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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One for the hardcore fans, 8 Jun 2009
Like some of the others reviewers here, I wondered if there was any value in this set, yet another re-mix or version of this admittedly classic album, to go with the 25th anniversary edition, the SACD version, the newly recorded 2003 version, the re-mastered 2000 edition, the list goes on. But I took a punt on this set and I am Damn glad I did.
Firstly the box is simply gorgeous, I paused to look at it for a few moments, before opening it up, I pulled out what I thought was just the vinyl gatefold sleeve, it turns out it holds that in one side and the three cd's and the DVD on the other side.
Not having a record deck anymore, the vinyl will stay where it is, I tried the 5.1 DVD first, and it sounds amazing, better than the SACD version, for those asking, it is a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, all four tracks have been given the surround treatment, also on the disc is the live BBC performance from 1973, this can also be found on the Mike Oldfield Elements DVD, but seems to my eyes to be better quality here.
Disc one contains the new 2009 stereo mixes, disc 2 is the original untouched 1973 Stereo mix, and disc 3 has the demos that were included on the DVD audio of Tubular bells 2003, plus a rough mix of part one, and two demos of Peace, and a long demo of part one, none of which I have heard before.
Also included are four plectrums, a replica ticket of the 1973 live performance, a postcard, a reproduced leaflet for the manor studio, a songsheet, and a giant poster of the album cover.
Best of all as far as I am concerned is the huge hard back book that takes up the rest of the sleeve, it is the glossiest, most expensive feeling and heavy book of it's kind I have seen, and contains the whole tubular bells story, most of it has been heard before and I have seen many of the pictures before, but it is presented so beautifully, I really did not want to handle it too much.
Is it worth £65 ? certainly not to a casual fan, but for those with a deep love of this album it is well worth considering, it is surely as it says, the ultimate edition.
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~ Mike Oldfield
~ King Crimson
~ Mike Oldfield
~ Genesis
See all 5 tracks on this disc
