Snap! ?

[kosmo vinyl]

As much as I love the Jam and dig this compliation am not sure it's worth $50 clams for this deluxe reissue.  Thoughts?
 
 http://hip-oselect.com/catalogue_jamsnap.asp
 
 RELEASE DATE:AVAILABLE NOW
 CD Edition limited to 5000 non-numbered limited edition copies.
 
 In the days before reissue specialist labels and so-called Catalog Development departments at major record companies, 'best of' albums were just another duty for the record company staff. More often than not, greatest hits albums were lackluster slap-dash affairs that came and went. A rare few rose above and took a life of their own: Bob Marley Legend. Steve Miller Band Greatest Hits. Squeeze Singles - 45s and Under. Long overlooked for that list is The Jam's Snap!
 
 An expertly assembled double-album collection of all of the band's single A-sides with select B-sides, album tracks and rarities, Snap! was a fitting summation of Britain's biggest band at the time. As a bonus, the album's first British pressing came with a free 4-song EP from The Jam's farewell concert at London's Wembley Arena in December 1982.
 
 As the world rushed to adopt the new CD format in the mid-1980s, Snap! was gutted to a strict singles collection. A shadow of its former self, Snap! withered, replaced by subsequent retrospectives.
 
 21 years on, Hip-O Select proudly reissues the original Snap!: The full 29 song track list, including the four UK #1s -- "Going Underground," "Start!,""Town Called Malice" and "Beat Surrender" -- fan favorite b-sides and album tracks, including "The Butterfly Collector," "English Rose," "Thick As Thieves" and "Tales From The Riverbank"; plus the exclusive remix of "Funeral Pyre" and the "That's Entertainment" demo. Also included -- for the first time on CD -- is the rare Live! EP: "Move On Up," "Get Yourself Together," "The Great Depression" and "But I'm Different Now." The original packaging -- from the custom inner sleeves to Paolo Hewitt's liner notes -- has been restored, augmented by lyrics to each song. The renewed Snap! is a brilliant reminder of why The Jam are among Britain's most revered and beloved bands.
 
 Part of a series of high quality limited edition foil stamped 7-3/4" x 6-1/4" non-cloth bound books.

[Bombay Chutney]

My old roommate had this on vinyl.  We were incredibly disappointed when the hacked-up CD version came out.
 
 If this was a regularly-priced set, I'd be all over it.  But not for $50 (+ 5.50 s/h).

[Joymonster]

I'd stick with the "Direction Reaction Creation" box set.
 
 You can still buy it at some outlets for about the same price as that compilation.

[kosmo vinyl]

If it was something that was rarer along the lines of a Rhino Handmade release I'd probably get it.  But, with a Jam boxset and b-sides popping up on other reissues the price is a bit steep.  The question is how readily available on CD are those b-sides.  The four song ep is neat but not for that price.

[kcjones119]

I have the 'hacked up' Snap.  It's definitely getting on in years as the cover touts "2 LPS on 1 CD!!" and it has a brief explaination of what this new fangled 'compact disc' is on the back.  I still probably wouldn't pay $50 for a small expansion.  I would think about it if the content and price were more along the lines of the 'London Calling' reissue.

[markie]

My introduction to the jam was finding snap! on cassette for 50 pence at a car boot sale. I listened to it about a million times. It seemed to me they took all the best songs off of it to get it on CD. I really love snap. I'd give $30.
 
 I think I have just about all the jam albums on CD now anyhow...

[Dr. Anton Phibes]

Originally posted by Member 656:
  I'd stick with the "Direction Reaction Creation" box set.
 
 You can still buy it at some outlets for about the same price as that compilation.

I have that box set and that is pretty much all you need as far as compilations......I do have every release on CD,though to go along with it.......including a double Cd of "All Mod Cons" and "Sound Effects" gold edition from Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs that I found a few years ago at CD Cellar used for $8.99.....I was offered $30.00 for it after I bought it......it's not going anywhere.....I also recommend "The Complete Jam" on DVD....lots of fun stuff on that one.....