With the Elton John/Leon Russel and the Kings of Leon both coming out this week with one regular version and one with 2 bonus tracks are bonus tracks usually worth the extra $2-$4? What have you found in the past?

I usually go for the bonus tracks, but rarely have interest in "Making Of" DVDs. In the Elton/Leon case, I've found it was an additional $8.00 for the 2 bonus tracks (and DVD), so I went for the regular edition. For $2-$4 I'd grab the bonus tracks.

While I'm not buying the Elton/Leon, as a general rule my thinking is similar to DanO's.

Let's just say the major labels figured out a way to get even more money out of me. Deluxe issue = sold!

The compulsive completist inside of me (unfortunately for my wallet) agrees -- gotta have all the bonus tracks

It's usually worth it ...

I find the bonus cuts rarely worth it. If they weren't good enough for the proper album, what does that say?
But if the cost isn't great, then I can see why people go for it but I wouldn't go crazy looking for the damn thing.

The bonus disc I like the most? A disc of videos for sure.

I'm probably more compulsive than the rest of you. If it's a favorite artist, I'll buy a more expensive (Japanese) import for bonus tracks.

Exile On Main Street for the alternate All Down The Line.
The last Elvis Costello album etc.

If it's Zappa - I get two copies of each issue - 1 for storage.

In the past I've always gone for the bonus tracks but they've almost always been a waste of money; unless it's one of my favorite bands, I usually just get the cheapest version available.

If the bonus tracks aren't live tracks or remixes, I'll usually spring for them with no regrets.

If there is extra material I do want it, but I'm not going to buy multiple copies of the same album from various retailers just to get every possible scrap of music. I'll try to make an educated guess about which version has the most bang for the buck, buy it, and go on with life.

What Glenn said - almost. I'm not chasing every deviation anymore. Not worth the hassle. I'll generally go for the bonus material, if it's worthwhile. But almost always only on an initial purchase - I'm sick of the labels putting out a disc, then two months later issuing a deluxe edition with a bonus disc of some sort. One of the latest examples - the new Slash. I'd held off - I'm not a GnR fan - but I was intrigued, especially because Myles Kennedy of Alterbridge is on the album and touring with him. Sure enough, there's a deluxe edition now with a bonus CD and a DVD.

Alan

The Saint Etienne album in your avi was one of the 1st offenders. There were 2 UK CD editions (one with a photo book), a limited edition vinyl with a 10" remix disc, the Japanese version had a couple of extra tracks and the US version had a bonus disc. Totally put me off the band (for awhile)

One that comes to mind that WAS worth getting was the Steve Winwood 'About Time' (2005) CD/DVD-A combo with extra tracks. Extra tracks are brilliant !

If its my favorite group, maybe I search for a bonus track but certainly not for every damn group just because they can. I'm not that much of a sucker.

Good call, Mylene! That was the first Saint Etienne album I ever bought so at the time I was blissfully unaware that there were so many variations. I was just happy to get the extra disc with the version that was easiest to find in my part of the world.

I'm reluctantly planning on paying the big $'s for the Japan Sarah McLachlan to get all the "bonus" tracks in one place, & that's after buying the USA deluxe. grr.