ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 14, 1995 By Steve Newton Some boxed sets are basically just glorified greatest-hits collections, with maybe a handful of remixed or previously unreleased tracks tossed in to lure die-hard fans with bulging pockets, but the 92-track Playback isn’t one of those. While it does contain all the big … Continue reading Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers box set is a must-have for Pettyphiles
Tag: box set
Roxy Music vinyl box offers a second shot at ’70s art-rock
By Steve Newton I wasn't the artsiest rock-music fan to grow up in Chilliwack in the seventies; there was way too much Molly Hatchet in my vinyl diet for that. But every now and then I'd venture beyond guitar-based boogie and try something a little more involved, like Roxy Music. I remember buying Stranded when it came … Continue reading Roxy Music vinyl box offers a second shot at ’70s art-rock
Rod Stewart box set captures his post-Faces hits and the odd clunker
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 19, 2002 By Steve Newton Before Rod the Mod became the kind of guy who would release a CD of golden-oldie pop standards called It Had to Be You—and then shamelessly plug it on Larry King Live—he was quite a ferocious rock crooner. Nothing will ever match the … Continue reading Rod Stewart box set captures his post-Faces hits and the odd clunker
Thin Lizzy box set is a fitting tribute to hard-rock poet Phil Lynott
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 19, 2002 By Steve Newton Thin Lizzy was among my top-five fave rock bands in the ’70s. I picked up on the group after reading a rave review of 1973’s Vagabonds of the Western World in my magazine of choice at the time, Circus. I rushed out and … Continue reading Thin Lizzy box set is a fitting tribute to hard-rock poet Phil Lynott
Capitol Records 60th Anniversary box gets the Newt’s noggin noddin’
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 19, 2002 By Steve Newton To celebrate 60 years in business, Capitol Records has released an ambitious, six-CD boxed set, with each disc containing 16 tunes from one particular decade, spanning the ’40s to the ’90s. Not surprisingly, some of my fave pop and rock tunes of all … Continue reading Capitol Records 60th Anniversary box gets the Newt’s noggin noddin’
Led Zeppelin’s best album, Physical Graffiti, to get deluxe box-set treatment
By Steve Newton Led Zeppelin announced the other day that it will release a super-deluxe boxed-set edition of its best album, 1975's Physical Graffiti. Fvckin-AAA! The package--newly remastered by Jimmy Page and featuring previously unreleased tracks--will hit stores on February 24, 40 years to the day after the release of the original. In case you forgot what … Continue reading Led Zeppelin’s best album, Physical Graffiti, to get deluxe box-set treatment
The Tragically Hip to release super-deluxe edition of the Newt’s fave Hip album
By Steve Newton When you love the Tragically Hip as much as I do—or did, anyway, back in the '90s—it's hard to pinpoint one favourite album. But let's try anyway. My alltime fave song of theirs—the one that has given me the most chills when heard either on record or live—is "Nautical Disaster", so sometimes … Continue reading The Tragically Hip to release super-deluxe edition of the Newt’s fave Hip album
David Wilcox’s whimsical boogie doesn’t warrant a 63-song box set
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 9, 1993 By Steve Newton In the early ’80s David Wilcox flew onto the Canadian music scene with Out of the Woods, a debut album that was chock-full of snappy, whimsically rocking tunes that couldn’t help but infect you with their primal, blues-driven energy. Catchy tracks such as … Continue reading 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
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 9, 1993 By Steve Newton As a high schooler back in ’73, I blindly purchased a copy of Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s Brain Salad Surgery, which was highly unusual for me, since the band didn’t even have a rockin’ lead guitarist and I didn’t even do drugs. Yet … Continue reading The Return of the Manticore box set is for devoted ELP fans only
Ashes to Diamonds box set shines with unreleased Tom Cochrane gems
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 9, 1993 By Steve Newton This three-CD box set is a real bonus for Tom Cochrane fans who enjoyed his recent hits, “Big League” and “Life Is a Highway”, but who still believe his best musical moments occurred with his former band, Red Rider. The majority of the … Continue reading Ashes to Diamonds box set shines with unreleased Tom Cochrane gems
Led Zeppelin box gets you the best of Zep on tape or CD for one nominal price
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JAN. 3, 1991 By Steve Newton So you’re all upset because over the years you’ve invested $200 into your mint collection of Led Zeppelin LPs, only to turn around and find that vinyl is going the way of the dodo. Well, quit your bawling, ’cause now you can get … Continue reading Led Zeppelin box gets you the best of Zep on tape or CD for one nominal price
George Harrison box set stirs ’70s memories and gets Conan on the case
By Steve Newton An eight-disc George Harrison box set titled The Apple Years 1968-75 was released today, for all you post-Beatles Harrison freaks out there. I probably won't run out and buy it, since I don't have a spare hundred bucks kickin' around right now, but hearing about it made me recall the Year of Our Lord, 1973. That was … Continue reading George Harrison box set stirs ’70s memories and gets Conan on the case
Rush to issue box set with previously unreleased live footage (of John Rutsey!)
By Steve Newton If you're the type of diehard Rush freak who thinks who've seen everything the band's ever put to video, get ready for this. The Canuck prog-rock legends announced today that, on November 11, they'll be releasing R40, a 10-DVD/6-Blu-ray collector's boxed set which also includes all eight songs from a show in … Continue reading Rush to issue box set with previously unreleased live footage (of John Rutsey!)