My vote for the worst box set of all-time has to be:

Diana Ross' Forever Diana Box Set


Yeah, it was kinda popular back in '93, but now the song selections and remastering sucks.

So what's your vote for the worst box sets of all-time?

two that really bug me are Sound & Vision (Bowie) and To Be Continued (Elton).

they're okay, for the kind of box set they are, but i really don't like that sort of box set. rare things are great additions to a collection, as are album tracks, but i'm of the opinion that all the hits need to be there before anything else is added.

I think Bowie's original Ryko Sound+Vision box set is one of the BEST box sets I've ever heard. I have all the material from those discs, plus at least three other Bowie anthologies, but I keep going back to that raggedy old box set that I got way back in '89 cuz it's Just That Good. I think at the time, the "hits" (Let's Dance, Blue Jean, etc.) weren't on the S+V box set for licensing reasons...the Ryko Bowie reissues only covered the '70s albums (and they reissued those records beautifully, in my opinion). I got the revamped S+V box set for my mom last Christmas, and I noticed it has the '80s and '90s stuff on it, now, PLUS some rarities like tracks from the Baal e.p. - and it doesn't have that silly videodisc thing that came with the first S+V that serves virtually no purpose now.

But yeah, I love my S+V box set, to this day.

Anxiety said:

i've just never been able to get into it. but it's more my dissatisfaction with that type of box set than the actual quality, i guess.

Anxiety said:

Ive seen that one at Sam's Club for $39.99.Ive himmed and hawwed over it for a couple of weeks.Are you saying it's a good starter kit ?

MrTation said:

if you want to delve into all the material he released in the '70s, i couldn't recommend a better starter kit. it does a great job of tying together some of the hits, some of the fan favorites, some of the hidden classic tracks, and some rare demos and b-sides. it's what i always listen to when i feel like listening to some bowie but i don't know which album to play.

oh, but as for WORST box sets of all time...

i really don't like singles boxsets. i think they're wasteful. i had a cocteau twins singles box for a while, and it just annoyed me. i wanted to listen to the whole thing, but after four tracks i hadda put in the next one. so eventually i just taped the whole thing on to a couple of tapes (this was pre-CD-burners) and sold the box set back.

as much of a packaging whore as i am, i still think utility should come into the picture at some point. singles boxes just seem terribly, annoyingly impractical to me. just compile the shit on a couple of full length CDs, reproduce the cover art in a nice booklet, and call it a day.

People, I thought that this was a Worst Box Sets Of All-Time thread, not a Bowie thread. But since you guys are talking about it, I really don't remember the original Sound + Vision box set, but I did see the new 2003 version in the music store last year. The song selections didn't really excite me that much, to my advantage, they were just rarities and unreleased things.

silverchild said:

hey, i got back on topic, don't tread on me!!!

Anxiety said:

Sorry, bout that

Anxiety said:

Thanx for the (Bowie) tip.

I agree that single sets are silly.Unfortunately,they usually come with one or two rareties as an incentive...

The best approach I have seen as far as Boxsets go is the one undertaken (no pun intended) by the Grateful Dead.Both "The Golden Road 1965-1973)" and it's recent sequel , "Beyond Description(1973-1989)" contain twelve CDs maxed out to the 79th minute.In other words,on each disc,after the 40 or so minute LP is finished,they fill the remainder of the CD with out-takes,jams,live-trax ,etc
from the relevent period.To me this approach is better value than either of the other scenarios....

Anxiety said:

You are right about that, I mean, don't we have greatest hits collections for that? I remember when my friend bought the Beatles Singles Box and it had about 22 discs with 2 songs on each of them; just like a regular vinyl single. That was the biggest rip-off he ever bought and the biggest rip-off I ever encountered.

MrTation said:

i think that's a fan's wet dream - to have their favorite artist take a "mix tape" approach and fill up every last moment of a disc with whatever they can squeeze in. i'm not a grateful dead fan, but that's a very cool thing for them to do.

ya know.. i'm glad i found this thread. cuz i have a real problem w/ the Sound and Vision set.

It needs to make up its mind... it's got scattered hits, a few album tracks, some rarities... but it's such a grab bag that it's not a comprehensive collection of ANY of them.


He really needs to do a nice box set - 3 or 4 discs - of released material. Singles and key album tracks. Include some single edits that are hard to find (Stay and Wild is the Wind, for example). Make sure to include tracks like Holy, Holy and other obscure singles. Single versions like I Can't Read, and You Belong in Rock and Roll.

A real collection getting all these together.

Then he needs to do a SEPARATE box of unreleased material, rare stuff, demos, etc.. The David Bowie Anthology.

The S&V box... it's kindof a hybrid... i don't understand it's purpose. to me, it's very unsatisfying.

OK -rant over

JonSnow said:

But many Boxsets use the above "something for everyone" approach...it often can make an excellent introduction to an artist that digs a little deeper than a "greatest hits" collection ...

In the case of someone like Bowie who has had a 30+ year career , you are correct that the S+V set might be frustrating for a long time fan like yourself.But for some ( like me) who have a more casual interest in checking him out, the S+V set may serve as a good introduction....

I'm a huge fan of ELO (Electric Light Orchestra) so I was thrilled when they released a box set in 2000 called 'Flashback'.My girlfriend bought it for me as a Christmas gift,but I was so disappointed.The hits are there,but there are ALOT of useless,unnecessary,and totally lackluster demo versions,unreleased tracks,outtakes,etc.Normally,these are the types of things that a fan would die for,but for some reason,when it comes to ELO,I just want the songs that I'm familiar with and the outtakes are nothing to write home about.Another gripe....many songs are in their edited (single) versions,which is a no-no for a box set.Use the full-length album versions!

silverchild said:

Oh I don't know I still really like that Diana boxset. The remastering on the 60s Supremes stuff is pretty good. The song selection was pretty generous to the 80s and beyond.. I usually listen to disc one and two. Ah maybe you're right

I don't know about WORST box sets because I wouldn't throw down that much money for something that I consider crap.

But some of the most perfect box sets I've seen are the recent ones by Joy Division, New Order and The Cure. The Joy Division one collects all of their studio recordings, most of the important demos are rarities and includes a great live disc. The New Order one has a lot missing, but you really focus on what's actually there and how fucking great it all sounds (and looks). And The Cure's 'Join The Dots' is a virtual godsend to all longtime fans.

Bowie's Sound + Vision is frustrating now that I know all his material, but when I first got into him, the Rykodiscs were the most current releases. I wasn't so worried about how each disc sounded as its own entity or what was or wasn't included. I mostly was just fascinated by anything Bowie and there was plenty of rare stuff on there to drool over, especially on the first 2 discs. But one thing I do wish is that instead of remastering that set the way they did, I almost wish they'd left off anything available on albums and included all the Rykodisc bonus tracks instead. That would've been something.

If I had my way, this is how all artists would do things. After X amount of time and a certain amount of singles/hits/favorites are established, put out a 'Best Of' to cap off that period. Then move on with the next phase of your career. I hate it when there are glaring omissions on compilations like these. Don't wait until several years after you've had your hayday or until you have a flop album on your hands. Don't leave it up to your record company. Don't really make it subjective at all. Just include everything that was a hit. That's why singles collections are the best. Include all single versions since that's what people are buying it for - the version they heard on the radio. You can fit more songs on that way. The die-hards already have the albums and would appreciate having all the edits in one place and it gives the casual fans that would normally only buy a greatest hits collection something they know. Plus, if they get hooked on that artist, they'll have something to look forward to once they get to the longer album versions.

Then, once you've established your legendary status or whatever, go ahead and work on your box set. But make it satisfying and complete within its own boundaries. Box sets that cover one era or one album can be really good, like say the Miles Davis ones. But for a career overview, I like things focused. Trying to please everyone with everything in one set usually diminishes the results. I would love to see one Bowie compilation that's completely representative. I think the closest is his Virgin 1969-1974, but even that is lacking. If there was something that presented all his singles and important album tracks in chronological order, I'd be very pleased. Until then, I have to be happy with my own. B-Sides box sets should become a trend. Don't just release a b-sides album. It's nice for people who don't want to buy all the singles but have more than a passing interest in an artist. But so many songs get neglected that way. Just wait until enough time has passed and you have enough b-sides under your belt and your singles are harder to come by and put it all out in one glorious feast. I don't think anyone can come up with a single legitimate complaint about what The Cure has done with theirs.

And about Singles box sets...

I don't have a lot of experience with these. But the Depeche Mode ones are really nice. What I like about them is that with many artists, there are multiple versions of the same single. So you often have to track down 2 or 3 singles for the same song because of different mixes and b-sides. But the DM ones collect almost all the tracks from EVERY version of those singles onto one disc. And a lot of those discs are packed full. I wish Bjork would do the same thing with all her multiple formats and rare vinyl mixes. She's promised many times and I think it'd be a great idea.

Bjork's "Family Tree" because it's two discs worth of content spread over six.
Not to knock on the music of course.

MrSquiggle said:

Yeah. There's a lot of good stuff there, but it could've been a LOT better.

GangstaFam said:

I once saw a radio station promo copy of Family Tree which had the whole set on two discs. Why couldn't they just release it to the public like that?

MrSquiggle said:

It was very xpensive...
Still the Live box of Björk is incredible One of my favorite

silverchild said:

What's wrong with the song selection? As I recall,this box set contains all the big Supremes hits and pretty much ALL of the essential solo hits.What songs is it missing?

Michael Jackson's The Ultimate Collection

Because they had a chance to do it right, and they went for the cash grab instead. Too bad.

Yeah I would say MJ's Ultimate Collection. A Box Set, to me, is like an extended greatest hits collection, better for casual fans. I guess it's not Michael Jackson's fault for not having alot of "casual" fans at this point.. or is it?

Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime; but not for song selection (you can't really argue with what's on here) or for the overall design (it's beautiful), but because I've only opened it a dozen or so times and the booklet is already falling out. A $50 or $60 boxset should be made to be a little sturdier. It almost reminds me of those 30th Anniversary Bowie CDs where the packaging seperates from the spine of the CD.

Oh man for packaging... gotta be 1985-1995 Def Jam anniversary box set. 4 cd holders glued into a book done FELL OUT and you cannot remove the booklet, it is forever stuck in the spine... I had to photocopy the tracklists and put it in jewel cases.

DavidEye said:

Are u serious? Haven't u listened to the sound quality? It has 2 much tape hiss, anyway, I'm going to buy a new one because the one I have now is pretty worn out. I think it's kinda complete but the the sound quality is really not what I expected from Motown. I think I'm really getting used to this box set.

MrTation said:

but i don't think it's something for everyone... it doesn't give a clear picture of anything. it has some key singles, while totally ignoring others... and the smattering of unreleased stuff is like a tantalizing treat for die-hards, who want MORE, but don't really shed light on anything for newcomers.

I dont' know... i just don't like that type of box set. There should be particular goals and boundaries for box sets, not just a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and a complete picture of nothing.

But that's just my humble opinion