"The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions 1967 – 1969" by FLEETWOOD MAC (1999 Columbia 6CD Box Set – And 2004 Individual CD Releases) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…We’ve Got The Sound Now Lads…" 

"The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions 1967 - 1969" by FLEETWOOD MAC on Blue Horizon 494641 2 (Barcode 5099749464124) is a six-star package (never mind five) - and for all the right reasons. 

Across 6CDs you get 99 primo remastered tracks (33 of which are previously unreleased) - a hugely detailed 32-page booklet penned by original producer and label boss MIKE VERNON and even aesthetically pleasing hard-card repro sleeves allocated to each album. It's beautifully done and has become something of a collectable since its November 1999 release. There are also six June 2004 individual releases of each album contained within. 

In order to do this sensational box set justice - I'll deal with each album individually and in detail...

1. "Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac" or "Fleetwood Mac":

In its famous 'dog and dustbin' sleeve - Fleetwood Mac's first album was released in February 1968 on Blue Horizon Records in the UK in both MONO (7-63200) and STEREO (S 7-63200) and slightly later on Epic Records in the USA in both MONO (LN 24402) and STEREO (BN 26402). In the UK it's referred to by its label title "Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac" - in the USA simply as "Fleetwood Mac". And although it's now recognised as a masterpiece of British Blues - this particular Box Set reissue (released as a stand-alone CD with the same configuration in 2004) of that explosive debut is jumbled around big time...

The original album track list ran as follows (35:55 minutes):

1. My Heart Beat Like A Hammer (Jeremy Spencer song) [2:59 minutes]

2. Merry Go Round (Peter Green song) [4:20 minutes]

3. Long Grey Mare (Peter Green song) [2:15 minutes]

4. Hellhound On My Trail (Robert Johnson cover) [2:06 minutes]

5. Shake Your Moneymaker (Elmore James cover) [2:57 minutes]

6. Looking For Somebody (Peter Green song) [2:52 minutes] (End of Side 1)

7. No Place To Go (Howlin' Wolf cover) [3:21 minutes]

8. My Baby's Good To Me (Jeremy Spencer song) [2:51 minutes]

9. I Loved Another Woman (Peter Green song) [2:57 minutes]

10. Cold Black Night (Jeremy Spencer song) [3:17 minutes]

11. The World Keep On Turning (Peter Green song) [2:29 minutes]

12. Got To Move (Homesick James Williamson cover) [3:21 minutes] (End of Side 2)

But this ‘Box Set' version runs to almost twice the length (63:39 minutes):

1. My Heart Beat Like A Hammer (Take 2 Master Version with Studio Talk) [3:33 minutes]

2. Merry Go Round (Take 2 Master Version with studio Talk) [4:20 minutes]

3. Long Grey Mare (same as 3 above)

4. Hellhound On My Trail (Take 1 Complete Master Version/Remix) [2:06 minutes]

5. Shake Your Moneymaker (Master Version with Studio Talk) [3:14 minutes]

6. Looking For Somebody (same as 6 above)

7. No Place To Go (same as 7 above)

8. My Baby's Good To Me (same as 8 above)

9. I Loved Another Woman (same as 9 above)

10. Cold Black Night (same as 10 above)

11. The World Keep On Turning (same as 11 above)

12. Got To Move (same as 12 above)

BONUSES

13. My Heart Beat Like A Hammer (Take 1 - Previously Unissued) [3:43 minutes]

14. Merry Go Round (Take 1 - Previously Unissued/Incomplete) [0:57 minutes]

15. I Loved Another Woman (Takes 1, 2, 3 and 4 with False Starts - Previously Unissued - Incomplete) [6:09 minutes]

16. I Loved Another Woman (Takes 5 and 6 - Previously Unissued/Incomplete) [5:10 minutes]

17. Cold Black Night (Takes 1 through to 5 with False Starts - Previously Unreleased - and Take 6 which is the master version) [5:30 minutes]

18. You're So Evil (Take 2 - Previously Unreleased Jeremy Spencer Track) [3:07 minutes]

19. I'm Coming Home To Stay (Jeremy Spencer song, Previously Unreleased Track) [2:29 minutes]

As you can see from the 19-track list provided above - label boss Mike Vernon has taken the decision to re-sequence the track line-up to feature outtakes, studio chatter, false starts and so on (he's done all 5 albums in he box this way). The MONO variant of the album is AWOL but what you do get of the STEREO version is fabulous - like eavesdropping on history. It opens with the poor producer trying to get Green to stop larking about in the studio with his guitar and get into `Take 2' of "My Heart Beats Like A Hammer" - when he does the remastered sound hits you in the solar plexus. Vernon then says "we've got the sound now lads..." at the beginning of the slow and bluesy "Merry Go Round" and you can hear the rhythm section so clearly of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie. "Long Grey Mare" and the chug of "No Place To Go" are so good while the acoustic "I don't look for no worries people...worries and trouble come around..." of "The World Keeps On Turning" gets me every time. Of the new stuff - there are two stunning previously unreleased Jeremy Spencer tracks at the end - "You're So Evil" and especially the raucous Elmore James clone "I'm Coming Home To Stay" - fantastic stuff and genuine bonus tracks. Completists would have enjoyed this disc having both the MONO and STEREO mix of the album - but that's another day's work...

2. "Mr. Wonderful"

Following only 7 months after their explosive debut and afforded the luxury of a gatefold sleeve - Fleetwood Mac's second studio album "Mr. Wonderful" was released in September 1968 on Blue Horizon Records S 7-63205 in the UK (in stereo only). The American equivalent was issued in February 1969 on Epic Records BN 26446 and was called "English Rose" - it had different artwork and a much-altered track run. This CD version reflects the UK LP and is slightly expanded.

The original 12-track album track list ran as follows (41:51 minutes):

1. Stop Messin' Round (Peter Green and C.G. Adams song) [2:21 minutes]

2. Coming Home (Elmore James cover) [2:41 minutes]

3. Rollin' Man (Peter Green song) [2:54 minutes]

4. Dust My Broom (Elmore James cover) [2:53 minutes]

5. Love That Burns (Peter Green and C.G. Adams song) [5:04 minutes]

6. Doctor Brown (William Glasco cover) [3:46 minutes] (End of Side 1)

7. Need Your Love Tonight (Jeremy Spencer song) [3:29 minutes]

8. If You Be My Baby (Peter Green & C.G. Adams [3:53 minutes]

9. Evenin' Boogie (Jeremy Spencer song) [2:42 minutes]

10.Lazy Poker Blues (Peter Green & C.G. Adams song) [2:36 minutes)

11. I've Lost My Baby (Jeremy Spencer song) [4:18 minutes]

12. Trying So Hard To Forget (Peter Green & C.G. Adams song) [4:51 minutes] (End of Side 2)

This 16-track reissue at 56:27 minutes has additional bits on Track 1 - some studio chatter before the take is extended to 2:36 minutes - tracks 2 to 12 are exactly the same while the following are BONUSES added on...

13. Stop Messin' Round (Takes 1, 2 and 3 with False Starts/Previously Unissued) [4:32 minutes]

14. Stop Messin' Round (Take 5 - Master Single Version/Remix)  [2:47 minutes]

15.I Held My Baby Last Night (Elmore James/Jules Taub cover) [4:26 minutes]

16. Mystery Boogie (Jeremy Spencer song) [2:51 minutes]

Note: Track 14 is longer than and different to the album version of "Stop Messin' Round" that opens the LP

In the USA the album was called "English Rose" on Epic Records and its altered track list ran as follows:

1. Stop Messin' Round [as above]

2. Jigsaw Blues [on "Pious Bird Of Good Omen"]

3. Doctor Brown [as above]

4. Something Inside Of Me [on "The Original Fleetwood Mac"]

5. Evenin' Boogie [as above]

6. Love That Burns [as above]

7. Black Magic Woman [on "Pious Bird Of Good Omen"]

8. I've Lost My Baby [as above]

9. One Sunny Day [on "The Original Fleetwood Mac"]

10. Without You [on "The Original Fleetwood Mac"]

11. Coming Home [as above]

12. Albatross [on "Pious Bird Of Good Omen"]

[In order to sequence "English Rose" in remastered form you will need 3 CDs from the 6CD box set - "Mr. Wonderful", "The Pious Bird Of Good Omen" and "The Original Fleetwood Mac"]

Musically "Mr. Wonderful" only half works for me - it feels like a poor-man's version of the debut (the USA "English Rose" compilation LP has a far better track run - see list below). Also over half the album - tracks 2, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 11 do 'not' feature Peter Green at all (and suffer for it). The others appear to be hijacked by Jeremy Spencer's obsession with Elmore James to a point where "Doctor Brown" and "Need Your Love Tonight" sound exactly like the same song repeated literally one after another. It's not that the album is bad - it just somehow lacks something. The last song, however, redeems things a bit - it's "Trying So Hard To Forget" and has Peter Green on Guitar with label mate DUSTER BENNETT on Harmonica - just the two of them - and it's a peach.

The bonuses turn out to be excellent too - especially the two previously unreleased Jeremy Spencer tracks - the very slow blues of "I Held My Baby Last Night" and the jaunty boogie-guitar instrumental of "Mystery Boogie". And as with the debut album - the remastered sound is exceptionally good - blasting out of your speakers with all the power of the band live in the studio.

3. "The Pious Bird Of Good Omen"

The vinyl LP "The Pious Bird Of Good Omen" was released on the now famous and much revered Blue Horizon label in the UK in August 1969. With its racy "nun" sleeve, band name in place and distinctive title - an unsuspecting punter could have been forgiven at the time for believing it to be their 3rd "new" album. But it wasn't. Instead it was a 12-track ragbag of non-album 7" singles & their B-sides, collaborations and other rarities difficult to find on LP.

The reason I mention this is that there are now TWO variants of this album on CD. The standard version from CBS re-released in 1995 has the original 12-track line up and is exactly as per the LP release (a non-remaster), but this 2004 remastered and remixed version really screws it around and some explanation is in order because this new variant actually 'loses' tracks from the original...

Here's what the original album 12-track line-up looked like (with added extra info):

(All tracks are credited to FLEETWOOD MAC except 4 and 9, which are, credited EDDIE BOYD with PETER GREEN'S FLEETWOOD MAC)

1.  Need Your Love So Bad (a Little Willie John cover) (their 3rd UK single on BH in July 1968)

2.  Coming Home (an Elmore James cover) (on "Mr. Wonderful", their 2nd BH album from September 1968)

3.  Ramblin' Pony (Peter Green original) (Non-Album B-side of their 1st UK 7" single on BH from November 1967)

4.  The Big Boat (Eddie Boyd track) [by Eddie Boyd with Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac] (Non-Album A-side of BH 7" single from 1967)

5.  I Believe My Time Ain't Long (Jeremy Spencer song) (Non-Album A-side of their 1st UK 7" single on BH from November 1967)

6.  The Sun Is Shining (an Elmore James cover) (Non-Album B-side to "Black Magic Woman" their 2nd UK 7" single on BH in March 1968)

7.  Albatross (Peter Green original) (November 1968 4th UK 7" single on BH)

8.  Black Magic Woman (Peter Green original) (Non-Album A-side, their 2nd UK 7" single on BH in March 1968)

9.  Just The Blues (Eddie Boyd track) [by Eddie Boyd with Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac] (Non-Album B-side of BH 7" single from 1967)

10.  Jigsaw Puzzle Blues (Danny Kirwan track) (Non-Album B-side of "Albatross")

11.  Looking For Somebody (Peter Green original) (from their debut LP "Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac" on BH February 1968)

12.  Stop Messin' Around (Peter Green co-write with C.G. Adams) (as per track 2)

Now here's the track list of this re-sequenced re-issue so you can see the differences and omissions:

1.  Need Your Love So Bad (Master Version)

2.  Rambling Pony

3.  I Believe My Time Ain't Long

4.  The Sun Is Shining

5.  Albatross

6.  Black Magic Woman

7.  Jigsaw Puzzle Blues

8.  Like Crying

9.  Need Your Love So Bad (Version 1)

10.  Need Your Love So Bad (Version 3)

11.  Need Your Love So Bad (Version 2)

12.  Need Your Love So Bad (Take 2)

13.  Need Your Love So Bad (USA Version)

As you can see from the two lists provided above - "Pious" is the most rejiggered album in the box - bearing little resemblance to the original 12-track LP. Track 9 "Need Your Love So Bad (Version 1)" is Takes 1, 2 and 3 combined and runs to a whopping 11:35 minutes - while Track 10 has Takes 1 and 2 and runs to an even bigger 13:06 minutes (years away from the original issues so bear that in mind).

Absences - the two Eddie Boyd cuts "The Big Boat" and "Just The Blues" (tracks 4 and 9 on the original LP) can only be found on the separate EDDIE BOYD CD "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" while "Looking For Somebody" is on the first album in this box. With regard to the missing Boyd tracks - both the EDDIE BOYD and OTIS SPANN CDs in the Blue Horizon series contain Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac and I can't recommend them highly enough. Besides if you want to actually configure the original "Pious" - you'll need them! And what can you say about "Albatross" and "Black Magic Woman" - both gobsmacking to this day...

4. "Blues Jam In Chess Volume 1" - Side 1 and 2 of the original double-album:

Fleetwood Mac's 4th vinyl outing was a double-album called "Blues Jam At Chess" issued on Blue Horizon Records S 7-66227 in the UK and Blue Horizon BH 3801 [2] in the USA.  Recorded in one day, 4 January 1969, and released just a few months later, it was produced by MIKE VERNON and MARSHALL CHESS at the Chess "Ter-Mar" Studios in Chicago. The artists involved were FLEETWOOD MAC, OTIS SPANN on Piano, WILLIE DIXON on Bass, WALTER "SHAKEY" HORTON on Harmonica, J.T. BROWN on Tenor Sax, GUY BUDDY on Guitars (Guy Buddy is a pseudonym for Buddy Guy), HONEYBOY EDWARDS on Bass with S.P. LEARY on Drums.

A word about the less than exciting UK and US 'original' artwork and why it 'hasn't' been used on this reissue. The original UK issue had a wavy backdrop and titled sleeve - no real effort in the art department - while the original US copy didn't fare much better either - credited as "Fleetwood Mac - In Chicago" - it was also issued in a very dull plain red cover. However, it was reissued again in 1970 in the USA as two separate volumes "Blues Jam In Chicago, Vol.1 and 2" on BH 4802 and BH 4803 respectively - and it is these two volumes with their far prettier artwork (pictured above) that were used for "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions 1967-1969" 6CD Box Set and the individual 2004 stand-alone extended editions.

Also, in order to show the musical differences, I've detailed the vinyl first, then the extended CD...

(Volume 1 is Side 1 and 2 of the original double; Volume 2 - Side 3 and 4 - is a separate review)

ORIGINAL VINYL:

Side 1:

1. Watch Out [Peter Green song]

2. Ooh Baby [Chester Burnett aka Howlin' Wolf cover]

3. South Indiana - Take 1 [Walter `Shakey' Horton cover]

4. South Indiana - Take 2 [Walter `Shakey' Horton cover]

5. Last Night [W Jacobs cover]

6. Red Hot Jam [Peter Green Instrumental song]

Side 2:

1. I'm Worried [Elmore James cover]

2. I Held My Baby Last Night [Elmore James/Jules Taub cover]

3. Madison Blues [Elmore James cover]

4. I Can't Hold Out [Elmore James cover]

5. I Need Your Love [Jimmie Rogers cover]

6. I Got The Blues [Walter `Shakey' Horton cover]

EXTENDED CD (68:24 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 5 are the same as the LP above

Track 6 is "Red Hot Jam" [Take 1 with Studio talk - An Inserted Previously Unreleased Track]

Track 7 is "Red Hot jam" [Take 2 - The Master Version, Track 6 on the LP]

Tracks 8 to 11 are "I'm Worried" through to "I Can't Hold Out" and are as per the LP

Track 12 is "Bobby's Rock" which is an inserted Previously Unreleased cover of an Elmore James song

Track 13 is "I Need Your Love" (same as the LP)

Track 14 is "Horton's Boogie Woogie [Take 1 with Studio Chatter - an Inserted Previously Unreleased Version]

Track 15 is "I Got The Blues" is the Master but with inserted Previously Unreleased False Start

WALTER HORTON plays Harmonica on CD tracks 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14 and 15

BUDDY GUY, HONEYBOY EDWARDS and WILLIE DIXON are on 6 and 7

JEREMY SPENCER replaces Peter Green on Guitar and Vocal for 8, 9 10 and 11 - these tracks also feature J.T. BROWN on Tenor Sax with WILLIE DIXON on Upright Bass

OTIS SPANN plays Piano and S.P. LEARY plays drums on 13, 14 and 15

Fans greet the album itself with equal amounts of affection and disdain because at times it sounds like one long rehearsal - and a slightly uninspired and dull one at that. It's not that its bad - it just isn't red hot like you'd think it should have been. Highlights, however, include the lovely shuffle of "Watch Out", the harmonica driven slow blues of "Last Night" and the slashing Elmore James riffs in "I Can't Hold Out" (lyrics above). "Bobby's Rock" is a rubbishy extra, but Take 1 of "Horton's Boogie Woogie" is fantastic - alive and kicking and worth the price of entry alone. I play it a lot and it picks me up every time.

5. "Blues Jam At Chess Volume 2" - Side 3 and 4 of the original double album:

ORIGINAL VINYL TRACK LIST:

Side 3:

1. World's In A Tangle [Jimmie Rogers cover/J Lane]

2. Talk With You [Danny Kirwan song]

3. Like It This Way [Danny Kirwan song]

4. Someday Soon Baby [Danny Kirwan song]

5. Hungry Country Girl [Otis Spann cover]

Side 4:

1. Black Jack Blues [J.T. Brown song]

2. Everyday I Have The Blues [P Chatman cover]

3. Rockin' Boogie [Jeremy Spencer song]

4. Sugar Mama [Sonny Boy Williamson cover]

5. Homework [Clark Perkins song/ Otis Rush cover]

EXTENDED CD TRACK LIST (75:52 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 8 as per the LP above

Track 9 is "My Baby's Gone" (David Edwards cover) - an outtake which first appeared on "The Blue Horizon Story 1965-1970 Volume 1" 3CD Box Set from 1997 (reissued in 2006)

Track 10 is "Sugar Mama" (Sonny Boy Williamson cover) [Take 1 - Incomplete - Previously Unreleased]

Track 11 is "Sugar Mama" [Master Version, as per the LP]

Track 12 is "Homework" (Clark Perkins song/Otis Rush cover) [as per the LP]

Track 13 is "Honey Boy Blues" (David Edwards cover) [Incomplete - Previously Unreleased]

Track 14 is "I Need Your Love" (Jimmie Rogers cover) [Take 1 - Incomplete - Previously Unreleased]

Track 15 is "Horton's Boogie Woogie" (Walter Horton cover) [Take 2 - Previously Unreleased]

Track 16 is "Have A Good Time" (Walter Horton cover) [Previously Unreleased]

Track 17 "That's Wrong" (Walter Horton cover) [Previously Unreleased]

Track 18 is "Rock Me Baby" (Jackson cover) [Previously Unreleased]

WALTER HORTON plays Harmonica on 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and sings on 13, 16, 17 and 18

BUDDY GUY, HONEYBOY EDWARDS and WILLIE DIXON are on 9 and 13

J.T. BROWN, HONEYBOY EDWARDS and WILLIE DIXON are on 6, 7 and 8

OTIS SPANN plays Piano and S.P. LEARY plays drums on 1 and 2

OTIS SPANN also plays Piano on 3, 10, 11 and 12 - and has Lead Vocals and Piano on 4 and 5

Compared to Volume 1 - this set gets the lion's share of previously unreleased material - almost doubling the playing time (75:52 minutes). And while the first Volume is good if not a little dull - the second is fantastic. It seems that as the session went on and they settled down and became more comfortable with each other - sparks started to fly. But what sends this half of the double album into the stratosphere is the bonus tracks - which are not incomplete takes or aimless studio chatter - but fully realised songs - albeit a little rough around the edges. One of the keys in their magic is Walter Horton's wonderful harmonica playing and sheer presence - check out "That's Wrong" and "Horton's Boogie Woogie" - wow!

6. "The Original Fleetwood Mac"

With "Kiln House" having all but tanked in the UK charts in October 1970 at number 34 and the "Future Games" album not even breaking the top 50 in September 1971 - this slapped together ragbag of Blue Horizon period outtakes aroused little interest when it was finally released in November 1971. Even with the highlighted blue box on the front cover promising "All Tracks Previously Un-issued" - "The Original Fleetwood Mac" went largely unloved and unnoticed. Which is a shame because in my books it's a bit of a lost gem. And this expanded reissue of it has only added to that cool original in a really great way.

The original 12-track 1971 album on CBS S 63875 ran as follows (43:40 minutes):

1.  Drifting (Peter Green song recorded 1967) [3:33 minutes]

2.  Leaving Town Blues (Peter Green song recorded December 1967) [2:56 minutes]

3.  Watch Out (Peter Green song recorded November 1967) [4:38 minutes]

4.  A Fool No More (Peter Green song recorded November 1967) [4:37 minutes)

5.  Mean Old Fireman (Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup cover recorded November 1967) [3:49 minutes]

6.  Can't Afford To Do It ("Homesick" James Williamson cover recorded 1967) [2:05 minutes]

(End of Side 1)

7.  Fleetwood Mac (Mono, Peter Green instrumental recorded 1967) [3:57 minutes]

8.  Worried Dream (B.B. King cover recorded April 1968) [5:24 minutes]

9.  Love That Woman (Lafayette Leake cover recorded 1968) [2:32 minutes]

10. Allow Me One More Show (Jeremy Spencer song recorded 1967) [3:01 minute]

11. First Train Home (Peter Green song recorded 1967) [4:06 minutes]

12. Rambling Pony No. 2 (Peter Green song recorded 1967) [2:55 minutes]

(End of Side 2)

All above tracks with Lead Vocals and Guitar by PETER GREEN except 5, 6, 9 and 10 with Lead Vocals and Guitar by JEREMY SPENCER; Piano on 8 is by CHRISTINE PERFECT; Harmonica on 7 and 12 is by PETER GREEN; JOHN McVIE on Bass and MICK FLEETWOOD on Drums for all except 5 and 10 which feature JEREMY SPENCER on Vocals & Guitar only.

This 19-track expanded reissue at 75:31 minutes has Tracks 1 to 12 as above but with additions: Track 2 is the Take 5 Master Version with a Previously Unissued False Start and runs to 3:09 minutes; Track 4 is all 8 Takes (first 7 are all false starts) and runs to 7:59 minutes; Track 5 has a Previously Unissued False Start on Take 1 with Take 2 being the Master Version running to 4:06 minutes; Track 8 is the Master Take with a previously unreleased incomplete Take; Tracks 9, 10 and 12 are Alternate Original Mixes.

Tracks 13 to 19 are the bonuses as follows:

13. Watch Out [Take 1 Incomplete - Previously Unreleased] (Peter Green song recorded November 1967)

14. Something Inside Of Me [Danny Kirwan song recorded October 1968, this master version was used on the USA LP "English Rose" on Epic]

15. Something Inside Of Me [Take 2/Previously Unreleased] [Danny Kirwan song recorded October 1968]

16. Something Inside Of Me [Take 3/Previously Unreleased] [Danny Kirwan song recorded October 1968]

17. One Sunny Day (Danny Kirwan song recorded October 1968) [this master version was used on the USA LP "English Rose" on Epic]

18. Without You (Danny Kirwan song recorded October 1968) [this master version was used on the USA LP "English Rose" on Epic]

19. Coming Your Way [Take 6/Previously Unreleased] (Danny Kirwan song recorded October 1968

The remastering is absolutely ace - live and in your living room - warm, clear and ballsy. On the original album highlights include the BB King cover of "Worried Blues", a fabulous slow work out with sweet piano fills provided by Christine Perfect. The two Jeremy Spencer solo tracks are also eerily great too, while a longer and an actually more soulful version of "A Fool No More" turned up on Green's big comeback "In The Skies" album in 1979 on PVK Records. The bonuses turn out to be excellent too - especially the last three Danny Kirwan tracks. It's not surprising that both "One Sunny Day" and "Without You" were used for their 2nd US album "English Rose" - they're both blinders. "Coming Your Way" turned up in a different form of course on the 1969 Reprise album "Then Play On".

So there you have it. You can buy the six individual CDs as stand-alone items for reasonable money in most cases - but I'd advise go this beautiful sounding/presented box set instead. Despite the faffing about with track running orders - and even with songs missing from "Pious" - it's still an absolute gem. And first in my man-bag should the house go on fire...