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Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?

07 May 18 - 01:50 AM (#3922613)
Subject: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Tony Rees

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


07 May 18 - 05:23 AM (#3922636)
Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: GUEST,Tunesmith

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.


07 May 18 - 06:03 AM (#3922644)
Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Jack Campin

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.


07 May 18 - 07:47 AM (#3922667)
Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: GUEST,Mick Pearce (MCP)

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


07 May 18 - 12:26 PM (#3922730)
Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Reinhard

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


07 May 18 - 08:17 PM (#3922797)
Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Tony Rees

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?


08 May 18 - 01:06 AM (#3922824)
Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Tony Rees

Or "unprecedented for a UK solo artist"?


08 May 18 - 03:32 AM (#3922837)
Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: GUEST,Ray

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)


08 May 18 - 11:48 AM (#3922967)
Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: GUEST,Ray (again)

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


08 May 18 - 12:09 PM (#3922973)
Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: punkfolkrocker

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

Or even a budget version with plainer packaging...


08 May 18 - 06:02 PM (#3923019)
Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Reinhard

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€.


08 May 18 - 06:32 PM (#3923021)
Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Tony Rees

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...


08 May 18 - 06:33 PM (#3923022)
Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Tony Rees

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


08 May 18 - 06:36 PM (#3923023)
Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Tony Rees

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


08 May 18 - 10:07 PM (#3923039)
Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Tony Rees

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!


09 May 18 - 07:35 PM (#3923279)
Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: GUEST,Curious Guest

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


10 May 18 - 03:35 AM (#3923320)
Subject: RE: Sandy Denny 19 CD set - unprecedented?
From: Tony Rees

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!)