Money for something

There’s something so fiercely independent about Bob Dylan that it’s hard to agree on which of his albums should be selected for a boxed set. So the chances are you’ll begin second-guessing the contents of “Bob Dylan -- The Limited Edition CDs Boxed Set” the moment you pick up the 15-disc package.

But there is no way you’ll argue over the selections in another historic collection included in Calendar’s holiday guide to boxed sets.

“The Complete Sun Singles Vol. 1” is a four-disc set that contains every single released by Sam Phillips’ landmark Sun Records label from 1953 through 1955, which covers Elvis Presley’s time there. The set allows us to step back and see what else Phillips was working on before and just after he discovered Presley.

Both the Dylan and Sun sets are rated “essential” here, which means they belong in a comprehensive pop library. Other recommended sets are rated “for collectors only” because they probably contain more material from the artist than the average pop fan wants. The remaining packages -- “also available” -- are largely routine exercises. The prices are based on typical figures in various retail outlets.

Essential

“Bob Dylan -- The Limited Edition CDs Boxed Set” (Columbia Records, 15 discs, $200-$225). If you stick with this ready-to-wrap item, you’ll have an excellent survey of the master singer-songwriter, with all of the 15 albums sonically upgraded. Each disc is packaged separately with the original album cover design. The box contains “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan,” “Another Side of Bob Dylan,” “Bringing It All Back Home,” “Highway 61 Revisited,” “Blonde on Blonde,” “John Wesley Harding,” “Nashville Skyline,” “Planet Waves,” “Blood on the Tracks,” “Desire,” “Street-Legal,” “Slow Train Coming,” “Infidels,” “Oh Mercy” and “Love and Theft.” Pretty amazing.

Dylan Option 2: “Your Customized Dylan Set” (Columbia, 15 discs, about $250). Because Columbia gives you a discount on the set, you’ll probably end up paying more if you choose 15 albums from the regular stock, and you sacrifice the sonic upgrade in some cases. Choose what you like from his vast catalog, but I would substitute only four CDs in the boxed set, the first two of which (Dylan’s self-titled debut and “The Times They Are A-Changin’ ”) are chosen because they allow you to better follow the evolution of Dylan from folk music troubadour to explosive rock ‘n’ roller. Then, add “The Basement Tapes,” the extraordinary collection from the Woodstock days with the Band. The final substitution is “Time Out of Mind,” the stark, deeply philosophical Grammy-winning CD from 1997. To make room, I’d drop “John Wesley Harding,” “Nashville Skyline,” “Street-Legal” and “Infidels.” Let the arguments begin.

Various artists, “The Complete Sun Singles, Vol. 1” (Bear Family, four discs, $100). Phillips, who died in July at age 80, was at Presley’s side that July night in 1954 when the young singer recorded an old blues tune, Arthur Crudup’s “That’s All Right,” in a slightly country-accented style. As much as any other single record, that recording defined rock ‘n’ roll. Phillips’ genius was recognizing the moment as unique and important. The recording became Sun Records release No. 209.

But what was Sun Records release No. 208? Was it a near miss in achieving that blues-country synthesis? Not at all. In fact, Buddy Cunningham’s “Why Do I Cry” will likely make your jaw drop. It’s a lush ballad that sounds as far away from rock as anything Perry Como or Patti Page were singing at the time. If you go back further in the set, though, you’ll find some remarkable records.

Johnny Cash’s “Unearthed” (American Recordings/Lost Highway, five discs, $70). Slowed by illness and largely ignored by country radio programmers in the ‘90s, Cash might have lost heart if rock record producer Rick Rubin hadn’t encouraged him to keep active. They not only did four acclaimed CDs together but recorded enough other tracks to fill four of the five discs in this endearing posthumous set. The selections on the first three discs are uneven, but there are gems, including a stark version of Neil Young’s “Pocohantas” that is as haunting in some ways as Cash’s celebrated rendition of Trent Reznor’s “Hurt.” But the most moving disc is the one devoted to songs from Cash’s mother’s hymn book.

Nat King Cole: “The Classic Singles” (Capitol, four discs, $55). For those whose knowledge of this exquisite vocal stylist begins with “Mona Lisa” in the ‘50s, the early recordings with the King Cole Trio are a revelation, as an imaginative Cole mixed jazz and R&B; instincts as both singer and pianist. The later recordings, in a more lush pop style, also generally carry the mark of a master singer.

Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime” (Warner Archives, three CDs/one DVD, $55). The arty packaging will explain why a lot of the punk crowd in the ‘70s was always suspicious of this art-school quartet, even though it graduated from the same CBGB’s club scene as the Ramones. And as this set documents, David Byrne and company operated on a much wider and more sophisticated musical canvas than the punks. Still, the music was every bit as bold and defiant. By reaching out for various funk and world music influences, it opened doors as consistently and meaningfully as its New York peers.

For collectors

The Doors” “Boot Your Butt!/The Doors Bootlegs” (Bright Midnight/Rhino, four discs, $79.98 -- available only via rhinohandmade.com). Thankfully, this isn’t another repackaging of the formal Doors recordings. It’s the result of guitarist Robby Krieger’s bringing together the best Doors bootlegs. The sound quality is pretty rough on the set, but that only adds to the underground nature of the music. The set contains what is believed to be the earliest live recordings of the Doors (a March 4, 1967, concert at San Francisco’s Avalon Ballroom) as well as tapes from Los Angeles- area concerts, including the old Swing Auditorium in San Bernardino.

Buzzcocks’ “Inventory” (EMI, 14 discs, $50). Rather than put all the English group’s singles into a one- or two-disc package, “Inventory” puts each single (and accompanying B-sides) onto a separate disc, complete with the original artwork. This enables you to go back and discover the group’s music one single at a time, just the way Buzzcocks fans did the first time around. Nice touch.

Various artists, “No Thanks! The ‘70s Punk Revolution” (Rhino, four discs, $55). Don’t pass on this attractively designed set just because the Sex Pistols aren’t included. It’s a loss, but the chances are that anyone who would be interested in “No Thanks!” already has a copy of “Anarchy in the U.K.” anyway. The set is an ambitious sampling of punk and punk-inspired music, with one or more tracks from such varied outfits as the Damned, the Clash, Black Flag and X.

Also available

Neil Diamond’s “Stages/Performances 1970-2002” (Columbia, five CDs and one DVD, $50). The first two discs are from a 2002 concert in Las Vegas, and they contain most of his wonderfully melodic, sing-along hits, including “I’m a Believer,” “If You Know What I Mean,” “Beautiful Noise” and “Sweet Caroline.” The next two discs take you deeper into Diamond’s body of work, as well as such covers as a version of Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector’s “Spanish Harlem.” Disc 5 is a live Christmas album, and the DVD is from a Dublin performance last year.

Glen Campbell’s “The Legacy “1961-2002” (Capitol, four discs, $55). There’s some good stuff here if you don’t let your memory of that scary DUI arrest photo spoil the mood. The highlights include Campbell’s interpretation of John Hartford’s folk-tinged “Gentle on My Mind” and the many Jimmy Webb tunes he recorded, including “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Wichita Lineman” and “Galveston.”

Various artists, “Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues/A Musical Journey” (Hip-O, five discs, $65). Scorsese’s blues series on PBS was a terrible disappointment because it failed to tell the story of the blues, which is what you’d think a blues series should do. This set is closer to the mark, but it still takes too liberal a view of the blues, devoting time to such blues-related figures as Chuck Berry and Los Lobos rather than giving us a truly comprehensive examination of the blues greats themselves.

Various artists, “Rhythm Love and Soul” (Shout!, three discs, $50). Before you leap here, check the titles on the back of this collection of “the sexiest songs of R&B;” to see how many you really want. Aretha Franklin, Al Green and Marvin Gaye, among others, are pictured on the cover, but they are represented by only one song each. You may still end up wanting this, but there are lots of other boxed sets with similar selections, so shop around.

ZZ Top’s “Chrome, Smoke and BBQ: The ZZ Top Box” (Warner Bros., four discs, $55). Personally, I always liked the videos better than the records. But if you like the trio’s rock ‘n’ boogie vigor, this should satisfy.

Robert Hilburn, The Times’ pop music critic, can be reached at Robert.hilburn@latimes.com