Public Image Ltd - Plastic Box
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CD Details
Artist: Public Image LtdEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Import
CD Release Date: 2009-12-22
Music Label: Emd Int'l
Music reviews of Plastic Box
Music Review: absolutely ESSENTIAL (even with important omissions)
Rating: 5 Stars
There is no way this set could receive anything less than 5 stars, if nothing else, because the material is as good and as important as it is. That said, there are some significant omissions. This is not the fault of the band members, but rather that of the record label. In fact, John Lydon and Martin Atkins both stated their desire to have more in the way of rare material contained on this 4-CD boxed set; however, and as is usually the case, the record company had the final say.
The first giant ommission is the album Commercial Zone (the last studio album to feature Keith Levene, but never officially released). Unfortunately, its inclusion was never a possibility. Besides the bad blood that exists between the band members, there are licensing issues involved that will keep this title forever in unofficial bootleg or download world. It does appear (along with outtakes) on a long out-of-print Japanese issue: Never Mind the Public Image. Amazon lists it as "currently unavailable" but you might have some luck if you Google the title and find a Japanese site that still has it available (or try an international seller from that world-famous auction site).
The remaining tracks from the vaults that could have appeared, but didn't, are another matter. These include:
- 7" version of Memories, which is completely different from the album version
- Albatross (complete Monitor Mix), Death Disco (complete Monitor Mix) and Albatross (the Melodrama Mix); all available as bonus tracks on John Lydon's PAL-format DVD
- Flowers of Romance (instrumental version from 12" single)
- Vampire (a famous outtake from the Flowers of Romance album)
- Rise (instrumental B-side from Single)
- Religion '87 & The Suit '87 (tracks from the unrealized Renovations project, which is just as well... these attempts to reinvent previous versions featuring Keith Levene and Jah Wobble were not very sucessful)
- various Happy and Warrior 12" remixes
- Live At The Ritz (a full live album and once intended for release)
Of note is the fact that along with Commercial Zone, the Japanese set, Never Mind the Public Image, also contains all 5 tracks from the first 3 bullet points of the previous paragraph.
Despite missing much, it has plenty, to include outtakes, unreleased one-off tracks, two Peel Sessions and various remixes. This is a reissue of a long out-of-print set, which up until now has commanded very high prices for new and used copies. That alone says a lot about this set's value. Previously, much of its contents were never available before on CD.
Despite some overlap with official albums still available, this set is certainly worth it for completists due to the sheer volume of unique tracks and very low price, and it is the best possible introduction to the music of Public Image Limited for newcomers. Very highly recommended.
More Plastic Box free music reviews:
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Description of Plastic Box
Special 2009 four CD edition of this long-deleted 64 track anthology from John 'Johnny Rotten' Lydon and PIL. Rising from the ashes of the Sex Pistols in 1978, Public Image Limited were by definition one of the pioneers of Post-Punk groups. With John Lydon's vocals complemented by ex-Clash guitarist Keith Levene, drummer Jim Walker and the now legendary Jah Wobble on bass, the group created a more Dub-orientated style and their innovative music earned them five UK Top 20 Singles and five UK Top 20 Albums in a period stretching over three decades. Originally released in 1999, The Plastic Box provides a complete overview of the band's work, including tracks taken from every album together with John Peel sessions, remixes and much more. The first two discs cover the band's early years while the remaining two discs spotlight their mid and later periods. An excellent look into the music of a band that continues to defy categorization. EMI.Pop CDs
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