Vintage box

[PJAY]

Just received the Vintage box this am on my doorstep.Precious moment.I had to take a picture before openning it....The presentation and the packaging are just breathtaking.I just finally listenned to the real end of Persephone 40 plus years later.I am now going to start with the live recordings.More to come.
I will finish by saying that the book between the pictures and the interviews (they really all contribute with a lot from Steve which is really cool) are priceless,informative and refreshing.It turns back the clock.
Definitly worth the money (if ever I had had any doubt).
PJAY

[cozy_d]

That box is fantastic ! Thank you Wishbone Ash, we're lucky fans !
I got the BOC box and it was sooooo cheap. A rip off.

WA the Vintage Years is a bargain considering all the great stuff in the box and it's been done with extra care. Awesome work !

[dpariz]

Just got the box set. One curious omission I had noticed. Does anyone know why the live Lorelei B-Side of Come In From The Rain was not used as a bonus track for New England? No big deal as it was included on the Distillation box set and the 1998 release of NSWF. It's just that The Vintage Years is so comprehensive and includes all the other live singles A's & B's as bonus tracks on Live In Tokyo, I believe.

[Mallyboy]

I think 'The Vintage Years' is brilliant. All involved in its creation - the record label(s) plus AP, TT, MT, SU & LW - deserve our gratitude. We all know the music is fantastic, the soundtrack to so much of many of our lives, but the extras are joyous. I know that £250 is a stretch for many but if you are umming and aahing about purchasing, then please do go for it because you won't be disappointed. It is a collection to treasure and a worthy testament to a wonderful, and so often neglected, rock group with an utterly unique sound.

[Rainer Frilund]

Just got the box set. One curious omission I had noticed. Does anyone know why the live Lorelei B-Side of Come In From The Rain was not used as a bonus track for New England? No big deal as it was included on the Distillation box set and the 1998 release of NSWF. It's just that The Vintage Years is so comprehensive and includes all the other live singles A's & B's as bonus tracks on Live In Tokyo, I believe.

Isn't the same track on Live Dates Vol. 2, 2nd LP, track one?

Info of bonus single on No Smoke Without Fire, taken from my web site.
The bonus single: (PSR 431)
Side A: COME IN FROM THE RAIN Recorded Live at Sheffield City Hall 18.10.77
Side B: LORELEI Recorded Live at Glasgow Apollo 19.11.76

Excerpts from Live Dates Vol. 2's track list, again taken from my web site.
2nd LP...
Lorelei
...
Recorded in Apollo, Glasgow, 19-Nov-1976

So, Lorelei is included in the box.

[dpariz]

Thanks for the clarification, Rainer. I had the Japanese SHM version of Live Dates II which did not list the credits for the recording dates for each track. Now I can see from the credits on the box set CD of Live Dates II that it is identical to the Distillation box set single B-Side. My mistake!

[neilhunt1971]

I have to agree with the comments on here, that the box set is fantastic and is well done by all involved in its creation. The mastering to my ears is spot on and not too loud or compressed. The "First Light" tracks also sound much better without any clicks which the original mastering had. I presume this is a new transfer from a better source?

One thing I did notice was that the "Argus" album has credits on the sleeve showing that it is the MT Remix and the same on the CD text when I put it into my PC to rip the CD for my iTunes. However when I compare the tracks in my iTunes to the 'Remastered & Revisited' version the tracks sound different, so is it safe to presume that it is actually the original "Argus" album? I don't have a copy of the original "Argus" to compare it to.

Also, did anyone spot a few typos on sleeves: The spine of "Live Dates 2" says "Live IDates Volume Two" and "Pilgrimage" has "Pigrimage" which is a shame, but doesn't spoil the set too much.

I also wonder why "Cosmic Jazz (Karaoke Version)" is missing from "Here To Hear". I've just had to buy a cheap copy of the Talking Elephant edition to get this track.

Anyway, I'm really pleased with the Box Set and it's great to now have all of the earlier studio albums with great sound and with a comprehensive selection of bonus tracks. The book is an excellent and informative read and it is nice to read the positive comments from all band members about each other (Steve thanking Andy for offering him a place to stay when he was leaving the band and Ted saying he still follows the band's activities etc.), especially after all the legal stuff from a few years ago!

I highly recommend this Box Set to any Wishbone Ash fan still on the fence on whether to buy it.

[dpariz]

Interesting observation regarding the Argus box set credits. The "P" date says 1972 for the Argus box set credits, whereas the "P" date for the Argus remix CD is 2002. Therefore, without having listened to the tracks to identify which version of Argus was used for the box set, the dates suggest that the original master tapes were the source.

If not, the Universal 2007 Deluxe 2-CD Argus set is still available and reasonably priced!

[dayglo]

I have to agree with the comments on here, that the box set is fantastic and is well done by all involved in its creation. The mastering to my ears is spot on and not too loud or compressed. The "First Light" tracks also sound much better without any clicks which the original mastering had.

I highly recommend this Box Set to any Wishbone Ash fan still on the fence on whether to buy it.

Thanks for taking the time to post your comments and for the recommendation. Yours is the first comment I have seen that mentions sound quality which is surely the main thing!

[neilhunt1971]

I have to agree with the comments on here, that the box set is fantastic and is well done by all involved in its creation. The mastering to my ears is spot on and not too loud or compressed. The "First Light" tracks also sound much better without any clicks which the original mastering had.

I highly recommend this Box Set to any Wishbone Ash fan still on the fence on whether to buy it.

Thanks for taking the time to post your comments and for the recommendation. Yours is the first comment I have seen that mentions sound quality which is surely the main thing!

No problem. It is the music that's most important!

It's the best and easiest way to acquire the whole back catalogue up to 1991 in one go, especially with some albums not being in print as standalone CDs.

When I considered buying the box set I worked out that it came to less than £9 per CD which is very reasonable, plus the added bonus of the books, signed pictures and posters. At the time the box set was announced I no longer had any Wishbone Ash albums except for a few compilations, having had to sell a lot of my collection off due to financial reasons. Luckily I was now in a position to buy the later albums and this box, and it's great to rediscover the band's back catalogue.

Regarding sound, I'm no audiophile expert but I know that these sound better than the brickwalled Japanese SHM-CDs from a few years ago. Also the volumes all sound at a consistent level throughout the whole box. Not once did I have to adjust the volume knob while playing through the set. And the remastering, to my ears anyway, sound really good and clear.