Boxed [Complete Boxset] [8CD] [Box set] [Limited Edition]

I call this a "flawed masterpiece" for a few reasons.

Firstly I'll explain the "masterpiece":
All 8 original Eurythmics albums remastered and redesigned. The newly remastered albums sound beautiful and rich; and not too far removed from the originals in sound mix etc.
Even if you have the original CDs there is a lot of extras to keep you happy. Bonus tracks (14), Live tracks (10), Remixes (14); Also 6 seemingly "new" previously unreleased tracks (or maybe tracks "from the vault") all are cover-versions of other artists songs and are great.
Extended and revisited artwork, sleeve notes describing the state of the world, the music industry as well as Dave and Annie's lifestyles at the time of each album. Interesting stuff.
Another brilliant excuse to spend about 10 hours immersed in Dave's lush fingers and Annies warm and powerful throat.

Now for the reasons I find it "flawed":
MISSING TRACKS:
Obviously no collection will ever be complete... (tell that to Elvis fans!!); I didn't expect so many live and remixed versions.
There are literally only 12 missing b-side and rare tracks that SHOULD have been included:
1982 - Step On The Beast, Invisible Hands, Dr Trash.
1983 - Angle Dub
1984 - Charlie Cat (with Robert Gorl)
1985 - Sweet Surprise 1 & Sweet Surprise 2.
1987 - Winter Wonderland, Put A Little Love In Your Heart (with Al Green)
1989 - Rich Girl, Farewell to Tawathie (Live), Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
* Rich Girl is an irony in this set, the "We Too Are One" extended artwork includes both front and back of the "Don't Ask Me Why" CDsingle, showing that Rich Girl was the bonus track on the single, and yet it is not included!

I would happily have forgone the two 2001 remixes on the Sweet Dreams CD for the three 1982 missing tracks, and replaced any of the live tracks (excluding "4/4 In Leather" of course) for any of the other missing tracks.

MISSING ALBUM:
The 9 track "1984 For The Love Of Big Brother" CD is not included; therefore the songs SexCrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four) and Julia are also omitted - both being singles this amazes me! In the text for "Be Yourself Tonight" this album is credited to existance and not dismissed (ie: created for movie and not used etc), nor explained why omitted from Remastering process.

MISSING NEW TRACKS:
The two new songs "I've Got A Life" and "Was It Just Another Love Affair?" are not included - seemingly a ploy to encourage sales for "The Ultimate Collection" remastered Greatest Hits (which should have been 2CD with all the singles on it!)

NO LYRIC BOOKLETS:
Even if each CD didn't contain the lyrics, the BOXED set should have had an additional booklet with the lyrics.
The extended artwork should have included ALL the 7" picture covers; and should have listed original release dates for (at least) the album and highest chart positions (at least) for UK; this is mainly mentioned in the text where the album or single went number one.

"Let's just close our eyes...."

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It would be great if Sony/BMG UK could see fit to offer fans a futher 9th CD with the 12 missing tracks and an extensive lyric booklet (with album and bonus-track lyrics) at a reasonable price for those that have purchased the BOXED set.

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Issues aside, this is a brilliant collection, well worth anyone's hard earned cash. Buy it now!!!

I was disappointed that the box set contained nothing apart from the albums. I kind of thought there would be some sort of bonus to buying the complete box set rather than the eight albums individually. There is no extra art work or booklet or CD.

The eight albums look great packaged together.

But I'm disappointed at:

1. No lyrics
2. The written notes to each album become irritating with more reading. They are terribly gushing. To read them you would think that WE TOO ARE ONE was a fantastic album when, really, it was nothing of the sort.
3. Not all the Bsides are included. This is the worst mistake.
4. No 1984 album
5. No Touch Dance album
6. No Live album
7. Neither of the two new tracks.

But it looks good and it's better than not having a box set at all. It just could have been so much better.

Missing B-Sides include: Step On The Beast, Invisible Hands, Dr. Trash, Let's Just Close Our Eyes (The Walk Remix), Here Comes That Sinking Feeling (Alternate Version) & Rich Girl.

Hopefully, the reissue campaign will continue & we'll get another disc of rarities with all of these + some hard to find remixes (including, but not limited to) the Chill & Dance mixes of You Have Placed A Chill In My Heart.