Ticket 2 Ride

Boxed sets and releases with bonus discs are all the rage. Releasing classic or anniversary editions of older albums and including b-sides, live tracks or outtakes and demos is a great way to boost sales and create new interest in albums you might already own.

Of course, you want a classic album that sounds better, cleaner and warmer. Why invest if you aren’t getting better sound through the latest technology? That might include a remixed edition, which tweaks the original sound even more by moving the levers that control the individual instruments and voices, even reducing effects added in the original recording process. See Steven Wilson. But wait, there’s more! Fans want what’s in the vault: give us demos, working versions, live performances, mistakes and all. There are anniversary, deluxe, super deluxe, ultimate, and second mortgage editions.

Recently, I posted a blog on the 50th anniversary editions of three former Beatles: Living in the Material World, Band on the Run and Mind Games. Each had a disc of alternate versions of the album tracks.

Here are a dozen album releases that have at least one disc of bonus material worth buying the new set. I’m not going to include super edition boxed sets or compilations.

The Police, Synchronicity (2024) – The remastered original album on one disc, and another disc with 18 songs, some b-sides, some live tracks and some remixed versions. The Police became very polished and almost middle of the road on their last studio album. This disc has some ragged live tracks and different versions without as much gloss. The older songs are the most rocking.

David Bowie, Station to Station Deluxe Set (2016) – Station to Station has become my favorite Bowie album. It wasn’t always that way. The deluxe set contains the 1976 Nassau Coliseum concert, which is outstanding.

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Council Skies (2023) – Half of Oasis, Noel Gallagher formed the High Flying Birds. Their most recent album, Council Skies, has a bonus disc of instrumental mixes, live tracks, remixes and unreleased tracks like John Lennon’s “Mind Games.”

The Moody Blues, In Search Of The Lost Chord (2006) – Remastered original album with eight extended versions, one b-side, an unreleased track, five live versions.

The Who, Who’s Next Remastered Deluxe Edition (2003) – Disc one has the remastered original album plus, “disc one adds six bonus tracks, three of which have never been available. Then disc two captures a largely unreleased April 26, 1971 gig at London’s Old Vic Theatre at which most of Pete Townshend’s Lifehouse project-the genesis for Who’s Next.

The Cure, Disintegration (2010) – Arguably The Cure’s best album, released in 1989. At the time, singles from the album were released with extra tracks not on the original release. In 2010, a three disc set included an entire disc of unreleased tracks, demos, alternate versions and instrumentals. These are treasures.

Alice Cooper Group, School’s Out: Expanded & Remastered Edition (2022) – The original album sounds even better. The bonus disc contains songs recorded at a concert in Miami, FL, May 27, 1972, and four studio alternate versions.

Phil Collins, Face Value Deluxe Edition (2016) – Remastered original album, second disc of live tracks and home demos. A few of the demos were for songs that appeared on future Genesis albums. Everyone had a copy back in 1981. Still, a vibrant and intimate album that sounds better than ever.

The Kinks, Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire (2004) – One of the best Kinks albums, I rediscovered this treasure of wit, creativity and power. The bonus disc is referred to as the “lost Dave Davies album.” Worth every penny. Read my full review.

The Beatles, The White Album: 50TH ANNIVERSARY Deluxe (2018) – This is the remastered edition with the Esher demos, recorded at George Harrison’s house. The remastered original album is great, and the demos are wonderful lo-fi versions of songs before the actual recording studio work began.

Supertramp, Crime of the Century Deluxe Edition (2014) – Remastered, plus disc of Live at Hammersmith March 9th 1975. The band was at their peak, creativity and musically.

Tom Petty, Wildflowers & All the Rest (2020) – Remastered and expanded, Wildflowers is a deeply personal solo album. Tom intended the album to be a double, but his label convinced him not to. The original album had 15 tracks. He recorded 10 more; a few of those appeared on a later album. This version includes the 10 tracks as he recorded them. This album is a jewel.

Honorable mention:

Rolling Stones, Sticky Fingers Deluxe Edition (2015) – Remastered, plus disc of live and alternate versions.

Jethro Tull, Aqualung 40th ANNIVERSARY EDITION (2011) – Steven Wilson mix, plus disc of extra songs from 1970-71 period.

Pet Shop Boys, Behaviour: Further Listening 1990 – 1991 (2018) – Pet Shop Boys have gone back and remastered all of their studio releases and included a bonus disc of remixes, alternate versions and misc. unreleased tracks, to accompany each studio album. These are great sets, expensive if you can find them. Behavior wastheir fourth studio album and my favorite.

Eagles, Hotel California 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (2013) – Remastered edition of the classic album. Better sound, somewhat. The reason to find this edition would be for the second disc of ten tracks Live At The Forum, Los Angeles (1976). The band was still a rocking one and these versions are great.

Yes, Drama Reissue (2004) – Remastered, with bonus tracks of working versions and unreleased tracks. A single disc. This version of the band only existed for one album, the released and unreleased tracks show how splintered the musical ideas.

King Crimson, In the Court of the Crimson King 40th Anniversary Series (2009) – Steven Wilson remix, and unreleased bonus versions.