So, just to bring this back on track, what are people hoping for in a box set?
What style of set do you want?
Are you hoping for one giant box set and, if so, do you want it with all albums, singles and other miscellaneous tracks, or are you hoping for a box of rarities like the recent Pink Floyd mega-set?
Perhaps you're hoping for individual sets, released a few months apart? If so, would you rather 'singles' sets, like the Depeche Mode ones of the 90s? Or do you want better 'album' sets than the ones previousy released, perhaps in the Super Deluxe style of 4-5 discs per set (including album, singles, b-sides, rarities, demos, a live album from the period, DVD of music videos and TV appearances from the era etc.)
And what about actual content?
Is there anything specific you really want to see? Audio or video.
Also, do you want JD material included or would you rather a separate set?
I think, preferably, I would absolutely love a giant Rarities box set, full of demos, rare tracks, a rare gig or two on audio and lots of video footage.
Failing that, I think I'd like the Super Deluxe album releases option.
As for actual content, I'd like to see an official release of the frankly wonderful Western Works demos, but would pretty much love to see any demos included in the set.
Video footage is where I'd like the focus placed though (I really doubt there's many fully-formed audio demos / unreleased tracks out there; most are probably jam-sessions). Video wise, I'd love it to include pretty much all of the live TV performances, especially the 80s stuff (Celebration, Riverside, Countdown, Switch, Musik Convoy, DJ, Pop Elektron, Rock Around The Clock, OGWT, TOTP, The Roxy, BWC etc.). Maybe include the interview segments from some of those appearances too (Countdown, Pop Elektron etc.). And 'Play At Home' definitely needs a release.
Would also love to see some of the live footage out there that we have seen before but has been unavailable for years (A Factory Video/Complication/Outing, Estoc De Pop etc.) but also things that we know exist but we've never seen (all of the Glastonbury 81 footage, the Apollo 98 gig etc.). Would be nice to get a few complete gigs as well, especially from the 80s, as there ain't too much of that available.
I know a lot of the TV footage is already out there (on YouTube etc.) but I think it would be great to get this in exceptional quality and just to have it officially released.
In respect of JD, I'm not sure they really need another box set. Audio wise, everything is pretty much covered by Heart & Soul (barring a few early demos, complete RCA, Genetic Demos and Piccadilly Session). I guess, there might be some gigs never bootlegged previously that could be released.
I think I'd just rather they realised a DVD of the JD stuff. In fact, I have no idea why they haven't done this already.
You could pretty much fit everything there is by JD on a DVD or two.
Consider a DVD with the following:
LWTUA videos (both versions)
Atmosphere video
Shadowplay on Granada Reports
What's On performance of She's Lost Control
Something Else performance of Transmission, She's Lost Control plus the Wilson/Morris interview
Apollo footage (complete for both nights)
Eindhoven footage (all tracks filmed)
Bowden Vale footage
Plan K gig (the fabled footage)
No City Fun film
Whitehead film
Those last three things would be monumental and would shift a lot of copies, I feel.
Perhaps the excellent Grant Gee doc could also be included, as that would add some exposition / commentary to the disc(s). In fact, I always thought they missed a trick with that documentary. They had access to the Whitehead movie, the What's On footage and the Plan K gig, but only showed brief clips. Why didn't they release a three disc special edition with all the above footage?
Anyway, thoughts from anyone...
