From young Joni Mitchell's brainy genius to Jagger in Tattoo You and a look back on Aretha Franklin's career, here's a real Christmas selection box
Kirsty MacColl: Tropical Brainstorm
One LP
Vinyl is booming, with UK sales up tenfold since 2012, so some classic discs are finally available in black. On her last and best album, the late lamented Kirsty showed that she was the Victoria Wood of pop.
Aretha Franklin: Aretha
Four CDs or two LPs
On vinyl this has a rare weakness: it’s too short. On CD, though, it measures up to a stupendous career.
On vinyl this has a rare weakness: it’s too short. On CD, though, it measures up to Aretha Franklin's (above) stupendous career
Its 81 songs range from crackly 1950s recordings to a cover of Adele’s Rolling In The Deep, via duets with George Michael, Annie Lennox and Smokey Robinson.
The finale is her turn at the White House in 2015, when the Obamas persuaded Aretha to sing (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman in front of its writer, Carole King.
George Harrison: All Things Must Pass (Uber Deluxe)
Eight LPs or five CDs, plus extras
Let It Be is fascinating partly because you can see the solo careers poking through.
George’s debut album, a triple, was his masterpiece. It now comes in a wooden crate, which is ironic as he liked to think outside the box.
He might have scoffed at the price: £859.99. Happily there’s a slimmer edition for a tenth of that.
Bryan Ferry: First six solo albums
One LP each
Twelve years in the life of Bryan, from the artful remakes of These Foolish Things to the soulful soundscapes of Boys And Girls.
Radiohead: Kid A Mnesia
Three LPs or two cassettes
Kid A, Amnesiac and offcuts: hours of wintry beauty.
Rolling Stones: Tattoo You 40th Anniversary
Two LPs
This could be the last time Jagger and Richards were really on song as co-writers.
Rolling Stones's Tattoo You 40th Anniversary could be the last time Mick Jagger (above) and Keith Richards were really on song as co-writers
U2: Achtung Baby 30th Anniversary Special Edition
Two LPs
Their quirkiest album still feels fresh and includes the definitive dark ballad One.
Jesus Christ Superstar Deluxe Edition
Three CDs or two LPs
The 1970 concept album that begat the rock opera by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Songs such as Hosanna and I Don’t Know How To Love Him still glow, and the central character may be even more popular than The Beatles.
Aztec Camera: Backwards And Forwards
Nine CDs
The box-set, once reserved for pop’s senior citizens, has now reached the 1980s. Roddy Frame of Aztec Camera, with his timeless tunes and touching phrases, is worth it.
Backwards and Forwards features Roddy Frame (above) with his timeless tunes and touching phrases, and it's worth it
David Bowie: Brilliant Adventure (1992-2001)
11 CDs or 18 LPs
Bowie, who once went nine years between new albums, has made up for it since he died. This seems to be his 20th posthumous release.
It’s wildly assorted, from the frantic Black Tie White Noise to the fearless Outside, the laboured Earthling and the lovely Hours.
The surprise is the lost album Toy, which gets a separate release (and review) next month. The treat is a BBC Radio Theatre gig in 2000: fresh from Glastonbury, Bowie’s band have a ball revamping Starman, Absolute Beginners and All The Young Dudes.
Joni Mitchell: Archives Vol 2 – The Reprise Years 1968-71
Five CDs
Vol 1 of this fine series has a Grammy nomination, for Best Historical Album – not a gong you’ll ever find at the Brits. Vol 2 captures the young Joni’s brainy genius, with a cameo from the up-and-coming DJ John Peel.
Vol 2 of The Reprise Years captures the young Joni’s (above) brainy genius, with a cameo from the up-and-coming DJ John Peel
The Beatles: Let It Be (Super Deluxe)
Five CDs or four LPs, plus extras
Half a century after breaking up, the greatest band of all are threatening to take over Christmas.
They’re on the telly with Peter Jackson’s Get Back, in the bestsellers with Paul McCartney’s elegant The Lyrics and in the record shops with Giles Martin’s remix of Let It Be.
It includes the abandoned album Get Back, which rocks.
Randy Newman: Roll With The Punches
Eight LPs
All his solo albums since 1979: two-thirds biting satire, one-third gorgeous ballads.
Eagles: Live At The Forum 76
Two LPs
A taster for their long-delayed outdoor tour, now due in June. You can book in any time you like, but you may never land.
