It seems as if the whole set was "re-glued" then. And, yes, those sleeves were already tight in the first set. Can you then at all fit in those inner sleeves you bought, or do they get all crumbled up.

I thought the idea was great for this set, but I have decided not to get a new version. In that sense, Sony/Columbia lost a customer. I'm quite anal (in the Freudian sense) about my CDs and in the long run, I would probably have to remove all of those CDs both from the box and the mini sleeves, so there's no point in this boxed set anymore.

On a different note (trying to entice you here): While I'm writing this (if you check at the top), the whole discographies (and lists) section has changed.

As I'm finally starting to change my site over to the new framework, I will ...

a) ... delete many old posts,
b) ... join some together,
c) ... move discographies and lists (e.g. "Jazz in Paris") to the top,
d) ... and otherwise streamline this site for the new decade.

When the next update hits, there will also be another default avatar for comments (instead of the gray torso, there'll be a gray bass clef), plus more.

One could say that livingwithmusic.com's midlife crisis is over, but being ill at the moment, all of these changes will be implemented slowly.

So, your blues list could easily have a main or a second home here!
Right at the top!
Interested?
;)

Volkher

How about those mini sleeves?
Have they glued those better than before?

They were really the worst problem I had.

Some information is available here: "Consumer Concerns: The Complete Columbia Album Collection".

You can find an ongoing discussion of the replacement procedure over on the Steve Hoffman forums: Go to around page 40 in this thread.

As far as I can tell, there's still some confusion as to what is actually being replaced. The most recent information points towards a complete redesigned set (different box with lift-off lid, better cardboard slipcases, no more glue problems).

As I have returned my sets, I would have to repurchase the box which, as far as I know, has also gone up in price. "Once bitten, twice shy," and all of that ... I'm not going to go through all the trouble again.

Additionally, as far as I can tell, the print-run of this limited set has not been extended. So if you do want a box now, make sure to find out beforehand if you are getting one of the re-done ones.

For my part, I'll stick with the Miles Davis I have.

What a shame that Sony, although they seem to be doing the right thing now, have screwed this important project up so badly. It's also funny to see how forgiving and sometimes gullible fans like us can be. Everyone seems to be into group hugs right now although Sony should be getting even more serious broadsides (their returns procedure also took too long to take off and then didn't work properly after it was announced), along with Amazon Germany, which seems to be totally oblivious to criticism and this f*ck-up.

All in all, Sony made me waste far too many hours of my life by having to check damaged boxed set after damaged boxed set, one CD/DVD at a time. What a drag.

Never again.

To be quite honest, I'm even more pissed off about this set than I was before. Altogether, I've now had 5 different sets to build one good one from and it simply wasn't possible (and took a sh*tload of time to go through). I'm absolutely amazed that this set wasn't withdrawn from the market immediately, after the extremely negative reviews started flooding in. Amazon.de is still selling one crap set after another to (mostly) unsuspecting customers who never read reviews (my extremely negative one is online there).

I will NOT spend hours on removing glue and re-gluing split covers for a set that asks a premium price. That's like buying a Porsche and having to refit the seats, getting a new paint job done and having a couple of dents fixed before you can take it for a spin. Absolutely not. My time is far too precious for that.

Yes, this might be good value for money, but the production quality is so shabby that I wouldn't recommend this set to anyone who is remotely like me. It's the kind of set that gives you stomach ulcers because the mind boggles at the ineptness with which this release was handled. Yes, I'm the kind of person who can keep a grudge in relation to this kind of screw-up for ... life.

I've sent each and every box back and I hope that was the last I saw of any of it.

Still, I'm not discouraging anyone from liking this set. It's great music, the mastering is fine throughout and for the money, it can't be beat (if you're really just after the music). It's just not for weirdos like me who expect more from a boxed set that costs 170 Euro!

Got this from Amazon.de.

Yes, small tear to both edges of the lid which I repaired but otherwise the box was in good shape. Not too bad considering a similiar tear of my Bear Family Box of Nat King Cole.

5 of the CD has a tiny tint of glue which i had removed with water and a soft massage with cotton cloth.

It appears that I am more lucky than you are.

I have to disagree with you. The Box is super value for money even for someone like both of us who have 70% or more of the CDs. Don't be too harsh on Columbia and enjoy the whole set over X'mas.

C Ho

That's what makes us collectors tick, I guess. :)