Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?

Subject: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Tony Rees
Date: 07 May 18 - 01:50 AM

Hi fellow catters,

I was doing some research needed to update/extend a few portions of the wikipedia entry on Sandy Denny (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Denny) which set me wondering whether I could say that the 2010 19-CD retrospective box set could be called unprecedented - either for a folk music related artist, or for any artist. I am not aware of larger compilations of non-folk artists but they may be out there - Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, who else?? so any assistance from catters in verifying or nullifying this proposition would be great.

By the way I thought of calling the thread "is this a record?" but even I then thought better of it (smile)

Regards - Tony

Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 07 May 18 - 05:23 AM

Of course, there could be box sets with fewer cds BUT longer overall playing time. For example, Bear Family always give great playing time per cd, and they have an 18 cd Jerry Lee Lewis set.

Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 07 May 18 - 06:03 AM

The classical music world has been plagued by this sort of insane completism for years. There are many sets bigger than 19 CDs.

I'd bet there are bigger sets of jazz performers, too.

Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: GUEST,Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 07 May 18 - 07:47 AM

Quick google searches for "20 cd set, "25 cd set" and similarly for 30, 40 and 50 all return results. 20 includes a Bear Family set as Tunesmith suggests (Hank Williams, Elvis etc) and a children's set. Above 20 they are mostly classical - Chopin, Mozart, Berlin Phil. And in the folk music world don't forget Topic's Voice of the People collection, at least 20cds.

Mick

Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Reinhard
Date: 07 May 18 - 12:26 PM

But the Voice of the People series was sold as individual CDs, and similarly the 36 CDs of Topic's world music series.

Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Tony Rees
Date: 07 May 18 - 08:17 PM

I have purchased 10-ish CD box sets of Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell but these are just repackaged previous albums in a convenient box, so perhaps do not count (no new material/retrospective view). I think there is a 30 CD Elvis set and a few for groups (Queen, Wishbone Ash), and as you say, maybe others in the jazz world (Charlie Parker, Sun Ra). So, maybe the Sandy Wikipedia article could say "unprecedented in the folk world" or similar?

Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Tony Rees
Date: 08 May 18 - 01:06 AM

Or "unprecedented for a UK solo artist"?

Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 08 May 18 - 03:32 AM

Hi Tony
I think there was a previous thread on this back in the day and remember commenting on the price, which, for the usual suspects, would be well our of their range. That in itself could be deemed "unprecedented".
Ray
(Must drop you an email)

Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: GUEST,Ray (again)
Date: 08 May 18 - 11:48 AM

Currently £1400 + postage, new, on Amazon or used for £799.99.

Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 08 May 18 - 12:09 PM

So, what exactly deters the record label from repressing a 2nd edition to meet demand...???

Or even a budget version with plainer packaging...

Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Reinhard
Date: 08 May 18 - 06:02 PM

I wonder if there is sufficient demand to make a reissue feasible.

And the box set is still available for digital download, e.g. on iTunes for 149€.

Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Tony Rees
Date: 08 May 18 - 06:32 PM

Reinhard wrote:

> I wonder if there is sufficient demand to make a reissue feasible.

I would suggest perhaps not - especially since the cream of the "new" material was subsequently issued as a stripped-down 4-CD box set "The Notes and the Words" - which was much more affordable to persons like myself. Though I think that was also a limited edition (3500 copies worldwide) and is now out of print as well... If you have that plus the studio albums, especially re-releases with bonus tracks etc., plus "Sandy Denny at the BBC" and the Fotheringay box, you will have over 90% (if not 95%+) of what was on the 19-CD compilation without paying for everything twice...

Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Tony Rees
Date: 08 May 18 - 06:33 PM

and "Fairport Convention at the BBC" of course...

Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Tony Rees
Date: 08 May 18 - 06:36 PM

Of course, if you want the big set as a collectable artifact, or for its accompanying book/let, that is another thing entirely.

Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Tony Rees
Date: 08 May 18 - 10:07 PM

OK, I chickened out. Rather than "unprecedented", I have just called it "huge" - result at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Denny#Posthumous_releases. If anyone prefers a different wording, let me know!

Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: GUEST,Curious Guest
Date: 09 May 18 - 07:35 PM

Would the 19 CDs contain only one version of each song?

Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Tony Rees
Date: 10 May 18 - 03:35 AM

No, there are multiple versions of some songs - alternate takes, home demos, etc. For some/many fans that is the attraction - e.g. hearing some of the songs without all the "dressing up" they received for their album versions, or different arrangements etc. Full track list here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Denny_%28box_set%29

Cheers - Tony (who does not possess this item!)