Christmas 2013: Best Music Box Sets

Here is a selection of the best music box sets of 2013 – from Elvis to the Rolling Stones via Girls Aloud, there is something here for everyone

ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART (THE ART OF THE SONGWRITER BOX SET)

Burt Bacharach is the lyrical powerhouse behind some of the best-loved songs of the 20th century, with his songwriting talents immortalised by the likes of Dusty Springfield, Dionne Warwick and Tom Jones. This collection sweeps up some of the best songs of the Sixties, in particular, and should provide plenty of “I didn’t know he wrote this!” moments. (Charlotte Runcie) Buy Anyone Who Had a Heart (The Art of the Songwriter Box Set)

THE BEACH BOYS (MADE IN CALIFORNIA)

Beach Boys compilations are hardly rare, but this comprehensive six disc boxset would be gratefully received by most fans because of the sheer amount of new material on there. More than 60 previously unreleased songs, demos, live recordings and new mixes convey the sounds and vibes of the band’s 1960s California dreams. (Alice Vincent) Buy The Beach Boys (Made in California)

THE BEATLES: LIVE AT THE BBC (THE COLLECTION)[amazon asin=B00C87KNCS&template=*lrc ad (right)]

This box set combines two previous collections: Live at the BBC and On Air: Live at the BBC Volume Two. The first part, originally released in 1995, shows the Fab Four at their most innocent and fun-loving; whereas the second half, taken from a tighter time-frame, shows the band at their most relaxed: playing Chuck Berry covers and giving interviews. (Matt Lewis) Buy The Beatles: Live at the BBC (The Collection)

THE CURE (CLASSIC ALBUM SELECTION 1979-1984)

Featuring the first five of The Cure’s thirteen studio albums, this box set will allow fans to reminisce about the band’s early days, before commercial success saw their music become an eponymous presence on romcom soundtracks and TV adverts. Morrissey may have once described Robert Smith as “a whinge bag”, but this collection recalls Smith’s unusual and haunting vocals at their very purest, bringing together the classic early albums in their 2004-2006 remastered versions. (Jessie Thompson) Buy The Cure (Classic Album Selection 1979-1984)

ELVIS AT STAX (DELUXE EDITION)

Elvis’s 1973 recording sessions at Stax Studio in Memphis show him at the top of his musical game, before the descent into cheesiness, and in a time when he felt free to explore and experiment with his sound. This set of three[amazon asin=B00FMF3R0I&template=*lrc ad (right)] CDs blends gospel, country and rock’n’roll, showing the versatility of Elvis’s talents, all packaged up with outtakes and rare images of the King at work. (CR) Buy Elvis at Stax (Deluxe Edition)

FLEETWOOD MAC: RUMOURS (35TH ANNIVERSARY SUPER DELUXE EDITION)

Many regard this to be the Fleetwood Mac masterpiece, and this collection is a must for anyone who wants no-holds-barred access to an infamous soundtrack of raw pain and evocative emotional tensions. This Super Deluxe 4CD/1DVD/1LP set comes in a beautiful, 12×12 box and includes the remastered version of the original album including B-side Silver Springs, a disc of previously unreleased live performances from the 1977 tour, newly compiled recording sessions, the DVD of the 1977 promo film Rosebud and the vinyl of the original album. Perhaps most interestingly, new liner notes feature a track-by-track commentary from the band themselves, giving an insight into the personal struggles that informed the lyrics of each song. (JT) Buy Fleetwood Mac: Rumours (35th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition)

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