Comprehensive reissue campaign

[NotInvisible]

Spent a lovely afternoon finally reading the gorgeous hardcovers that come with the New Order box sets, and I have to plead with the universe for something similar from the Pet Shop Boys. I know they (claim to) dislike looking backwards, but imagine a box for each album with the album on CD and vinyl, the 12” singles, the videos and loads of remixes, TV clips and unreleased demos, all supported with a hardback book chronicling each album.

A boy can dream…

[Gabby]

Spent a lovely afternoon finally reading the gorgeous hardcovers that come with the New Order box sets, and I have to plead with the universe for something similar from the Pet Shop Boys. I know they (claim to) dislike looking backwards, but imagine a box for each album with the album on CD and vinyl, the 12” singles, the videos and loads of remixes, TV clips and unreleased demos, all supported with a hardback book chronicling each album.

A boy can dream…

I'm collecting all of these NO box sets. I've never fully invested in NO beyond albums on CD and a short spell on singles purchases in the 90s or so, which is why I felt compelled to invest in these now.

I'm not sure I want the same for PSB mainly because of the amount I've already invested in them already. It'd be a hard pill to swallow and I probably would buy them, but maybe consider selling up my standalone stuff as a result to compensate. Would be a really tough decision.

I feel for die hard NO fans here. If you've spent your life buying everything you can, then they do this, it's not really fair. I've read some backlash for NO releasing these and can see why. Their riding a continuous wave of nostalgia these days.

[Danimal]

I would be in favor of this if they were comprehensive with a choice of CD or vinyl and FLAT MASTERED meaning no compression.
PSB only had decent mastering on CD from Actually through Behavior. For Please the CD used pre-emphasis and never sounded quite right, and from at least Very onward they used increasing amounts of compression which stunted the dynamic range and made their records increasingly loud and harsh. If these boxes were comprehensive, allowed the consumer to chose their format, and were mastered for audiophiles I would be in. Their “remastered” or compressed as f*** catalog is already out there.

[neilgregory72]

I do wonder if we will see something along these lines as part of the Parlophone deal.

They have released more of versions of Nonetheless than previous albums..

I'm in two minds though. It would cost a fortune and very few people would be able to get them all.

Maybe a staggered release over a couple of years maybe?

They say they don't like looking back but we've had Furthermore this year, old tracks recorded and released, and four GH albums so we shall see.

[Dog]

I have the New Order boxsets too. I know they haven’t been universally popular with the fanbase. Mixing formats as part of the set does feel slightly odd.

I think the thing with PSB is that they consider the Further Listening reissues as “definitive” - it’s (supposedly - we know there are gaps) everything “of master quality” from each era. So I can’t see them doing another scrape of each respective barrel. What I could see them doing is a vinyl release of each album complete with Further Listening discs and accompanying 12” booklet. Plus we know from Annually that Parlophone are working on a singles reissue campaign for streaming platforms, which Neil has said may well lead to a boxset.

[tottenhammattspurs]

They should do a KLF and just burn everything.

[daveid]

I have the New Order boxsets too. I know they haven’t been universally popular with the fanbase. Mixing formats as part of the set does feel slightly odd.

I think the thing with PSB is that they consider the Further Listening reissues as “definitive” - it’s (supposedly - we know there are gaps) everything “of master quality” from each era. So I can’t see them doing another scrape of each respective barrel. What I could see them doing is a vinyl release of each album complete with Further Listening discs and accompanying 12” booklet. Plus we know from Annually that Parlophone are working on a singles reissue campaign for streaming platforms, which Neil has said may well lead to a boxset.

I'm certainly in favour of some kind of re-reissue, but only as a mopping-up exercise to gather up the stuff missing from the current FLs. Examples: Paninaro extended, Flamboyant album mix, Indefinite leave to remain demo, Can you forgive her? swing version, Love Comes Quickly live at the BBC. The first six FLs clearly had the mandate of one extra disc but I'm sure there was plenty more in some cases. While some such as Actually and Behaviour seems stretched out to fit 80 mins, others feel curtailed, like Bilingual.

[Too Many Shadows]

Their “remastered” or compressed as f*** catalog is already out there.

Hard agree! Compression is an insult.

[Licmon]

It would be great to see full PSB box sets, but I get the concerns about the cost. Maybe a "for everyone" version, with format choice and better sound quality, could be a win. And if they add something truly surprising, that’d be a home run! The key is not to force it, because compression still hurts

[oakey]

I have pretty much all of their cd singles, many 12" and 7" records and their regular albums on LP and CD, all DVDs and blurays and all the FL, extended and deluxe CDs. I would like to see them release everything from 2012 as FL CD editions, but I am not interested in NO-like box sets. I do have Smash on vinyl, but VF editions are already a no for me. I love that they adhered to the FL format, and I expect that they will release their recent albums in that format as well.

I only have New Order's Movement box, and I like that it includes the LP and CD, but the 12"-es are missing and the DVD video quality is unwatchable. I am a huge Power Corruption and Lies fan, but since I already own the original LP, CD and all the 12" es, the box did not contain enough to justify the steep price. I do have all their albums on CD and LP, most of the 12" es and many CD singles, and some of the box sets (Retro etc), plus the DVDs. But I am no completist.

Apart from the price, space is also an issue with these box sets.

[NotInvisible]

I would be in favor of this if they were comprehensive with a choice of CD or vinyl and FLAT MASTERED meaning no compression.

Complete agreement from me!

I think those complaining New Order fans are just whining about nothing, to be honest. Reissues have always been part of the music industry, and new listeners and latecomers shouldn't be penalized for coming to a band later in their career. Perhaps a compromise would be something like the Bowie eras boxes, which contain the albums, rarities discs, and books.

Mainly, I just want a comprehensive set of coffee table books about their career.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

As for New Order, I got all the 2CD "collectors edition" reissues when they came out 10-15 years ago or whenever it was. That was enough for me, I think. In the rare event there's something previously unreleased that's worth listening to more than once, I'd probably cherry pick a digital download.

Not sure how I'd feel if Pet Shop Boys did it though. I'd probably buy it out of compulsion, but I'd really only be interested in any previously unreleased tracks, mixes, demos, edits and such... and it sounds like their quality control is too strict for that.

Retro.

[stormynight]

Neil replied in the Annually book, that the "Warner Catalogue Team" will takeover the job.

[Gabby]

Neil replied in the Annually book, that the "Warner Catalogue Team" will takeover the job.

We're doomed!

[negative_0ne]

Neil replied in the Annually book, that the "Warner Catalogue Team" will takeover the job.

i'll believe it when i see it.

it's been discussed many times already.
they are not interested in these early albums or tracks.
(yes, some are released digitally, that might be good enough).

--
i have all the new order boxsets, ultravox, etc etc.

they were never meant to include the b-sides, and remixes, because those were
on the previous ones.

however, they did reissue all the 12 inch related singles on vinyl, which i got also.

--
people will complain about the boxsets no matter what.
so either you wait a year or two and get them cheaper then...

the archival quality means they won't be perfect video or audio quality,
what do you expect when you have demos.

don't know why people expect those to be perfect either.

--

if you want to get them fine, because that's probably the last time those will be issued.
i personally like the demos, and the book, along with the videos. its worth it to me.

obviously worth it to many fans, because they keep making them.
if there was no demand, they would never make them.

i'm sure whatever the pet shop boys put out, if they do a boxset.
there will always be people that get it.

and there will always be complaints about missing tracks, formats.
useless books, useless vinyl, useless DVD, etc etc.

later
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