Lately I have been thinking about the box sets in my collection. I was curious to know which ones you all have, and, more specifically, which ones are special and why.
I will get this rolling:
IRON MAIDEN - EDDIE'S ARCHIVE
This bad boy has SO much unreleased material. All the BBC sessions as well as an early full Bruce show (Beast Over Hammersmith). All this in addition to the double CD set of B-sides. Also, one of the best box set packaging ever.
MOTORHEAD - STONE DEAF FOREVER
Sure, about 50%, if not more, of this boxset is previously released studio material. Still though, there is enough rare radio session versions and live tracks to make this unique. Also, for me personally who has non-remastered versions of some albums, it is nice to have. Finally, two standout tracks are the Hawkwind version of "Motorhead" and conversely, Motorhead's version of "Silver Machine"
MISFITS
This is the coffin shaped box set. This bad boy has everything and then some. The only thing missing from the Danzig era of the band is WALK AMONG US. This is one of those box sets that when I hear it, I can just get lost in, with so many different versions of the same song, yet each version is still unique enough to be interesting. Not sure how many Misfits fans are here, but still wanted to bring it up.
ICED EARTH - DARK GENESIS
Ok, in 2010 this may not seem like anything special, but it sure was when it came out in 2001, when I got it. I certainly never had access to the ENTER THE REALM demo. In addition, it was cool to hear all the killer covers the band had recorded.
JUDAS PRIEST - METALOGY
I wish this one had more rarities. I look at this as a DELUXE Best-Of, if you will. This one is good for loading to the IPOD, as it more than satisfies my Priest cravings when I need them. Only downfall is that this being released by Columbia, the only Sad Wings material you will hear are from Unleashed in the East, though its not like those versions are shabby!
HELLOWEEN - TREASURE CHEST (3CD VERSION)
Some will argue if this is truly a box set I suppose. I like this set a lot, due to the ability to hear all eras of the band (Hansen, Kiske, Deris) mixed up randomly over 2 CDs. The third disc contains b-sides to many singles that I never had.
Other Box Sets I have, which are cool, but aren't anything too special are:
BLACK SABBATH - THE RULES OF HELL
Certainly cool to get all the DIO albums in one box, but would have been nice to at least have one additional CD or DVD of something previously unreleased. Only reason I bought this was that I never had LIVE EVIL on CD, and it was cheap on new release day at Best Buy when it first came out.
KISS
Covers the band's career very nicely, but nothing too unique, aside from some Wicked Lester tracks. Basically serves as "more KISS than I ever feel I personally need" The book that comes with this is cool, as most KISS books always are.
I will get this rolling:
IRON MAIDEN - EDDIE'S ARCHIVE
This bad boy has SO much unreleased material. All the BBC sessions as well as an early full Bruce show (Beast Over Hammersmith). All this in addition to the double CD set of B-sides. Also, one of the best box set packaging ever.
MOTORHEAD - STONE DEAF FOREVER
Sure, about 50%, if not more, of this boxset is previously released studio material. Still though, there is enough rare radio session versions and live tracks to make this unique. Also, for me personally who has non-remastered versions of some albums, it is nice to have. Finally, two standout tracks are the Hawkwind version of "Motorhead" and conversely, Motorhead's version of "Silver Machine"
MISFITS
This is the coffin shaped box set. This bad boy has everything and then some. The only thing missing from the Danzig era of the band is WALK AMONG US. This is one of those box sets that when I hear it, I can just get lost in, with so many different versions of the same song, yet each version is still unique enough to be interesting. Not sure how many Misfits fans are here, but still wanted to bring it up.
ICED EARTH - DARK GENESIS
Ok, in 2010 this may not seem like anything special, but it sure was when it came out in 2001, when I got it. I certainly never had access to the ENTER THE REALM demo. In addition, it was cool to hear all the killer covers the band had recorded.
JUDAS PRIEST - METALOGY
I wish this one had more rarities. I look at this as a DELUXE Best-Of, if you will. This one is good for loading to the IPOD, as it more than satisfies my Priest cravings when I need them. Only downfall is that this being released by Columbia, the only Sad Wings material you will hear are from Unleashed in the East, though its not like those versions are shabby!
HELLOWEEN - TREASURE CHEST (3CD VERSION)
Some will argue if this is truly a box set I suppose. I like this set a lot, due to the ability to hear all eras of the band (Hansen, Kiske, Deris) mixed up randomly over 2 CDs. The third disc contains b-sides to many singles that I never had.
Other Box Sets I have, which are cool, but aren't anything too special are:
BLACK SABBATH - THE RULES OF HELL
Certainly cool to get all the DIO albums in one box, but would have been nice to at least have one additional CD or DVD of something previously unreleased. Only reason I bought this was that I never had LIVE EVIL on CD, and it was cheap on new release day at Best Buy when it first came out.
KISS
Covers the band's career very nicely, but nothing too unique, aside from some Wicked Lester tracks. Basically serves as "more KISS than I ever feel I personally need" The book that comes with this is cool, as most KISS books always are.
