HDH 45s box set, Is it worth it?

[jboy88]

I've been tempted to purchase this colossal collection for some time now. However, there's a review on Amazon that most of the tracks are not the genuine 45 mixes. Instead, they are album versions edited down. By the time the Invitcus/hot wax labels we're hot, albums were starting to dominate record sales. And i'd prefer having the music in it's entirety. The PIR sets had a nice mix of LP and Single edits, which appealed to me. Anyone recommend this collection, yay or nay?

[soulster]

I will not buy any box that does not contain the true single mixes/versions, and that means MONO when talking about anything up to 1973.

[roger]

I don't have any intention of buying this box-set [[ though if some kind soul were to give me a copy I wouldn't complain :) ) but I think a lot of the problem with the mixes is because the box-set was produced by a U.K. company [[ never thought I would be saying that :[[ ) and in the U.K. some of the singles came out with subtly different mixes to the U.S. releases and some were even in stereo, such as this PARLIAMENT 45 from 1971 ...

http://www.45cat.com/record/inv513

and this FLAMING EMBER 45 from 1970 ...

http://www.45cat.com/record/hwx101

The result no doubt being that the compilers of the set were confused as to what the "proper" mixes should have been.

I used to have two 45 copies of "Somebody's Been Sleeping" by 100 PROOF ... the U.K. version was in stereo ....

http://www.45cat.com/record/hwx102

The U.S. version was in mono ...

http://www.45cat.com/record/hs7004

I seldom played the U.K. version as to me the U.S. version sounded a whole lot better.

Personally I would have expected everything to be the original U.S. mixes, as the box-set supposedly covers what was released in the U.S. and a large proportion of the singles never got a U.K. release.

Now if it had been a "Complete U.K. Invictus/Hot-Wax Singles" collection it would have been a different matter ... but then the box-set would have been a lot smaller.

Roger

[bradsupremes]

This set is on my wish list, but I just don't have the funds to purchase it. There are three unreleased tracks [["What's The Use" - Chairman of the Board, "Baby Doll" & "The Easiest Way To Fall" - Elosie Laws) I would love to have though but can't seem purchase them for download here in the U.S.

[luke]

Yikes...how much does it cost? Are Brenda 's recordings present?

[Motown Eddie]

I've been tempted to purchase this colossal collection for some time now. However, there's a review on Amazon that most of the tracks are not the genuine 45 mixes. Instead, they are album versions edited down. By the time the Invitcus/hot wax labels we're hot, albums were starting to dominate record sales. And i'd prefer having the music in it's entirety. The PIR sets had a nice mix of LP and Single edits, which appealed to me. Anyone recommend this collection, yay or nay?

The 'HDH 45s Box Set' is a mixed bag. As others have noted, many of the tracks are not the original mixes that were first issued. And I feel that the booklet should have had track-by-track info on all of the songs [[like Hip-O Select did for 'The Complete Motown Singles' series). On the plus side, the 'HDH 45s' does have several unreleased tracks that are worth having. If you can get it at a reduced price, I recommend it.

[jboy88]

The 'HDH 45s Box Set' is a mixed bag. As others have noted, many of the tracks are not the original mixes that were first issued. And I feel that the booklet should have had track-by-track info on all of the songs [[like Hip-O Select did for 'The Complete Motown Singles' series). On the plus side, the 'HDH 45s' does have several unreleased tracks that are worth having. If you can get it at a reduced price, I recommend it.

It seems to me that harmless should of when the same route they did with the PIR set. Just mix what little they had of the mono mixes and rounded everything out with LP versions and non- single tracks. Maybe if they did an albums box set, I'd be more inclined to invest. I really dig HDH's post- Motown productions.