“Sound and Vision” was a pretty cool tune from a David Bowie album that made my Top 30 Rock Albums of 1977.
It’s also a pretty cool name for this page where I’ll gather up my box set (sound) and Blu-ray (vision) reviews. I might also throw in the odd DVD and CD/vinyl reissue when so inclined.
2016
Michael Bruce’s deletion from SUPER DUPER ALICE COOPER is a travesty
2015
QUEEN box set out today captures the legendary rockers live in ’75
BLACK SABBATH reissues bring back memories of “War Pigs”-inspired furniture abuse
The ultimate QUEEN fan and vinyl freak just creamed his or her jeans
THE BOTTLE ROCKETS are one of the world’s most underrated rock bands
Wes Craven’s THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS gets collectible Blu-ray release today
STRAY CATS Live at Rockpalast finds the rockabilly revivalists at their ballsy best
ROLLING STONES super-deluxe box set falls short without Keith Richards mini cut-out
Imagine all of JOHN LENNON’s studio albums in a vinyl box set
ROGER WATERS to release Jeff Beck-bolstered album Amused to Death
ROXY MUSIC vinyl box offers a second shot at ’70s art-rock
Good news for those who can’t get enough BAD COMPANY
2014
KANSAS to release deluxe CD/DVD, so you can bet “Dust in the Wind” is on there
PAUL McCARTNEY & WINGS deluxe-edition box sets are pretty sweet
THE TRAGICALLY HIP to release super-deluxe edition of the Newt’s fave Hip album
Guitar legend JEFF BECK to release new concert Blu-ray next month
GEORGE HARRISON box set stirs ’70s memories and gets Conan on the case
RUSH to issue box set with previously unreleased footage (of John Rutsey!)
The Art of McCARTNEY boasts ’70s rockers Heart, Steve Miller, and the Coop
RORY GALLAGHER and STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN box-set announcements make the Newt holler “fuckin’-AAA!”
New LED ZEPPELIN reissues will do until the Physical Graffiti box comes around
STATUS QUO box set brings ’70s guitar-boogie in spades
New JOHN MELLENCAMP box set crams 19 discs into one tidy package
JUDAS PRIEST rips off Iron Maiden on Redeemer of Souls (but just a little)
The Life of Riley shows B.B. KING’s talent flowing from a huge heart
HALLOWEEN Blu-ray box sets on the way from Anchor Bay
Fans of early QUEEN will flip for Live at the Rainbow ’74
Yee-haw! ALLMAN BROTHERS to release southern-rock masterpiece as box set
THE WHO’S Quadrophenia: Live in London gets primo packaging in a collector’s edition
Blue Wild Angel: JIMI HENDRIX Live at the Isle of Wight to be released on Blu-ray
BRIAN SETZER returns to a Stray Cats vibe with Rockabilly Riot: All Original
PINK FLOYD’s Division Bell gets the 20th anniversary box set treatment
ERIC CLAPTON’S J.J. Cale tribute features Derek Trucks, Albert Lee, and Doyle Bramhall II
RUSH gives John Rutsey his due on ReDISCovered box set
The riff returns with first batch of deluxe LED ZEPPELIN box sets
DEEP PURPLE’s monumental Made in Japan gets box-set treatment
FESTIVAL EXPRESS takes a crazy train to ’70s rock history
BLACK SABBATH’s new box set isn’t quite as wicked as its Black Box
BOB DYLAN Blu-ray smokes with Johnny WInter, Neil Young & Tom Petty
JOHNNY WINTER box set to rival last year’s stunning Duane Allman package
JOE SATRIANI’s upcoming box set is one mighty back o’ Satch
MIKE BLOOMFIELD’s fearless fretwork shines on new box set
Scream Factory to release Sam Raimi’s DARKMAN on collector’s edition Blu-ray
2013
BEATLES On Air LP sparks memories of childhood vinyl purchase
ERIC CLAPTON box set features Slowhand trading licks with Freddie King
ROLLING STONES Blu-ray sounds killer with Keef’s botched chords fixed up
BOTTLE ROCKETS reissue displays Brian Henneman’s observational eye
RAMONES box set boasts over 75 tunes on six discs
BLACK SABBATH to release live Blu-ray on which Ozzy’s vocals might not suck
35th anniversary HALLOWEEN Blu-ray brings classic horror back in HD
RORY GALLAGHER’s crime-noir interests spawn Kickback City
ZZ TOP box set will include original mixes of three early albums
BLACK SABBATH 13 deluxe box set a sweet treat for ’70s hard-rock freaks
RICHARD PRYOR box set celebrates the world’s most hilarious human
STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN’s soul shines on Texas Flood Legacy Edition
Foaming at the mouth over DUANE ALLMAN Skydog retrospective
2012
Aussie rock legend JIMMY BARNES joins Joe Bonamassa on Deep Purple tribute
THE STONES and MUDDY WATERS make blues magic on Chicago’s south side
GARY MOORE plays Hendrix on upcoming Blues for Jimi Blu-ray
PINK FLOYD to release The Story of Wish You Were Here on Blu-ray
OUTLAWS box set captures the shitkicker glory of the Florida Guitar Army
HEART’S Strange Euphoria sparks memories of a (Chilliwack) Coliseum concert
PINK FLOYD The Wall box set is a dream come true for Floyd freaks
2011
THE WHO’s Quadrophenia, the world’s greatest rock album, released as box set
ROLLING STONES to release Some Girls Live in Texas 1978 on DVD and Blu-ray
Lick Library DVD reveals the secrets of THIN LIZZY’s timeless guitar licks
RORY GALLAGHER’s long-shelved studio album finally released
AC/DC concert film Live at River Plate released on DVD and Blu-ray
THE WALKING DEAD’s zombie holocaust unleashed on DVD and Grue-ray
UFO box set celebrates the hard-rock guitar genius of Michael Schenker
2010
LEMMY KILMISTER documentary profiles Motorhead’s “motherf***er”
TOMMY BOLIN’s spirit revived with rerelease of Come Taste the Band
Bob Geldof and Slash worship RORY GALLAGHER on Ghost Blues DVD
TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS get the Classic Albums treatment on Blu-ray
This is the Blues goes heavy on underrated guitar hero PETER GREEN
Iron Man 2 compiles some of AC/DC’s best, if not biggest
Live in London Blu-ray shows THE PRETENDERS in killer form
DAVID BOWIE’s A Reality Tour could have used some Aladdin Sane
2009
Past Masters reissue bring sweet BEATLES nostalgia in stereo
Crest of a Wave shows off the best of shockingly underrated RORY GALLAGHER
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS captured as its raw and raucous best on Live from Austin TX
GARY MOORE’s Essential Montreux box is a feast of fret-burning action
WOODSTOCK 40-year anniversary box set goes overboard with six discs
2008
Dio-era Rules of Hell box proves SABBATH thrived after Ozzy
JEFF HEALEY’S amazing legacy captured on three-disc package
LED ZEPPELIN’s The Song Remains the Same remains awesome on vinyl
The mighty KISS marketing machine pulls another fast one with IKONS
2007
The soul-destroying legacy of “Sussudio” puts damper on GENESIS box
The volume knob on THE HEAVY METAL BOX goes past eleven
2006
Essentially JOHN MAYALL sees the British bluesman with a cavalcade of guitar heroes
Extravagant DOORS box captures cosmic aspects of the Lizard King
Nine Lives box set best suited for hardcore ROBERT PLANT fans only
2005
TRAGICALLY HIP box set artfully melds sound and vision
OZZY OSBOURNE box the perfect primer for his post-Sabbath period
THE STRAT PACK DVD is a guitar freak’s dream come true
CREAM live reunion DVD wasn’t worth hounding Clapton for
Ballsy blues-metal of AC/DC’s Family Jewels riles the budgie
2004
100,000,000 BON JOVI fans can’t be wrong…or can they?
JUDAS PRIEST’s Metalogy box set comes wrapped in metal studs
Consider yourself warned about SABBATH’s Black Box
The only thing missing from FACES box set is a big honkin’ bottle of JD
2003
ZZ TOP goes heavy on the ’70s with Chrome, Smoke & BBQ Box
Rounder hits the mark with no-frill BOX OF THE BLUES
2002
THIN LIZZY box set is a fitting tribute to hard-rock poet Phil Lynott
ROD STEWART box set captures his post-Faces hits and the odd clunker
YES box set a worthy investment for hardcore fans only
CAPITOL RECORDS 60TH ANNIVERSARY box gets the Newt’s noggin noddin’
1999
DOOBIE BROTHERS box set suffers from some Michael McDonald-penned ditties
1998
GENESIS box set goes heavy on The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
There’s plenty of room to keep your weed in the QUEEN box if you toss the two duds
MOTT THE HOOPLE box set is definitely worth the extra dollars
1997
Bonfire box a godsend for fans of AC/DC’s ear-bustin’ boogie blues
SILVERCHAIR fanatics will lap up the Aussie grunge-rockers’ freak box
THE DOORS box set documents the band in all its unrefined glory
1996
Crossroads 2 (live in the seventies) finds SLOWHAND bluesy as hell
CHEAP TRICK box set wisely avoids ’80s clunkers
1993
DAVID WILCOX’s whimsical boogie doesn’t warrant a 63-song box set
The Return of the Manticore box set is for devoted ELP fans only
Ashes to Diamonds box set shines with unreleased TOM COCHRANE gems
1991
LED ZEPPELIN box gets you the best of Zep on tape or CD for one nominal price
Pandora’s Box conjures vivid memories of AEROSMITH in the seventies
The Definitive Lynyrd Skynyrd Collection is a must-have for hardcore SKYNYRD fans