Box sets, boxed sets, whatever the hell you want to call them, continue to tumble out for a select audience of mega fans. Here’s five from 2024 we took a look at…
The Beatles
Sixty years later, and we’re still listening to the Beatles. And the music and the memories continue to be re-evaluated and repackaged to meet demand. So, let’s step back to 1964 when the Fab Four came to America and altered the ideas and perceptions of the civilized world. Martin Scorsese has produced a film called Beatles ’64 that’s supposed to fill in any remaining gaps. We all know John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr — collectively known in some circles as “the four-headed monster” — conquered the hearts and minds of the United States with epic appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. In the process, they released several albums. Or more accurately, EMI in Europe and Capitol in the States released several albums — in various configurations.
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Yes
When guitarist Steve Howe came aboard the good ship Yes in 1970, the wind caught the sails just right and a chemistry began to coalesce. Together, they recorded and released 1971’s The Yes Album to great commercial and critical acclaim. To move forward with a more progressive sound, another changing of the guard occurred when keyboardist Rick Wakeman replaced Tony Kaye. Yes quickly hit the studio and cut their second album of the year, Fragile. The stakes were most definitely raised for the prog rock crown with this album.
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Deep Purple
Over a half-century later, Deep Purple’s landmark Machine Head is still turning — ahem — heads. So, it only stands to reason, is this digital age of supersonic upgrades, that the British quintet’s pivotal sixth release would receive a renovation to celebrate its golden anniversary. Loaded up with remixes, remasters, unreleased live music, and a nifty booklet that tells the tale behind its origins, the Machine Head (Super Deluxe Edition) triple CD, LP and Blu-ray set for 2024 is a convivial, well-packaged tribute to one of rock’s most treasured collection of songs.
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Emerson, Lake & Powell
Emerson, Lake & Powell were not Emerson, Lake & Palmer. But they came close and should have been bigger. The three-CD Complete Collection from Emerson, Lake & Powell pays tribute to a band that passed by too quickly, was initially unfairly compared, but featured its own sound, and sadly, all passed on.
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John Lennon
There are now six different ways to hear John Lennon’s Mind Games thanks to The Ultimate Collection. Believe it or not, a half-dozen mixes reveal more than you might expect. Of course, the best way to get started is to get acquainted or reacquainted with the album, so it’s best to play through the Ultimate Mix first and sort of let it settle into your head. That way you’ll have a reference point to effectively assess the other mixes. Indeed, Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection, from the mixes to all the extra box set swag, is a huge undertaking that needs time and space to really appreciate.
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