I saw a four-disc boxed set of Sun Records material at Walmart over the weekend. It had 15 tracks per disc with a decent mix of familiar material and obscurities, and was selling for about $12.00. It seems like a good deal but I wanted to ask around before I grab this. Has anyone picked up this collection and is it worth getting? I'm asking mainly in terms of sound quality, as I know there are sets out there that are more comprehensive.

If it is on the Proper label snap it up.

Interesting coincidence. I picked this set up at a used record store for $15.99 a couple of weeks ago. It is a Direct Source Special Product from our neighbors to the north. The sound quality is perfectly adequate. It's quite variable from song to song, so they obviously weren't taking them from the same source and there ain't none of them original. The Johnny Cash songs sound the best. It's only about 35 minutes per disc, but for the money you can't go wrong.

Is that a sufficiently lukewarm endorsement of the set?

Peter, thanks for the info. It was indeed a Direct Source product, so I'm sure this is the same set I saw. So are there are any photos/liner notes? The box looks big enough to include a booklet but you never know with these budget labels.

Glenn,

There is a small 14-page booklet that is the size of a CD. Half of the packaging is empty space. The booklet has text about Sun Studios, Sam Phillips, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Roy Orbison - a couple of pages each with some photos - quoting Colin Escott's book "Good Rockin' Tonight" frequently.

It's a perfectly reasonable collection for the price. It certainly isn't a Bear Family production.