Momma, I don't feel so good...

... I think the box sets are killing me. What is going on with all the amazing box sets coming out recently? There are a whole slew of various artists sets coming (or out): "What it is! The Singles Collection" can be gotten as either a 25 x 7" singles housed in a old-school carrying case or as a four CD set, "Forever Changing: The Golden Age of Elektra" is a 5 CD set with hard back book, art prints and postcards all neatly packed in a 12" box. And among the individual artists doing cool boxes, have a look at Andy Partridge's just released "Fuzzy Warbles Collector Album" a five CD set made to look like a stamp collection book, The Clash and their singles box (19 x 7" or CD), and then of course there is the Michael Jackson "Visionary" set (20 CD singles), the re-working of the Scott Walker 5 CD set, the Bee Gees "Studio Albums 1967-1968" 6 CD set... and that's just the beginning of the music end of things. Genesis Publications is putting out "The Summer of Love (the making of Sgt Pepper)" (by George Martin) with a selling price of around $500 and Criterion and Janus films have just released their magnum opus "Art House Essentials: 50 Years of Janus Films" (a 50 DVD set with book) retailing for $850. Oh, and don't forget the grand-daddy of box sets, Hippo Select's ongoing "Complete Motown Singles" sets -- 12 box sets, 6 discs each, every Motown single ever released (a and b sides). They are up to volume 5 right now so jump on board! If all this doesn't get me I bet the debt collectors will. Merry Christmas.