Box sets where the first disc is the best

[Hot Ptah]

The Brilliant Classics "Complete Bach Edition" box is an example of this. The first CD, with Musica Amphion and harpsichordist Pieter-Jan Belder playing Brandenburg Concertos 1-3, is by far the best CD of the set. The other 154 discs are not as good. It is all downhill after the first disc.

Edited May 25, 2007 by Hot Ptah

[Noj]

[GA Russell]

Common wisdom disagrees with me on this, but I also vote for the Miles Legendary Prestige Quintet box.

[Hot Ptah]

Common wisdom disagrees with me on this, but I also vote for the Miles Legendary Prestige Quintet box.

I agree with you.

[paul secor]

The Brilliant Classics "Complete Bach Edition" box is an example of this. The first CD, with Musica Amphion and harpsichordist Pieter-Jan Belder playing Brandenburg Concertos 1-3, is by far the best CD of the set. The other 154 discs are not as good. It is all downhill after the first disc.

Downhill is a long way with a box that size.

[porcy62]

My first reaction was "the first disc of every (chronological) set is the best". Stepping back a bit, I do tend to favor the young (spirited? uninhibited? exploring?) artist over the more mature. I'd call it a strong tendency. But there are both countervailing forces (e.g., improvements in sound recording technology, emerging musical styles) and exceptions (I'm trying to think of one).

Often, though, box sets cover relatively short periods of a performer's career. I'd agree with the mention of Sam Rivers' Mosaic as a 'great first disc'.

Just think at any classical music sets, Mozart or Beethoven works for example, chamber music, sonatas, symphonies, concertos, the lattest are definitely better.

[Sundog]

The Muddy Waters Chess Box comes to mind. The first disc featuring 1947-1954 vintage recordings is hard to beat. Even by Muddy himself.

[Chuck Nessa]

Let me add the Mosaic Roy Eldridge set if you include the first 2 discs. Those contain my favorites by far.

[Kalo]

I hate to say it, but the Mosaic Django Reinhardt.

[mandrill]

Dizzy Reese Mosaic select- though the rest of the set isn't half bad either.