Boxes, boxes, boxes. I am the first to call them stupid and expensive, but also the first to go and buy them if I have the money. About GL, I guess you all know but let's put things in perspective about the releases:
1.single CD-original price 16Euros
2.double CD-original price 20 Euros
3.Deluxe boxset-original price 100+ Euros (important notice, the vinyl edition came WITHOUT jacket)
4.Vinyl edition-original price 35 Euros
So if somebody wanted all editions, he should part with around 170 Euros. Now you can check and see the current price for each and every edition. The cost (they are all still available, or easily traceable) would be less than 100 Euros. I like the feeling of having something hard to find from my favourite artist, but I get the feeling that the amounts of special edition box sets manufactured, were much greater than the price can justify. The same thing happened with the Dylan bootleg series no.8 It was released in 4 Editions:
1.Single CD-14 Euros
2.double CD-19 Euros
3. triple CD-100 Euros
4.Vinyl edition, containing the songs of the double CD edition.100+Euros
Dylan's release was crazy each edition, actually had more songs(different versions but still), so it made absolutely no sense. The triple CD which was the complete edition, songs wise, came with a hard back book, with photos of some of the singles worldwide. Now, I bought the edition 2 years after the release for 50 Euros. What makes things worse is that Dylan's Sony site, offered the edition, as pre-sale at the high price with the bait that some of them will be sent to the happy customers, with the addition of a specially cut 7''. So if you felt like gambling for more you had to pre-order at the inflated original price. Brian Wilson did something similar, 10 years ago, when he offered through his site, his then new album for sale. He said, that every second record-customer sold would be signed!And the question was, "if I buy 2 CDs would I get one autographed for sure, or is it by order-customer?"
Back to MK. I guess the reason for dividing the songs in single CDs even if the extra songs fitted in the 2CDs of the original version, is simply because they can cut the same CDs for all editions, (only the labels change) and at the same time divide what was the original concept of what we call "album" from the extras. Of course, in an older thread, we were talking about re-issues of the DS albums with extra tracks, and the integrity of MK that said that if they weren't good at the time of the original release, they are still no good. So what is the story now? I am pleased to see more songs released, but since I buy the deluxe edition, this is my view of the album, extra songs and all. That is why I don't get the special editions with extra songs, and the standard editions. I see them just as ways to sell, overpriced material. You overprice desire. Maybe I am too harsh, and it all comes down to you want it, buy it-you don't want it, don't buy it.
