Busting out of the box

JUST as the film “Ray” heightened interest last year in recordings by the Genius of Soul, the Johnny Cash biopic “Walk the Line” reminds us of another iconic figure in American pop. Two Cash-related boxed sets are highlights of Calendar’s annual holiday guide to the most noteworthy new multidisc CD or DVD packages. Prices are typical figures at retail outlets.

Johnny Cash

“The Legend”

(Columbia/Legacy, five CDs and one DVD as part of a limited-edition package, $200)

The heart of this pricey set is the four discs devoted to the music of a man who might not have been as notable a writer as Hank Williams or as compelling a singer as Merle Haggard but who may have done more to stretch the creative boundaries of country music than any other single figure. From early rockabilly singles to his ambitious concept albums, Cash showed several generations of musicians and listeners how you could remain true to country music tradition even if you reached far outside country for inspiration. One weakness: The set doesn’t include any of the distinguished work Cash did with producer Rick Rubin in recent years. The discs -- along with a DVD featuring highlights from a 1980 television special and a fifth CD devoted to an early radio show in which Cash also served as pitchman for a home improvement company -- is housed in a gorgeous coffee-table book of photos and essays. The main four discs are also available in a more modest boxed set for $40.

Johnny Cash

“The Complete Sun Recordings 1955-1958”

(Time Life, three CDs, $35)

Just as some Elvis fans argue that the king of rock’s best recordings were made for Sam Phillips’ Sun Records before the singer went to RCA, some fans believe Cash’s most exciting work was also on Sun. The “Legend” package, above, has 18 of those Sun recordings, including the original “Folsom Prison Blues” and “I Walk the Line.” This collection has all 61, including rarities and demos.

Bruce Springsteen

“Born to Run: The 30th Anniversary Edition”

(Columbia, one CD and two DVDs, $35)

Besides a digitally remastered version of one of the half-dozen most exciting American rock albums ever made, this retrospective contains a revealing documentary on the making of “Born to Run” and more than two hours of previously unseen footage from a London concert by Springsteen and the E Street Band just after the album was released. The acoustic version of “Thunder Road” that opens the London concert will give any true Springsteen fan goose bumps.

Ray Charles

“Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (1952-1959)”

(Atlantic/Rhino, seven CDs and one DVD, $125)

Though Charles did trailblazing work after leaving Atlantic, this landmark set captures the evolution of one of the great stylists in all of American pop, from his early Nat King Cole admiration through his forays into jazz, R&B; and even a touch of country. The DVD features footage from a 1960 performance at the Newport Jazz Festival.

Bob Dylan

“No Direction Home”

(Paramount, two DVDs, $20)

This is the acclaimed Martin Scorsese film shown recently on PBS. Besides a true feast of Dylan performance footage, the documentary features lots of interviews -- both of the musicians who knew him in the ‘60s and of a surprisingly relaxed Dylan talking about some of his back pages. “No Direction Home” doesn’t cover Dylan’s entire career, but it does touch marvelously on his most revolutionary period. Glorious.

The Band

“A Musical History”

(Capitol, five CDs and one DVD, $85)

Besides some of the most soulful and superbly crafted music ever by an American rock band, this exhaustive survey of the Band’s music includes a treasure chest of previously unreleased tracks (mostly live or alternative studio versions) and video footage of performances. The latter ranges from the 1970 Festival Express Train tour of Canada to a 1976 appearance on “Saturday Night Live” shortly before the Band said farewell with the “Last Waltz” concerts.

Talking Heads

“Talking Heads”

(Sire/Warner Bros./Rhino, eight DualDiscs, $130)

While many great American groups, including the Band and Creedence Clearwater Revival, found inspiration in the roots of rock ‘n’ roll, the Heads were leaders in finding new influences, including elements of world music, disco and contemporary funk. It was music that was smart, danceable and undeniably sensual. The package contains all eight of the Heads’ studio albums in the DualDisc format, with added video and musical features for each.

Patti Smith

“Horses/Horses”

(Arista, two CDs, $25)

Here’s another 30th anniversary package, and while not nearly as ambitious as the Springsteen one, it too salutes one of the most important albums in modern pop. In “Horses,” Smith not only merged poetry and rock in a profound new way but demonstrated, more than anyone before her, that women could truly rock. Besides the original album, the set includes Smith’s performance of the songs from “Horses” last June in London.

Contact Hilburn at Robert.Hilburn@ latimes.com