I recently got all four of the David Bowie CD box sets (Five Years 1969-1973, Who Can I Be Now? 1974-1976, A New Career In A New Town 1977-1982 and Loving The Alien 1983-1988).

I already owned his entire discography on CD and from late 2011 through early 2012 I wrote about it in a 9-part series at my blog (shameless self-promotion alert!):
https://kamertunesblog.wordpress.com/ca ... vid-bowie/

Now that I have the box sets, I'm trying to figure out which of those older CD pressings I should keep (for mastering, bonus tracks, packaging or any other reasons) and which ones I don't need anymore. Your suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Here's a list of the versions I own:

Space Oddity (1999 Virgin pressing)
The Man Who Sold The World (1990 Ryko pressing with 4 bonus tracks)
Hunky Dory (1990 Ryko pressing with 4 bonus tracks)
Ziggy Stardust (1990 Ryko pressing with 5 bonus tracks)
Aladdin Sane (1999 EMI pressing)
Pinups (1999 Virgin pressing)
Diamond Dogs (1990 Ryko pressing with 2 bonus tracks)
David Live (1990 Ryko pressing with 3 bonus tracks)
Young Americans (1991 Ryko pressing with 3 bonus tracks)
Station To Station (1991 EMI pressing with 2 bonus tracks)
Low (1999 Virgin pressing)
Heroes (1999 Virgin pressing)
Lodger (1991 Ryko pressing with 2 bonus tracks)
Scary Monsters (1992 Ryko pressing with 4 bonus tracks)
Let's Dance (original '80s EMI pressing)
Tonight (1999 Virgin pressing)
Never Let Me Down (original 1987 pressing with "Too Dizzy")

Thanks.

I would get rid of all the 1999 versions- the mastering is not very good on those. The 1991 Ryko/EMI versions are worthwhile for the bonus tracks, most of which are not available on the new boxes. The original 80s EMI pressing of Let's Dance is the best sounding version of the CD for me. Nice flat transfer. And of course you have to keep Never Let Me Down for Too Dizzy as it's not available anywhere else.

Of the ones you mention, I kept the following Ryko's: Man Who Sold The World, Hunky Dory, Pinups , Heroes, Lodger & Scary Monsters for bonus tracks.

Re: Never Let... I don't care enough about Too Dizzy to keep that one; but I did keep the 2nd edition with Julie because the new mastering is so bad. If you like Too Dizzy, keep it.

BIG Caveat: I did keep the Ryko box, + the 2 cd EMI's of Space Oddity, Ziggy, Alladinsane, Diamond Dogs, Station To Station, the 40 anniversary DVD-a of Ziggy with bonus trax & a couple official rarities comps. All of which had 1-several tracks each not on the recent boxes. I no longer have the other Ryko's, so I can't comment definitively on which of the Ryko albums are necessary to be complete if you don't have the 2nd Ryko box other than the 6 above.

I have the EMI SACD of Let's Dance. Not the greatest SACD ever made, but better than any of the cd versions I've heard. Same comment on the Scary Monsters SACD which was released with Dance & Ziggy by EMI Netherlands.

Thanks, Jason & Geff. That's very helpful. Sounds like I won't miss the 1999 EMI/Virgin pressings but I should keep the Ryko pressings for the bonus tracks. Do any of the Ryko versions have all bonus tracks repeated in the box sets, or do they each have at least one exclusive track.

Jason, is there a big difference between the original Let's Dance pressing and the new box set version? For the number of times I'm likely to play that album again, I wonder if the box set version will be sufficient.

Also, I know there's supposed to be a mastering glitch on the box set edition of Heroes, which makes me wonder if I should keep the 1999 pressing. Any thoughts?

They offered a replacement - don't know if they've shipped later sets w/the 'fixed' version or not. FWIW, it was a 'mastering decision' that a lot of people didn't like. I haven't listened to it to see which I liked better.

I am in the same boat...but basically I kept everything. One day I may dig into a little further.

On the Ryko's I kept, I believe they have exclusive bonus trax. I was never happy with the sound of the Ryko's; I actually prefered the EMI's.

If it's not an album you are really fond of, you are probably fine with the new version. There isn't that much difference sound-wise.