Great boxed set...so why not Elvis?

[pmp]

This arrived this morning, covering all surviving recordings from Eugene Ormandy conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra recorded in mono from 1944 to 1958. 120CDs, most of the material on which has not been issued in the CD era. All newly restored and remastered. 200 page hardback coffee table book. And even the inclusion of extra recordings with other conductors or incarnations of the orchestra just for the hell of it. Original album jackets for each CD (front and back), while the book includes alternate artwork of EP, 10 inch LPs, and singles releases of the material and/or bonus tracks.

It's one of the most impressive sets I have ever seen.

Guess who made it? Sony, of course.

Yes my box has a knocked corner, but I bought it that way knowingly as it was cheaper (£120). The discs will be taken out of the box and put on a shelf anyway.

But I post it here not because I think many are interested in such a set, but to ask why Elvis sets can't be this good? Whereas the 60cd Elvis set left out certain albums due to various levels of duplication, this one "included repertoire recorded by other conductors...when we felt the listener might find enjoyment in hearing the complete repertoire." Meanwhile, Sony's Glenn Gould box included discs DESPITE duplication.

This set retails at about £200 normally. Coffee table book + 120 discs, all restored and remastered from scratch from discs and tapes not heard in decades. And at the right speed. So why does an Elvis release cost £50 for 3 discs in basic packaging? There's even an apology in the book that some artwork is missing because of travel restrictions and closed archives during Covid!

It's not even like one can say this set is more commercial. It's just as niche as an FTD. So, if the issue with Elvis isn't the label, who or what is it? It has nothing to do with the fact it's classical music instead of pop. These sets get one print run, and that's it. It's not to do with archival research. Clearly this set has been a huge endeavor in that area. It's just so frustrating. If only we had someone with such an attention to detail as the producer of this set in charge of Elvis.

Rather unexpectedly, the set is oddly moving, and clearly a passion project made with a kind of commitment and dedication (and eagerness to get right) that we haven't seen in the Elvis world since A Boy from Tupelo. And, I should add, the sound is amazing for recordings of this vintage.

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[pmp]

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[Paul Allen]

I realize that 2027 is still 4 years away, but there's a chance that SONY Music might produce a HUGE Elvis box set to honor him 50 years after his passing.

[drjohncarpenter]

I realize that 2027 is still 4 years away, but there's a chance that SONY Music might produce a HUGE Elvis box set to honor him 50 years after his passing.

Rather see a celebration for his 90th birthday, on January 8, 2025.

[Paul Allen]

I realize that 2027 is still 4 years away, but there's a chance that SONY Music might produce a HUGE Elvis box set to honor him 50 years after his passing.

Rather see a celebration for his 90th birthday, on January 8, 2025.

Yes indeed. I like that idea better.

[pmp]

I've just seen that Sony are following up on this set with a set covering the stereo recordings of 1958-1963 of Eugene Ormandy. Six years and it's 88 CDs! And we reckon Elvis was hard-done-by at three albums a year!!