A few weeks ago, I asked the Now Spinning Magazine community a simple question:
Which artist would you most like to see celebrated with a career-defining box set?
This wasn’t simply a fantasy exercise. A couple of record labels had asked me what collectors genuinely wanted to see, so I decided to put the question directly to the people who still buy, collect and treasure physical music.
The response was incredible. Hundreds of comments arrived through YouTube and Facebook, with well over 300 different artists being suggested.
Some artists were nominated once, while others appeared repeatedly. When all the responses were brought together, one band emerged as the clear winner.
Slade Tops the List
The most requested career-defining box set was Slade, with 12 separate mentions.
Slade’s catalogue has been revisited through vinyl reissues, expanded CDs and compilations, but fans are clearly looking for something more ambitious: a definitive collection bringing together the albums, singles, B-sides, live recordings and unreleased material.
Add a substantial hardback book, photographs, memorabilia and contributions from the surviving members, and you could have a truly wonderful celebration of one of Britain’s greatest and most distinctive rock bands.
Surely Slade deserve that kind of treatment.
The Most-Requested Artists
These were the artists receiving five or more nominations:
- Slade
- Deep Purple
- Led Zeppelin
- Supertramp
- Bob Seger
- Magnum
- Styx
- Bad Company
- Iron Maiden
- Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
- Roy Harper
- Scorpions
- Argent
- Budgie
- Rainbow
- Thin Lizzy
- AC/DC
- Boston
- Free
- Genesis
- Sammy Hagar
What Would Make These Sets Special?
Deep Purple finishing so highly was interesting. There have been numerous collections, remasters and archive releases, but many fans still want everything brought together in one authoritative set. There is also considerable interest in the unreleased or long-rumoured expanded edition of Made in Europe.
Led Zeppelin have also received deluxe editions and elaborate Japanese collections, but listeners still want a definitive box containing the complete catalogue alongside genuinely substantial archive material.
Supertramp are another obvious choice. Their individual albums have received varying levels of attention, but there has never been one definitive collection telling the story of their complete career.
One of the results that pleased me most was seeing Bob Seger so high on the list. Much of his early catalogue remains difficult to obtain, and there must be live recordings, alternate versions and unreleased material sitting in the archives. His career is crying out for a properly curated box set.
The same applies to Magnum and Styx. Both bands have immensely loyal audiences, yet neither has received the kind of all-encompassing retrospective that truly reflects what their music means to their fans.
For Bad Company, the demand appears to be for something covering the band’s entire history—not only the Paul Rodgers era but the Brian Howe years as well. Iron Maiden may have issued numerous collections, picture discs and special editions, but a genuinely definitive career-spanning box would surely attract enormous interest.
Roy Harper, Argent and Budgie
A number of the artists on the list may surprise record companies, but they will not surprise dedicated collectors.
There is tremendous affection for Roy Harper, and his catalogue would make an extraordinary archive collection. Whether Roy himself would be interested is another matter, but the demand is certainly there.
Argent are often underestimated. Bringing all their albums together with BBC sessions, live recordings, rare tracks and a properly researched book would finally give the band the retrospective treatment they deserve.
Then we come to Budgie. What is happening with the Budgie catalogue? Various albums and periods have been reissued, but licensing issues continue to prevent the complete story from being told. Fans do not want an incomplete collection with key albums or tracks missing. They want a set covering the entire journey, including the later John Thomas period.
Thinking Through the Eyes of a Fan
What became clear from the responses is that collectors aren’t simply asking for another inexpensive clamshell containing albums they already own.
They want something immersive.
They want the original albums presented properly, preferably in replica sleeves. They want a substantial book telling the band’s story, unseen photographs, memorabilia, unreleased concerts, demos, outtakes and alternate versions.
Most importantly, they want these artists and their music to be treated with respect.
I sometimes hear artists questioning why anybody would want multiple versions of the same song. The answer is simple: fans hear the differences. Each performance captures a particular moment, and those variations help tell the story of how the music developed.
A career-defining box set should provide that emotional connection. Madfish achieved it with the Wishbone Ash Vintage Years collection and the enormous Gentle Giant box set. Not every artist requires something on that scale, but the same care and imagination can still be applied to a smaller collection.
An Audience Still Exists
Record companies will understandably be cautious. People can enthusiastically request a release on social media but then disappear when it is time to buy it.
However, older box sets also go out of print. Ten years later, a new generation of listeners discovers the artist but can no longer obtain the collection without paying extraordinary second-hand prices.
That audience should not be ignored.
The Now Spinning Magazine community has spoken, and the message is clear: collectors still want physical music, archive recordings, beautiful packaging and properly researched stories.
Slade may have finished at number one, but there are some fascinating possibilities throughout this list. Bob Seger, Supertramp, Magnum, Styx, Roy Harper, Argent, Budgie, Boston and Sammy Hagar would all make tremendous subjects for definitive collections.
I will be sharing these results with record labels so they can see what dedicated music fans and collectors would genuinely like to buy.
Which artist would you choose? Is there somebody missing from the list—and what would your ideal career-defining box set contain?
Here is a list of every band / artist mentioned
38 Special
A
ABC, AC/DC, Accept, Adrian Belew, Aerosmith, Afro Celt Sound System, Aimee Mann, Alaska, Alice Cooper, Alice in Chains, Allan Holdsworth, Ambrosia, American Music Club, Amon Düül II, Angel Witch, Angelo Branduardi, Aphrodite’s Child, April Wine, Argent, Asia
B
Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Back Street Crawler, Bad Company, Badfinger, Bauhaus, Be-Bop Deluxe, Beardfish, Bee Gees, Beggars Opera, Ben Harper, Big Big Train, Big Country, Billy Thorpe / The Aztecs, Black Sabbath, Blue Cheer, Blue Öyster Cult, Bob Catley, Bob Seger, Bolt Thrower, Bonnie Raitt, Boston, Boxer, Boz Scaggs, Brian Auger & Julie Driscoll, Brian May, Bronco, Bruce Springsteen, Budgie
C
Cactus, Cado Belle, Camel, Can, Canned Heat, Caravan, Carole King, Cheap Trick, Cherry Bombz, China Crisis, Chris Rea, Christie, Christopher Cross, City Boy, Clifford T. Ward, Cockney Rebel, Cold Chisel, Colin Blunstone, Colosseum, Coroner, Coverdale/Page, Cozy Powell, Crawler, Crazyhead, Creed, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Cyril Havermans
D
Dali’s Car, Daniel Amos, Daniel Johnston, Danse Society, Dave Brock, Dave Edmunds, Dave Greenslade, David Bowie, David Byron, David Gray, David Sylvian, Dawn of the Replicants, Dead Can Dance, Deep Purple, Devo, Diamond Head, Die Krupps, Dire Straits, Downes Braide Association, Dr. Feelgood, Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts, Dusty Springfield
E
Echo & the Bunnymen, Eddie and the Hot Rods, Eddie Money, Edgar Froese, Edgar Winter, Editors, Edwyn Collins, Electric Light Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald, Eloy, Elvis Costello, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Emmylou Harris, Eric Woolfson / Alan Parsons, Eurythmics
F
Fairport Convention, Faith No More, Family, Field Music, Flamin’ Groovies, Flash, Flash and the Pan, Fleetwood Mac, Foghat, Foreigner, Frank Marino / Mahogany Rush, Frankie Miller, Free
G
Gary Moore, Gary Numan, Gene Clark, Genesis, Gentle Giant, Gerry Rafferty, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Ginger Baker’s Air Force, Gino Vannelli, Giuffria, Golden Earring, Gong, Gov’t Mule, Graham Parker, Grand Funk Railroad, Grand Prix, Gravy Train, Groundhogs, Guns N’ Roses
H
Half Man Half Biscuit, Hawkwind, Headboys, Heart, Here & Now, Home, House of Lords, Hughes/Thrall, Hush
I
Ian Anderson, Ian Hunter, If, Iggy Pop, IQ, Iron Maiden
J
Jackie Leven, Jackson Browne, James Gang, James Taylor, Jan Dukes de Grey, Japan, Jay and the Americans, Jean-Michel Jarre, Jeff Beck Group, Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jess Roden Band, Jesse Hector, Jethro Tull, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Joan Armatrading, Joe Cocker, Joe Jackson, Joe Walsh, John Cale, John Cipollina, John Martyn, John Mellencamp, John Miles, John Sloman, Johnny Clegg, Johnny Winter, Joni Mitchell, Journey, Judas Priest
K
Kansas, Katatonia, Kate Bush, Keats, Keel, Killing Joke, King Swamp, King’s X, Kiss, Klaatu, Klaus Schulze, Kraftwerk, Kula Shaker
L
Larkin Poe, Led Zeppelin, Les Variations, Lesley Duncan, Lindisfarne, Little Feat, Living Colour, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, Lone Star, Long John Baldry, Love, Lynyrd Skynyrd
M
Madonna, Maggie Reilly, Magnum, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Mama’s Boys, Mandalaband, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Marillion, Mark Knopfler, Mark-Almond, Martha and the Muffins, Material Issue, Max Webster, MC5, Meat Loaf, Michael Quatro, Michael Stanley Band, Mick Jagger, Mick Jones, Mike Oldfield, Mike Patto, Miles Davis, Moby Grape, Montrose, Mott the Hoople, Motörhead, Mountain, Muse
N
National Health, Nazareth, Neil Innes, Neil Sedaka, Neil Young, Nektar, Nick Cave, Nick Drake, Nick Lowe, Nicky Hopkins, Nightwing, Nils Lofgren / Grin, Nutz
O
Opeth, Orange Juice, Oregon
P
P-Funk, Pat Travers Band, Patto, Paul Kossoff, Pearl Jam, Pendragon, Pete Townshend, Peter Banks, Peter Frampton, Peter Gabriel, Peter Murphy, PFM, Phil Collins, Phoenix, Pink Floyd, PJ Harvey, Poison, Praying Mantis, Prince, Procol Harum, Public Foot the Roman
Q
Q5, Queen, Quicksilver Messenger Service
R
Racing Cars, Radiohead, Rage, Rainbow, Ralph McTell, Renaissance, Rick Wakeman & Dave Cousins, Ringo Starr, Riot, Robert Cray, Robert Palmer, Robert Plant, Robin Trower, Rockpile, Roger Daltrey, Roger Ruskin Spear, Roger Waters, Rory Gallagher, Roxy Music, Roy Buchanan, Roy Harper, Run-D.M.C., Rush, Ryuichi Sakamoto
S
Sabaton, Sad Café, Sade, Saga, Sammy Hagar, Sandy Denny, Savoy Brown, Saxon, Scorpions, Scott Walker, Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Shack / The Strands, Simple Minds, Sinéad O’Connor, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Skyhooks, Slade, Soft Machine, Solaris, Soundgarden, Southside Johnny, Sparklehorse, Sparks, Spitfire, Spock’s Beard, Spooky Tooth, Squeeze, Starz, Status Quo, Steely Dan, Stefan Grossman, Stephen Bishop, Steppenwolf, Steve Earle, Steve Miller Band, Steve Winwood, Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Stone the Crows, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Strawbs, Stryper, Styx, Supertramp, Suzanne Vega, Sweet
T
Talk Talk, Tangerine Dream, Taste, Teaze, Ted Mulry Gang, Ted Nugent, Television, Television Personalities, Ten Years After, Terry Clarke, Terry Reid, The Alan Parsons Project, The Alarm, The Allman Brothers Band, The Animals, The Babys, The Band, The Beatles, The Beautiful South, The Carpenters, The Church, The Cramps, The Cure, The Dictators, The Doobie Brothers, The Doors, The Enid, The Fixx, The Hollies, The J. Geils Band, The Jam, The Mission, The Moody Blues, The Motors, The Movies, The Outlaws, The Pirates, The Psychedelic Furs, The Rolling Stones, The Searchers, The Sisters of Mercy, The Stranglers, The Temptations, The Waterboys, The Who, The Yardbirds, Thin Lizzy, Thomas Dolby, Thunder / Terraplane, Tin Machine, Titus Groan, Toad, Todd Rundgren, Tom Waits, Tommy Bolin, Tony Iommi, Tool, Tracy Chapman, Traffic, Trapeze, Triumph
U
U.D.O., UFO, UK, Uriah Heep, Utopia
V
Van der Graaf Generator, Van Halen, Vangelis, Vardis, Vivian Stanshall
W
Warren Zevon, White Sister, White Spirit, Whitesnake, Wild Turkey, Wings
X
Xmal Deutschland, XTC
Y
Y&T, Yes
Z
Zebra, ZZ Top
Thank you for all your support
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
