Oldies dominate box-set goodies this season

"The Soul of Rock and Roll," Roy Orbison

(Sony Legacy)

The definitive collection from the great dramatist of early rock, with 107 songs on four CDs, including 12 previously unreleased cuts. The 96-page booklet features reminiscences from his widow and tributes from rock stars. All his best songs are included, and the sound is glorious. But the discs are housed in cardboard and they can easily slip out, and there's no DVD.

— Patrick MacDonald, Seattle Times music critic

"The Complete Motown #1s," Various

(Motown)

Ten CDs in a box that looks like the famed "Hitsville USA" house, original home of the label in Detroit, now the Motown Museum. More than 50 Motown artists are represented in the 191 tracks, which cover every U.S. and international No. 1 Motown single. Includes Motown cover songs that went to No. 1.

— P.M.

"Perception," The Doors

(Rhino/Elektra)

In celebration of the Doors' 40th anniversary, the box — shaped like a door (get it?) — contains all six original albums, each with bonus tracks and each with a companion DVD, for a total of 12 discs. There has been a deluge of Doors reissues in recent years, but this one reflects Rhino's usual attention to quality and detail, making it the most desirable Doors box set.

— P.M.

"The Rules of Hell," Black Sabbath

(Rhino/Warner)

The complete catalog of Sabbath recordings with Ronnie James Dio (he replaced original lead singer Ozzy Osbourne), from the 1980s, on five CDs. Includes extensive liner notes. Sabbath was a major influence on Seattle grunge. If you get it at Best Buy, a bonus live disc is included.

— P.M.

"Revolutions in Sound: Warner Bros. Records — The First 50 Years," Various

(Warner Bros.)

Eclectic collection of Warner Bros. artists on 10 CDs, ranging from Edd "Kookie" Byrnes to Jimi Hendrix, the Grateful Dead to The Fugs, Alice Cooper to the Talking Heads. Includes a 64-page booklet about the label's history and its many recording artists.

— P.M.

"Rocking the Cradle: Egypt 1978," The Grateful Dead

(Rhino/Grateful Dead)

A celebration of the 20th anniversary of the historic Dead concert at the base of the pyramids of Giza in Egypt, on two CDs and a DVD. The band wasn't at its best, but the event was remarkable, as shown on the DVD. The package includes a pop-up pyramid.

— P.M.

"Genesis 1970-1975," Genesis

(Rhino/Atlantic)

The third and final Rhino release of the entire Genesis catalog, spotlighting the beginning of the challenging, artful band. Includes seven CDs and six DVDs with lots of rarities and bonus material. Virtually everything recorded and filmed by the band from 1970 to '75.

—P.M.

"Kind of Blue," Miles Davis

(Columbia Records)

While exact figures have been disputed, Davis' "Kind of Blue," released in 1959, has often been cited as the best-selling jazz record of all time. To mark the 50th anniversary of the album, Columbia Records has issued a box set of the seminal recording, adding previously unreleased takes from the studio session and other studio recordings by Davis' group.

The set also includes an LP copy of the album, a DVD documentary that recounts the creation of the album and a book of essays and photographs of Davis. Publicly defiant and unapologetic, Davis was a rare man in his time. As the hip-hop artist Q-Tip puts it on the DVD, the album "is sort of like, you know, the Bible in a way; you just have one in the house."

— Hugo Kugiya, special to The Seattle Times

"Maestro," Taj Mahal

(Heads Up)

On his fine new disc, the sage roots-music troubadour gets a deserved tip of the hat from admiring younger stars. Teaming with the down-home bluesy master himself are reggae prince Ziggy Marley and his band, on "Black Man, Brown Man." Angelique Kidjo teams with him on "Zanzibar." And Jack Johnson, Los Lobos and Ivan Neville come aboard on other tunes. Favorite cut: Taj with his musical descendant Ben Harper, on Harper's soulful "Dust Me Down."

— Misha Berson, Seattle Times arts writer

"Invisible Cinema," Aaron Parks

(Blue Note)

The 24-year-old Seattle native and jazz piano prodigy lives up to his promise in his debut CD on a major label. Parks can swing, or wax lyrical, and has a technical dexterity matched by superb musical intelligence — listen to the haunting, hushed "Peaceful Warrior." This hometown boy makes really, really good.

— M.B.

"Mavis Staples Live: Hope at the Hideout"

(Anti-)

The unique voice of Mavis Staples can be a ragged howl, or a warm molasses brew, on this marvelous live set recorded recently in Chicago. The standard-bearer for the late, great Staple Singers, Mavis lays down deeply satisfying versions of civil-rights anthems ("Eyes on the Prize") and gospel songs ("This Little Light") and sings some chilling blues ("Why Am I Treated So Bad") like nobody's business.

— M.B.

"Simply Grand," Irma Thomas

(Rounder)

A superb set from the beloved New Orleans singer, whose river-deep, gospel-bred, but gloriously unfussy vocalizing yields satisfying duets with her ivory-tinkling guests — including Dr. John, Marcia Ball and Norah Jones. Thomas offers an exquisite take on "I Think It's Going to Rain Today," backed by its composer, Randy Newman. This is one concept album that really works.

— M.B.