previously unreleased, are arranged chronologically, with detailed information on each in the liner notes.

Obviously, newcomers to the Cure should initially avoid this set. Those who already own the band's best albums, however, won't find much overlap on this well-designed project.

Cost: $45-$50.

Miles Davis: "Seven Steps: The Complete Columbia Recordings 1963-1964"

Sony's comprehensive Miles Davis reissues project rolls forward with yet another monster boxed set, this one covering seven discs.

Where recent installments expanded upon individual albums ("In a Silent Way," "A Tribute to Jack Johnson"), "Seven Steps" instead covers a specific time period, that between Davis' first and second great quintets.

Transitional as the era might have been, it still showcased vibrant small-combo work, much of it in live settings in Antibes, France; Berlin; Tokyo and beyond.

Not quite as vital as most of the other boxes in the series, "Seven Steps" nonetheless makes for a solid gift either for serious Davis fans or dedicated jazz listeners.

Cost: $100-$120.

Depeche Mode: "Singles 1-6"

These six separate boxes house six CDs apiece, each presenting one of the synth-rockers' singles from 1981 through 2001, along with the original B-sides, live tracks and remixes.

As with Blondie's singles set, this Depeche Mode collection practically requires a multi-disc player, unless you want to change out discs every few minutes. For obsessed fans only.

Cost: $35-$45 each.

The Faces: "Five Guys Walk Into a Bar"

Before Rod Stewart tackled the Great American Songbook, he fronted the Great British Band, more specifically the best British band most rock fans have never heard of.

Led by Stewart and future Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood, the Faces played messy, barroom blues-rock as well as any band of the era (1969-1975), but struggled to receive their just due. This four-disc set rectifies that, presenting an excellent overview, not to mention 43 unreleased tracks.

Cost: $45-$55.

Bryan Ferry + Roxy Music: "The Platinum Collection"

A solid three-disc overview of the British art-rocker's career, from his start in Roxy Music to his solo days. A shortage of rarities will likely cause longtime fans to pass.

Cost: $25-$30.

Jerry Garcia: "All Good Things: Jerry Garcia Studio Sessions"

Garcia's Grateful Dead mates have been digging through their vaults at a breakneck pace since the guitarist's death in 1995, so it's about time his solo career got the deluxe reissue treatment.

"All Good Things" compiles Garcia's five studio albums -- each with remastered sound and bonus tracks galore -- along with a sixth disc of outtakes, jams and alternate takes.

The perfect gift for a Deadhead, unless you feel like splurging for the next entry on our list.

Cost: $65-$70.

Grateful Dead: "Beyond Description (1973-1989)"

The grandaddy of 2004 boxes, this 12-disc behemoth picks up where 2001's "The Golden Road" 12-disc set left off. The material isn't quite as consistent this time, with a few dodgy albums ("Shakedown Street," "Go to Heaven," "Built to Last") mixed in with more impressive work from the era ("Wake of the Flood," "Blues for Allah," "In the Dark").

Still, fans will welcome these remastered editions, which are filled to the brim with bonus material. Of particular note: expanded versions of 1980's acoustic/electric live albums "Reckoning" and "Dead Set," both of which have been doubled to two CDs apiece.

Cost: $130-$150.

Al Green: "The Immortal Soul of Al Green"

The Reverend of Soul gets some heavenly treatment with this four-disc retrospective, covering 1967 through 1978.

Focusing on Green's best-known tunes -- 25 of the set's 75 songs charted as singles -- "Immortal Soul" works well as an introduction for newcomers or a deeper investigation for those who already own the ever-popular "Greatest Hits."

Cost: $60-$70.

George Harrison: "The Dark Horse Years 1976-1992"

The latter years of the Beatle's uneven solo career gets the reissue treatment here, with five out-of-print studio albums combined with an upgraded version of two-CD set "Live in Japan" and a hodgepodge DVD containing various footage.

Loyalists will want this for the bonus tracks, the Japan set's 5.1-channel SACD surround sound and the lavish booklet. Others should start with Harrison's 1970 masterwork, "All Things Must Pass."

Cost: $115-$125.

Michael Jackson: "The Ultimate Collection"

Jackson's legal woes didn't stop the King of Pop from assembling his first full-scale anthology in 2004, and perhaps that's as it should be. Regardless of what anyone thinks of his unusual offstage behavior, there's no denying his talent and vast impact on popular music.

Paralleling Jackson's career, Epic's "The Ultimate Collection" starts off hot, with Jackson 5 classics and material from "Off the Wall" and "Thriller" on discs one and two, but begins to flag by discs three and four. Disc five is a DVD from 1992's "Dangerous Tour."

Cost: $50-$60.

George Jones: "50 Years of Hits"

The legendary country crooner's umpteenth collection takes a novel approach, presenting one track per year from 1955 through 2004.

Though interesting, the concept doesn't exactly work, in part because it leaves out key tracks released during some of Jones' strongest individual years and in part because Bandit Records was unable to secure licensing rights for several of the vocalist's best-known early tunes.

Cost: $20-$30.

Kansas: "Sail On: The 30th Anniversary Collection"

A sound, if expensive, intro to the veteran rock outfit, Kansas' "Sail On" features a two-disc anthology and a DVD of live footage culled mainly from 1974 and '75.

Cost: $30-$40.

Bob Marley and The Wailers: "Grooving Kingston 12"

Marley's pre-Island Records output has always been a patchwork, and the three-CD "Grooving Kingston" goes a long way toward rectifying that.

The music is fun, but aside from a few choice cuts (namely the acoustic medley that kicks off disc three) not exactly revelatory. The vast majority are available elsewhere, but serious Marley devotees will want them in this neatly arranged package.

Cost: $45-$55.

Nirvana: "With the Lights Out"

After years of legal haranguing, Seattle's grunge progenitors finally unleashed their long-rumored rarities collection in November. It promptly shattered the record for first-week boxed set sales, moving more than 105,000 units and earning an immediate platinum certification (1 million sales).

Is the hype justified? For serious Nirvana types, definitely. The three CDs provide a treasure trove of hard-to-find and unreleased tunes, with all but 10 of the 61 tracks never officially issued before.

The set also features a must-see DVD loaded with raw early live footage and excellent liner notes, including a timeline detailing the band's rapid rise to prominence during the early 1990s. A first-rate essay by Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore is an added bonus.

Cost: $45-$55.

Peter, Paul & Mary: "Carry it On"

Four CDs and a DVD is far more from the revered folk trio than casual fans need, and there's not enough rare material for most diehards to spend the cash.

Those looking for the hits -- "Puff the Magic Dragon," "If I Had a Hammer," "Blowin' in the Wind" and the like -- would be better served picking up single-disc best-of collection "Ten Years Together" and saving enough for another box on this list.

Cost: $55-65.

Rolling Stones: "Singles 1963-1965" and "Singles 1965-1967"

Two more boxes designed to replicate early 45s, the first two installments of the Stones' singles collection gather 12 and 11 discs, respectively.

Though historically significant -- presenting each hit with its accompanying B-side(s) on an individual CD -- these sets are impractical for actual listening purposes. For serious collectors only.

Cost: $50-$60 each.

Paul Simon: "Studio Recordings 1972-2000"

One-stop shopping for lovers of the singer-songwriter's work post-Garfunkel, this cube-shaped, nine-disc box collects all of Simon's solo studio albums, from 1972's self-titled effort through 2000's "You're the One."

Each has been enhanced with improved sound and a handful of bonus tracks, but longtime fans will lament the lack of cohesive liner notes, not to mention the ludicrous omission of "Slip Slidin' Away," a single not included on any of his full-length albums.

Cost: $130-$140.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: "The Christmas Trilogy"

Rock guitars meet classical strings on this holiday box, which collects the group's three Christmas CDs -- "Christmas Eve and Other Stories," "The Christmas Attic" and "The Lost Christmas Eve" -- along with a DVD showcasing appearances by Jewel and Michael Crawford.

Cost: $40-$45.

Various artists: "Doctors, Professors, Kings & Queens: The Big Ol' Box of New Orleans"

This four-disc labor of love from the folks at archival label Shout! Factory focuses on the diverse music to emerge from the city of New Orleans, be it jazz, funk, Cajun, blues, rock, soul, R&B or even Klezmer.

Household names such as Fats Domino, the Neville Brothers and Louis Armstrong are joined by less-familiar acts such as the Iguanas, the Hawketts and the Red Stick Ramblers.

The accompanying book is carefully researched and well written, but the set could have been better had its tracks been arranged chronologically rather than seemingly at random.

Cost: $50-$60.

Various artists: "Can't You Hear Me Callin' -- Bluegrass: 80 Years of American Music"

An exhaustive four-disc, 109-track examination of American bluegrass, this fine Sony/Legacy set moves from the genre's origins (Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers during the 1920s) to a Dixie Chicks tune just two years old.

Predictably, some of the early music leaves a bit to be desired sonically, but a bit of hiss can't tarnish the legacies of Bill Monroe, Roy Acuff, Flatt & Scruggs and many others. A hootin', hollerin' heap of fun.

Cost: $40-$50.

Various artists: "Happy Birthday Newport! 50 Swinging Years"

The "Newport Jazz Festival" celebrated its 50th anniversary this year and marked the occasion by gathering 27 of the event's most memorable performances and spreading them over three discs.

Jazz aficionados hoping for a breakout of rare material will be sorely disappointed, with nearly every cut previously released. Newcomers to the genre, or those who don't already own a lot of the individual artists' famed Newport sets (Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie) will find this a useful addition.

Cost: $30-$35.

Various artists: "The Hip Hop Box"

Despite its claim as the "first definitive history of hip hop," this four-disc set is far from comprehensive, omitting N.W.A., EPMD, the Beastie Boys, Ice Cube, Jay-Z, Nas, the Fugees, Missy Elliott, OutKast and Eminem, among other key acts.

Still, "The Hip Hop Box" serves as a decent primer for the uninitiated, particularly its first disc, which focuses on the genre's inception (Sugarhill Gang, Afrika Bambaataa, Grand Master Flash, Run-D.M.C.) and disc two, which concentrates on rap's "golden age" (Eric. B. & Rakim, Boogie Down Productions, Public Enemy, De La Soul).

Cost: $50-$60.

Various artists: "Magic Moments: The Best of '50s Pop"

Perry Como, Peggy Lee and the Platters come together on this good-time three-disc companion to a recent PBS special of the same name.

Cost: $40-$45.

Various artists: "Straight From the Heart: Timeless Music From the '60s & '70s"

Another PBS soundtrack, this three-disc lovefest rounds up tracks from Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield, Jose Feliciano and others.

Cost: $40-$45.

Other noteworthy 2004 boxed sets: Albert Ayler -- "Holy Ghost: Rare and Unissued Recordings (1962-70)"; Burt Bacharach -- "Something Big: The Complete A&M Years ... and More"; Tony Bennett -- "The Complete Improv Recordings;" Bon Jovi -- "100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong"; Duran Duran -- "The Singles 1985-1995;" Woody Herman -- "The Complete Columbia Recordings of Woody Herman"; Judas Priest -- "Metalogy"; King Crimson -- "The 21st Century Guide to King Crimson, Volume One: 1969-1974"; Oscar Peterson Trio -- "Live at the Blue Note"; Jimmy Smith -- "Retrospective"; Jimmy Webb -- "The Moon's a Harsh Mistress"; Various artists -- "The Complete Norman Granz Jam Sessions;" and Various artists -- "This is Reggae Music: The Golden Era 1960-1975."

archive