Music Buyers Beware: Today’s Collections Vary Widely in Approach

In the early days of boxed sets, you pretty much knew that the expensive, multi-disc package was going to be the definitive collection of an artist’s work--either the best of it or, in some cases, the entire output.

But the concept has evolved over the years in ways that require the consumer to check out the contents closely before putting down the credit card. Some sets are still “best of” packages, but others are for cultists who have the hits and want live, rare or previously unreleased material.

If you are looking for a gift for a hard-core fan, any of the packages in today’s survey will probably be well received. If, however, you are looking for something for the casual fan who just wants the hits, better and cheaper options are often available.

*** THE BEACH BOYS, “The Pet Sounds Sessions,” Capitol (Approximately $55). Proceed with caution. If you are after the hits, look elsewhere in the Beach Boys’ bin. Think of “Sessions” as a textbook for a seminar on “Pet Sounds,” the Beach Boys’ masterful 1966 album that included “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “God Only Knows” and “Caroline, No.” The box includes mono and stereo versions of the album as well as various fragments (such as backing tracks only here, vocal tracks only there). The packaging is outstanding, complete with a 128-page booklet that includes comments from Brian Wilson and others involved in the making of the album as well as producer George Martin, who says the accomplishments of “Pet Sounds” inspired the Beatles to make “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Four discs, 4 1/3 hours.

**** RAY CHARLES, “Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection,” Rhino ($60). Atlantic Records’ Ahmet Ertegun was so impressed by Charles’ talent in the ‘50s that he titled Charles’ second album “The Great Ray Charles”--only to realize two years later that he had probably underestimated the singer-pianist. So, Ertegun upped the praise in the title of Charles’ seventh album for the label to “The Genius of Ray Charles.” Charles, the father of modern soul music, deserved both accolades. Though the highlights of his Atlantic years have been showcased in an earlier boxed set, this is the first one that brings together his best work from various labels--from the R&B; of the Atlantic years (such as “I’ve Got a Woman” and “What’d I Say”) to the country and soul of his ABC-Paramount period in the ‘60s (“Georgia on My Mind,” “I Can’t Stop Loving You”) and on to assorted tracks since then. Five discs, 6 1/4 hours.

*** THE DOORS, “The Doors Box Set,” Elektra ($60). This set has the look of a comprehensive retrospective, but it mostly sidesteps the original studio recordings in favor of various live tracks. That means you should look elsewhere for the heart of the work of Jim Morrison and the Doors. For cultists, however, there is much here to enjoy, including more than three hours of previously unreleased material. One disc contains the five favorite studio tracks of each of the surviving Doors. Among the picks: “L.A. Woman” by Robby Krieger, “I Can’t See Your Face in My Mind” by Ray Manzarek and “Riders on the Storm” by John Densmore. Four discs, 4 1/2 hours.

*** 1/2 SIMON & GARFUNKEL, “Old Friends,” Columbia ($45). This is closer to the traditional concept of a boxed set. “Old Friends” contains the highlights of the ‘60s duo’s five studio albums, including such landmark works as “The Sound of Silence” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” plus 15 previously unreleased demos, outtakes and live tracks. There is, however, something skimpy about the album. The booklet would have benefited from more input from the artists, and there’s only about 55 minutes of music per disc rather than the 70-or-more that is the ideal for retrospectives. 2 3/4 hours.

**** X, “Beyond and Back: The X Anthology,” Elektra ($22). This is one time that a boxed set has improved upon a studio “best of” compilation. It combines studio tracks, live tracks and demo tracks in an exhilarating way that reflects the spirit of one of the most ambitious and daring groups ever to come out of Los Angeles. At its best, X combined the arrogance of punk and the heart of rockabilly with the idealism of John Doe and Exene Cervenkova’s chronicles of a city and generation that seemed equally uncertain about quite where they were both headed. Two discs, 2 1/3 hours.

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Albums and other items in Gift Guide are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).