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"Deluxe Edition," huh Bob?

So Bob Dylan's newest album, Modern Times, came out today. Expect a review before long...though I want the music to sit, sit, sit and make a proper imprint before I go spouting...

Anyway: my gripe. I had the choice at Best Buy today. Did I buy the standard edition CD for $13.99? Or did I splurge on the "deluxe limited edition" for $19.99? Well, I'm a gigantic Dylan fan (ironically only 5'4") so I went for the deluxe...which was limited, so that's a selling point..and it also came with a four-song DVD. Okay? The "standard" edition was bundled with a 100 page booklet, which it didn't look like the deluxe had. Oh well. I made my choice. Deluxe it was.

Or was it? In the car I opened the CD...it had a nice cardboard "photo album" motif to the packaging...and that was it. This is deluxe? The DVD has four songs on it...three of which have been released on other DVDs and one of which is the live Grammy performance of "Love Sick" that's been included on at least three CDs that I already have. And a booklet? Nothing. A pic of Bob. Whoo-ee.

Who labels this stuff? Why would the "deluxe edition" actually have less to recommend it than the opening-day "standard edition?" A new 100 page booklet or four songs you have already? Plus the fact that "special packaging" more often than not gets demolished over time...

So I'll be back to buy the standard, I guess. You win this round, Columbia.

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Comments

I bought the deluxe, mainly because I wanted Things Have Changed on DVD. I didn't realise that stuff about the booklet though, although it didn't look like the standard had a booklet with it. £12 compared to £10 over here.

By Andy M
August 30, 2006 @ 11:34 am

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>it didn't look like the standard had a booklet with it

I guess I should warn you, just in case: if it doesn't look like the 100 page booklet is included, it's not. It was shrinkwrapped with the CD but outside of the jewel case. Maybe this was some sort of pre-order incentive that didn't sell out before release? I checked the official site and they don't mention it at all...not that they're obliged to, but I was hoping it might clear it up.

By Philip J Reed, VSc
August 30, 2006 @ 12:48 pm

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So the standard edition with the booklet is a deluxe standard edition? How confusing.

By Geoff
August 31, 2006 @ 11:07 am

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>So the standard edition with the booklet is a deluxe standard edition?

I really don't know. When I saw it in stores I only had the two choices: deluxe (DVD and no booklet) and standard (booklet and no DVD). But if what Andy says is correct (which I don't doubt it) there's ALSO a standard-standard edition that comes with neither. I'll try to research this a bit more before I write my review...it certainly is needlessly convoluted.

By Philip J Reed, VSc
August 31, 2006 @ 12:50 pm

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