Nick Drake box set (and others)

Posted by: Stephen Dupuis on 15 October 2001

Just picked up the Nick Drake box set titled 'fruit tree' - awsome if you like accoustic. Have also been looking at other box sets, Bob Dylan, John Lennon (any body have this one?) and the live version of The Wall recorded in London. I am a little concerned about the John Lennon set as it has 94 unreleased trakes out of 98. Any other box sets out there that get high points.

Steve

Posted on: 15 October 2001 by Hermann
Hi Steve,

give it a try. It's a really good one and on vinyl too.

Cheers
Hermann

Posted on: 16 October 2001 by Martin M
Good Vibrations - the Beach Boys. Just don't bother with the last disc!

Show Time - James Brown

Hot Cakes & Outtakes - Little Feat

Guilty - Randy Newman

All are superior musical, sound and packaging quality.

Posted on: 24 October 2001 by von zipper
...If you'd already foolishly gone and paid extortionate amounts for the HDCD versions of the first 2 albums.... frown
Posted on: 31 January 2002 by Thomas K
Hi,

I'm thinking of getting this box set. I've seen remastered versions of the three regular albums available (seperately) from CDNow and Amazon - does anyone know whether the Fruit Tree box set contains the remastered or the old versions? How do the remasters compare to the original CD releases?

Many thanks,

Thomas

Posted on: 31 January 2002 by Martin M
quote:
does anyone know whether the Fruit Tree box set contains the remastered or the old versions

The old versions, I believe

quote:
How do the remasters compare to the original CD releases?

They are richer sounding and a bit more 'dynamic' than the originals, which sound a bit 1989-digital IMO. A really good CD player normally sorts all that out though. In other words YMMV. I can listen to either and still enjoy the fabulous music.

Posted on: 31 January 2002 by Thomas K
quote:
the originals [...] sound a bit 1989-digital

What a shame. The extra disc in the box set apparently contains some interesting alternate takes, and the booklet's meant to be quite good.

Thanks, Martin.

Thomas

Posted on: 31 January 2002 by Sigmund
I have the original lp sized box. My favorite, far and away, is Pink Moon because it's his most acoustic. So, I replaced that disc in the box with the newly remastered 24 bit version. Voila. The best of both worlds. As good as it gets with my favorite disc and all the rest, which I enjoy less, in perfectly respectable sound. You really can't go wrong with either, though.
Posted on: 01 February 2002 by J.N.
but the new remasters do sound better.

Most annoying. I suppose I'll have to buy them.

Posted on: 01 February 2002 by J.N.
I've had to go to www.absound.ca to order the three remasters:-

Five Leaves Left
Bryter Layter
Pink Moon.

About £25 including postage.

Posted on: 10 February 2002 by Chris Metcalfe
"If you'd already foolishly gone and paid extortionate amounts for the HDCD versions of the first 2 albums.... "

Does this mean the BS box hasn't got them in HDCD?

As for Drake, get the original Island vinyl over all else (though the remasters are good too..)

Posted on: 10 February 2002 by Ron Toolsie
I have Bryter Later on vinyl, the original CD release and the newly 24 bit remastered version.
Its a toss up between the vinyl (which is on the Antilles label re-release) and the original CD.
The remastered CD is a fair bit better, sounding less like a copy of a copy of a copy- in other words, more detail, less noise, more extension and less coloration. Well worth it.
What I am now waiting for is the remastered version of Free's eponymous album to arrive (ordered last week).. which I also have on superb vinyl and not-so-bad CD. Even if it is not sonically better, it is over twice the length of the original with alternative takes.
But the albums I have been waiting the longest for to be remastered *properly* onto CD are Van Morrisons Astral Weeks and Moondance.

Ron
Dum spiro audio
Dum audio vivo


Posted on: 10 February 2002 by ken c
...are Van Morrisons Astral Weeks and Moondance.

ahh.. wonderful music.. hope you get hold of one soon. i have good vinyl copies and i am not looking for cd versions

enjoy

ken

Posted on: 13 February 2002 by Paul Davies
I have Fruit Tree and it's wonderful. Other "must have" box sets:

  • King Crimson - The Great Deceiver. Yes, the world does indeed need another four versions of "Easy Money" from the band that never played the same song the same way two nights running. The collective improvisations are stunning too. The discovery of this boxed set forced me to take the knife to my piggy bank to get my CDS1 back in '93.

  • Joy Division - Heart and Soul

  • Dead Can Dance 1981-1998
Posted on: 14 February 2002 by Chris Metcalfe
"the albums I have been waiting the longest for to be remastered *properly* onto CD are Van Morrisons Astral Weeks and Moondance".

This reflects Warners' bizarre attitude to remastering. Whereas every other major label has thrown in the towel on 24-bit formats and gone ahead and remastered for 16-bit, Warners seem to be holding their best stuff back for DVD-A or whatever. Apart from the odd Joni Mitchell and a few Elektra LPs on Rhino (e.g. the Love albums, now fully remastered individually), most of the best Warners back catalogue remains on 1980s CDs.

Posted on: 15 February 2002 by throbnorth
Sony seem to be a bit reticent with the CBS back catalogue as well, there are lots of odd gaps. After hearing some of the Beach Boys reissues, I thought I'd treat myself to Dennis Wilson's 'Pacific Ocean Blue' only to find that I couldn't. Maybe the licensing issues are tricky, although the way that the Beach Boys back catalogue has been handled is generally exemplary.

The Pet Sounds Sessions is a fascinating box - I really like the idea of taking a classic album and totally deconstructing it. I've heard that 'Fun House' by The Stooges has had similar treatment, and I can imagine a few other titles that would find a ready market amongst obsessives.