Well, hello there, podcast fans! After a couple of months away (during which we featured an outtake episode and a fantastic episode featuring Michael Parr and Matt Wardlaw), the three of us managed to find a couple of hours where we could meet to record an episode. And who would have guessed that we’d actually be able to come up with a topic this time? It’s a good one, too — one that kept us talking (somewhat) intelligently for an entire hour! Download away and don’t forget to join us in the comments.

The Popdose Podcast, Episode 14: Box Sets (1:09:18, 79.5 MB), featuring Jeff Giles, Jason Hare, and Dave Lifton.
Download from null
You can also subscribe to the podcast’s RSS feed.

Show Notes

0:00 Intro: It’s never too soon to talk about Mellowmas! This time, we briefly discuss the Bootsy Collins Christmas album before transitioning into Melloween, the all-new, Twitter-only holiday featured on Popdose’s feed today! We also end up discussing Warren Zevon, Kids Incorporated, and the new Black Eyed Peas single.

9:18 Forget digressions — it’s time for us to get into this month’s topic! The holidays are just around the corner, which means that conglomerates throughout the world are trying to figure out how to get us to actually buy music again. One of their favorite methods? The box set! And in honor of this greedy-ass tradition, we’re talking all about ’em: the best and the worst, the differences in compilation philosophies, and which ones make us tired just thinking about them. Which ones do we love the most? Listen and find out! Here’s a list of the sets we discuss:

Billy Joel: The Complete Hits Collection: 1973 – 1997, My Lives, The Stranger: 30th Anniversary Limited Edition and the upcoming reissue campaign from Columbia/Legacy

Stevie Wonder: The Complete Stevie Wonder iTunes-only digital box set

Elvis Costello: His numerous reissues

The Who: 30 Years of Maximum R&B, the new Live at Leeds box set and their numerous reissues

Bruce Springsteen: Live 1975-85, Tracks and the forthcoming Darkness On the Edge of Town box set

Harry Nilsson: Personal Best: The Harry Nilsson Anthology

Steely Dan: Citizen Steely Dan: 1972-80

Simon & Garfunkel: Old Friends

Bruce Hornsby: Intersections 1985 – 2005

Richard Thompson: RT: The Life and Music of Richard Thompson, Watching the Dark, Shut Out the Lights (Expanded Edition), also reviewed by Ken on this very site!

Joe Jackson: Live 1980-86

The Beach Boys: Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of the Beach Boys, The Pet Sounds Sessions and associated bootlegs

Tom Petty: Playback, The Live Anthology and, though not a box set, their first Greatest Hits collection

Jellyfish: Fan Club

Pete Townshend: The Lifehouse Chronicles

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 15th Anniversary

Stax-Volt Complete Singles: ’59-’68

Also discussed: the new Back To the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy, also reviewed by Jeff on this very site!

EnDOSEments

53:52 Jeff endorses the new documentary Who is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him)? (Song: Harry Nilsson, “Don’t Forget Me”)

Jason reluctantly endorses Steven Page’s new album, Page One. (Song: Steven Page, “A New Shore”)

Dave endorses an iPhone app called Vegas Mate. (Song: Gram Parsons, “Ooh Las Vegas”)

Wrappin’ It Up

Wow, we can’t believe it: an episode so full of scintillating conversation that there was only time for one mother joke! (Albeit a really good mother joke.) What are your favorite box sets? Let’s talk about it in the comments! Also, as always, don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes, and to visit our Facebook fan page as well as the Popdose Twitter feed. Thanks for listening and we’ll see you next month!

About the Author

Jason Hare

Jason Hare used to love Christmas. He feels differently now.

View All Articles