As we reminisce on the enduring legacy of Herbie Hancock, one of the most influential musicians of our time, we are thrilled to revisit the monumental release of “Herbie Hancock: The Complete Columbia Album Collection 1972-1988”. This comprehensive collection, first released in 2013, encapsulates the evolution of music through the 1970s and ’80s, all masterfully brought to life through Hancock’s innovative compositions. For the first time, all 31 albums released by columbia records and CBS/Sony Japan were brought together in a single deluxe 34-CD box set, many of which had never before been seen outside of Japan. Now, nearly a decade later, the impact of this collection on the music industry continues to be felt, underscoring the timeless influence of Herbie Hancock.
Herbie Hancock: The Complete Columbia Album Collection 1972-1988
This box set, released on November 12, 2013, through Columbia/Legacy, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, not only made available Hancock’s complete catalog under columbia records and CBS/Sony Japan, but also included eight albums that had never been issued in the U.S. (or outside of Japan), and three others that had never been issued on CD in the U.S. (Sunlight, Magic Windows, Lite Me Up). The set also includes a 200-page book containing a comprehensive 5,500-word historical essay written by Bob Belden, a three-time Grammy Award winner, and individual commentaries on all 31 albums by Hancock discographer/historian Max Schlueter.
The Box Set Contents
The box set structure is a chest with removable lid, housing 28 single albums and three double-CD albums (for a total of 34 discs). Each album is packaged in a mini-LP CD cardboard replica of the original jacket, with original artwork including gatefold jackets where applicable. Also included is an in-depth discography, assembled by box producer Richard Seidel, containing full musician lineups and instrumentation, recording data, original release dates in both the U.S. and Japan, Billboard chart information, and R.I.A.A. certifications.
Accompanying Materials
The accompanying 200-page book includes dozens of rare photographs and several sections of detailed information, including a sidebar on noted record producer David Rubinson, who produced all but six of the albums in the box set. A special sidebar is devoted to Hancock’s late sister Jean Hancock, who contributed lyrics to many of his songs. The book also features a glossary of the more than 60 different electronic instruments played by Hancock and the other musicians over the course of the recordings.
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