History LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition / Music

** On ''Sgt. Pepper's'', you got a new stereo remix, which was important as the original 1967 stereo mix was infamously a rush job, and for the longest time fans would listen to the mono mix if given the chance. The remix was released separately as the Anniversary Edition, and was accompanied by the Deluxe Edition, which added a second disc containing out-takes and the non-album singles "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Penny Lane", each of which also got a new stereo mix, and the Super Deluxe Edition, which contains the stereo remix, 2 more [=CDs=] containing the contents of disc 2 of the Deluxe Edition plus more, a 4th disc that contained the mono mix of the album and non-album singles as well as some alternative mixes, and a DVD and Blu-Ray that contains 5.1 surround sound mixes of the album and the non-album singles, as well as a documentary from 1992 that was previously subject to KeepCirculatingTheTapes, along with a book and some feelies, all packaged in an LP-sized lenticular version of the cover art.

* 2012's ''Music/RoxyMusic: The Complete Studio Recordings'', released to celebrate the band's 40th anniversary. The release compiles everything the band recorded, bar live material. This includes a 2-disc set of non-album tracks, including several tracks that had never before appeared on CD. In addition to featuring superb packaging (replicating the original vinyl releases almost exactly), the tracks themselves are musically identical to the original vinyl releases as well, as they are flat transfers from the original tapes (i.e. not tampered with). Aside from a strangely muted-sounding mix of "Virginia Plain", this set might be one of the few Deluxe Box Set releases to actually fulfill their potential.

* ''Film/TheSoundOfMusic'' received a 2-CD Deluxe Edition soundtrack in December 2023, restoring each song to run at least as long as it does in the movie, and adding the complete score. A 5-Disc Super Deluxe Edition adds four interviews, alternate versions of the songs, and a 64-page behind-the-scenes book.

** Music/Folklore had 8 variants all with different covers and a Target exclusive version that came with a bonus track
** Music/Midnights got hit with this hard, the standard edition had five physical variants (Moonstone Blue, Jade Green, Blood Moon, Mahogany, Love Potion), the Target-exclusive, Lavender edition that came with two remixes ("Sweet Nothing" and "You're on Your Own, Kid") and a bonus track ("Hits Different"), then there is the streaming only 3am edition with 7 other bonus songs. Then she announced the streaming only Til Dawn edition which included the 3am songs, Hits Different and two new remixes of "Snow on the Beach" and "Karma". The most recent edition is the Late Night edition which was only sold physically at her East Rutherford shows and briefly online, this version includes 5 of the 7 3am songs (it leaves out "Paris" and "Glitch"), has the Til Dawn remixes, and a new song, "You're Losing Me". There is no version of Midnights that has all 26 songs.

* Music/TheBeachBoys have a lot of boxsets that have been released along the years. The first one was ''Good Vibrations: 30 Years of The Beach Boys'' released on the 30th anniversary ofthe band. Other famous boxsets incluse ''Made In California'', ''The Smile Sessions'', and ''Sail On Tailor: 1972''

*** The 25th anniversary editions of every album from ''Music/{{Murmur}}'' to ''Music/OutOfTime'' were modest, consisting solely of the studio album and a bonus disc of either live performances or demos.

* Music/SufjanStevens' ''Songs for Christmas'' collection got the deluxe box-set treatment: 5 discs, 40 pages of liner notes (including guitar tabs for most of the songs and short stories), an animated music video, a poster with a full-page comic strip on the back, and stickers. There was no VanillaEdition of ''Songs for Christmas'' -- most of the songs had leaked to the internet a year beforehand, and one suspects that this deluxe treatment was done to give fans some incentive to pay for songs they had already downloaded.
** Similarly, his soundtrack for ''The B.Q.E.'' can either be purchased as a CD[=/=]DVD combo pack (including the soundtrack album, the complete film... and a Viewmaster reel) or as a vinyl album (with an accompanying comic book).

* The reissue of Music/PearlJam's ''Music/TenPearlJamAlbum'' came in a bunch of versions. A two-CD "Legacy Edition" which came with a remastered version of the original album, a new remixed version of the album and half a dozen bonus tracks. The "Deluxe Edition" added in a DVD of their MTV Unplugged show, and a final "Super Deluxe Edition" had all the other stuff, a vinyl LP copy of the album and remixes, also sold on its own, a recording of a live show on vinyl, a replica of the early PJ demo cassettes, and a replica of Eddie Vedder's lyrics notebook. Admittedly, there were a lot of complaints about the mixing/production of the original album, but ''still''. Keep in mind that they're planning to do something similar for all of their albums, leading up to their 20th anniversary as a band. Follow-ups ''Vs.'' and ''Vitalogy'' were packaged together, in [[http://pearljam.com/music/albums/997/studio/18656/vs_and_vitalogy_-_20th_anniversary_editions either]] a regular version with both albums and bonus tracks, an expanded one adding a live album, and "Limited Edition Collector's Boxed Set (5 [=LPs=], 3 [=CDs=], 1 Cassette, Digital Download, Composition Notebook, Memorabilia-filled Envelope)".
* Music/TheBeatles have so far had this treatment for five of their studio albums with brand new Stereo mixes: ''Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand'', ''Music/TheWhiteAlbum'', ''Music/AbbeyRoad'', ''Music/LetItBe'', and ''Music/RevolverBeatlesAlbum'' the first four for their respective 50th anniversaries [[note]]Although ''Let It Be'' was delayed due to the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic[[/note]] and ''Revolver'' to take advantage of the audio splitting AI made for ''Series/TheBeatlesGetBack''.

** While it was unknown if releases like these would be done for ''Music/MagicalMysteryTour'', ''Music/YellowSubmarine'', or any of the pre-Peppers albums like ''Music/PleasePleaseMe'' or ''Music/RubberSoul'', since the 50th anniversary mark had passed for these albums, 2022 brought the ''Music/RevolverBeatlesAlbum'' Deluxe Editions. Thanks to the advances in audio splitting technology created for ''Series/TheBeatlesGetBack'' documentary the original stereo tracks were split into their individual components and used to make brand new ''proper'' stereo mixes, showing that there's a possibility of getting the entire Beatles catalogue redone by Giles and co. These developments are arguably much more important than the actual Deluxe Editions available for the album, which is a step-back from ''Let It Be's'' lavish offerings for a release more in line with the ''Abbey Road'' releases, though the Super Deluxe edition also contains a brand new Mono mix of the album as well as ''Rain'' and ''Paperback Writer''[[note]]Stereo Mixes are also available for these songs[[/note]].

* Music/KingCrimson's 1973 album ''Larks' Tongues in Aspic'' was re-released in 2012 in several versions, the grandest of which came with ''14 [=CDs=]'' of bonus material, claiming to include "every known note" recorded by the relatively short-lived lineup at the time. They one-upped themselves the following year with the set ''The Road to Red'', a box set of live shows from between 1972 to 1974, along with new stereo and 5.1 remixes of the 1974 album ''Red'', which spans 24 discs - 21 [=CDs=], 2 [=DVDs=], and 1 Blu-Ray disc.

** In 1987, Jarre released a self-titled BoxedSet (released in France as ''Les Années Laser'' in 1989) to celebrate the tenth anniversary of ''Music/{{Oxygene}}'' (which actually released ''eleven'' years prior). To help promote the set, it featured ''Cities in Concert'', an expanded version of the live EP ''In Concert Houston-Lyon''. It would remain exclusive to the set until 1997, when it supplanted ''In Concert Houston-Lyon'' in the first round of remasters for Jarre's back-catalog.

** ''Aero'' came out as [[VanillaEdition a CD]], a CD with a video DVD of Anne Parillaud's eyes while listening to the album (as seen on the cover) ''and'' a CD with a 3-D video DVD of Anne Parillaud's eyes.

** First came the 1992 box set ''Shine On'', with eight albums and a bonus CD called ''The Early Singles'', with the non-album singles from the Syd Barrett era.

* Each of Music/{{REM}}'s studio albums from ''Music/{{Green}}'' in 1988 to ''Music/{{Accelerate}}'' in 2008 saw a limited edition release concurrently with the standard one. Each limited edition version features unique packaging and exclusive artwork, with ''Accelerate'' also throwing in a DVD with the behind-the-scenes documentary ''6 Days'' and the B-sides "Red Head Walking" and "Airliner".

* Music/TheBeatles have so far had this treatment for five of their studio albums with brand new Stereo mixes: ''Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand'', ''Music/TheWhiteAlbum'', ''Music/AbbeyRoad'', ''Music/LetItBe'', and ''Music/RevolverBeatlesAlbum'' the first four for their respective 50th anniversaries [[note]]Although ''Let It Be'' was delayed due to the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic[[/note]] and ''Revolver'' to take advantage of the audio splitting AI made for ''TheBeatlesGetBack''.

** While it was unknown if releases like these would be done for ''Music/MagicalMysteryTour'', ''Music/YellowSubmarine'', or any of the pre-Peppers albums like ''Music/PleasePleaseMe'' or ''Music/RubberSoul'', since the 50th anniversary mark had passed for these albums, 2022 brought the ''Music/RevolverBeatlesAlbum'' Deluxe Editions. Thanks to the advances in audio splitting technology created for ''TheBeatlesGetBack'' documentary the original stereo tracks were split into their individual components and used to make brand new ''proper'' stereo mixes, showing that there's a possibility of getting the entire Beatles catalogue redone by Giles and co. These developments are arguably much more important than the actual Deluxe Editions available for the album, which is a step-back from ''Let It Be's'' lavish offerings for a release more in line with the ''Abbey Road'' releases, though the Super Deluxe edition also contains a brand new Mono mix of the album as well as ''Rain'' and ''Paperback Writer''[[note]]Stereo Mixes are also available for these songs[[/note]].

** While it was unknown if releases like these would be done for ''Music/MagicalMysteryTour'', ''Music/YellowSubmarine'', or any of the pre-Peppers albums like ''Music/PleasePleaseMe'' or ''Music/RubberSoul'', since the 50th anniversary mark had passed for these albums, 2022 brought the ''Music/RevolverBeatlesAlbum'' Deluxe Editions. Thanks to the advances in audio splitting technology created for ''TheBeatlesGetBack'' documentary the original stereo tracks were split into their individual components and used to make brand new ''proper'' stereo mixes, showing that there's a possibility of getting the entire Beatles catalogue redone by Giles and co. These developments are arguably much more important than the actual Deluxe Editions available for the album, which is a step-back from ''Let It Be's'' lavish offerings for a release more in line with the ''Abbey Road'' releases, though the Super Deluxe edition also contains a brand new Mono mix of the album as well ''Rain'' and ''Paperback Writer''[[note]]Stereo Mixes are also available for these songs[[/note]].

* Music/TheBeatles have so far had this treatment for four of their studio albums with brand new Stereo mixes: ''Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand'', ''Music/TheWhiteAlbum'', ''Music/AbbeyRoad'', and ''Music/LetItBe'', each for their respective 50th anniversaries, although ''Let It Be'' was delayed due to the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic.

** It is unknown if releases like these will be done for ''Music/MagicalMysteryTour'', ''Music/YellowSubmarine'', or any of the pre-Peppers albums like ''Music/PleasePleaseMe'' or ''Music/RubberSoul'', though since the 50th anniversary mark has passed for these albums we may have to wait for 60th Anniversary editions. While it's evident that these Deluxe releases have done well for Apple Corps it's possible that the earlier output wouldn't inspire as much hype if remixed to stereo as albums like ''Sgt. Pepper'' or ''Abbey Road'' have, though only time will tell.

** It is unknown if releases like these will be done for Music/MagicalMysteryTour, Music/YellowSubmarine, or any of the pre-Peppers albums like Music/PleasePleaseMe or Music/RubberSoul, though since the 50th anniversary mark has passed for these albums we may have to wait for 60th Anniversary editions. While it's evident that these Deluxe releases have done well for Apple Corps it's possible that the earlier output wouldn't inspire as much hype if remixed to stereo as albums like ''Sgt. Peppers'' or ''Abbey Road'' have, though only time will tell.

* Music/KingCrimson's 1973 album ''Larks' Tongues in Aspic'' was rereleased in 2012 in several versions, the grandest of which came with ''14 [=CDs=]'' of bonus material, claiming to include "every known note" recorded by the relatively short-lived lineup at the time. They one-upped themselves the following year with the set ''The Road to Red'', a box set of live shows from between 1972 to 1974, along with new stereo and 5.1 remixes of the 1974 album ''Red'', which spans 24 discs - 21 [=CDs=], 2 [=DVDs=], and 1 Blu-Ray disc.

* Certain record labels (for example, Creator/RoadrunnerRecords) have become infamous for releasing an album... then releasing it six months later with bonus tracks... then two years later with a bonus DVD... and it's even got to the point where they are releasing albums 10 years later with very little in the way of bonuses. There are currently at least five separate versions of [[Music/KingDiamond Mercyful Fate]]'s "Melissa" album available, not taking separate mediums into account ([=LPs=], Cassettes) or the astonishing amount of compilations or especially live albums with songs from the album on them. This has become a running joke within the music community to the point where almost no one buys a Roadrunner album upon its release, because they can get it six months later with bonus tracks.

** From 2015 to 2021, Creator/ParlophoneRecords released the {{boxed set}}s ''Five Years (1969–1973)'', ''Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976)'', ''A New Career in a New Town (1977–1982)'', ''Loving the Alien (1983–1988)'', and ''Brilliant Adventure (1992-2001)'', each spanning a certain era of Bowie's career. Each set contains all of his albums from the titular era in mini-LP sleeves, new live albums, a singles compilation, and a comprehensive book about the represented era. The first four sets also contain a remixed album[[note]]''Music/TheRiseAndFallOfZiggyStardustAndTheSpidersFromMars'', ''Music/StationToStation'', ''Music/{{Lodger}}'', and ''Music/NeverLetMeDown'', respectively; the former two were recycled from the aforementioned early 2010s reissues[[/note]], which was dropped the fifth time around in favor of finally giving the scrapped album ''Toy'' an official release.

** When Pink Floyd's whole catalog was remastered in 2011, ''Music/TheDarkSideOfTheMoon'', ''Music/WishYouWereHere'' and ''Music/TheWall'' all got both "Experience" editions adding a bonus disc (concerts in the case of the former two, work-in-progress versions for the last) and "Immersion" sets with bonus [=CDs=], DVD-Audio versions, videos on a DVD (and in all but ''The Wall'', both [=DVDs=] combined in a Blu-Ray), and {{Feelies}} such as scarves and marbles. ''Music/TheDivisionBell'' also received a deluxe box set for its 20th anniversary in 2014.

* Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab is a label that specializes in a fairly unique take on this trope, licensing various critically-acclaimed and/or highly influential albums from a variety of artists and releasing high-quality remasters of them under the "Original Master Recording" brand. Notably, MFSL consistently presses all CD versions of their catalog onto gold compact discs rather than the standard aluminum ones, ensuring that the chances of disc rot occurring are next-to-none.[[note]]For those unaware, "disc rot" is the process by which the metal reflective layer in a CD degrades over time due to prolonged exposure to the elements, rendering portions of the disc or even the whole unit unplayable if it progresses far enough. This phenomenon is typically the result of severe damage, improper sealing of the polycarbonate exterior in manufacturing, or overall poor storage; gold [=CDs=] are virtually immune to disc rot thanks to the fact that the reflective layer is, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin as the name implies]], made of gold, the most chemically inert metal known to man.[[/note]]

* Music/TheBeatles have so far had this treatment for four of their studio albums with brand new Stereo mixes: Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand, Music/TheWhiteAlbum, Music/AbbeyRoad, and Music/LetItBe, each for their respective 50th anniversaries, although ''Let It Be'' was delayed due to the plague.
** On Sgt. Pepper's, you got a new stereo remix, which was important as the original 1967 stereo mix was infamously a rush job, and for the longest time fan's would listen to the mono mix if given the chance. The remix was released separately as the Anniversary Edition, and was accompanied by the Deluxe Edition, which added a second disc containing out-takes and the non-album singles Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane, each of which also got a new stereo mix, and the Super Deluxe Edition, which contains the stereo remix, 2 more [=CDs=] containing the contents of disc 2 of the Deluxe Edition plus more, a 4th disc that contained the mono mix of the album and non-album singles as well as some alternative mixes, and a DVD and Blu-Ray that contains 5.1 surround sound mixes of the album and the non-album singles, as well as a documentary from 1992 that was previously subject to KeepCirculatingTheTapes, along with a book and some feelies, all packaged in an LP-sized lenticular version of the cover art.
** For Music/TheWhiteAlbum , you have... a few versions. The main three versions include a 3-CD deluxe edition, containing another (albeit more divisive) stereo remix of the original album on discs 1 and 2, and the Esher demos on disc 3. The release of the Esher demos are important because prior to 2018, the only official release was on Anthology 3, and even then you didn't get all of them. The only other options were low quality bootlegs. The next step up was a 4 LP vinyl record edition of the aforementioned deluxe edition, with the labels on the Esher demos being designed to look like a test pressing. The holy grail, however, was the Super Deluxe edition. You had 2 [=CDs=] housing the original album, remixed and all, the 3rd disc with the Esher demos, and an extra 3 discs worth of bonus content, including a [[EpicRocking 10-minute version of Revolution 1 and a 12-minute version of Helter Skelter]], a VERY prototypical version of Let It Be, and a take of Across the Universe at the end of it all. Also included was a Blu-Ray disc including 4 different mixes of the album: 2 different 5.1 surround sound mixes, the stereo version, and the mono mix, which is important as the Beatles deliberately put noticeable differences on the mono and stereo mixes (for example, on the mono mix, Helter Skelter ends immediately after the FakeOutFadeOut, while on the stereo mix keeps going). All of this is packaged withing a 164-page hardcover book containing recording notes, essays, memorabilia, and handwritten drafts of the lyrics, complete with the embossed lettering and serial number on the front. Not to mention the loads of bundles, include a $1600 VERSION of the 4 LP release that comes with a pure-white turntable made excludively for the anniversary release.
** The Music/AbbeyRoad editions included one with the album by itself available for both [=CD=] and Vinyl, a deluxe edition that adds at least one alternate take or demo of each song on a second disc, and the now standard Super Deluxe edition adds a third disc/LP containing more alternate takes and a rough edit of the Side 2 medley as well as a nice booklet and a Blu-Ray cut containing a 5.1 surround sound mix.
** The Music/LetItBe deluxe is the most recent release and has amongst it's editions; a standard single disc/[=LP=] version, a deluxe version that adds a second disc of various outtakes and rehearsals as well as Glynn Johns unreleased mix of ''Across the Universe'', and the Super Deluxe edition pulls out all the stops in providing the album, a disc of takes from the Apple recording sessions, a separate disc of rehearsals and jams (the vinyl packages these as a double [=LP=]), ''an entire, period accurate recreation imagining if the original Glynn Johns mix was released in 1969 like it was supposed to'', an [=EP=] of new mixes of either single versions of songs or Glynn Johns versions of songs as well as an over 100 page hardcover chronicling the albums creation, and the [=CD=] buying crowd get a Blu-Ray containing both a 5.1 Surround Sound mix and Dolby Atmos mix. The only things it ''doesn't'' have are the ''...Naked'' version of the album and, as some fans were dismayed to discover, the entire rooftop concert as a separate live album.

** The limited box set ''The Laser Years'' exclusively contained ''Cities in Concert'', an ''In Concert Houston-Lyon'' special variant with all music in full length — that is, until ''In Concert Houston-Lyon'' was replaced by ''Cities In Concert'' as part of the regular back catalog during the 1997 remastering.
** The original eleven-track ''Jarremix'' with an additional Laurent Garnier remix has inofficially become that.

* The re-release of Music/TheRollingStones ''Music/ExileOnMainSt'' got put out in ''four'' different formats: the regular single-CD version, a double-vinyl edition, a double-CD version with 10 bonus tracks, or if you really wanted to splurge on it, an limited-edition autographed version of the album signed by all the band members, which cost around '''$2000''' upon release. An additional release called ''Exile on Main St.: Rarities Edition'', which contained just the 10 bonus tracks, was also available exclusively at Target.

* Music/{{Nas}} has had his debut album ''Illmatic'' reprinted twice for its 10th ("Platinum Edition") and 20th ("Illmatic XX") anniversary with bonus tracks (usually remixes) and "rare" photography, and on top of the countless interviews he's done [[UpToEleven he made a full-scale documentary about the creative process behind it]]. It's an in-joke among rap fans to [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment list the three different album releases at their top three albums of all time.]]

** In TheNewTens, there were two-disc versions of his first two albums from TheSixties and a ''Music/StationToStation'' reissue that, in Special Edition form, includes two extra discs for his much-bootlegged Nassau Coliseum concert from 1976... and in ''Deluxe'' Edition form includes an additional two [=CDs=] (a repressing of the 1984 West German RCA CD, misdated to 1985, and a collection of single edits), a [=DVD=] with a new surround sound mix, three [=LPs=] for the original album and the concert, and from there such items as replicas of the tour's press kit, the official fan club folder, etc. from this period. And there was a ''third'' set of special edition CD+DVD reissues for ''Music/TheRiseAndFallOfZiggyStardustAndTheSpidersFromMars'' and ''Music/AladdinSane'' in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
** From 2015 to 2021, Creator/ParlophoneRecords released the {{boxed set}}s ''Five Years (1969–1973)'', ''Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976)'', ''A New Career in a New Town (1977–1982)'', ''Loving the Alien (1983–1988)'', and ''Brilliant Adventure (1992-2001)'', each spanning a certain era of Bowie's career. Each set contains all of his albums from the titular era in mini-LP sleeves, new live albums, a singles compilation, and a comprehensive book about the represented era. The first three sets also contain a remixed album[[note]]''Music/TheRiseAndFallOfZiggyStardustAndTheSpidersFromMars'', ''Music/StationToStation'', ''Music/{{Lodger}}'', and ''Music/NeverLetMeDown'', respectively; the former two were recycled from the aforementioned early 2010s reissues[[/note]], which was dropped the fourth time around in favor of finally giving the scrapped album ''Toy'' an official release.

** From 2015 to 2021, Creator/ParlophoneRecords released the {{boxed set}}s ''Five Years (1969–1973)'', ''Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976)'', ''A New Career in a New Town (1977–1982)'', ''Loving the Alien (1983–1988)'', and ''Brilliant Adventure (1992-2001)'', each spanning a certain era of David's career. Each set contains all of his albums from the titular era in mini-LP sleeves, new live albums, a singles compilation CD, and a comprehensive book about the represented era. The first three sets also contain a remixed album[[note]]''Music/TheRiseAndFallOfZiggyStardustAndTheSpidersFromMars'', ''Music/StationToStation'', ''Music/{{Lodger}}'', and ''Music/NeverLetMeDown'', respectively; the former two were recycled from the aforementioned early 2010s reissues[[/note]], which was dropped the fourth time around in favor of finally giving the scrapped album ''Toy'' an official release.

** In the second half of the 2010's came the {{boxed set}}s ''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)'' each spanning a certain era of David's career. Each set contains all of his albums from the titular era in mini-LP sleeves, new live albums, a remixed album[[note]]''Music/TheRiseAndFallOfZiggyStardustAndTheSpidersFromMars'', ''Music/StationToStation'', ''Music/{{Lodger}}'', and ''Music/NeverLetMeDown'', respectively; the former two were recycled from the aforementioned early 2010's reissues[[/note]], a singles compilation CD, and a comprehensive book about the represented era.