Hi everyone sorry if this has been covered before. When did deluxe editions become so commonplace. I mean of current albums. I can't remember the first one I saw but now they are everywhere and correspond with many current "regular" releases. What's the first one you all recall seeing. i can't help it but if I can afford it I will always get the deluxe edition. I really wish I couldn't but I guess I'm the one the record execs are looking for.

This was covered in at least two previous threads...which I think were both yours, Rick!

I think the whole deluxe thing started around the beginning of the decade. Universal began unleashing a slew of them and Rhino and other labels eventually followed suit.

It's another cash cow and way to rope more money out of people...like Jimbo, you. a few others here and probably me.

However, I've waited on many of them to become available via BMG music service, waited for a big sale and gotten many of them for around $12 to $15 each max.

My guess is that the first Deluxe Edition was "Who's Next".

I believe Tommy came out before Who's Next DE.

Actually, I recall the first Universal Deluxe Edition to be Bob Marley and the Wailers Catch A Fire. Waaay before any of the Who ones came out. Got mine back in 2001.

The most recent one I bought was Melissa Etheridge's "Greatest Hits-The Road Less Traveled". All the DE's I've ever seen were of archival releases. This one came out the same day of release a couple of years ago. I always thought it was strange that a new release was given the DE treatment...

Jeff

While Rick specifically mentioned current releases, I've always thought that the granddaddy of the Deluxe Edition movement was David Bowie with his Rykodisc reissues of the early '90's. I'm positive that Ryko's deluxe version of Pete Townshend's "Who Came First" predated MCA's (original) expanded "Who's Next".

As for the current "Deluxe Edition" pandemic Rick mentioned, I'm sure the marketing people noticed how collectors in the U.S. would repurchase imported versions of albums containing extra tracks. What I'd like to know is, how well do any of these re-releases sell?

One of my all-time favorite deluxe editions is Castle's 3-cd "Village Green Preservation Society". Superb.

thanks everyone

Nope!

The first Who DE was Live At Leeds in 2001.

Who's Next was spring, 2003

and Tommy was fall, 2003.

The first DE I remember seeing was Blind Faith, which came out around 2000-2001 as I recall.