The Hideaway: Treasure: THE BEATLES U.S. ALBUMS box [2014]

On January 21st, 2014, EMI will release The Beatles U.S. Albums box set with 13 CDs and a 64 page booklet in a patriotic-colored box, all for $160. Having the majority of the previous box sets released with The Beatles name on the cover, HERC is eyeing this latest conglomeration cautiously. Among the various vinyl and compact disc collections sitting on his shelf are the Capitol Albums boxes, Vols. 1 and 2. HERC did not grow up listening to these uniquely American versions of Beatles albums so he has no emotional or sentimental attachment to them but EMI is betting that many other folks do and will fork over their hard-earned cash. Coupled with the fact that 2014 is the 50th Anniversary of the Fab Four's invasion and instant capture of America, this box set is the second event in the what is sure to be year long celebration and media saturation. This is the first:

out now: issue 1200, January 16, 2014

The way HERC understands it, the U.S. Albums box is meant to compliment/supersede those previous sets in much the same way the 2009 made previous CD versions of their UK albums collectable/superfluous for most people.

The thirteen albums included in the box will also be made available individually EXCEPT The Beatles's Story which can only be had in the box:

Meet The Beatles!
The Beatles’ Second Album
A Hard Day’s Night (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Something New
The Beatles’ Story
Beatles ’65
The Early Beatles
Beatles VI
Help! (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Rubber Soul
Yesterday And Today
Revolver
Hey Jude

So HERC's a little skeptical but more than a little curious. (And a lot broke.) He's not gonna get the set anytime in the foreseeable future. How about you? Anybody pre-order this bad boy already? Who's spending all or part of their tax refund on it? Cherry-picking certain titles? Which ones? Taking a pass? Why? Let HERC know in the comments.

A U.S. Albums box set that HERC would seriously consider going into hock or selling bodily fluids for would contain the following compilations making their official and legitimate debut on compact disc: