With the holiday season coming up,many box sets are being announced just in time for Christmas.What are you looking forward to?

70s soul is my favorite so I am really excited about this one.It's a big,6-CD box set from Blue Magic,one of the greatest R&B vocal groups from that era.Expanded editions of their first six albums.Already pre-ordered it.

Six CD set. Soul Music Records (SMR) in association with The Second Disc is proud to present the first- ever definitive set by the legendary Philadelphia quintet founded by Ted Wizard Mills, Vernon Sawyer, Wendell Sawyer, Keith Beaton, and Richard Pratt. 74-track collection including expanded editions of Blue Magic's five full-length albums for Atco and WMOT Records as well as all of the group's live performances from their sizzling concert album with Major Harris and Margie Joseph. Bonus tracks include rare single versions and B-sides plus remixes from Tom Moulton and Mike Maurro. Led by falsetto singer Ted Wizard Mills - following in the footsteps of his influences, The Stylistics' Russell Thompkins, Jr. And The Delfonics' William Hart - Blue Magic recorded some of the richest and most beautiful ballads of the 1970s as well as uptempo floor-fillers that set the stage for the disco era. Includes productions from Philly soul and disco titans Norman Harris and Bobby Eli as well as Earth, Wind & Fire collaborator Skip Scarborough while musical contributors include Vincent Montana, Jr., Ronnie Baker, Earl Young, Jack Faith, Dave Crawford, and members of the legendary MFSB. The deluxe booklet designed by Roger Williams includes liner notes by The Second Disc's Joe Marchese drawing on extensive new interviews with WMOT Records co-founder Alan Rubens and acclaimed songwriter Vinnie Barrett ('Sideshow', 'Three Ring Circus') as well as archival quotes from Bobby Eli, Ted Wizard Mills, Vernon Sawyer, and the members of Blue Magic. The booklet also features rare and unseen photos of the group. With all tracks freshly remastered by Nick Robbins, 'Stop to Start: The Atco & WMOT Recordings (1973-1977)' is the ultimate celebration of one of soul music's most enduring and beloved vocal groups. Hurry, hurry, step right on in!

As a huge fan of Roy Ayers,I'm keeping an eye on this new box set,due in December.Five of his classic 70s albums remastered.Here's the thing though: Roy has released a ton of albums throughout his long career.How about a massive,multi-disc box set that includes every album?! I might just hold out for something like that although this new set is very tempting.

it seems like there is a new Beatles box set every six months or so this time,it's a vinyl box set containing the seven albums released from January 1964 to March 1965.More info:

All seven albums – Meet The Beatles!, The Beatles’ Second Album, A Hard Day’s Night (Original Motion Picture Sound Track), Something New, The Beatles’ Story (2LP), Beatles ’65 and The Early Beatles – have been analog cut for 180-gram audiophile vinyl from their original mono master tapes and feature replicated artwork and new four-panel inserts with essays.

WAR just announced two new box sets.One is CD,the other (pictured below) is colored vinyl.Five remastered albums: Platinum Jazz (1977),Galaxy (1977),The Music Band (1979),Outlaw (1982) and Peace Sign (1994).

I'm gonna have to order this WAR is one of my favorite bands and this set focuses on the albums that weren't available in the previous vinyl box set.

RODSERLING said:

Symbol SDE

how many more years will we have to wait?

Unfortunately,some deluxe editions are completely useless and just plain pointless Take a look at what they've done to Donna Summer's 1979 On The Radio double album.They expanded it and added more tracks,which is supposed to be a good thing,right? Well,the original 1979 double album was a fun release in which the songs segued into each other (as if you were at a disco).It featured two then-new songs "Enough Is Enough" (with Barbara Streisand) and the title song.For this new expanded version,they simply put a bunch of single edits on two discs.None of the songs segue into each other.So,in other words,it's now just a run-of-the-mill two-disc greatest hits set,as if her fans really need yet another compilation of her hits.Furthermore,it's not even a definitive collection of her hits.It's missing numerous singles from the 80s ("There Goes My Baby","Cold Love",etc).

^^^ I'll stick with my original LP, thank you.

SoulAlive said:

As a huge fan of Roy Ayers,I'm keeping an eye on this new box set,due in December.Five of his classic 70s albums remastered.Here's the thing though: Roy has released a ton of albums throughout his long career.How about a massive,multi-disc box set that includes every album?! I might just hold out for something like that although this new set is very tempting.

I would definitely be interested in a huge multi album set containing the complete works and guest appearances of the mighty Roy Ayers! Price is no object (and believe me I don't say that often)!

BalladofPeterParker said:

SoulAlive said:

As a huge fan of Roy Ayers,I'm keeping an eye on this new box set,due in December.Five of his classic 70s albums remastered.Here's the thing though: Roy has released a ton of albums throughout his long career.How about a massive,multi-disc box set that includes every album?! I might just hold out for something like that although this new set is very tempting.

I would definitely be interested in a huge multi album set containing the complete works and guest appearances of the mighty Roy Ayers! Price is no object (and believe me I don't say that often)!

That man definitely deserves a huge,MASSIVE,multi-disc career-spanning box set! It is long overdue.

another box set I'm interested in released earlier this year,it's a massive 8-disc set focusing on The Salsoul Orchestra albums that were produced by Vince Montana.The amount of bonus tracks and remixes is absolutely amazing! This set is on my personal Christmas list,lol.

Santana - Lotus – Mobil... Sound Lab

Numbered, Limited Edition 180g 3LP from Mobile Fidelity!
One of the Most Exhilarating Live Albums Ever Released!
Strictly Limited to 5,000 Numbered Copies!

No. of Discs: 3

1/2" / 15 IPS / Four-Track Analog Master to Two-Track DSD 256 to Analog Console to Lathe

The bizarre legacy of Lotus transcends its status as both the definitive onstage document of Santana's career and one of the most spectacular live albums ever released. Originally issued in 1974, the triple LP contains exhilarating performances recorded at two shows in early July 1973 at the 2,400-seat Osaka Kosei Nenkin Kaikan concert hall. It bears witness to the eight-piece collective playing with a chemistry, inventiveness, cohesiveness, and soulfulness no other Santana lineup would ever surpass. Lotus also remained the only completely live Santana album for almost two decades — and took nearly as long to see domestic release.

Sourced from the original master tapes, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing, strictly limited to 5,000 numbered copies, and housed in deluxe trifold packaging faithful to that of the original pressing, Lotus benefits from reference audiophile treatment on Mobile Fidelity's 180g 3LP set. Featuring rich tones, smooth dynamics, excellent separation, deep soundstages, and involving presence, this reissue pays tribute to both the virtuosic lineup and the indispensable fusion of Latin- and Afro-Cuban-influenced jazz, rock, psychedelia, R&B, and blues.

homesquid said:

Queen I Collector's Edition

here's an unboxing video

(50) Queen / Queen I Coll... - YouTube

^^Michael Jackson’s Reign as the King of Pop Starts Here: RIAA-Certified Nine-Times-Platinum Off the Wall Blends Funk, Disco, Soul and R&B in Visionary Ways, Features “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” and “Rock With You”

1979 Landmark Presented in Audiophile Sound for the First Time: Mobile Fidelity’s UltraDisc One-Step 180g 45RPM 2LP Box Set Explodes with Energy, Plays with Superb Clarity and Detail

1/4" / 30 IPS analog master to DSD 256 to analog console to lathe

Mobile Fidelity’s UltraDisc One-Step 180g 45RPM 2LP box set of Off the Wall is sourced from the original master tapes, housed in a deluxe slipcase, and pressed on MoFi SuperVinyl at Fidelity Record Pressing. The keepsake packaging of this Off the Wall UD1S set further befits the album's preeminent status. Housed in a deluxe slipcase, it features a special foil-stamped jacket and faithful graphics. Aurally and visually, this reissue is made for everyone who desires to immerse themselves in everything involved with the nine-times-platinum landmark — including the iconic album cover with Jackson dressed in a tuxedo.

WAR Announces LIVE IN JAP...74 | Rhino

In the winter of 1974, WAR was already a half-decade into their career and fresh off the success of the #1 Billboard best-selling album of 1973, The World Is a Ghetto. Following months of touring throughout the US, and then nearly thirty shows across Europe, WAR arrived in Japan for the first time ever, to perform a series of live shows in Shizuoka, Tokyo, Osaka, and Kobe. Now, recordings from these performances have been rediscovered and meticulously restored for Live In Japan 1974, the first live album to feature all seven original members in 50 years.

With the release of a Japan-exclusive CD set for January 29, 2025—featuring a custom obi sleeve and liner notes by local music journalists—Live In Japan 1974 will get a global release on February 7, 2025. The collection will be available in 2LP and 2CD sets worldwide, as well as digitally, and includes a variety of live recordings of classic WAR tracks like “The Cisco Kid,” “The World Is a Ghetto,” and “All Day Music.” The liner notes, written and edited by Cory Frye, feature an in-depth interview with founding band member Lonnie Jordan and WAR’s longtime producer Jerry Goldstein, wherein Lonnie shares "It was a fun, exciting experience because we’d never gotten that amount of people loving what we did, especially during that time.” Jerry adds, "They knew all the songs. It was pretty exciting, getting the vibe that everyone knew and loved what we were doing. They gave us a lot of standing ovations, and we did lots of encores." The liner notes also reveal the story behind the creation of yet another iconic WAR song, “Why Can’t We Be Friends?,” inspired by the band’s interactions with locals during their debut tour of Japan.

Packed with never-before-heard performances and insights into a pivotal moment in the band’s history and evolution, Live in Japan 1974 offers fans a deeper understanding of WAR’s global impact, and serves as a perfect sonic touchstone to further celebrate the band’s 55th Anniversary. Additionally, WAR will mark the 50th Anniversary of Why Can’t We Be Friends throughout 2025, on the heels of performing the titular hit song live on last week’s Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

CD

Disc 1

1. THE WORLD IS A GHETTO

2. SOUTHERN PART OF TEXAS

3. THE CISCO KID

4. SO

5. ALL DAY MUSIC

6. DON’T LET NO ONE GET YOU DOWN

Disc 2

1. LOTUS BLOSSOM

2. GYPSY MAN

3. BAND INTRO

4. INTRO TO SLIPPIN’ INTO DARKNESS: LEE OSKAR

5. SLIPPIN’ INTO DARKNESS

6. ME AND BABY BROTHER

7. SHIZUOKA CHANT

8. WHERE WAS YOU AT

LP

Side 1

1. THE WORLD IS A GHETTO

2. SOUTHERN PART OF TEXAS

Side 2

1. THE CISCO KID

2. SO

3. ALL DAY MUSIC

Side 3

1. DON’T LET NO ONE GET YOU DOWN

2. GYPSY MAN

Side 4

1. BAND INTRO

2. INTRO TO SLIPPIN’ INTO DARKNESS: LEE OSKAR

3. SLIPPIN’ INTO DARKNESS

4. ME AND BABY BROTHER

5. SHIZUOKA CHANT

I must say,I'm really thrilled with all these recent WAR releases.Their cataolg is finally getting the attention,care and respect that it deserves.And now we get a from-the-vaults live recording from Japan in 1974?! I'm ecstatic!