I was thinking about this when I was listening to Amnesiac, I still have the special edition record (though the CD was scratched up so badly I had to buy another one).

Which ones do you guys have? Are they even worth buying? What's the draw?

if theyre the same price or a coupla bucks more, then sure

but most of the extra shit isnt usually that great

Yeah, you have to be picky. Or foolhardy.

I've almost never bought a special edition of anything just because of fancy packaging; there's got to be some extra music and not cost beyond, say, $4 more if it's only 2 or 3 songs. The 6-song Belle & Sebastian DVD that came with The Life Pursuit was worth it.

I think I've only bought for packaging once: Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues Robert Rauschenberg-designed clear vinyl LP, which I got signed by both Rauschenberg and David Byrne. I wonder if it's worth anything (especially given how brown the clear cover has gotten).

I've been a sucker for Spiritualized special packaging releases.

yeah, i bought that ladies and gentlemen... version that came as a pill box. biggest mistake ever. it got crushed and scratched to hell....

cool idea, but if it doesn't fit with my other cd's...then fuck it.

i got screwed on blur's 13 too. too big to fit on my shelf.

I bought the special edition of Michael Jackson's, Off The Wall recently that had some bonus demo tracks and an interview.


It was mildly interesting.

I usually buy the special edition. I only rarely regret it.

The last Morrissey disc. It said "bonus dvd" and all it consisted of was the music video, for the most part. It had photos and lyrics but those were in the booklet. Then he released a 'deluxe edition' later on, as well. So I was scammed over again.

But usually I buy any sort of limited edition thing, unless it's a ton more like Beck's Guero version.

If the album is on my shopping list and both editions are in stock, I will buy the special edition.

Generally depends on the price:acquisition ratio. I'm not overpaying for a bonus dvd, but I'll spring for an EP.

*bingo*

The new SY special editions of Ciccone Youth, the first EP, and TM's Psychic Hearts is coming out, and while I own them all already I'll probably pick 'em up for the rarities on them. Rarities will push me over if they include enough that I don't already own, or hasn't thus far been released. Also the artist sways my judgement as well. If its a new band, probably won't buy it, but if its an established artist in my collection, then absolutely--example: new Mogwai.

Back in '89-'90 we had one on the wall for $75. It never sold.

I buy them, especially when there is a bonus disc. Limited edition also tips me to buy something earlier than I might have if it didn't have it. This causes me to buy the limited edition one over something else I might have bought, so I end up not buying something else. Sometimes when I wait too long to buy a disc, I just sort of forget about it, or lose interest in pursuing it.

I saw these the other day and don't own any of them. I'm thinking about picking up the Ciccone Youth thing, but I was wondering if the others were really worthwhile.

I've got the Ciccone Youth 12". If it weren't Madonna covers, it would be awful.