Suggestions for a music album (box set) to download?

[Marc]

I recently cashed in 225 points from MyCokeRewards.com which gives me a free album download on Rhapsody. I figured that this was a more "cost-effective" option than 33 points for a single track.

In looking around, I saw that Rhapsody has "box sets" available as "albums" that qualify for this coupon, so now I'm thinking that maybe there's some significant addition I can make to my music library.

One of the albums I had originally been considering was Michael Jackson's "Super Deluxe" 25th anniversary album, but since discovering that box sets work, there's a 4-disc album which might be good. I'm not a fan of his later stuff, but I am missing his good stuff from the early 80's, so perhaps this would be a good choice.

I saw on Amazon.com that there was a Pink Floyd box set that would be really cool, but Rhapsody doesn't have it.

Any suggestions for good box sets or other albums I should consider adding to my collection?

[Makita]

The police, Message in a Box
Jimmu Buffett - Beaches, Ballads, Bars and Boats (Title not in order, but those are the names of the 4 CD's...)

[Marc]

I had thought about The Police last night, but I missed that box set in my browsing on Rhapsody. I did recently pick up their Every Breath You Take: The Classics, but having a more comprehensive set might be nice.

I hadn't thought about Jimmy Buffett. (For completeness, the title actually is "Boats, Beaches, Bars, & Ballads".) I'm not as much of a fan of his from the couple hits I've heard, but I'll listen through the albums and see how the rest of his stuff fares.

[trainman]

Hmm...(looking at my box set collection)...

* "Citizen Steely Dan," which is an easy way to pick up all of Steely Dan's '70s albums?
* Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"? Probably contains all the Heads you need if you're not a big enough fan to have their individual albums already.
* Something from the "Nuggets" series? You might prefer "Children of Nuggets," which is a collection of '70s-through-'90s tracks that are influenced by '60s garage bands.

[JoLt]

New Nine Inch Nails is great. 36 songs and it is amazing. Even if someone is not normally into ther music would probably like this. I got it for $5 off of amazon and it is 5 albums i believe.

[keirgrey]

Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds? Not really a boxed set, but a double album from the 70s. David Essex, Phi Lynnott (Thin Lizzy), Julie Covington (Did Evita on the West End) and Richard Burton as the Narrator.

I downloaded it on iTunes and then discovered I had the vinyl among my albums when I got them back from my ex.

[timesamillion]

Nick Drake -- Fruit Tree

[MasterOfPuppets]

Black Sabbath - The Black Box
Jimi Hendrix - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Misfits - Coffin Box Set

And, of course, Metallica - Live Shit: Binge & Purge

All just a little different than Michael Jackson, but hey, I didn't see any stinkin' parameters.

[Marc]

I didn't want to specify parameters so that I could get suggestions from a variety of genres other than those from which I've already made some initial considerations.

That said, it's pretty unlikely that I'm going to be downloading any Black Sabbath or Metallica anytime soon.

[Skanter]

Originally Posted by Marc

I didn't want to specify parameters so that I could get suggestions from a variety of genres other than those from which I've already made some initial considerations.

That said, it's pretty unlikely that I'm going to be downloading any Black Sabbath or Metallica anytime soon.

For some different genres:

Box set of 14 Albums from Sinatra's golden Capitol years, the best singing and arrangements of pop music ever recorded:

http://www.amazon.com/Miles-Davis-Qu...8058781&sr=8-2

Box set from best jazz band ever recorded:

Miles Davis Quintet 1965-68: Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, Tony Williams

http://www.amazon.com/Miles-Davis-Qu...8058781&sr=8-2

or

Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz - a great introduction to this art form, with accompanying book that is quite informative for newbies:

http://www.amazon.com/Smithsonian-Co...8059751&sr=8-1

[Makita]

Originally Posted by Marc

I didn't want to specify parameters so that I could get suggestions from a variety of genres other than those from which I've already made some initial considerations.

That said, it's pretty unlikely that I'm going to be downloading any Black Sabbath or Metallica anytime soon.

How about Ozzy Osbourne - Prince of Darkness? It has Miss Piggy...

Genesis - The Platinum Collection.

[Mysteryman]

when peerimpact was running their deal a year or two ago I bought about 15 box sets (for $1 each).

As suggested earlier the Police box set was good, but my favorite to date is the "Weird Al" box set. Hmm, what does that say about me.

[Guindalf]

Bruce Springsteen has a great 3-disc box set - I think it's Greatest Hits 1975-1995. It's awesome and covers a lot of his (IMHO) better works, before he got all political and philosophical. There are some great stories on the CDs as well as incredible songs.

[aindik]

I've always been a fan of the Zeppelin box set from about 1990 (4 CDs). Later they came out with Box Set 2 (2 CDs). Together, those two sets have the entire Zeppelin studio catalog (just in the wrong order - no problem nowadays with iTunes).

Most of the good stuff is on the first Box Set, with the notable exception of "Livin' Lovin' Maid (She's Just a Woman)", which they inexplicably divided from Heartbreaker on the first Box Set.

Billy Joel released his greatest hits (vols. 1, 2, and 3) in a Box set, which also included a fourth CD with a live lecture/performance.

[Marc]

I'm not sure I'd like a "Weird Al" box set, but I did enjoy his early stuff, and I love "White & Nerdy".

I had forgotten about Genesis. That was a group that I didn't enjoy as much in the 80's as I would have liked (some of my friends were much more avid fans of them than I), but I wouldn't mind adding them to my collection.

Led Zeppelin is quite intriguing to me, but I just don't know if I'd enjoy their stuff enough.

[Marc]

BUMP!

For those who may be curious, I ended up choosing The Complete Led Zeppelin box set containing 165 MP3 tracks. I listened to a few tracks and found that there were several that I liked and was surprised to find that I didn't have any Led Zeppelin in my iTunes library yet which did surprise me.

Plus, with the box set selling for $75 on Rhapsody, it seemed like a really good opportunity to get something of significant value for free.

I'm looking forward to listening everything that was included. It'll probably take me some time to get through it all!

[Fofer]

Nice!

Earlier this month, Rhapsody had that same set for sale (or maybe pricing mistake?) at $9.99: http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/13131

I grabbed it that day, and have been enjoying.

[Dirtypacman]

Originally Posted by aindik

I've always been a fan of the Zeppelin box set from about 1990 (4 CDs). Later they came out with Box Set 2 (2 CDs). Together, those two sets have the entire Zeppelin studio catalog (just in the wrong order - no problem nowadays with iTunes).

Most of the good stuff is on the first Box Set, with the notable exception of "Livin' Lovin' Maid (She's Just a Woman)", which they inexplicably divided from Heartbreaker on the first Box Set.

The 90's box set is my favorite set I have ever bought. Just incredible how much good music they made. +1 to Led Zeppelin as a great choice.

[Makita]

Originally Posted by Fofer

Nice!

Earlier this month, Rhapsody had that same set for sale (or maybe pricing mistake?) at $9.99: http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/13131

I grabbed it that day, and have been enjoying.

DAMN!
yeah, long since a 'dead' deal
Does Rhapsody have occasional Free songs or sets like Amazon does? Wife has an iPod, but I don't, so I am looking for other options top get her away from the itunes sore. Hell If I am paying for it, I shold be allowed to listen to it.

[Marc]

I've not seen any deals like that on Rhapsody.

For me, I was a subscriber for a while, but I discontinued that a few months ago since they give registered (non-paying) members 25 free song plays a month and that was enough for my needs.

Then Wendy's had their promotion where their medium and large drink cups had codes for free Rhapsody songs. I don't know how many of those I got.

Coke's reward program did have a sale on Rhapsody song downloads for 15 points for a short while.

I'm glad that Rhapsody has migrated toward MP3 downloads. Their RealAudio format was acceptable, but I didn't like that it was so less common. I'd burn my tracks to CD and then rip them into iTunes as MP3 files.

[Drewster]

Originally Posted by Guindalf

Bruce Springsteen has a great 3-disc box set - I think it's Greatest Hits 1975-1995. It's awesome and covers a lot of his (IMHO) better works, before he got all political and philosophical. There are some great stories on the CDs as well as incredible songs.

I missed this thread the first time around, but this post caught my eye. I am not aware of a 3-disc "Greatest Hits 1975-95". There is a DVD called "Complete Video Anthology 1978-2000".

Other near-misses include....
Live 1975-85 (3-disc set)
Greatest Hits (1-disc album)
Tracks (4-disc set) [b-sides, rarities, throw-aways]

[trainman]

"The Essential Bruce Springsteen" is a 3-disc set (pretty much everything else in "The Essential..." series is 1 or 2 discs), but I wouldn't call it a box set -- it comes in a standard-looking CD case, and the liner notes are pretty much only the standard "accompanying a 'greatest hits' collection" type.

[Drewster]

Ah, I'd forgotten about Essential. Well, I'd forgotten that it's three discs. The third disc is a sampling from Tracks, thus my confusion.

Actually, Greatest Hits + 18 Tracks is arguably an equal representation.