Dylan box sets: collectables, investments?

Columbia Legacy’s recent releases of deluxe Bob Dylan boxes – notably 2003’s Bob Dylan Revisited: The Reissues Series, and 2008’s Tell Tale Signs: Rare And Unreleased 1989-2006 (The Bootleg Series vol 8) 3CD – contain great music and are well executed artefacts.

But are they collectables? Or investments?

To be very collectable, they’d need to be scarce by now. But they are generally available for sale, new, on the web.

To qualify as investments, they’d need to be appreciating in value. But both seem to be available at well below launch price: I recently came across Bob Dylan Revisited: The Reissues Series at £124. And Tell Tale Signs: Rare And Unreleased 1989-2006 at £52.

What’s your experience of buying luxury packages? Worth having for the joy they bring? A source of disappointment?

Dylan Daily would welcome your thoughts on the matter.



Gerry Smith