CD Box Sets

January 11th, 2008

Atlantic Soul (1959-1975) 4 CDs (Rhino Handmade)
Atlantic Blues (1949-1970) 4 CDs (Rhino Handmade)
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Atlantic Records, Rhino Handmade has issued the first two releases in a trio of limited edition sets (to be followed by Atlantic Vocal Groups: 1951-1963 in 2008). Atlantic Soul spotlights 82 lesser-known and rarely heard tracks from Atlantic’s vaults, while Atlantic Blues features 80 tracks featuring virtually every style of blues imaginable.

The Ike & Tina Turner Story 1960-1975 3 CDs (Time Life/WEA)
A fitting tribute to Ike Turner, who passed away last month, this compilation is the best anthology released thus far, guided by producers Bas Hartong, Colin Escott, and Tom Vickers. The first two CDs feature all of Ike & Tina’s greatest hits as well as some lesser known tracks, while the third CD is a reissue of the album In Person, recorded live in 1969. A fine review by Christian John Wikane, along with great video clips, has been posted at Pop Matters.

Lady Day: The Master Takes and Singles - Billie Holiday, 4 CDs (Legacy)
For those that didn’t shell out the money for Legacy’s 10 CD box set Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia back in 2001, this new 4 CD compilation offers a reasonably priced and easily digestible alternative. The set features 80 tracks, arranged chronologically from 1935-1942, with newly remastered sound.

City of Dreams: A Collection of New Orleans Music 4 CDs (Rounder)
Any fan of New Orleans music will be interested in this new 4 CD overview of the Rounder Records catalog, covering everything from brass bands, r&b and Mardi Gras Indians to jazz and funk. Featured musicians include Irma Thomas, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the Rebirth Brass Band, Art Neville, George Porter Jr. (Meters), Ruth Brown, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, and many lesser known artists. You might want to pick this set up before your Mardi Gras party, and order up a King cake while you’re at it.

Vee-Jay: The Definitive Collection. 4 CDs (Shout! Factory)
Chicago’s Vee-Jay Records, formed in 1953 by Gary, Indiana natives Vivian Carter and James Bracken, was the most successful black-owned independent record label of its time, and served as a model for Motown. This fabulous set includes 85 tracks recorded between 1953-1966, and provides a representative sample of the label’s 13 year history–from blues and R&B to doo wop, jazz, and gospel. The set opens with tracks by Jimmy Reed and the Spaniels, concludes with Little Richard, and in between features Jerry Butler, John Lee Hooker, Hank Ballard, the Staple Singers, the Dells, the Swan Silvertones, Gene Chandler, Gladys Knight, and many, many more. Wow!

The Complete on the Corner Sessions – Miles Davis, 6 CDs (Sony Legacy)
This is the final deluxe box set in Legacy’s Miles Davis Series (seven other sets compiled from Davis’s Columbia studio sessions have already been released). Included here are twelve previously unissued tracks, recorded between 1972 and 1975, for On the Corner, Big Fun, and Get Up With It. The set is accompanied by a 120-page booklet with liner notes and essays by Bob Belden, Tom Terrell, and Paul Buckmaster.