While I was shopping at Sam’s Club, I looked at the usually pathetic CD offerings. And, guess what jumped out at me? Carly Simon: Original Album Series with Carly Simon’s first five albums! This cool set includes Carly Simon, Anticipation, No Secrets, Hot Cakes, and Playing Possum (with the album cover that generated tons of erotic dreams when I was a teenager). This nice package was only $19.86. I also checked AMAZON by putting “Original Album Series” in the search box and up popped over 30 other box sets by artists I listen to (Hall & Oates, Aretha Franklin, Madonna, etc.) all assembled by Rhino. Check out the sample listing below to get an idea of what you would be buying.
Tim Buckley, Original Album Series (Elektra/Rhino (U.K.), 2011)
Disc 1: Tim Buckley (originally released as Elektra EKS-74004, 1966)
Disc 2: Goodbye and Hello (originally released as Elektra EKS-74028, 1967)
Disc 3: Happy Sad (originally released as Elektra EKS-74045, 1969)
Disc 4: Blue Afternoon (originally released as Straight STS-1060, 1969)
Disc 5: Lorca (originally released as Elektra EKS-74074, 1970)
CHIC, Original Album Series (Atlantic/Rhino (U.K.), 2011)
Disc 1: CHIC (originally released as Atlantic SD-19153, 1977)
Disc 2: C’est CHIC (originally released as Atlantic SD-19209, 1978)
Disc 3: Risqué (originally released as Atlantic SD-16003, 1979)
Disc 4: Real People (originally released as Atlantic SD-16016, 1980)
Disc 5: Take It Off (originally released as Atlantic SD-19323, 1981)
Bobby Darin, Original Album Series (ATCO/Rhino (U.K.), 2011)
Disc 1: Darin at The Copa (originally released as ATCO SD 33-122, 1960)
Disc 2: For Teenagers Only (originally released as ATCO 1001, 1960)
Disc 3: Bobby Darin and Johnny Mercer, Two of a Kind (originally released as ATCO SD 33-122, 1961)
Disc 4: Love Swings (originally released as ATCO SD 33-134, 1961)
Disc 5: Twist with Bobby Darin (originally released as ATCO SD 33-138, 1961)
The Doobie Brothers, Original Album Series (Warner Bros. Records/Rhino (U.K.), 2011)
Disc 1: Toulouse Street (originally released as Warner Bros. Records BS-2364, 1971)
Disc 2: The Captain and Me (originally released as Warner Bros. Records BS-2694, 1973)
Disc 3: What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits (originally released as Warner Bros. Records W-2750, 1974)
Disc 4: Stampede (originally released as Warner Bros. Records BS-2835, 1975)
Disc 5: Takin’ It to the Streets (originally released as Warner Bros. Records BS-2899, 1976)
Sérgio Mendes, Original Album Series (Atlantic/Rhino (U.K.), 2011)
Disc 1: The Swinger from Rio (originally released as Atlantic SD-1434, 1965)
Disc 2: In Person at El Matador (originally released as Atlantic SD-8112, 1965)
Disc 3: The Great Arrival (originally released as Atlantic SD-1466, 1966)
Disc 4: The Beat of Brazil (originally released as Atlantic SD-1480, 1967)
Disc 5: Sérgio Mendes’ Favorite Things (originally released as Atlantic SD-8177, 1968)
Bette Midler, Original Album Series (Atlantic/Rhino (U.K.), 2011)
Disc 1: The Divine Miss M (originally released as Atlantic SD-7238, 1972)
Disc 2: Bette Midler (originally released as Atlantic SD-7270, 1973)
Disc 3: Songs for the New Depression (originally released as Atlantic SD-18155, 1976)
Disc 4: Broken Blossom (originally released as Atlantic SD-19151, 1977)
Disc 5: The Rose: Original Soundtrack Recording (originally released as Atlantic SD-16010, 1979)
Ministry, Original Album Series (Sire/Rhino (U.K.), 2011)
Disc 1: Twitch (originally released as Sire 25309, 1986)
Disc 2: The Land of Rape and Honey (originally released as Sire 25799, 1988)
Disc 3: The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste (originally released as Sire 26004, 1989)
Disc 4: In Case You Didn’t Feel Like Showing Up (Live) (originally released as Sire 26266, 1990)
Disc 5: ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ (Psalm 69) (originally released as Sire 26727, 1992)
Montrose, Original Album Series (Warner Bros./Rhino (U.K.), 2011)
Disc 1: Montrose (originally released as Warner Bros. BSK-3106, 1973)
Disc 2: Paper Money (originally released as Warner Bros. BS-2823, 1974)
Disc 3: Warner Bros. Presents Montrose! (originally released as Warner Bros. BS-2892, 1975)
Disc 4: Jump on It (originally released as Warner Bros. BS-2963, 1976)
Disc 5: Ronnie Montrose, Open Fire (originally released as Warner Bros. BSK-3134, 1978)
Randy Newman, Original Album Series (Warner Bros./Rhino (U.K.), 2011)
Disc 1: Randy Newman (originally released as Reprise RS-6286, 1968)
Disc 2: 12 Songs (originally released as Reprise RS-6373, 1970)
Disc 3: Sail Away (originally released as Reprise MS-2064, 1972)
Disc 4: Good Old Boys (originally released as Reprise MS-2193, 1974)
Disc 5: Little Criminals (originally released as Warner Bros. BSK-3079, 1977)
Pantera, Original Album Classics (ATCO/Rhino (U.K.), 2011)
Disc 1: Cowboys from Hell (originally released as ATCO 91372, 1990)
Disc 2: Vulgar Display of Power (originally released as ATCO 91758, 1991)
Disc 3: Far Beyond Driven (originally released as EastWest 92302, 1994)
Disc 4: The Great Southern Trendkill (originally released as EastWest 61908, 1996)
Disc 5: Reinventing the Steel (originally released as EastWest 62451, 2000)
Carly Simon, Original Album Classics (Elektra/Rhino (U.K.), 2011)
Disc 1: Carly Simon (originally released as Elektra EKS-75016, 1971)
Disc 2: Anticipation (originally released as Elektra EKS-74082, 1971)
Disc 3: No Secrets (originally released as Elektra EKS-75049, 1972)
Disc 4: Hotcakes (originally released as Elektra 7E-1002, 1974)
Playing Possum (originally released as Elektra 7E-1033, 1975)
Sister Sledge, Original Album Classics (Atlantic/Rhino (U.K.), 2011)
Disc 1: Circle of Love (originally released as ATCO SD 36-105, 1975)
Disc 2: Together (originally released as Cotillion SD-9919, 1977)
Disc 3: We Are Family (originally released as Cotillion SD-5209, 1979)
Disc 4: Love Somebody Today (originally released as Cotillion SD-16012, 1980)
Disc 5: All-American Girls (originally released as Cotillion SD-16027, 1981)
The Young Rascals, Original Album Series (Atlantic/Rhino (U.K.), 2011)
Disc 1: The Young Rascals (originally released as Atlantic SD-8123, 1966)
Disc 2: Collections (originally released as Atlantic SD-8134, 1967)
Disc 3: Groovin’ (originally released as Atlantic SD-8148, 1967)
Disc 4: Once Upon a Dream (originally released as Atlantic SD-8169, 1968)
Disc 5: Freedom Suite (originally released as Atlantic SD-2901, 1969)
This sure takes me back. We used to listen to music more than we do now, I think. The radio actually played songs like this then.
You’re right, Patti. When I was a teenager, I used to listen to albums all the time. Today, it seems like I only get snippets of music on the radio and on XM. I rarely have time to just sit down and listen to a CD. Most of my music CD listening takes place as I’m driving around running errands.
Gee thee behind me, Satan!
Now you know I’m going to have to check it out. And just as I was going to check Costco for their DVD box sets today. We had all five of those Carly Simon albums on vinyl so I don’t know if I can pass them up at that price.
AMAZON has these ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES sets at higher prices, Jeff. But they’re available. I’ve been searching for a complete list of this series but Rhino isn’t making it easy. I highly recommend this Carly Simon set!
I’d love that Rascals set–they were one of my favorites. I used to have all those records on vinyl but now all I have is their Greatest Hits on CD.
You can buy that Rascals ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES set on AMAZON, Deb. Time to revisit that “Good Lovin’!!
The Simon must be out of stock because Amazon has it from ‘other seller’ for #27, and there is no Rascals listed.
They do have five Linda Ronstadt albums for $18.27.
Yikes, AMAZON had those titles listed just a few days ago, Jeff. Word must be getting out about these cool sets! I’m ordering the Linda Ronstadt set RIGHT NOW!
It’s interesting to see how Rhino has evolved from a company that released those “Golden Throats” records, with Shatner et al singing Beatle songs to a great source for reissues on CD and DVD.
Yes, Deb, Rhino has evolved to a repackager of classic Rock&Roll. I just went to a Super Wal-Mart and they had several ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES box sets: ZZ TOP, RUSH, MADONNA, and FOREIGNER. I bought the 5-CD set of ROD STEWART, TOM PETTY, and MARVIN GAYE. Ho, Ho, Ho!
R-A-D-I-O? Have to look into that some time. I listen to music mostly on Spotify and Grooveshark nowadays.
Sirus XM Radio came with our Nissan Rogue, Drongo. With over 100 stations to listen to as I’m driving around there’s always something interesting to choose from. My kids like Spotify and Gooveshark.
I like this idea. I’ll have to look for these. I too am a Carly Simon fan but I think I already have most of these on CD.
Check out your nearest Super Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club, Beth. I’m sure you’ll want that ROD STEWART box set!
Are these just analog to digital or has the sound been cleaned up, or…?
There’s nothing in the package to indicate remastering, Rick. But these CDs sound good to me.
Actually, Rhino always was a reissue and repackage label, of older rock such as surf music as well as novelty songs…I certainly was happy to pick up Crossfires and such reissues from them in the earliest 1980s…and Brit invasion packages.
I wonder what iTunes is doing to Rhino’s business model, Todd. My students all download their music. As Jeff Meyerson would say, “CDs are for geezers!”
Also, THE BEST OF LOVE was a nice slice through their career…no one else had Love in print at the time.
That’s because your students and the young un’s in general, don’t care about fidelity any more!
I care about fidelity, Rick. But I do most of my listening in my Nissan Rogue with BOSE speakers so that’s far from ideal.