Somewhat confusing history behind this compilation series. The information from Sony/BMG a couple of months ago was that they'd be converting their entire "Essentials" line of Legacy best-ofs to both 3-CD and 1-CD configurations (3 CDs for the more serious collectors like us, 1 CD for the more casual fans), and eliminating the existing 2-CD collections. But as it turns out, the [lilred]Essential 3.0[/lilred] series is now going to be promoted as limited editions ... so who knows what Sony plans for the future. These do look very nice, though.

The artists included in the first batch of Essential 3.0 releases are:

    

     

    

    

    

Description
Each Essential Limited Edition 3.0 expanded 3-CD set features the biggest hits and best-loved songs from superstar artists, including material not previously available in an Essential package.

Definitive, career-spanning and comprehensive, The Essential 3.0 series features all of the must-have selections from the biggest names in music history--now with a 3rd disc!

Now available for the first time in eco-friendly cardboard packaging.

The Essential Series has sold more than 18 million units worldwide across 60+ titles!

Alabama
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001B9ZW16/?tag=imwan-20

Tony Bennett (Sep 16, 2008)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CU1RSQ/?tag=imwan-20

Johnny Cash
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001B9ZVZS/?tag=imwan-20

Leonard Cohen
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CU1RS6/?tag=imwan-20

Miles Davis
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001B9ZW1G/?tag=imwan-20

Earth, Wind And Fire
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001B9ZW02/?tag=imwan-20

Heart
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001B9ZW0C/?tag=imwan-20

Michael Jackson
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CU1RRM/?tag=imwan-20

Waylon Jennings
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001B9ZW0M/?tag=imwan-20

Billy Joel
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001B9ZW0W/?tag=imwan-20

Janis Joplin
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CU1RUO/?tag=imwan-20

Journey
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CU1RT0/?tag=imwan-20

Judas Priest
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CU1RSG/?tag=imwan-20

Kansas
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CU1RR2/?tag=imwan-20

Kenny Loggins
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CU1RTA/?tag=imwan-20

Ted Nugent
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CU1RRC/?tag=imwan-20

Elvis Presley
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CU1RUE/?tag=imwan-20

Sly And The Family Stone
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CU1RTU/?tag=imwan-20

Bruce Springsteen
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CU1RRW/?tag=imwan-20

Barbra Streisand (Sep 30, 2008)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CU1RTK/?tag=imwan-20

Luther Vandross
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CU1RU4/?tag=imwan-20

Are they 3CDs or 2CDs and 1 DVD? I'm confused. The Santana, Journey, Judas Priest and Heart packages could all be improved with more tracks-but, a CD of rare tracks for the collectors would make more sense. So, that won't happen!

Why do I have a sinking feeling these are cardboard or perhaps eco-crap packaging? I know, the content's what's important, but you know me...

Tracklistings haven't come to light yet AFAIK, but the current solicitation from Sony says they're 3-CD sets, all audio, with the third disc devoted to lesser hits and popular album tracks. (Take this with a grain of salt for now since they've already changed their plans for the Essential 3.0 series at least once.)

IIRC "The Essential Bruce Springsteen" and ""The Essential Janis Joplin" were both marketed as "limited editions" back in 2003. The 2-disc Joplin set is still readily available, while implication with the 3-disc Springsteen set was that the edition containing the third bonus disc was limited, and ostensibly would be replaced by 2-disc editions, which I don't think has even happened...Frankly, I'm about sick and tired of halfassed and downright deceptive press releases for upcoming music these days.

Curiously absent is "The Essential Bob Dylan". Now, if THAT was reissued with a third disc of rarities ("George Jackson", "Trouble In Mind", "Band Of The Hand", etc.) I'd buy it (again) in a heartbeat.

I love when they say limited. Limited to as many people that will buy it.

So, first they had some 1 disc "Essential" releases (O'Jays) that evidently weren't complete with all the essentials so they released another in 2 disc format, or they had 2 disc releases which were missing some essentials so they are releasing those in 3 disc versions. Sounds to me like they are milking fans of these groups for all they are worth.

I think in the case of the O'Jays, they re-did it as a 2 disc because Legacy recently took hold of the entire Philadelphia International catalog for distribution again, and it gave them the opportunity to expand it to include more of the post-1976 stuff.

As for the rest, yes they probably are milking us. But on the whole I've been very happy with the quality of most of these remasterings, so I'll probably stock up on the ones I don't already own.

Can someone please post the contents of the 3rd CDs of some of these when they become available? I can't find any info anywhere...

Billy Joel's third disc of "lesser knowns" will be:

Track Listing for Billy Joel Essential 3.0 Announced! The upcoming release will feature all the hits from the current iteration of The Essential Billy Joel plus a third disc featuring the following:

Worse Comes to Worst
Prelude/Angry Young Man
Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
Big Shot
All For Leyna
Pressure
This Is The Time

All in the classic album versions you know and love, in eco-friendly cardboard packaging!


..."lesser known" - mmmmmmmmmidon'tthinkso.

Wow, that third disc isn't exactly filled to the brim. And I agree Ken, I wouldn't call most of those "lesser known" songs ... maybe just "not as overplayed on the radio" songs.

There's gotta be a few Billy Joel rarities that weren't included on the box set...apparently the single mix of "Sometimes a Fantasy" has never been issue on CD, for one.

If this is the best they can offer, even I will be saving some money.

Yeah, a whopping 7 songs and cruddy packaging-I'll pass. But, I'm not sure if Ken was kidding or not (I hope he was). Do the idiots at labels think what amounts to a mini-disc of songs we all have anyway would make anybody buy this shite?

This is coming out on mini-disc?

It may as well come out on 8-Track, DAT and 4-Track (remember those?) for all I care!

No, really...check it out:

http://www.billyjoel.com/

Scroll down a little.

Hey, if vinyl can make a comeback, why not 8-track? I look forward to mid-song fade outs and re-sequencing that makes no sense and not being able to access the songs you want to hear! And let us not forget the Digital Compact Cassette, either!

For what it's worth (and in many cases not much) Legacy today posted a list of what's on disc 3 of all their 3.0 Essential collections. Don't know how they do that "Now available for the first time in eco-friendly cardboard packaging" with a straight face -- not that there's anything wrong with being eco-friendly. Here you go:

For a limited time, now more Essential music from your favorite artists!
In addition to all the hits on Discs 1 and 2 of these best-selling Essential collections, Limited Edition 3.0 CDs feature these additional hits and fan favorites!
* Each Essential Limited Edition 3.0 expanded 3-CD set features the biggest hits and best-loved songs from superstar artists, including material not previously available in an Essential package.
* Definitive, career-spanning and comprehensive, The Essential 3.0 series features all of the must-have selections from the biggest names in music history-now with a 3rd disc!
* Now available for the first time in eco-friendly cardboard packaging.
Limited Edition 3.0 titles in stores August 26, 2008.

ALABAMA
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "My Home's In Alabama" and "Angels Among Us."
TONY BENNETT
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "My Funny Valentine" and "Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars (Corcovado)."
JOHNNY CASH
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "I Got Stripes" and "Understand Your Man."
LEONARD COHEN
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "Love Calls You By Name" and "Death Of A Ladies' Man."
MILES DAVIS
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "Stella By Starlight" and "In A Silent Way."
NEIL DIAMOND
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "Longfellow Serenade" and "Be."
EARTH, WIND & FIRE
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "Sun Goddess" and "Spirit."
HEART
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "Bebe Le Strange" and "Strong, Strong Wind."
MICHAEL JACKSON
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "The Lady In My Life" (full-length version) and "Jam."
WAYLON JENNINGS
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "Highwayman" (with The Highwaymen) and "Lucille."
BILLY JOEL
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" and "Big Shot"
JOURNEY
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "Don't Stop Believin' (live)" and "Suzanne."
JUDAS PRIEST
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "Riding On The Wind" and "Grinder."
KANSAS
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "Lamplight Symphony" and "The Spider."
KENNY LOGGINS
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "Till The Ends Meet" (with Loggins and Messina) and "The More We Try."
TED NUGENT
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "Journey To The Center Of The Mind" and "Great White Buffalo (live)."
ELVIS PRESLEY
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" and "King Creole."
SANTANA
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "Persuasion (live)" and "Incident At Neshabur (live)."
SLY & THE FAMILY STONE
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" and "Dynamite!"
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Limited Edition 3.0 version now in eco-friendly packaging for the first time!
BARBRA STREISAND
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "Funny Girl" and "(It's Gonna Be A) Great Day."
LUTHER VANDROSS
Limited Edition 3.0 disc features "Dance With My Father" and "Are You Gonna Love Me."

Thank you, David! Looks like everything is still scheduled for August 26th, except for the Tony Bennett and Barbra Streisand comps which are now scheduled for September 16th.

The Janis Joplin set is still listed by Amazon as coming out the on the 26th, but has been dropped from the above Legacy list.

It's kind of interesting that "Death of a Ladies' Man" is making the 3.0 disc, since Leonard Cohen specifically skipped any tracks from the album on the original ESSENTIAL collection.

Can't believe they didn't do one of these 3 CD sets for Boz Scaggs. So much great music on those early Columbia LPs.

Anyone have the complete track listings of these yet (especially Journey and Heart)? Weren't they supposed to be released yesterday?