I'd just like to point out that this thread refers to the Rhino/Warner 'Original Album Series' sets yet I see some folks are referencing Sony/Legacy's 'Original Album Classics' sets. Similar beasts as far as packaging etc goes but I have noticed differences. For instance, Sony's sets vary in so much that depending on the artist they may contain either three or five complete albums, whereas all the Rhino/Warner sets contain five. In some instances the Sony sets contain bonus tracks as they were included on the original CD release, whereas the Rhino/Warner sets seem to omit bonus tracks. With respect to both, the mastering is mixed and varys from album to album even within a box. Some albums are issued with the lastest remaster others use the original masterings. For what they are they are good buys but they are issued on the cheap so caveat emptor!
Just purchased the Alanis Morissette series off Zavvi for only 8.05 with the aid of a 10% discount code, it also priced 8.99 on amazon uk. Just stunned at how cheap that set was!
The Lovin Spoonful one is the only place to get the John Sebastian-less "Revelation: Revolution '69" for what that's worth...not sure about sound quality vs. recent Edsel reissues
They provide several albums at a low price per CD but skimp on the packaging....so it's one step above simply downloading the albums....they are good for building the Music Server with complete albums vs. best of. Some artists like Madonna are really cheap used so I prefer getting the original CDs with original CD packaging. The Lovin Spoonful seems more tempting.
The most stooopid Sony one is the third volume of the Elvis boxes. It's supposed to be soundtrack albums but one of the albums included is Pot Luck. Don't these guys ever check the facts??
Original Album Series At Xmas I bought the Randy Newman set (first five albums no remasters) luvved it, recently I bought the Ray Charles (five prime albums no remasters) it's not available in the U.S. and that set was OK, last week I got the Harry Chapin (first five albums no remasters) and I'll report back. These sets are wonderful if you don't already have anything by the artist. Regards, Trevor.
Sony's boxes seem to be less well presented with random albums thrown together more often than not. Speaking of getting your facts wrong...here's the spiel on the back of the Journey one - "Albums from 1978-1986 are covered here and includes the huge hit Dont Stop Believin' as well as being the first 5 albums featuring vocalist Steve Perry in the new line up" The box includes Infinity, Evolution, Escape, Frontiers and Raised On Radio but alas the 3rd album with Perry Departure is nowhere to be found!!
I have this set. I don't have any comparison, but I can tell you that the first 3 CDs are very quiet. RG values of +0.3dB, -3.2dB and -3.1dB respectively. BTW, EMI has jumped on the bandwagon. Amazon UK has 4CD boxsets of Duran Duran, Supergrass, Roxy Music, later years Ramones, etc
Harry Chapin, highly recommended.... I'm really enjoying the Harry Chapin set, I've never listened to his music before, a revelation and the sound quality is fine too, highly recommended. Regards, Trevor. P.S. I think I'll try the Patti Smith Original Album Classics set next but that's for another thread.
Someone at the New Wave Outpost forum claims that the supposedly withdrawn Prince Original Album series box is readily available on the shelves in Australian shops. Does anyone know about this? I thought this release was cancelled prior to the actual release date...
I wonder if they are just the original albums completely untouched. It would be cool if they were at least tweaked a bit. Im guessing with Prince touring they want to have something like this out for when he gets here this month. Steve
noname74 et al, there have been numerous attempts to persuade people to distinguish between the Warner Original Album series and the Sony Original Album Classics and so far we have all failed....
