Product Description
" Brand new 10 CD box set and digital download containing the band's original studio albums from 1979-88: Saxon (1979) / Wheels of Steel (1980) / Strong Arm of the Law (1980) / Denim and Leather (1981) / The Eagle Has Landed (1982) / Power & The Glory (1983) / Crusader (1984) / Innocence Is No Excuse (1985) / Rock the Nations (1986) / Destiny (1988) " Also 67 non-album bonus tracks from original remasters

[tracklisting]Disc: 1
1. Rainbow Theme (2009 - Remaster)
2. Frozen Rainbow (2009 - Remaster)
3. Big Teaser (2009 - Remaster)
4. Judgement Day (2009 - Remaster)
5. Stallions Of The Highway (2009 - Remaster)
6. Backs To The Wall (2009 - Remaster)
7. Still Fit To Boogie (2009 - Remaster)
8. Militia Guard (2009 - Remaster)
9. Big Teaser (1978 Demo)
10. Stallions Of The Highway (1978 Demo)
11. Backs To The Wall (1978 Demo)
12. Rainbow Theme (Demo)
13. Frozen Rainbow (Demo)
14. Judgement Day (Live B-Side)
15. Still Fit To Boogie (Live At Donington 1980)
16. Backs To The Wall (Live At Donington 1980)
17. Stallions Of The Highway (Live At Donington 1980)

Disc: 2
1. Motorcycle Man (2009 - Remaster)
2. Stand Up And Be Counted (2009 - Remaster)
3. 747 (Strangers In The Night) (2009 - Remaster)
4. Wheels Of Steel (2009 - Remaster)
5. Freeway Mad (2009 - Remaster)
6. See The Light Shining (2009 - Remaster)
7. Street Fighting Gang (2009 - Remaster)
8. Suzie Hold On (2009 - Remaster)
9. Machine Gun (2009 - Remaster)
10. Suzie Hold On (1980 Demo)
11. Wheels Of Steel (1980 Demo)
12. Stallions Of The Highway (Live B-Side)
13. Motorcycle Man (Live At Donington 1980)
14. Freeway Mad (Live At Donington 1980)
15. Wheels Of Steel (Live At Donington 1980)
16. 747 (Strangersiin The Night) (Live At Donington 1980)
17. Machine Gun (Live At Donington 1980)

Disc: 3
1. Heavy Metal Thunder (2009 - Remaster)
2. To Hell And Back Again (2009 - Remaster)
3. Strong Arm Of The Law (2009 - Remaster)
4. Taking Your Chances (2009 - Remaster)
5. 20,000 Feet (2009 - Remaster)
6. Hungry Years (2009 - Remaster)
7. Sixth Form Girls (2009 - Remaster)
8. Dallas 1 Pm (2009 - Remaster)
9. To Hell And Back Again (Abbey Road Mix 2008)
10. 20,000 Feet (Abbey Road Mix 2008)
11. Mandy (Abbey Road Mix 2008)
12. Heavy Metal Thunder (Abbey Road Mix 2008)

Disc: 4
1. Princess Of The Night (2009 - Remaster)
2. Never Surrender (2009 - Remaster)
3. Out Of Control (2009 - Remaster)
4. Rough And Ready (2009 - Remaster)
5. Play It Loud (2009 - Remaster)
6. And The Bands Played On (2009 - Remaster)
7. Midnight Rider (2009 - Remaster)
8. Fire In The Sky (2009 - Remaster)
9. Denim And Leather (2009 - Remaster)
10. 20,000 Ft (Remix;2009 - Remaster)
11. Bap Shoo Ap (Live At Castle Donington;2009 - Remaster)
12. Intro / And The Bands Played On (Live;2009 Digital Remaster)
13. Princess Of The Night (Live At The Rainbow 16/12/81;2009 Digital Remaster)
14. Midnight Rider (Live At The Hammersmith Odeon 25/10/81;2009 Digital Remaster)
15. Never Surrender (Live At The Hammersmith Odeon 25/10/81;2009 Digital Remaster)
16. Fire In The Sky (Live At The Hammersmith Odeon 25/10/81;2009 Digital Remaster)
17. Machine Gun (Live At The Hammersmith Odeon 25/10/81;2009 Digital Remaster)
18. Play It Loud (Live At The Hammersmith Odeon 17/12/81;2009 Digital Remaster)

Disc: 5
1. Motorcycle Man (Live; 1999 - Remaster)
2. 747 (Strangers In The Night) (Live; 1999 - Remaster)
3. Princess Of The Night (Live; 1999 - Remaster)
4. Strong Arm Of The Law (Live; 1999 - Remaster)
5. Heavy Metal Thunder (Live; 1999 - Remaster)
6. 20,000 Ft (Live; 1999 - Remaster)
7. Wheels Of Steel (Live; 1999 - Remaster)
8. Never Surrender (Live; 1999 - Remaster)
9. Fire In The Sky (Live; 1999 - Remaster)
10. Machine Gun (Live; 1999 - Remaster)
11. And The Bands Played On (Live At The Hammersmith Odeon)
12. See The Light Shining (Live At The Hammersmith Odeon)
13. Frozen Rainbow (Live At The Hammersmith Odeon)
14. Midnight Rider (Live At The Hammersmith Odeon)
15. Dallas 1 Pm (Live At The Hammersmith Odeon)
16. Hungry Years (Live At The Hammersmith Odeon)

Disc: 6
1. Power And The Glory (2009 - Remaster)
2. Redline (2009 - Remaster)
3. Warrior (2009 - Remaster)
4. Nightmare (2009 - Remaster)
5. This Town Rocks (2009 - Remaster)
6. Watching The Sky (2009 - Remaster)
7. Midas Touch (2009 - Remaster)
8. The Eagle Has Landed (2009 - Remaster)
9. Denim And Leather (Live B-Side Of P&Tg;2009 - Remaster)
10. Suzie Hold On (Jeff Glixman Version)
11. Turn Out The Lights (Kaley Studios Demo)
12. Stand Up And Rock (Kaley Studios Demo)
13. Power And The Glory (Kaley Studios Demo)
14. Saturday Night (Kaley Studios Demo)
15. Midas Touch (Kaley Studios Demo)
16. Nightmare (Kaley Studios Demo)
17. Redline (Kaley Studios Demo)

Disc: 7
1. The Crusader Prelude (2009 - Remaster)
2. Crusader (2009 - Remaster)
3. A Little Bit Of What You Fancy (2009 - Remaster)
4. Sailing To America (2009 - Remaster)
5. Set Me Free (2009 - Remaster)
6. Just Let Me Rock (2009 - Remaster)
7. Bad Boys (Like To Rock 'N' Roll) (2009 - Remaster)
8. Do It All For You (2009 - Remaster)
9. Rock City (2009 - Remaster)
10. Run For Your Lives (2009 - Remaster)
11. Borderline (Kaley Studios Demo)
12. Helter Skelter (Kaley Studios Demo)
13. Crusader (Kaley Studios Demo)
14. Do It All For You (Kaley Studios Demo)
15. A Little Bit Of What You Fancy (Kaley Studios Demo)
16. Sailing To America (Kaley Studios Demo)
17. Set Me Free (Kaley Studios Demo)
18. Just Let Me Rock (Kaley Studios Demo)
19. Do It All For You (Intro) / Run For Your Lives (Kaley Studios Demo)

Disc: 8
1. Rockin' Again (2010 - Remaster)
2. Call Of The Wild (2010 - Remaster)
3. Back On The Streets (2010 - Remaster)
4. Devil Rides Out (2010 - Remaster)
5. Rock 'N' Roll Gypsy (2010 - Remaster)
6. Broken Heros (2010 - Remaster)
7. Gonna Shout (2010 - Remaster)
8. Everybody Up (2010 - Remaster)
9. Raise Some Hell (2010 - Remaster)
10. Give It Everything You've Got (2010 - Remaster)
11. Back On The Streets (12'' Club Mix) [2010 - Remaster]
12. Live Fast Die Young (B-Side Of Back On The Streets) [2010 - Remaster]
13. Krakatoa (B-Side Of Rock 'N' Roll Gypsy) [2010 - Remaster]
14. The Medley (B-Side Of Rock 'N' Roll Gypsy) [2010 - Remaster]
15. Gonna Shout (Live) [2010 - Remaster]
16. Devil Rides Out (Live) [2010 - Remaster]

Disc: 9
1. Rock The Nations (2010 - Remaster)
2. Battle Cry (2010 - Remaster)
3. Waiting For The Night (2010 - Remaster)
4. We Came Here To Rock (2010 - Remaster)
5. You Ain't No Angel (2010 - Remaster)
6. Running Hot (2010 - Remaster)
7. Party Til You Puke (2010 - Remaster)
8. Empty Promises (2010 - Remaster)
9. Northern Lady (2010 - Remaster)
10. Chase The Fade (B-Side) [2010 - Remaster]
11. Waiting For The Night (7'' Version) [2010 - Remaster]
12. Northern Lady (7'' Version) [2010 - Remaster]
13. Everybody Up (Live) [2010 - Remaster]
14. Dallas 1pm (Live In Madrid) [B-Side Of Northern Lady] [2010 - Remaster]

Disc: 10
1. Ride Like The Wind (2010 - Remaster)
2. Where The Lightning Strikes (2010 - Remaster)
3. I Can't Wait Anymore (2010 - Remaster)
4. Calm Before The Storm (2010 - Remaster)
5. Sos (2010 - Remaster)
6. Song For Emma (2010 - Remaster)
7. For Whom The Bell Tolls (2010 - Remaster)
8. We Are Strong (2010 - Remaster)
9. Jericho Siren (2010 - Remaster)
10. Red Alert (2010 - Remaster)
11. I Can't Wait Anymore (12'' Mix) [2010 - Remaster]
12. Rock The Nations (Live At Hammersmith - B-Side Of Ride Like The Wind) [2010 - Remaster]
13. Broken Heroes (Live In Madrid - B-Side Of I Can't Wait Anymore) [2010 - Remaster]
14. Gonna Shout (Live In Madrid - B-Side Of I Can't Wait Anymore) (2010 - Remaster)
15. Ride Like The Wind (Monitor Mix) [2010 - Remaster]
16. For Whom The Bell Tolls (Monitor Mix) [2010 - Remaster][/tracklisting]
Amazon USA
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HWI7XNA/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon Canada
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00HWI7XNA/?tag=imwanca-20

Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00HWI7XNA/?tag=imwan-21

Another great band although one that got cheesier as time went along.

However, every album since the late 90's has been crushingly good although this only covers the EMI era.

Still, another reasonably priced box that I believe also has all the bonus cuts from the remasters. I only have a couple of those so I will get this at some point down the line.

There are some big-selling, classic NWOBHM albums here!

It's about time . A great band that never made it big in the USA . I am in for this .

Looked good initially, but I'm wary about the quality of the remasters. If what I've read is correct, the 2009/2010 remasters were done at Abbey Road studio and are very mediocre. Andy Pearce remastered the first seven albums in 2012 and those are supposed to be top-notch (as Pearce remasters generally are). Looks like they may have used inferior versions for this set. It's a shame too, as the only Saxon album I have in my collection is Denim & Leather.

The folks over at Hoffman's forum say the Carrere Years collection is the one to get (the Andy Pearce remasters):

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0079043T8/?tag=imwan-20

You'd miss out on a bunch of bonus material and the last three albums (the last album is a piece of s*** and the two before it aren't worth writing home about either)...but if your biggest concern is getting the best sounding versions of the original albums, then this Carrere Years collection is probably the way to go.

Here is a link to the Hoffman thread in case anyone is interested:

http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/s ... 84.284531/

Hmmmm... I'd prefer this box, but I did not know Andy Pearce did newer remasters and I am a big fan of his work.

Not too interested in the Carerre box although I do agree the latter albums in this new box saw the band going too commercial but there were a few good tunes and I loved the cover of "Ride Like The Wind" in 1988.

Why would they remaster albums in 2010 and then again 2 years later? And who did the 2010 remasters? I can't imagine that they're so terrible but I guess I will look at the Hoffman link.

I still think I'd get this box even though many of their best albums are in the last decade.

Someone has posted the DR values for a few of the albums contained in the "Complete Albums" collection at the DR Database:

Saxon = DR9
Wheels of Steel = DR9
Strong Arm of the Law = DR9
Denim and Leather = DR11
The Eagle Has Landed = DR10

Not bad, some people find anything under a DR11 to be lacking but generally I'm fine with anything DR9 and above.

I ordered the Carrere Years set last night. I felt it best for me to go that route because I'm such a big fan of Andy Pearce's work, don't think I need the last three albums contained in the "Complete Albums" box, not a big enough Saxon fan to care about missing the extra bonus tracks and it was much cheaper as well (once subtracting out the VAT I paid $19.88 + minimal shipping since it was part of a larger order...whereas Amazon USA has a $60 tag on the "Complete Albums" set).

Also while shopping last night I noticed there is another 4 CD set from Europe that contains the three albums from the "Complete Albums Collection" that is not contained in the Carrere Years set + a live disc from 1985. It's called The EMI Years (1985-1988) and here is the Amazon UK link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007PKDWBM/?tag=imwan-21

Looks like this collection runs at about $18.50 once the VAT is subtracted. So someone could go the route of the Carrere Years set + The EMI Years set and save themselves about $20 but they would miss some bonus cuts but maybe get slightly better sounding discs (depending on the listener's ear).

The EMI Years set has the DR values posted at the DR Database and they are as follows:
Innocence Is No Excuse = DR11
Live Hammersmith 1985 = DR5
Rock the Nations = DR11
Destiny = DR11

I didn't bother to do the research and try to find out what individual(s) did these remasters because I wasn't interested in buying this set (might think twice about that if I end up enjoying the hell out of the Carrere Years set). The numbers make it look like they did a good job on the studio albums but the live disc is brickwalled all to hell.

I am also a fan of Andy Pearce's work very much.

Who did these new remasters?

Also, which set has the bonus cuts?

Maybe I'd just get the individual remasters that Pearce did-what should I be looking out for as far as the label and year? And do those have bonus cuts? I'm confused.

The remasters in the "The Complete Albums 1979-1988" collection were done in 2009 & 2010, with the exception of the live The Eagle Has Landed disc that was done in 1999. From information gathered on the Hoffman forum it appears these remasters were done by Peter Mew. All of these were also released individually so the consumer can get them that way or buy them all in "The Complete Albums 1979-1988" collection. The DR values I posted above for the albums Saxon, Wheels of Steel, Strong Arm of the Law, Denim and Leather, The Eagle Has Landed are from the versions included in this box set. Nobody has posted the DR values of the other five discs in this set.

In 2012 Andy Pearce remastered the first seven albums (through and including Crusader). These are not available individually. The Pearce remasters are only available in the 4 CD collection "The Carrere Years." I have no DR values for this version but the Hoffmanite's seem to prefer these masters over the masters contained in "The Complete Albums 1979-1988" box. That wouldn't surprise me one bit because I tend to rate Pearce's work quite highly.

"The EMI Years (1985-1988)" collection was released in 2012. I do not know when these were remastered or who did the remastering. But the DR values I posted for the albums Innocence Is No Excuse, Live Hammersmith 1985, Rock The Nations, Destiny are taken from this collection. The remasters in this set could end up being the same remasters that are included in "The Complete Albums 1979-1988" box or maybe they aren't. But the studio albums in "The EMI Years (1985-1988) set are all DR11's, so again I think most people would find the sound quality of the studio albums in this set to be good.

In summary-

-If sound quality is the biggest concern, the Hoffmanite's have indicated that "The Carrere Years" set is a better option than "The Complete Albums 1979-1988" set. If you don't want "The Carrere Years" set because you miss out on 3 studio albums that are in "The Complete Albums 1979-1988" set, you can buy both "The Carrere Years" and the "The EMI Years (1985-1988)" sets and still get them cheaper than "The Complete Albums 1979-1988" set. Of course, different masterings will sound different to different people. But Andy Pearce did the mastering for "The Carrere Years" set, can confirm it through AllMusic : http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-carre ... 63/credits : and when in doubt I would go with Pearce because I have always found his work to be top-notch.

-If bonus cuts are your biggest concern, then the "The Complete Albums 1979-1988" is the way to go. There is really no comparison here, "The EMI Years (1985-1988) set does have an extra live disc but it appears that it's badly brickwalled. And in terms of bonus studio material, "The Complete Albums 1979-1988" wins by a landslide.

BTW, I'll post a review of "The Carrere Years" in this thread after I get my copy.

I thank you!

I also like Peter Mew's work very much (his remasters of Jethro Tull, Whitesnake and UFO were outstanding, though I believe some have not liked his work with Free and The Hollies-I had no issues with those either).

So, if I were to go for it, I'd get this new box.

Is the Carerre Box the 7 albums crammed onto 4 CDs? I don't like that and that's what the new Y&T box is, which is why I haven't gotten that yet.

Yep, the Carrere Years box has the seven albums crammed onto 4 CDs.

-Disc One (19 songs)
Saxon album (8 songs)
Judgement Day (Live B-side) - bonus track
Wheels of Steel album (9 songs)
Stallions of the Highway (Live B-side) - bonus track

-Disc Two (18 songs)
Strong Arm of the Law album (8 songs)
Denim and Leather album (9 songs)
20,000 Ft (7" remix) - bonus track

-Disc Three (15 songs)
Bap Shoo Ap (Live at Castle Donnington 1980) - bonus track
The Eagle Has Landed live album (10 songs)
Power and the Glory side one of album (4 songs)

-Disc Four (16 songs)
Power and the Glory side two of album (4 songs)
Suzi Hold On (US LP version) - bonus track
Denim and Leather (Live B-side) - bonus track
Crusader album (10 songs)

Funny you mentioned the Y&T collection because I ordered a copy of that one too. I'll post some thoughts on that one after I've given it a listen.

A few boxes of this type I'd like to see:

Black Sabbath - Ozzy years
Uriah Heep - 70-77
Iron Maiden - 80-92

Here's the review of "The Carrere Years 1979-1984" collection.

The booklet confirms that Andy Pearce did the mastering. This is more of the typical Pearce remaster...slight boost to the volume without crushing the dynamics. However, this collection is a bit too bass-heavy for my tastes. It's not terribly done, but it doesn't measure up to some of the Pearce remasters (like the Black Sabbath catalog which was wonderfully done).

The only reference I had to compare this to was a West German version of Denim and Leather that I have in my collection. When I did the comparison I found the West German version of that album to be quite a bit better than the version in this collection.

Just based on what my ears tell me, I'd grade the mastering job of "The Carrere Years 1979-1984" as a B-.

It's packaged in a fatboy double jewel case. 12-page booklet (counting the front and back cover as pages) with most of the text being made up of comments from the band members. The original album covers/track listing/credits are jammed on two pages which I didn't like.

If you are interested in DR values:

The Carrere Years 1979-1984 (all 68 tracks in collection) = DR10

Individual albums in the collection:
-Saxon = DR9
-Wheels of Steel = DR9
-Strong Arm of the Law = DR9
-Denim and Leather = DR10
-The Eagle Has Landed = DR10
-Power and the Glory = DR9
-Crusader = DR11
-6 bonus tracks = DR10

And one additional note, the West German version of Denim and Leather I referenced above is a DR12.

IMO, the main reason to get this would be the price. It's a nice way to get decent sounding early Saxon albums at a real reasonable price ($20-$25 or maybe even cheaper on ebay).