What Prog box sets are actually worthwhile?

This one was worth every penny that I didn't spend on it! 

dougmcauliffe wrote: So my question for everyone here is this: what prog (or even non-prog or prog adjacent artists) box sets are actually worthwhile and don't just contain a bunch of filler that you're either only going to listen to once, or just never touch (terrible quality live recordings, demos, a million bonus tracks). I own the Yes Steven Wilson Remix vinyl box set and that was definitely worth every penny. I'm interested in the Black Sabbath vinyl box set as well, but for this question box sets of any format are welcome.

Edited by Slartibartfast - August 03 2020 at 15:07

Edited by BarryGlibb - August 04 2020 at 01:30

NOTE: some CD box sets included here:

AFlowerKingCrimson wrote: I plan on eventually getting the Genesis 67-75 box and two Yes boxed sets(the word is live and in a word). If I ever buy a turntable maybe the Yes SW remixes also since there is a box set for that too(it's only on vinyl apparently though).

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For good or bad, I have a box set addiction.

 

There’s such a wide array out there—from simple repackaging of commonly available material to treasure troves of rare goodies. I tip toward the latter.

 

Are they worth it? A lot of that probably depends on how obsessive you are as a fan of a particular group, or just how obsessive you are as a person (guilty!). I genuinely love the descend-into-the-archive feel of some of these.

 

Some faves:

·      The King Crimson mega live boxes—like Sailors Tales, Starless and Heaven + Earth

·      The Jethro Tull album reissues with Steven Wilson remixes

·      Caravan The World is Yours

·      Magma’s live box Kohnzert Zund

·      Henry Cow box (this and the previous one if and only if you are really obsessive and want the exhaustive/exhausting experience)

·      The Pink Floyd Early Years sets

·      Residents Preserved reissues [not sure if I count these as boxes or not—though the Mole box definitely is, but they are certainly rich in archival treats]

 

Just ordered the Tangerine Dream set based on the recs here.

It’s a sickness; it really is.

The Yes box set of studio albums from 1969 to 1987 is great, although the packaging is a bit flimsy. I’m an old school jewel case kind of person.

I don't know so many of these, but I really enjoyed Pink Floyd's The Early Years set (though I got them separately about a year later, when they got less expensive). So many great live versions that are much better than the studio ones, and a good deal of live video footage. Too bad it actually has a good deal of filler that I won't easily come back for, and that surely was used mostly to increase the price. I believe they could have released a Barret's era lost album with all the singles that were never used in a studio album, as well as a Gilmour era lost album too with their un-used early songs. And then, they could have released a few live albums, as well as a few live DVD's (mostly in a compilation format, I guess). That would have made them better for coming back to them. As it is, I just ripped my favourite songs to my IPod, and that's where I keep on enjoying them. Now, there's the new Later Years box-set, which has a good deal of stuff that I want too, but it's way too expensive for what it is, I think (just about as expensive as the Early Years one, with less material covered and less CD's included). And I still don't understand how there's just about any footage and live recordings from their Dark Side - The Wall years, just some of the biggest years for any rock band, and they recorded just about nothing live? It's just incredible... I would just love to have a DVD of the Animals tour.

My two faves:

I've seen some of the footage off of the In Search of Hades box set. It's got some really cool footage of TD in their recording studio just jamming out. It's a good one. I highly recommend the In Search of Hades box set.