THE ROGER WATERS COLLECTION (7CD + DVD)

There are pros and cons to box sets. The main pro for me was the price, a mere 30 dollars.

I expect box sets to be complete, archival, replica releases gathering up the bits and pieces and place all related extraneous but related material in one place.

This does not really do that at all. We are now onto the cons.

There is no CD / DVD of Music from the Body. This is where that complete package would work for selling this to progressive rock fans. Pros and Cons is not in its gatefold cover, a minor query as the lyrics would be indecipherable in Scarfe's writing on a cover that size.

A CD / DVD of When The Wind Blows continues the omissions.

.Radio KAOS needs / could have the extra tracks either included or on a compilation of singles and EPs ' Flickering Flame 2?

The Wall Live In Berlin would have been another good 2 CD / DVD addition but no sign of it here. No licensing problems so it's absence really makes one wonder who compiled this and what were they hoping to achieve. Waters' biggest hit and something he tours a lot (to date 2013) and it's lack is a serious omission.

Amused To Death has some extra material that could have been included on a compilation DVD and that hoped for compilation CD that might have the maligned but still collectable demos and Knockin' on Heaven's Door included. No sign of any of these.

Ca Ira was originally released as a 2 CD / DVD (making of) set that included the libretto. This is a 2 CD version and no libretto. I shall hang on to my original release.

In The Flesh is the 2 CD and DVD set and for once this archive set gets this inclusion right. No booklet as in the jewel case version. Not serious perhaps details like this that make archive box sets significant and desirable.

3 serious omissions and at least a CD compilation's worth of other material that could have been box set only.

So briefly this is a superficially good box set of (some of) Waters' albums but flawed for the collector who is likely to have already have this material. A compilation CD and DVD of the bits and pieces scattered about is the sort of tempting inclusion for the Waters collector especially with this set. Serious omissions of albums even in the scant form most of this set gives the content is not really acceptable. Unless the record company are trying to appeal to a general pop / rock fan which is unlikely given the rather esoteric (often challenging or difficult) nature of Waters' music.

There is a booklet but it would have been nice to have all the original LP issue material included. I want to give it a high rating (I like Waters' music, PF's and all related really). This is a good listen but collectors will find this wanting in detail and completeness. Next time they may want to check with the audience and fans as to what to include. Then I might have bought it for 200 rather than 30.

3.5 stars rounded down. Get it economically if you like but don't let your heart bleed over not owning what should have been a fabulous and interesting box set.

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