The Best Music Boxed Sets of 2023 - Rocking In the Norselands

2023 is in the books, and it’s time for the customary look at the box set releases of the past year. The amount of releases has normalized somewhat, which is good for our wallets, but a few somewhat concerning trends has emerged.

Music box sets are an important part of most artists’ release portfolio. The pandemic years saw a renewed focus on archive releases. Nobody could tour, which meant it was the perfect time to dive into the vaults and prepare those long thought-about deluxe packages. I have not looked at empiric data for this, but have a distinct impression that the huge backlog of releases from those years is subsiding and that there have been a more normalised number of new box sets in 2023.

Two clear box set trends have emerged in recent years. Primarily, they are becoming more elaborate. A lot of them span an artist’s entire career (or a significant part of it), featuring complete discographies accompanied with anything they can find as the vaults are being cleared out. In addition to the music, some effort is often spent telling the story of the band through lavish hardbound tomes with essays, details on the recording sessions, stories behind the songs, and band/album biographies, alongside reproductions of memorabilia, posters, photos, and other things that are part of telling the story. Some box sets have a mindnumbing amount of content.

The other trend sees artists re-releasing their catalogue (or parts of it) as bundles. Multiple coloured vinyl editions of new albums in order to increase sales figures has become particularly trendy in recent times, and I’m really not a fan of this approach. This has now spilled over to the boxed sets, where ordinary re-releases on a given format (frequently vinyl) are neatly collected in boxes – usually without much else. I often see these vinyl boxes often offer the records exclusively as coloured vinyl, with the individual standalone records are often black vinyl only.

I really don’t regard these collections as box sets in the conventional sense – they might come in a box, but in reality these are just bundles.

The fact that these albums often are available individually as well underlines the bundle aspect. The more elaborate box sets will almost never release their more exclusive discs containing the rarities, live material, etc. individually, adding to the validity of those box sets as standalone catalogue entities.

The issue with the lavish productions on the more elaborate sets, as well as their richness in content, is that this unavoidably puts them on the high end of the retail market. While I agree that premium product which offers a lot should be priced accordingly, we shouldn’t forget that these are trying financial times. More than ever, people may have to choose carefully which box sets to pick up – assuming they can afford to pick up any at all. If people are forced to choose between – as a random example – the new The Who boxed set of Who’s Next/Lifehouse (with a retail price at over $300 in the US and well over $400 in several European markets), or providing for their family in any way, that’s not really a choice.

Also, that is just one. There are a multitude of new releases. What if there are ten boxes in the same category that you really want? What if there are twenty? You could cherry-pick your purchases, but more likely, you will just start ignoring these type of releases, slowly but surely starting to think that they are not for you.

The sad part is that with this development, this might be accurate. Most of these boxes might no longer be for all of us.

Many box sets are clearly priced as luxury items – the overriding message being that their target audience are well established music fans with thick wallets. This is a damn shame, and not even necessary. Why not make a budget version available? Those who can afford the more elaborate release will no doubt still pick that one up, and you can also reach more people with more reasonable levels of packaging/presentation.

I have picked up several clamshell boxes which collects the music and at most adds a basic booklet with info. This can be a more than satisfying package, efficient and affordable to most (and, let’s face it, easier to find room for!).

The fact that we live in financially trying times with escalating costs all around has not dampened the enthusiasm at which record companies push out the lavish box sets. They even sell quite well, so why shouldn’t they? This is generally good news for music fans, but I wish these releases could cater to all fans. A lot of the more involved releases come from established artists, which may have an older and more financially secure fan base. If those are all that are catered to now, who will buy this type of product in ten to twenty years time when those fans are gone? If the younger fans have been trained to think that these releases are not for them, will they start dipping in later?

The most frustrating aspect is that a lot of the elaborate box sets often don’t stay in print, and won’t be reprinted. You need to act quickly if you want them, or pay a lot more later on the second hand market, or simply do without them.

It has to be said that while some of my favourite box sets from 2023 are huge and lavish in every way, they also offer incredible value for money. A lot of them are stuffed to the gills with content and offer a lot of extras. But, I would not have had a problem with budget versions of those sets being available. It would not cheapen the version of the set that I have to see the music made available in simpler packaging with less extras. Perhaps there is a fear that less of the lavish sets would sell if a budget version is available – but if that happens, that may say something about what people actually want.

This leads to the rather excellent question, which brings us closer to the actual ranking of box sets that we’re all here for: what makes a good box set? There are my criteria:

The first one is only too obvious: The album and/or artist needs to be interesting. It all starts with a basic premise of liking or being interested in what’s on offer. You rarely buy a box set to check something out for the first time. You buy the elaborate sets because you’re already a fan.
Something extra. Neatly collecting a catalogue is fine enough, but unless a lot of the catalogue has been out of print for a significant amount of time, basic reprints might not be what people want (or would prioritise). As mentioned above, collected reprints are bundles, nor box sets as such. Unreleased music, demos, rehearsals, or at the very least interesting live material makes a ton of difference. Video footage in any form also qualifies, as does HD multi-channel remixes. Often, people will already have the albums, making the extras the real draw.
Value for money. Don’t add a super-rare silk print in the box as a compulsory thing if that raises the overall price with 50%. If the box contains something that heavily impacts the price model, offer different versions of the box set where the most keen, and financially fortunate, can go for the ultimate version. This includes putting vinyl and CD versions of the same albums in the same box. If people want both formats, make them available in separate packages so people can get what they want. The music is always the most important thing, and at least on CD, is probably the easiest thing to make available in a budget package.
Accompanying info about the music. While I am a sucker for those hardbound premium coffee-table books, it really does not need to arrive in that form every time. If it at least is some sort of basic booklet that contains informative essays and/or information about the music on offer, it’s already boosting the total offering significantly. Those who are willing to shell out for a box set are inevitably above averagely interested in the band and its music. They want details and the story behind the music – give it to them!
Memorabilia is optional, but can add a lot to one’s immersion into a box set. Big plus points if the items are replicas of vintage memorabilia – fanzine/fan club facsimiles, posters, postcards, stickers, promotional material, magazine articles, music sheets, and what have you.
For the ultimate personal touch: a signed item. It could be band photo or individual ones, cover art or associated images, tour programmes, etc. Having the artist put that kind of personal touch into your box set does make it special.

What I can say is that my favourite box set of 2023 overdelivered on all of these counts. And with that, let’s jump straight in. These were my Top 10 box sets for 2023:

1) Horslips: More Than You Can Chew (Super Deluxe 33CD/2DVD box set)

A career in a box. And then some.

Horslips were Ireland’s greatest Celtic Rock band. Heck, they were Ireland’s greatest band, full stop. Songs like Ride To Hell or Ghosts shows us why. More Than You Can Chew is the title of a track from their second album, 1974’s The Tain. It is now also the rather suitable name of their “everything we ever made and some things we didn’t even get around to make” career-encompassing box set.

That’s right. This box does not just have everything, it delves beyond the vaults as far as unreleased stuff and goes into whatever people might have had tucked away in their study drawers, crates in their basements, chests in their attics, misplaced film cans or tape boxes from old recording studios or radio/TV stations… you name it. Old reels and cassette tapes have been recovered, and when they ran out of band material, they even started the same level of digging into the various members’ solo projects from the decades after the band disbanded in 1980. Now, those solo years are not complete, but there is more here than you would realistically expect, making things that are out of print available again, and in some cases making it available for the first time.

The only thing this box set does not have is anything on vinyl. That aside, this can compete with any box set released by any artist in terms of content – even the glorious Metallica album box set releases of recent years, which set a new standard as far as album focused releases.

So, what does the box actually contain? The main content are the 33 CDs, containing every studio and live album, demos, album rehearsals, unreleased material, jams, live shows, radio appearances, odds and sods, and solo material (both released and rarities). Concretely, we’re talking about 506 audio tracks, 252 of which are previously unreleased. About half of the previously released ones are now rare and often very hard to find. Nobody, including the band members, had a copy of everything found on this box set until they got their hands on the box. Now they do, and we can too!

Two DVDs collects 4.5 hours of video footage – one DVD containing everything from the band’s first active period (1972-1980), the second collecting appearances and clips from their reunion years (2004-2019). This includes live TV appearances, concerts, documentaries, and more.

The set includes two books, both put together by Horslips biographer Mark Cunningham: the 262 page lavish hardback historical book On The Record, as well as an 88-page book collecting all the band’s lyrics.

The set even adds memorabilia items. There’s a folder of fan club facsimiles from the 1970s and reproduction concert posters. The most special touch comes in the shape of five vintage 8×10-inch photos, one of each band member. They are even all individually signed by all five members, which is even more special now that Johnny Fean has passed since it was put together.

While this is not a cheap box, it certainly is not overpriced compared to what you get in return, or indeed other sets that are on sale, with significantly less content than what you get here. For me this is the most important and beautiful set in years. Definite value for money!

2) Camel: Air Born (27CD/5BD MCA & Decca Years Box Set, 1973-1984)

After several start-stops, this glorious celebration of Camel’s career was finally confirmed and released last year. Issued in time for the 50th anniversary of the release of their self-titled debut album in 1973, this 32-disc super deluxe boxed set is the definitive tribute to the legendary band Camel. Air Born does not cover their entire career, but is able to draw two definite lines under what is considered their first (and most prolific) part of their existence, up to the mid-1980s.

The boxed set features newly remastered versions of every Camel album and single issued between 1973 and 1984. Satisfyingly, every album includes the bonus tracks included on newer versions of the albums, so this box set is actually able to replace the stack of albums in your shelves. I often find it frustrating when I buy deluxe sets that are supposed to contain everything, but still need to keep it alongside older releases as some material isn’t duplicated over.

In addition to remastered albums, the box also includes brand new stereo remixes and 5.1 surround sound versions of five of the albums, as well as new mixes of three concerts: the Marquee Club 1974, Hammersmith Odeon 1976 and Hammersmith Odeon 1977.

The package also features previously unreleased outtakes from album recording sessions and BBC Radio ‘In Concert’ appearances from 1974, 1975, 1977 and 1981.

The five Blu-ray discs comprise three discs which offer 5.1, new stereo, and original stereo mixes of the albums Camel, Mirage, Snow Goose, Moonmadness, and Nude. The fourth disc contains 21 videos (largely live performances, Old Grey Whistle Test, etc.), while the final disc delivers the 1984 concert film Pressure Points in HD for the first time.

The box is LP shaped, with all the discs collected inside cardboard sleeves housed inside one of three gatefold LP-sized covers. The box also includes a concert poster and a 70-page beautiful hardbound book with the fully illustrated story of the band up to 1985, information about the contents on all discs, images of concert posters and studio reels, and a Camel family tree.

Air Born is probably one of the tidiest box sets I have ever seen, both in terms of physical organisation and how the content is organised across the discs. It is also a very affordable package, especially given the wealth of content. Compared to The Who box, you get twice the music for half the price. Which leads us to…

3) The Who: Who’s Next/Lifehouse (Super Deluxe 10CD edition)

The Who – well, Pete Townshend – has released a Super Deluxe Edition of The Who’s best album. This version carries the name Who’s Next/Life House, the first being the title of the released album, the latter the name of the planned album that ended up not being finished as intended.

The aborted Lifehouse rock opera that was meant to be the follow-up to Tommy has long been a source of fascination for Who fans. In the end, the project caved in on itself. The band ended up using a selection of that material for 1971’s Who’s Next, shelving the more elaborate plans. 2000’s Lifehouse Chronicles presented six discs of material from the sessions, but has been out of print for years, which makes this year’s box set an extremely welcome addition. Fans who already have that previous box will find that this new one has plenty of extra material. Weighing in at 155 tracks with a hefty book, it’s an essential grab.

The set contains 10 CDs, all remastered from original tapes by long-time Who engineer Jon Astley. This includes the original album remastered, two CDs with Pete Townshend’s Live House demos from 1970-71, the Record Plant studio sessions in March 1971, the Olympic Sound studio sessions from 1970-72, collected associated singles and sessions tracks, and live shows at the Young Vic in London (26 April 1971) and the Civic Autitorium in San Francisco (12 December 1971).

Additionally, a Blu-ray audio disc contains new Steven Wilson-made Atmos & 5.1 surround mixes of the original album and 14 bonus tracks. In sum, this adds up to 155 tracks, of which 89 are previously unreleased and another 57 having gotten a fresh remix.

The box contains two gorgeous hardbound books. The first is written by Matt Kent and Andy Neill, with an introduction by Pete Townshend. The 100-page book gives an overview of this classic album as well as rare photos and memorabilia from the era.

The second book is titled Life House – The Graphic Novel. It is a newly commissioned 172-page hard backed book overseen by Pete Townshend putting the album’s story into an interpretation in words and pictures. This is an incredible work, and although I knew the story quite well after years of deep interest and research, this gives it a clearer perspective than ever before.

But wait, there’s more! The box set contains a dedicated wallet of reprinted memorabilia, including many gig posters from 1970 and 1971, a 16-page UK tour programme from Oct/Nov 1971; a collectible four pin button set; and an 8” x 10” colour photo of The Who with printed autographs.

As mentioned in the introduction essay, this is not a cheap package. With a retail price at over $300 in the US, and well over $400 in several European markets, a lot of fans have been waiting for a good deal to come their way before picking up their own copy. The set is definitely very well put together, but at the end of the day, it’s up to the individual consumer to evaluate how much they want it and whether they can afford it. The harsh price tag does affect the overall rating just a bit.

In addition to the big box set, the Who’s Next reissue will be available on 4LP (album + live at San Francisco), 3LP (album + demos) and several single LP editions, including a black half-speed mastered edition and exclusive coloured vinyl editions. There’s also a 2CD set with the second disc offering highlights of ‘Sessions, Demos, Singles & Live’ and a humble single remastered CD, in a jewel case, with the 9 album tracks.

4) Jethro Tull: The Broadsword and the Beast (40^th Anniversary 5CD/3DVD or 4LP Edition)

Jethro Tull have been reissuing their albums in deluxe edition book sets for a while, and have finally worked their way up to 1982’s The Broadsword And The Beast. While the band hadn’t really dipped quality wise (that would happen immediately following this one!), the previous album A was very different, originally having been envisioned as an Ian Anderson solo album. Many saw that album as a sign of unwelcome musical development towards a more clinical sound. Several prog bands struggled to stay relevant as the 1970s turned into the 80s, and people were wondering if this signaled a similar fate for Tull, but they struck back with a vengeance with Broadsword. The album wowed fans and critics alike with its distinctive blend of rock, folk, progressive influences and – admittedly – a liberal use of synthesisers, all aligned with frontman Ian Anderson’s masterful storytelling.

Forty years later, the album returns as a glorious 5CD+3DVD set in a bumper package. Steve Wilson has provided new mixes, which I am happy to see, as he once said he was not really interested in doing this beyond the 1970s albums as that was “his” Tull era. With Broadsword in particular being so strong it would have been a shame to stop ahead of that one, but it’s anyone’s guess if he will stay on for 1984’s Under Wraps!

The set is full of the customary demos, rough mixes, live recordings and outtakes from the 1981 album sessions. Referred to as the Monster Edition, the deluxe package also includes a 164-page book with thorough essays, in-depth interviews with band members; a track-by-track annotation by Ian Anderson; an interview with sleeve illustrator Iain McCaig; a recreation of the original 1982 tour programme, and more.

Widely regarded as one of Jethro Tull’s most adventurous releases and one of the better albums of 1982, it is now also one of the best reissues of 2023.

5) The Darkness: Permission To Land… Again

As soon as I managed to get over the fact that it has already been 20 years since The Darkness released Permission to Land, I got excited about the prospect of an expanded edition. This was the album that thrust the band into a whirlwind of fame as the album went four times platinum, hitting number one in the UK. Even if the North American reception was more lukewarm, they would not be denied a US gold album and a Top 40 album placement on the Billboard charts.

The deluxe version comes as a 4CD/1DVD book set (as well as a vinyl counterpart). offering B-sides, demos and scads of live material in an epic four CD/DVD box set that’s also available on vinyl. In addition to the original album, the set is stuffed to the gills with demos, single versions, non-album tracks, b-sides, clean versions of songs, and live sets from Knebworth 2003, The Astoria 2003, and Wembley 2004. The DVD contains the Knebworth and Astoria performances, music videos, documentary material, outtakes, and behind-the-scenes videos. At an affordable price this set is a winner, and hopefully they plan to produce similar sets for their following albums.

The “value for money” winner:
6) Big Country: Driving To Damascus (Deluxe Edition)

Some boxed sets get the lavish deluxe treatment, featuring elaborate boxes with hardbound books, generous amounts archive material, posters, memorabilia, and what have you. Others are quietly put out in very simple yet handy clamshell boxes – often with no less content than more elaborate sets, but with a lot less fanfare in the presentation.

When Big Country released Driving To Damascus in 1998, a massive campaign was planned around it that was derailed from the start. The first single Fragile Thing, which was on course to hit the Top 40 during its first week of sales, setting the band up for a Top of the Pops appearance and further campaigns, was deprived from having a hit single after the chart compilers CIN decided that one version of the single had “one fold too many” and had to be withdrawn. The ludicrous decision was based on a rule originally put in place to prevent releases from providing incentive to purchase a single for more than just the music. In other words, they felt that the packaging, which folded out to shape a small, fragile, unpractical box in which the CD was housed, was an incentive to buy the single.

One fold too many.

Really? Are you fucking shitting me?

I have never witnessed a more ridiculous, malignant, and effective sabotaging of an album campaign in my life. It did not just take the wind out of the band’s sails, it destroyed them. It took several months for the band to muster up the energy to tour the album for a few brief weeks, during which it was clear that the fire in their bellies had suffered. It took several more months for them to go out again, and when they did, it was no longer an album campaign – it had become a farewell tour. The band split up, but the downward spiral had already started for Stuart Adamson. It ended with his death in December 2001. It all started with the folds fiasco. This story is nothing but tragic, and band manager Ian Grant tells all about this era in the liner notes of the accompanying booklet.

Driving To Damascus remains a fine album, made with high ambitions at the time. The levels of creativity in the band at the time were next-level, with the sheer amount of b-sides, outtakes, website release material and unreleased stuff surpassing that of any other album. They are all collected in this 4CD package, where disc 1 features the album and a live session EP recorded in Nashville in 1998. The second one collects 18 b-sides and alternate mixes, while discs 3 and 4 collects all 36 demos from these sessions.

The album did not sound like the Big Country of old. Stuart Adamson had relocated to Nashville and was inspired by the sounds he heard there, which a lot of the demos attest to. But the band was still firing on all cylinders, with a lot of the material being particularly poignant and striking the same emotional depths that they always did. Several of the non-album-tracks would easily have been contenders for inclusion on the album, some of them surpassing what actually ended up on there with a good margin. The material is now all available to us anyway, so we can make the ideal album in our own minds. At least now, on that level, everybody wins. Even if the band lost big-time at the time.

I can’t help but have a nagging feeling that this is the bare minimum that could have been done with this box set. The set has a lot of material, but all of it was lying around ready to be used, having previously been released on Big Country’s Rarities-series. There are no real surprises. I would have loved to see included any of the many radio sessions around this time – I have a pretty decent number of them myself – which included several live acoustic renditions of songs from the album as well as very funny interviews (clearly done before the folds fiasco). And where are the outtakes, rough mixes, and unedited versions of songs from the studio? Extra conspicuous is the lack of any live material whatsoever from the Driving To Damascus era (beyond the live-in-studio EP). Some of the prior boxes have even had live DVDs in them, and Damascus-era DVDs were sold on the website a while back, so they do exist. In short, several options existed to do something special. The set is tremendous for what it is, but it feels like it was put together using the path of least resistance.

But, don’t let the nitpicking from this hardened fan who already had everything on this set (even the lone ‘unreleased’ track) be a detriment. The Driving To Damascus box set is still a good package – the music is top notch, the packaging is compact yet with endearing attention to detail. It collects everything from that time very neatly and is relatively inexpensive, giving great value for money. Do yourself a favour and pick it up if you haven’t already. And, why not pick up the other two Cherry Red-released Big Country album Deluxe sets (Out Beyond the River + Why the Long Face?) while you’re at it?

7) Ultravox: Quartet (deluxe edition)

Ultravox continue their reissue series with the release of their 1982 album Quartet, which has been expanded to 6 CDs and a DVD. As usual, this is a lovingly put together set, with a larger LP-sized slipcase shell housing the contents. All the discs come in cardboard sleeves collected inside a gatefold LP-sized sleeve. These discs contain the original version of the album, a brand new Steven Wilson stereo remix, a CD of b-sides and rarities, ‘work in progress’ cassette rehearsals, and two CDs of newly mixed concert recordings at Hammersmith Odeon in December 1982.

The DVD features a Steven Wilson 5.1 surround mix of the album and its b-sides. A second gatefold LP-sized sleeve contains a 20-page booklet and a reproduction of the Quartet tour programme.

There is also a 4LP vinyl deluxe box set which offers the original version of the album, the full Hammersmith show, and a truncated selection of b-sides and rarities.

8) Hawkwind: Space Ritual (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

Some bands have a definite, classic live album that defines the ultimate version of that band. Just like KISS have Alive!, Deep Purple have Made In Japan, and Thin Lizzy have Live And Dangerous, Hawkwind have their classic live album in Space Ritual.

Released in the middle of Hawkwind’s classic era in 1973, the album has remained one of the band’s most enduring and beloved releases since. It continues to provide the benchmark for the band to live up to on record and in concert.

How to celebrate its 50th anniversary? Will a box set with 10 CDs and a Blu-ray disc do? The original album is remastered by Ben Wiseman on two CDs. There are three live shows: full recordings from Liverpool and London (from which the original album was created) as well as Sunderland (previously unreleased). Each of these shows fill two CDs each. There’s also a new stereo remix (again over two CDs), and finally a Blu-ray with High Resolution 5.1 surround mix and Stereo remix.

The set also includes a 64 page booklet with essays on the build up to the making of Space Ritual, including how the line up came into being and some good observations on the album itself. Copies of the original booklet are included, including other related tour material as well as some terrific photographs.

9) Thin Lizzy – Alive And Dangerous (8CD Deluxe Edition)

Live And Dangerous was originally intended to be a studio album produced by Tony Visconti, but when Visconti only had had a small window in his schedule, Philip Lynott suggested spending two weeks together compiling a live album instead. Live and Dangerous was initially released in 1978, spending the best part of three months in the UK top ten and was only denied the top spot by one of the best-selling albums of all time, the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever.

The Super Deluxe edition of Live And Dangerous contains the live set as we know and love it on one disc, including all the full shows that the material was culled from to make up the final track selection. This includes shows at Hammersmith Odeon on 14, 15, and 16 Nov 1976, Philadelphia Tower on 20 and 21 Oct 1977, Seneca College Fieldhouse in Toronto on 28 Oct 1977, and Rainbow Theatre in London on 29 Mar 1978. The trainspotters among us should note that most of the material comes from the second night in Philadelphia, where Southbound was recorded at soundcheck.

Listening for mistakes on these discs will be a futile exercise. The band is tight and pretty much flawless here, demonstrating that Thin Lizzy was one of the best live bands of the 1970s – not just technically, but by their ability to incorporate spontaneous variations between performances which makes listening to the same songs from different gigs exciting. There has been a long-standing myth that the album was extensively overdubbed in the studio, but this collection should put that to bed.

The box set is a large format (12″ x 12″) package with the discs collected inside a gatefold LP-sized sleeve. A hardbound book of the same size includes essays, sleeve notes, and new interviews by Mark Blake, alongside information, rare photos, and memorabilia.

Similar to the Thin Lizzy box set Rock Legends from 2021, far too few copies of this box set was printed and it is currently out of print. I’m starting to think that they do it on purpose to drive up initial interest. Rock Legends was eventually reprinted – after I had ordered the more expensive Japanese version, of course. But, we can learn from this. I strongly suspect they will do the same thing again and reprint it after a bit, so if you missed out on Live And Dangerous I would sit calmly in the boat and await new copies rather than pay extortionate prices on the second hand market. This is however your decision and your chance to take – don’t blame me if they decide otherwise this time!

10) Brian May + Friends: The Star Fleet Sessions (Deluxe Edition)

This release was a two track single/three track EP in 1983, inspired by a Japanese kids’ sci-fi TV show starring Gerry Anderson-style puppets. How on earth could this grow into a full-fledged box set in 2023?

In reality, this is a bit of a holy grail. The release was unanticipated and containing treasures nobody had expected. Marketed under the Brian May + friends banner, the other men behind the Star Fleet Project are Eddie Van Halen, REO Speedwagon drummer Alan Gratzer, Jeff Beck/Rod Stewart bass player Phil Chen, and Alice Cooper/Queen keyboardist Fred Mandel.

The original Star Fleet EP came out of two days of loose jamming between May and Van Halen. Marking the 40th anniversary of the event, May revisited the original session tapes to pour out a wealth of additional takes and occasionally, moments where they can just be heard having fun in the studio and laughing. The box contains two CDs, the first one containing full-length versions of the original songs as well as several full radio interviews done at the time of the EPs release, as well as live performances from the Palace Theatre in LA to promote it. CD2 contains the complete studio sessions, and this is not a curated selection. “It’s all here,” Brian May says in the liner notes. “ALL of it. Every note we played on those two days is right here, on show for the first time. I will take you behind the scenes into that studio with us for two unforgettably exhilarating days.”

The box also includes the full mini-album on 12” vinyl, the original edited Star Fleet single on 7” single, as well as other collector’s items.

That’s our lot! Which were your favourite box sets of 2023?