Forgot to mention that most of the musical content of the boxes is made available on digital platforms at a fraction of the price....way to go in my opinion!
Agree also. Have missed out on several due to pricing and to make matters worse they gain value. Most I'd liked to buy are appx £100 and apparently we have to feed the children!
As soon as I saw this I knew there would be a significant shot at the McCartney barrels! It is definitely getting silly. The strange thing with Flaming Pie is the 2 disc CD is such great value for money for anyone interested in just the music, they've surely lost some Deluxe sales not just because of its price, but because of how much they've given in the 2CD set.
What irks me about the Goats Head Soup is that they have the "deluxe" with 2 CDs or the "super deluxe" with three CDs and also the LPs. It's like they know that most of the fans want that third live CD but they don't offer a 3 CD version, trying to force you to buy the super deluxe. They did that with the Sticky Fingers box too. So annoying. Both are nearly $200 here in the US w/shipping and tax. I haven't bought any of them. May regret it one day...cuz I'd love to own them.
I agree John, the original albums are what the artists wanted us to hear. Even though the demos and alternative versions are things the fans want, the prices being charged for these tracks is just extortionate...yet these were unfit for original release. The additional packaging is nice but surely not worth that. The companies are taking us the fans for mugs... Time to stand up and refuse these cash cows.
I paid £6.00 for All Things Must Pass In 1978 or 79, it was mail order from the UK, I can’t remember which shop but it was via an advert in the NME, a Beatles single album at the time was £3.89 so it wasn’t a bad price, I’m not sure if that was on special offer but if I didn’t buy it in Cardiff it must have been cheaper than the shop prices at the time.
I’ve been watching a lot of your videos lately. I really enjoy them. I agree that the price of these box sets has gotten ridiculous. I’ve pretty much given up on these boxes, with a few exceptions like The Beatles and The Who.
Hi John, I do regret not having bought several key box sets through the years, of the ones you showed I'd say Band on the Run and Pet Sounds are the best examples of that. But then again I think of all the shelf-space and money I've saved. Nice to see your collection though. Cheers, James
A friend of mine worked at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland Ohio many years ago. Went over to visit him and got a guided tour. Picked up the Beach boys pet sounds cd box set in the shop for a nicely discounted price!
Hi John, I've bought all the Paul McCartney Archive Box Sets but as each one gets more expensive I wish he'd release an alternative music only release. They're nice box sets but personally I could do without the book and replica parifinalia. Excellent video. Cheers...
He’s been ranking different artists catalogues recently, who else would like to see a Paul Simon albums ranking/ top 10? Maybe including simon and Garfunkel material. I think I’d enjoy that
Today I see the more I age, the less I care about box sets. I don't know if anyone feels that way, but that's a new reality for me. When I was a teenager (in the 90s) I was crazy about them, they were the joy and pride of my collection. Now I constantly prefer to listen to the original album, the final product, the way the artist intended. Don't get me wrong, box sets can be great, sometimes I still buy them, but most of the time it feels like a waste of time (and money). I do like the Dylan bootleg series, and will keep buying it.
King Crimson offer the best value box sets. Usually 20 odd CDs and a blu ray or two with additional memorabilia and around £130 in price. That's what I call good value.
I got The White Album box, but I'm not getting the rest. I didn't really mind paying it cuz it's my favorite Beatles album, but I can't do it for every Beatles album. Once you head down that slippery slope you'll never stop.
Hi John. If I'm not mistaken, the prices of albums around 1970 was fixed in the UK - All retailers were expected to charge the same price. From memory, the green price sticker on my Cat Stevens records, for example, is on the rear and is common across lots of my older vinyl. I did once put it into an inflation calculator and was shocked as to just how expensive music was in the 1960s and 1970s. I don't have all my records with me at the moment. Maybe another subscriber should add to this. Great upload, as usual.
My big problem is that I find the audio content rather uninteresting. Yes it's always interesting to hear the demos and various outakes but once you've heard them it's very unlikely that you'll listen to them again so I find these archives collections more interesting if there is a book. Maybe they should release the books separately, giving you the chance to own them without having to buy the remastered cds , dvds and bonus cds and the slightly ridiculous extras of facsimile notes, posters, photos, tickets etc.. When the Archive deluxe box set for Ram came out in 2011, it was around £70 and had as much stuff as the Archive deluxe set for Flaming Pie coming out at the end of the month for £200, and that's completely unjustified . Any inflation calculator will tell you that £70 in 2011 is about £87 today so how much outrageous profit are they making. Plus Flaming Pie was only good for half the content, the rest was pretty mediocre...
As I get older the box sets become less important. As for the McCartney Archive boxes the prices started to skyrocket the moment he re-signed with Capitol (MAJOR LABEL). Up until that point the previous Archives were anywhere between fifty and one hundred bucks. I'm thinking that Sir Paul probably takes a quick glance at any of the finished products and lets Universal Music set the prices, but as long as they keep selling out the prices will continue to rise.
When it was released back in 1970, George Harrison's 'All Things Must Pass' sold for just over a £5.00. (£4.50 in Virgin Records) Apparently a 50th anniversary is being prepared for next year, with the usual outtakes, demos, etc. To purchase it i get the impression your going to need deep pockets!
Right on the money John 😉. I never buy box sets for three reasons, overpriced and they take up too much room. Once the novelty extras have been heard and seen away they go to gather dust. Excellent blog 👍👍👍
With Flaming Pie, I’m backing out on the McCartney series and I’ve bought every one so far. They started off being great value and very well put together, nice hard back books but then they started putting in silly fake memorabilia and up went the price. I’d be quite happy with a collection of hard back books like Band on The Run / McCartney I & II sets. Could I afford £250 on Flaming Pie? Well I suppose I could but it’s over the top for one album and they’ll keep upping the price until they find the maximum people are prepared to pay. I'd rather spend £250 on something else really! Besides, most of the music is on the 2CD version and I’ve even got some of the original memorabilia in the deluxe edition already from being a fan club member at the time so not an awful lot worth getting. I’m hoping they’ll fill in the Wings years with London Town & Back To The Egg with more reasonable editions but I wouldn’t bet on it. It’s crazy that Wild Life got a more elaborate box set than Band On The Run. The Dylan bootleg series has been great but even they’re getting silly with different editions and price points. Not only that, there’s the distinct sound of a barrel being scraped on some recently. Every false start and cock up on Like A Rolling Stone anyone? The last one with Johnny Cash wasn’t all that memorable either. Of course a lot of it is also just copyright extension (particularly some of Dylan’s and Pink Floyd’s early years too). Record companies got their mileage out of releasing old albums on CD in the 80s and 90s and now that’s been pretty much exhausted all that’s left is more and more deluxe editions and clearing out of the archives with unreleased “gems”. I wonder when the next Jimi Hendrix studio album is coming out?
As mentioned, the music is the most important thing. Mass produced photocopies of knick-knacks aren't worth paying extra for. I've saved a lot of money by buying box sets that focused on collecting the original releases. I think the last vinyl anthology I bought was Dylans "Anthology", and it wasn't too expensive back in the day, and it had a lot of stuff that was hard to get back then. I do get a giggle about current vinyl enthusiasts buying new LP collections of old songs at ridiculous prices....it seems they don't realize they're pressed from digital remasters ;)
there's no doubt that some box set/"deluxe" editions can be a rip off, in terms of the value for what they qualitatively provide additionally over the plain album as originally released, but like you said its up to the individual buyer, but with that said, I personally am not interested in (for the most part) alternate takes (especially) or charts with what was recorded in which channel (who cares?!); most of the box sets I own are compilations of hits with some extra tracks or original album series where the value is obviously strong vs buying the albums alone one by one to get what I want - love your videos John!!
I got the David Bowie reality tour box set as I had been waiting for the vinyl release for ten years & regarding the flaming pie I’ve always wanted this on vinyl to complete my macca collection tracked a copy down in America but I wasn’t going to pay 300 pound so the new release just for the album is 39 99 & I’ve always wanted this otherwise I wouldn’t be bothered with it, so for me it’s worth it. Thanks very much for the review John & keep safe
A lot of box sets represented poor value for money when first released, but many were re-released (usually with slimmed-down packaging) at bargain rates and so became mandatory pick-ups. I’m thinking particularly of the Buffalo Springfield box set, which was well-remastered and included the mono version of the debut album. Its caveat was that it contained a largely pointless fourth disc of ‘band favourites’ which duplicated tracks already included on the previous three; plus, it failed to include one track from the Last Time Around album, the inclusion of which would have made it an excellent ‘one stop shop’ for the Springfield neophyte. Would agree about the Dylan bootleg series.
It comes down to the nature of the box set and the value of it. Some such as Citizen Steely Dan have the artist's entire discography at the time, some like that one by The Cure are all non-album tracks, others are collections of hits mixed with rarities. It depends on how much you'll listen to the music. I have that Layla set but never listen to discs 2 or 3. The Crosby, Stills & Nash set has music not just from their group albums but solo efforts too, very nice. I bought the Chicago box set very cheap and since all I had was a single greatest hits disc this was great value.
...and there's the rub. Like you, I VERY rarely play the "bonus/demo/alt takes" discs that so often feature in these box sets. In my opinion, His Bobness usually provides value for money with his Bootleg Series but Apple and, separately, McCartney have become exploitative in their pricings with nonsense such as "The Traveller's Edition" of Egypt Station and, as mentioned by John here, the upcoming Flaming Pie limited edition.
@@Robutube1 Sirpeepeepaul has turned into a greedy hack. He's washed up, destroys the legacy of the Beatles each day he stays alive, and can't believe how lucky he is that John isn't because he'd be mocking the snot out of him.
I love a Box Set..... but only at a reasonable price! My most expensive were The Beatles in Mono cd set at £200 and Pink Floyd Discovery at £160. They were slightly "traumatic" should l/shouldn't l buy them but I'm glad I did. The Mono Set is a thing of beauty and sounds great and I wanted a complete Floyd collection so it was a convenient way of owning them. But generally I'm with you John, they are hideously overpriced and don't need to be. For example you can pick up the wonderful Love Forever Changes set for less than £40, 4 CDs, a DVD and vinyl album beautifully packaged! I'm a Beatles fan but only picked up the versions with the single additional CD of outtakes/demos of SP/WA/AR and have probably only listened to them once! I'm sure the Deluxe Versions are lovely to own but are they worth the additional £80 a pop? Nope!
It is nice to have the big boxes, cool books, sometimes posters... but honestly at the end of the day, it’s all about the music, which I can listen to on my vinyls I already have, or streaming in the car, for much cheaper
Yep. I used to love getting the old boxed set but now the joy has been taken from it with the silly pricing and as "The Donald" says excluding the main item we all want to just the expensive mega deluxe set. At least as a Tull fan we have been getting very good value box sets (at least on first release) with unreleased tracks, often a live gig and sometimes a DVD, all housed in an attractive and well written book, The McCartney sets are now beyond a joke and I cannot justify them even to myself!
In general I agree. Music is for listening to , not collecting fancy boxes. I've purchased the White Album, Abby Road anniversary editions. Beatles Mono box set, Simon and Garfunkel Collection and Buffalo Springfield collection. They were all reasonably priced and except for "Buffalo" I'm happy I purchased them. I'm curious to see what the "Let It Be" Anniversary edition will be like but if it's priced like McCartney's boxed sets I'll take a pass. i picked up a Mint Minus version of All Things Must Pass and a Mint Minus version of The Concert for Bangladesh complete with all posters and booklets for $40.00 each Canadian at a local used record store. I'm a very happy camper.
I have to concur John and I had a recent experience which has all but soured me going forward on collecting highly-priced physical media. I purchased a few of The McCartney Archive Series off of Amazon and a few of those box sets arrived with significant damage to the books. The books were dog-eared and there was even damage to the spine of one of the boxes. I don't believe in ranting about things you ultimately cannot control, instead I believe in making decisions and the decision I've arrived at is that if consumers cannot even be guaranteed that these box sets arrive at their doorstep in acceptable condition then I'm out. I'm going to be purchasing these deluxe editions as hi-resolution digital content from now on whenever possible because quite frankly I'm completely soured on the idea of investing in these boxes any longer. Thanks for the video!
I definatly agree i think some of them are really good. Thr white album reissue was fun. I havent listened to the second cd for pepper since i bought it. I really like the let it bleed set that came out last year as well as the beggers banquet reissue and the miles davis in a silent way sessions. I feel like fans think they want these but in reality id rather have a set like the white album where the songs were cohesive but just acoustic. Or the rolling stones reissues of exile on main street and some girls where the second disc was literally more material from the time or finished up today. Almost like a new album a blend of 70's stones and modern stones
Two five cd boxed sets that are great and also value for money are Five Classic Albums by Joan Armatrading and Original Album Series by Jethro Full which includes Songs from the Wood through to The Broadsword and the Beast 😃
Hi. Totally agree with you that prices go through the roof. On the other hand, box sets nowadays have a lot of extra irems, produced with care. But, yes ...... most sets are expensive. The really big artists like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd are the most expensive in my opinion.
Agree it’s got out of control- lavish packaging but most additional content mildly interesting rather than essential. The Dylan Bootleg series 1-3 was great value
Got that cure one! But mine was much more expensive than £16 quid because I bought it back in 2004 when it was a new release, think it was £25 then can’t quite remember? But one thing I do know is it comes in a slightly larger box than that one you have, as I think universal (who own robert smith’s fiction label) seem to have done this with all their four disc box sets that are still available from the noughties!!!!
Box sets have become less appealing over the years and as you’ve discussed John prices have hiked up to an obscene degree.. I remember buying The Jam, Style Council and Who box sets in the 90s for less than 30 quid each! All in a slim format with a fantastic book. The Dylan Bootleg Box you showed cost me 18 quid new from HMV! I’ve not been able to afford any of the McCartney Deluxe boxes, although I wanted the McCartney 1 and Ram ones. I am now wondering if I really actually missed out on anything?..they all look a bit bulky and overblown to me..The Imagine box set last year didn’t tempt me for similar reasons. There’s only 10 songs on it! Flaming Pie was a decent album but does it warrant that level of embellishment?
I do wonder what control the artists have and how much of the pricing is down to the record companies but as I still have all the original vinyl there has to be some extras of real quality to interest me. The only one of the McCartney I have is the Red Rose Speedway - and that was a present - but the amount of additional songs from the period and the Bruce McMouse live footage made it worthwhile. Otherwise the only box sets I have bought have been a couple from Jethro Tull which have contained at least an additional album's worth of quality material/unreleased live perfomance and are reasonably priced at around £30.
These archival boxes are not aimed at the mainstream market. I think the music world has scene what goes on with "high end" baseball cards where there's literally thousand dollar packs with relics, autographs, and pieces of game used jerseys. Sir Paul wants a bit of that Flaming pie. I do think many box sets have value but often the focus is lacking the intensity of some single and double disc comps. For instance, the Motown singles box goes into labels they distributed as well as rock, country, showtunes, and folk oriented singles that never charted. A more consistent listen from start to finish is Cellarful of Motown series because it focused on a certain style and era despite all or most of the tracks being released for the first time.
I have an old newspaper article where a fan had written in to melody maker and the headline was "Harrison LP too dear" All things must pass was expensive at £5 i read.........but then, a triple album a lavish box, its value for money. The problem with these mccartney archives is they arent selling alot of copies, so the box sets are aimed at the strong collectors, i havent bought flaming pie yet, the cheapest ive seen is still £190. Id like to pick it up for half of that so ill wait for a year or two.......
I bought the original Bowie sound and vision box set in 1989 and in actual fact it has reduced in price and size over the last 10 years, but not retaining the extra 3 bonus tracks from a performance in 1972 from Boston which is Soundboard and magnificent!
Good collection, I agree some of the latest boxes are ridiculously expensive. I have avoided the Zeppelin/Mccartney/Dylan big boxes for that reason. Did get the White Album one but that is rather special. I am also going to be getting the new Richard and Linda Thompson box set in Sept which is £70 but that includes 8 cds and hardcover book.
I think in 1978 I bought the All Things Must Pass for about $14.99+tax. I don't think it was a first pressing because the LPs had orange Capitol Records labels. I thought it was expensive at the time. I was 13 and didn't have much income. I thought Exile On Main Street for $12.99 was expensive too. Single records varied from $3.99 to $5.99 depending on the band. I wish I had kept all the cool albums I bought from back then in a safe place. We just had cats that used them as scratching posts. I had no idea what their worth would become. And I am not buying any box sets right now. I will wait for Let It Be and see what's offered in terms of the film. There are so many excellent free Beatles, Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison bootlegs mixed and mastered by true fans. Information, photos, and stories behind tracks usually accompany a lot of the good ones. Peace John! You are a valued reviewer!!!!!
Great video again John & my own take is sometimes there are only so many versions of a certain song we need!! The Special/Deluxe editions that contain outtakes of new unreleased songs is great & with a DVD/Blu-ray is even better but if it's just demos etc i think it's just a massive rip off! Closer to home the White Album 2018 edition would have been better without the Esher demos as most Beatles fans own them in the many released bootlegs out there. Even the editions that contain several live CDs i dislike as well! A favorite lesser band of mine XTC have released most of their albums in 2 disc sets with loads of outtakes but with the instrumental versions of all album tracks which has been a real winner for me.
You can buy the White album without the Esher demos - nobody owned these demos in this quality as released , what's wrong with that as the choice is yours!
The book that came with The White Album is excellent and massive, it takes the place of 3 other books that denote the source of the songs, how they were recorded, who played what. Very detailed.
Hi John, I really enjoy your reviews, I've just recently discovered them during lock down and have been working my way through them in sunny Raynes Park. Would you do a review of Coldplay songs, or are they not a band you like.
I agree some of them are extortionate. The Stones and McCartney know fans will pay for it so they charge accordingly. The Stones rip off their fans something fierce with things like this and ticket prices for their shows, etc. One of the earlier box sets, too, from 1990-91 was Elton John's To Be Continued and that was about $100 or so. That's in Australian dollars. I only bought the thing because I was lucky enough to afford it at the time. Ones by ABBA and The Carpenters went for about $60-65 or something like that. That was early 90's as well.
I agree, in the Last 7 or 8 years the prices for box sets have doubled. I admit I still break down and buy a few when it is something I really want. I really think they are taking advantage of the fans. Paul mccartney and the stones are 2 of the worst offenders. Do they really need the money that bad?
Deluxe edtions are pricy if a book is added.. the bootleg series always have great essay's. But if you don't want the collectors editions. You can always buy the standard cd issue with booklet.
Honestly, i like to collect and own a lot of things on vinyl but the prices for a lot of these sets are ridiculous. I often get the standard anniversary release on vinyl but just stream the rest of what i miss on. Im not too fussed about books. I have the white album and abbey road on vinyl with the demo lps. Im not gonna splash out for any of the other content.
I agree with you but I was sorely tempted by the Egypt Station travel bag. I suppose if you are really into it its well worth the money but some artists are milking it in a distasteful manner yes.
Irrespective of price, I just don't think box sets work. I don't like them aesthetically or for practical reasons. In the past when I have bought one , it tends to get played once and left on the shelf to gather dust. Theres often a reason why 'in the vaults' material, was left 'in the vaults' They are just not for me.
Sweeping statement? The Dylan bootleg series has unearthed lots of fantastic material, often better than many of the final cuts. On 1-3 for instance there was Angelina, Blind Willie McTell, Foot of Pride, Series of Dreams, When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky, to mention but a few. Trouble No More shed new light on Dylan's Gospel phase. Tell Tale Signs gave us brilliant new material like Girl from the Red River Shore plus alternative versions of songs which were often better than the ones finally released then we were treated to new insights to the recording of Blood on the Tracks, Blonde on Blonde, Highway 61 Revisited, Self Portrait and much more. Also there have been tremendous live documents of early Dylan, the famous 1966 "Judas" concert and Rolling Thunder. Some of the sets have been expensive but they have rarely disappointed the true Dylan fan and I am sure the same could be said of lots of other acts, such as the Beatles.
@@elclappington8845 I just don't like box sets. They just don't work for me. I can't really explain why?. I'll try. I find them a bit forced. if I ever purchase one (which I don't anymore) I can almost hear the wheels of the marketing department creaking along, as I'm playing it. I just find the artists original vision kind of gets lost in the bonus discs, glossy brochure/book etc. they never work as an artistic statement for me.. If they put the bonus material out as a freestanding disc I would probably prefer that. And on an aesthetic note I find the boxes look ugly when you display them. They're are just not for me. Don't misunderstand me, everything is ultimately marketed..but I find box sets a marketing gimmick too far..as I said , for me that just don't work as artistic statement for me, I can live with a single release 16 track greatest hits, but that's just a personal preference. Everything feels a bit cheapened (Ironically, considering the title of this video!)
Your probably right about “in the vaults” material staying there, but artists must always find a way to rip off (sorry) “market” something new from the old to get their money for old rope and exploit the catalogue thoroughly for their own millionaire lifestyle!!!!
@@elclappington8845 I'd agree that Dylan box sets tend to buck the trend and many are great, but who wants 21 takes of Like a Rolling Stone, or whatever it was, apart from Dylan completists?!
Hard to argue with your premise about the price and sometime lack of value for some of the mega boxes. Pink Floyd released an Early Years 1967-1972 27 disc mega box a few years ago selling for almost A$800 here in Australia. Lots of stuff but seriously, A$800?
I think Abby Road Box set was very much worth it. The White album Box set Questionable, but I bought it. Didn't buy the Sgt. Pepper box set. Simon and Garfunkel collection box set. worth it. Buffalo Springfield Collection not worth it. Those are the only ones I can comment on. Looking forward to a Let it Be Anniversay issue but it will depend on the price. Didn't buy any of the McCartney box sets but wishing I had bought the Band on the Run deluxe edition.
Good video John. I have a rather random questoion; could you review Ecce Cor Meum by Paul. I enjoy it a lot when someone with another musical background make classical music. Could you review it one day by any chance?
The ultimate in rip-off box sets are those Rolling Stones sets of their Decca/London recordings. Let It Bleed came in a huge box with 2 LP's and 2 CD's and no previously unreleased material. Satanic Majesties was the same but minus the box. Beggar's Banquet came with both sleeve designs and a Jagger interview. Then Rock and Roll Circus was padded out to 3 LP's but the only extras feature the guests, not the Stones. The only time this part of their catalog was handled with any care was with the release of On Air/BBC Sessions
At least a person rarely has to pay the equivalent of $100 for 10 to 12 songs, or a lengthy orchestra piece, like it was in the 1930's and 1940's during the time of shellac discs.
Way over priced for the extra printed content to be looked once or twice. If the music itself was on the original format then yes maybe I could be tempted. U can make CDs for pittence nowadays.
It's the bloody packaging that gets om my nerves,the way the c.ds are just crammed together.I'm talking about those Miles Davis/Gil Evans box sets-a disaster waiting to happen.
You pays your money and you takes your choice, I suppose, but to me selling the same album to loyal fans over and over is faintly immoral. Any ‘bonus tracks’ are usually outtakes, which were taken out originally for a reason.
Box sets are fine for younger fans who are getting into classic artists but for me being 66 and having bought he original releases I can't see the extra value - I don't review box sets just the originals
dylan is the exception to the rule - as always - most people release their best stuff but the opposite is often true with dylan - however, he has been so well bootlegged anyway
Hi John. I take it you are an ex-pat living in US? Like Matt Hayes if you've seen his VC videos? I guess box sets aren't really my thing but as long as you are a fan rather than using them as a coffee table book I've not got a problem.
Biggest con I can think of box set wise is the queen is dead box set by the smiths, of which the demo’s featured from the time period have been doing the rounds on various dodgy bootlegs since the 80’s, but Morrissey knows this himself and in his wisdom (and deviousness!) seems to have messed about with them! For instance taking the laughable and extremely entertaining trumpet section from the “frankly mr Shankly” demo (which isn’t on the album version anyway!) and removing it completely! I have had the bad quality bootleg recording for ages and was hoping for a really good remastered version of the demo and payed £57 quid for the vinyl version only to find it was the self same demo but with the trumpet section removed! And he’s done this with every demo featured somehow justify giving something different to the fans?! What a con artist!!!!
I'm pretty sure Morrissey has nothing at all to do with any Smiths reissues. If anything, I'd expect Johnny Marr to be more involved (not that I'd think he is either).
I bet you any money more than half the people moaning about the price of boxsets have spent more money on fizzy lager on a Friday night with the boys. #priorities #FFS
