There are some amazing box sets and special releases coming up in the next month or two. Three in particular could please many fans of 1970s classic rock. Especially those who like exclusive live material reworked songs, or a step up in the sound quality from the original issue.
The varied nature of what’s new about the sets should help increase the range of rock music fans who will be interested. That’s also the case with the three different artists involved. Two of which are among the biggest names in world music. There is, though, a strong note of caution about one of the releases, so you have been warned!
I’ll explain more about that below, but for now, let’s hear it for the release in March of a special version of Venus And Mars by Paul McCartney and Wings. And also for a set of never-released material and live at the BBC sessions from Wishbone Ash. Some fans may also be excited by the first of these special three releases. It comes from Roger Waters on March 14 and is another bumper boxed set collection.
Three special releases for 1970s classic rock fans
Wings - Venus and Mars half-speed master
Paul McCartney and Wings released Venus And Mars 50 years ago. It was their fourth studio album and had a great mix of songs and music from the band. I fondly remember buying it as one of my earliest album purchases, the relative wealth back then of a Saturday job allowed such spending.
The album came out just before Wings set off on their brilliant Wings Over The World tour adding the likes of “Listen To What The Man Said” and “Letting Go” to their live setlist. I loved hearing the absolutely rocking “Rock Show” and the bouncy and bubbly style of “Magneto And Titanium Man” too.
To mark this historic anniversary there is a half-speed master edition being released on March 21. The slower cutting speed onto vinyl, combined with the high-resolution transfer from the master tapes will bring a higher sound quality to the listener. There will also be a newly mixed Dolby Atmos version available to stream. Add in some reworking of the artwork that came with the album and it's a great package. Well worth a closer look if you are a Wings fan.
Wishbone Ash - At The BBC 1970-1988
The BBC has many great band sessions tucked away in their vaults. And possibly a whole load more that have been lost over the years. It’s always great when we get the chance to hear and sometimes see classic rock from their archives.
Coming up on March 28 it’s the turn of Wishbone Ash to get their BBC sessions from the archives and into a hefty box set. At The BBC 1970-1988 is a massive collection of the band's work during those years. It’s spread across 11 CDs and a DVD. If you know the band already, you’ll know their great sound Ted Turner and Andy Powell made the band one of the first to use that twin lead guitar approach.
There is lots of live material that has never been released before on these CDs. The DVD has a 1971 appearance on an early Old Grey Whistle Test show on the BBC. Sure there's a bit of an overlap across all the live sets. There are also quite a few versions of “Blowing Free”, but will be great to sample the variations across the performances of that classic and all the other songs. There’s also a 72-page hardcover book included in this set.
Roger Waters - Super Deluxe Boxset of The Dark Side Of The Moon Redux
Here’s that other musical giant stepping in with the third of these three releases. But has Waters put his foot in it? Here's where that cautionary note comes in. Back in October 2023, Waters released his reworked version of The Dark Side Of The Moon. He was marking the 50th anniversary of the Pink Floyd masterpiece.
March 14 sees Waters release a super deluxe version of his redux album. Three LPs or two CDs and a Blue Ray get packaged into this box set. It will include some live performances from a promo gig Waters held at the London Palladium just before the album came out.
I doubt it will show those sections where some of the audience walked out, or an irritated Waters swearing at other frustrated audience members. Many were annoyed by Waters spending far too long reading out notes about his pets, including a duck called Donald.
His album was controversial even before the Palladium show. Why tinker with the original? In simple terms, in my view anyway, his version is at best and being polite, not very good. There were certainly mixed opinions on Waters' effort when released in 2023. But then Waters has always split the Pink Floyd fans and still has a strong following. So many will want to grab a copy of this box set. At £220, though, you'd have to be an astonishingly avid fan or incredibly rich to splash out.