Customer Reviews

Box of Fire

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This set contains all 12 of Aerosmith's early Columbia releases--7 studio albums, 3 live ones, an early Greatest Hits, and the album 'Gems', which I guess is another anthology. For many fans of their newer music, few of these tracks will be recognizable, maybe only a few from the Greatest hits. Still, this is a great way to discover Aerosmith at their height.

Besides the 12 original albums, this set includes a 5-track bonus disc, most notable for its rockin' rendition of 'Sweet Emotion' and the absolutely beautiful version of 'Dream On' (with a symphony!). These are two excellent remakes of a couple of Aerosmith's best songs.

The great thing about this set is that all the old albums appear exactly as they originally did (though they've been remastered). You don't have to worry about song selection because it's all here. So, for anyone wanting to start a good Aerosmith collection, this is the absolute best place to start.

This box set is highly recommended. Don't let the high price tag fool you--it's well worth every penny.

A lot of other reviewers here seem clueless as to why this box set was released the way it was. Some history might clear this up.

Aerosmith first signed with Columbia records in 1972. Then in the mid 1980s they cleaned up their drug habits and switched labels to Geffen records. After having quite a successful come-back, they then went back to Columbia records in 1994.

What does this have to do with the box set? Well you have to realize that in the music industry, the release of compilations, box sets, and even just re-releases of older albums is all largely determined by a band's record label. A record label obviously isn't going to make money off of an album put out by another label. This means that when a band releases a lot of albums under one record label but then leaves them for a new label, each label will handle things with their own best interest in mind. For example, the old stuff might get acquired and re-released on (and by) the new label, or the band will try to finish off their old contract by releasing a compilation album, etc.

It's no coincidence then that when Aerosmith joined back with Columbia in 1994, the label decided to re-release all 12 albums that they had done for Aerosmith. In addition to selling them separately, they also decided to put all 12 discs in this box set, "Box of Fire". So this box set simply contains all 12 individual Aerosmith albums that had been released up until then with Columbia records, plus a bonus EP of rarities.

This means you will NOT find anything from the albums Aerosmith did with Geffen. That means nothing from "Done With Mirrors", "Permanent Vacation", "Pump", or "Get a Grip". If you're looking for a compilation of the hit songs from those years, try "Big Ones", which Geffen released in the same year.

But here is what you WILL find in "Box of Fire":

DISCS 1-7: Aerosmith's 7 albums from the 1970s. "Aerosmith", "Get Your Wings", "Toys in the Attic", "Rocks", "Draw the Line", the "Live! Bootleg" live album, and "Night in the Ruts"

DISC 8: "Greatest Hits", a compilation spanning the 1970s albums, released in 1980.

DISC 9: The 1982 album "Rock in a Hard Place". This was made without Joe Perry, and is often considered the black sheep album of Aerosmith's career. Personally, I love it.

DISCS 10-11: "Classics Live!" and "Classics Live! II". These were two live compilation albums that Columbia released while Aerosmith was still making new albums with Geffen. The first is a collection of 1977-1983 recordings, with the bonus non-album track "Major Barbara". Classics II consists of live recordings from the mid-80s after Aerosmith reunited with Joe Perry.

DISC 12: "Gems", another album that Columbia released while Aerosmith was already with Geffen, to cash-in on the band's return of popularity (which again was due to the hits they were releasing from Geffen albums like "Permanent Vacation" and "Pump"). It was released in 1988, and is essentially a "Greatest Hits volume II" from the Columbia years. I remember it being quite popular because it was not only a cheap way for new Aerosmith fans to get some of their older stuff, but it was the only disc on which you could get the studio version of "Chip Away at the Stone", a 1978 single that was never released as a track on a full album before.

DISC 13: This is a bonus EP with five tracks. There's a 1991 edit of "Sweet Emotion", which Columbia used in the music video to promote the "Pandora's Box" box set, yet ANOTHER thing they released while Aerosmith was having success with Geffen records. Also here is the live orchestral version of "Dream On" that the band did for an Mtv special and also released on the "Last Action Hero" soundtrack. The other tree tracks are "Circle Jerk" (the ghost track from "Pandora's Box") and two other songs that you won't find anywhere else.

Some people are complaining about the redundant tracks, or the fact that you could use less discs to fit the same music. Again, this is a re-release of the 12 individual "classic" Aerosmith albums, that were being sold individually anyway, and they're being sold all together here as a collector's set. They're going for completeness.

So who would want to buy this entire box set? Especially since you admittedly have some redundant tracks here with "Greatest Hits", etc.? If you're just a casual fan, then by all means, stick with the much cheaper "Pandora's Box" box set which Columbia released in 1991. On the other hand, if you don't have much Aerosmith on CD, then this is the best way to get all of the old stuff in one purchase at one low price. That was certainly the case for many of us back in 1994, when a lot of us only had Aerosmith on vinyl or cassette and wanted a good CD replacement. Likewise, if you're a die-hard fan who wants a complete collection, including those rarities, then this set is for you too.

By far the most comprehensive Aerosmith collection available. Box of Fire includes all of the band's Columbia albums with the exception of, of course, Nine Lives, and even adds a 5 cd bonus disc. The discs come remastered and with extensive linear notes. The only drawback to this excellent box set is the price. At around $100, it is too much for most listeners, but for those who are loaded you should definately get this collection, especially if you don't already own these albums. If you do though, you will almost certainly want to pass as there is nothing new here outside the five songs (of which you have probably already heard, and maybe even own, three) and the box itself.

The "Box Of Fire" brings together all of Aerosmith's releases for Columbia records, as well as a few rare tracks (of which the excellent "Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu" is by far the most interesting).

All twelve albums have been digitally remastered, and the packaging is exquisite, with numerous photos and memorabilia from the era when each specific album was concerned.
The only problem with this lavish box set, and the reason why I'm only giving it 3 stars, is that it doesn't really add that much to the Aerosmith legacy.
By including all of their Columbia albums, including one great, one good, and one very mediocre live album, it almost makes itself obsolete...all these records are readily available (and have also been remastered since "Box Of Fire" came out), and the previous Columbia-era box set, the superb "Pandora's Box", contains many more rarities and previously unissued songs than "Box Of Fire" - and much more interesting ones as well.

And that's why I'm not all that impressed by this collection. Sure, the packaging is excellent, but there is very, very little here that the serious Aerosmith fan doesn't already own - if anything. And the casual fan will be better served by buying the best of these twelve albums individually, and perhaps adding "Pandora's Box"...Aerosmith's classic 70s albums have all been remastered as well.

Really brilliant box sets, like Stevie Ray Vaughan's "SRV", The Faces' "Five Guys Walk Into A Bar", and Bob Dylan's "Biograph", include all the hits and most of the best album tracks, as well as many rarities and unreleased songs. But "Box Of Fire" indiscriminately throws together all of what is already there, adding five "rarities" of which only one is truly great (and truly rare).

This is the great groin grinding sound of Aerosmith all put in one great boxed set! It is their best work from the seventies. You get all their sounds for a reasonably low price. PLUS you get an extra bonus disc with some great songs that you can't get anywhere else. This definetly gets five stars and two thumbs up!!

A superb 13 - CD box set and all,but WHO has time to listen to this? You obviously need to check out,say several discs at a time to make it fun. 'Box Of Fire' includes many of their classic albums from '73's self-titled Aerosmith to - well, I cannot say (for sure) when the cut-off point is. Plus it looks like you get some compilations and one five-track EP that has some real tough-to-find songs of theirs including the instrumental "Subway" and "Circle Jerk". A great find,but 'Box Of Fire' is obviously aimed toward the HUGE Aerosmith fan, with a hunk of disposable income. A must-have, but PRICEY.

What an awesome collection...it has Aerosmith's early beginings...to their knock you out of your seat hits!! I purchased Aerosmith's box of fire for my husband who is a huge Aerosmith fan...this collection has alot of extras that you can't find elsewhere!

In a review, BOX OF FIRE, is a great set, releasing the first 12 Columbia records released, including a bonus disk, which includes "Sweet Emotion" and the MTV version of "Dream On" - if you have been to the Aerosmith site and downloaded the "Dream On" video - it is the song from that. Presented well, and quality is great, the BOX OF FIRE is recommended by myself. Aerosmith - through the hardest times of their lives recorded such albums as "Night In The Ruts", "Rocks", "Rock In A Hard Place" - during the good times - "Aerosmith", "PUMP" and others - having all 22 Aerosmith albums, BOF and Pandora's Box, and Little South and Big Ones, are the "Best Of The Best Of The Greatest Of Aerosmith"!!!!!!!!

If your an Aerosmith fan then this set is a must. It's a great way to complete your Aerosmith colection or to start a new one. The box alone is inspiring to look at but the music is just incredible.

Aerosmith IS rock and roll. Dubbed "America's Premier Rock Band", they have survived everything, to include the test of time. The Box Of Fire has the first 12 albums, plus a bonus one, with rare and unreleased songs and an award winning screen ssaver (it is awesome). Not only is it great to start a collection of the best rock band in history, it is an awesome addition to any CD collection. It is a great value - less that $8 per CD, and is a hard to find boxed set. I am a complete Aerosmith junkie, but even the casual rocker will enjoy this compilation of the best that rock has to offer!