Search - Miles Davis :: The Complete Columbia Album Collection (Amazon.com Exclusive)

Comments on Condition of Set

Daniel Cronin | Grand Blanc, Mi. USA | 01/21/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I held off purchasing the original release of this box set because of the negative reviews pertaining to the condition of the CDs, box, etc. I can tell you this: they have cleaned it up. I received my order today, and everything is in perfect shape. No bumped corners (packaging was perfect, in fact, it was double boxed), box was perfect, and most of all, no glue on the cds. Go ahead and place your order. You deserve this set."

Sony/Amazon Have Redeemed Themselves

C. W. PERRY | Chicago | 01/30/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"UPDATE:



The Miles Davis Complete Columbia Albums debacle has been completely corrected, and I give thanks and praise to Sony/Amazon for taking such action and doing it in such a painless way.



About 45 days after receiving a defective set--which I bought from Amazon UK, mind you--I found out about a replacement offer that was allegedly open only to Amazon US customers. I took a chance and e-mailed the folks behind this offer (it was a Sony address); I explained that, while I'd purchased my set from Amazon UK, I thought I'd give it a shot and see if they could help me. Three weeks later, I received my redesigned, flawless Miles Davis box, which arrived via a different courier than the original shipment with double-boxed packaging. (Full disclosure: Amazon UK also e-mailed me, but they only wanted to know about specific discs in the set that were damaged; nothing was said about replacement of the damaged box or other such problems.) To receive a replacement box that is structurally redesigned, to get it for absolutely free, and to still be allowed to keep my old, defective set is beyond my wildest expectations. Thank you, Sony/Amazon--this is customer service at its greatest. You really went above and beyond.



I can now give this set the 5-star rating it deserves. To get the Miles Davis catalog (on Columbia only, I know, but still) in one fell swoop for such a reasonable price and curated in a respectable way (paper sleeves, schmaper sleeves) is amazing. This is up there in the top ten reissues of the decade.



Thank you to everyone!







FIRST REVIEW:



I'm another of the many whose box arrived absolutely trashed. We all know this is a five-star item if you only care about the music. As for an honorable product, it is a one-star affair. My box's lid was split on both sides, and all but about five of the one-disc sets had glue splattered across the playing surface. Don't listen to the guy who says the glue is only on the non-playing portion of the discs--my discs have glue on all areas of the playing surface (and I know how compact discs work). My sleeves weren't falling apart like some people report (sure, they're not tightly bound a la Japanese mini LP sleeves), but they're not great quality. I could live with the sleeves and perhaps even the broken box lid if the discs were clean. I've cleaned scads of discs in my lifetime, and know how to do it with caution; here, however, my glue removal campaign was not always successful. If you decide to remove the glue you run a big risk of scratching the discs further. Some of the discs in my set were worse than others--My "Jazz at the Plaza" looked like someone had puked on it, with one particular glue blob the circumference of a dime, and following my glue removal it looks like it's been used by a 5-year-old as a dinner plate.



What should have been a reissue of a lifetime is a shoddy rush job, and someone's job is probably going to be on the line for this. Tip to pressing plants: don't put discs in a cover BEFORE you glue the cover together.



What a colossal joke--mine is going straight back to poor Amazon. Sony, do the honorable thing and recall this set now. The Complete Miles Davis = A Complete Joke.



**Update: I ordered this from Amazon UK, and that branch of the Amazon empire makes YOU pay for shipping for returns, and you are reimbursed later (Amazon US gives you a post-paid mailing label for returns). I inquired with UPS about shipping this 10-pound monster back to England and it was prohibitively expensive, and because I was so excited for so long about getting this thing I just decided to keep it warts and all. It will always be a boondoggle to me, though--$300 may come to a couple of bucks per disc, but this is a new product and should not have to be refurbished on day one of ownership. My one-star review remains."

An incredible set!!

Richard J. Maggio | NJ | 02/09/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a massive body of work in a very nice package. The sleeves are very well done. I thought I had all that Miles Davis put out, but there were some surprises in here for me, 1959 being one of them - awesome!! Though the cost is a bit of an investment, the amount of music you get is huge. There are 71 discs in this collection!



I ordered this during the initial release, which suffered from manufacturing issues. These issues have been 100% resolved and the early adoptors of the original set have been issued the new version at no cost. Sony and Amazon rectified the situation efficiently and effetively - kudos to them. I'm now glad that I can give this product the 5 star rating that it deserves!



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