As with a lot of box sets, the biggest attraction for the Elton set for me is the book. It comes with a pretty thick book. (Same with the recent Herb Alpert box.) Elton's box is coming with a full collection of his single B-sides, which after he got "big" were almost always unreleased anywhere else. So that's an attraction for me too, as some of those B-sides are really good and have only been previously heard on scratchy 45s.
I suppose the reason he did this set is, he figured he already has about a dozen other box sets and compilations out that most everyone in the universe has by now, so it was time to go the "To Be Continued" box one better.
I would welcome a new Carpenters box set that included more rarities...and of course, a pretty thick book! But, the biggest problem is, as stated, there's just not that much left on the shelf.
I had an idea once where Richard could strip out all the instruments, and then arrange himself a new piano track, so it would be just him and Karen, just piano and vocals. He could embellish the original piano parts to "fill in" some of the bits that the orchestra, or other instruments, would normally play. But, as has been stated, his real strength and passion is orchestrations and arrangements, and he's not likely to cut all that away and then release the results.
I suppose the reason he did this set is, he figured he already has about a dozen other box sets and compilations out that most everyone in the universe has by now, so it was time to go the "To Be Continued" box one better.
I would welcome a new Carpenters box set that included more rarities...and of course, a pretty thick book! But, the biggest problem is, as stated, there's just not that much left on the shelf.
I had an idea once where Richard could strip out all the instruments, and then arrange himself a new piano track, so it would be just him and Karen, just piano and vocals. He could embellish the original piano parts to "fill in" some of the bits that the orchestra, or other instruments, would normally play. But, as has been stated, his real strength and passion is orchestrations and arrangements, and he's not likely to cut all that away and then release the results.