The Complete Studio Recordings [Box set, Original recording remastered]

Roxy Music | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 5, 2013)
• Number of Discs: 10
• Format: Box set, Original recording remastered
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Virgin Records
• ASIN: B0075LTOR2
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,709 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

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Editorial Reviews

2012 ten CD set. The Complete Studio Recordings includes each of the eight Roxy Music studio albums released in the ten year period of 1972-1982, on CD plus two discs of bonus tracks containing tracks previously unavailable on CD. Each album has been taken back to its original form. Audio 2012 flat transfers from the original analogue master tapes (not the 1999 remasters), ensuring the audio sounds truer to its original LP sound. Includes the albums Roxy Music, For Your Pleasure, Stranded, Country Life, Siren, Manifesto, Flesh And Blood and : Avalon plus two bonus CDs containing non-album tracks, single edits and more. EMI

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 89 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The complete studio discography including singles, b-sides, remixes in a handsome boxed set for the band Roxy Music August 28, 2012

By Wayne Klein HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Although they never achieved the fame in the U.S. that they did in the U.K., Roxy Music remained an influential band with their art-rock/glam-rock approach. The band's first five studio albums are seminal while their last three studio albums range from decent to exceptional. This handsome boxed set collects the band's eight studio albums in handsome, thick, glossy gatefold mini-LP sleeves along with two CDs of the band's various b-sides, singles and various remixes. Although this set is missing previously unreleased tracks or outtakes, there are a number of releases on the last two CD set that make their debut in digital form for the first time.

Although fans may argue over the merit of various releases (was the band better with or without Eno? Did Eddie Jobson's musical sophistication as a keyboard and violin player expand the band's musical sound), these are all worthwhile picking up for fans in this new remastering which goes back to the original analog sources. Reportedly these are "flat" transfers that represent the sound of the mastertapes more accurately than any other release and while I can't attest to how these compare to the master tapes, these are probably the BEST representation of how the band sounded.

These releases sound exceptionally good--they are not brick walled, not peak limited, compressed nor has there been any attempt to fatten up the bass sound or the introduction of any strange EQ choices. The albums are presented as intended (and, in the case of "Manifesto" features the original album line up--the original CD release included the single version of "Angel Eyes" and a different take of "Dance Away" that were substituted for the original tracks) IMHO these best the UK original E.G. releases as well as the Warner/Reprise CD reissues AND Bob Ludwig's remasters from 1999. The sound is warm and analog-like (which is ironic in our digital age given these albums were produced without ever thinking about how they would sound digitally). The transfers are top notch throughout. What we get here is as close to the original sound as the band intended for these releases. The labels feature the original album cover graphics on the CD labels.

Is this set perfect? For fans who want a booklet detailing the recording of the various albums along with lyrics and details on the mastering of this edition the answer would be no. Also, the original release was to include DVD higher resolution releases of ALL the band's albums and b-sides. This was scaled back to this set here and, while those things are missed, as mentioned these are the ultimate redbook CD editons of the albums.

Fans looking for accurate reproductions of the LP sleeves including the inner lining should be aware that these are ALL gatefold sleeves (only the first three were released on LP in gatefold sleeves)and the inner sleeves are color coordinated to the release but blank ("Country Life", "Flesh + Blood" and "Avalon" all included the original lyrics for each release on the inner sleeve something not reproduced here). The gatefolds do have outtake photos from the cover sessions included on the inside (some of which appeared on the boxed set Thrill of It All).

The CD of outtakes, b-sides and remixes include the following tracks (collecting everything that the band released during their lifetime--The version of "India" included on "The Thrill of It All" on the fourth disc is not a unique mix but the album version and is not included here as a result):

Virginia Plain 3:00 (This was not on the original LP release in the UK but a stand alone single)
The Numberer 3:42
Pyjamarama [Island Mix] 3:03
Pyjamarama [Polydor Mix] 2:54
The Pride and the Pain 4:16
Do the Strand [USA 7" Mix] 3:23
Hula Kula 2:39
Your Application's Failed 4:45
The Thrill of It All [Edit] 4:22
The Thrill of It All[USA 7" Mix] 3:25
Love Is the Drug [USA 7" Mix] 3:00
Sultanesque 5:26
Both Ends Burning [7" Mix] 4:01
For Your Pleasure 5:04 (live version b-side to "Both Ends Burning" single)
Trash 2 3:11
Dance Away [7" Version] 3:50 (This version was the original mix on the US release and differs slightly with a different mix)
Dance Away [Canadian Extended 12" Mix] 6:31
Angel Eyes [7" Version] 2:53 (This is the single version which eventually replaced the album version in the UK)
Angel Eyes [12" Version] 6:38

Oh Yeah [7" Version] 4:15
Manifesto [Remake] 4:02
South Downs 5:24 (The version on the Thrill of It All CD was mastered in error in reverse)
Lover 4:29
Jealous Guy 6:12
To Turn You On [1981 B-Side Version] 4:13 (This version features a slightly different and earlier mix of the song)
More Than This [7" Version] 4:35
Avalon [7" Version] 4:16 (This version features a different mix on the vocals that was previously only available on the original single)
Always Unkowing 5:21
Take a Chance with Me [7" Version) 3:40
Take a Chance with Me [USA 7" Mix] 2:47
The Main Thing [12" Single Version]7:44
The Main Thing [Remix]

This is an exceptional set and collects all the albums, singles, single mixes, b-sides and remixes issued during the band's career. The mastering is exceptional as is the packaging except for the issue of no booklet, no lyrics.

Fans will find this set to be essential as the releases are flat transfers of the original master tapes and is recommended.

36 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What He Said August 28, 2012

By PScreed

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Its just about a waste of effort to add a review following WTDK's above, if it were not for the opportunity to put in my "Five Stars" worth, so to speak. I'll second his opinion on the quality of the remastering job - this is a model for how red book CDs should be remastered, this set sounds fantastic. Very, very natural sound and no weird EQ choices or radical compression. Other than that, I'll tip my hat to one of the best reviews I've read here.

Nice job WTDK.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars If you don't already have these (and more) it's GREAT September 13, 2012

By Brian Woodbury

Format:Audio CD

Not much to add except I believe the term used for this set would be unmastered instead of remastered, as they took out whatever was added, leaving you with what it should have sounded like "Back in the day". If asked, I would say this is the closest you can get to the "BEST" listening experience (i.e. - 33rpm on a direct-drive turntable).

If you have all of these, and various combinations of such, I'd probably just keep my money and listen to what I have.