[SinatraFan]

Originally Posted by Bob

No wonder the stores are short of copies.

WOW! 17! Send me one too, Mark.

I hope mine comes tomorrow!!

Bernhard your box sounds lovely I hope I get the longbox now!

[Mark]

UPS approacheth...

[Mark]

Only one arrived. The box alluded to the longbox being inside, but it is the cube... It's really nicely done! The book is a little hardcover book, with the CDs in a matching 'book'...

Got 'er spinnin' now... Very, very nice quality...

[Brigitte]

Ordered mine today. Have to wait for a week or two before getting it, these days are gonna be very long days ...

[SinatraFan]

Originally Posted by Mark

UPS approacheth...

Mine shipped yesterday.

[Taylor]

I'm listening to "A Voice In Time" as I type this. And I'm sure the next door neighbor can hear it too because my audio system takes up half of my apartment.

Lucky girl Taylor!! did you get the longbox? I haven't got mine yet!

[TheSwinger777]

mine said it shipped yesterday i think. I WANT IT IN MY HANDS NOW!!!

[Mark]

I've played through the whole thing... twice... since I got it at 10:30 or so this morning... It is really, really neat to have the retrospective from the very early Frank through his pre-Capitol days... How the voice changed over the years, and always for the better... And to hear the girls swooning in the crowd on some of the live takes was chill-inducing... and fun.

The letter from Nancy in the book is very well-written, but that's the only part of the book I got to read...

Great, great set... It sounds sooooo good. Well done, Chuck and Nancy...

[SinatraFan]

Originally Posted by TheSwinger777

I WANT IT IN MY HANDS NOW!!!

So do I!

[Mark]

We are talking about the CD set, right?

[TheSwinger777]

Originally Posted by Mark

We are talking about the CD set, right?

[SinatraFan]

Originally Posted by Mark

We are talking about the CD set, right?

Originally Posted by paulmock

I know for certain that I want the long box vs. the cube.

I thought some carification is in order here.

This is NOT a "cube" as the term is usually employed. It is an almost-square clamshell-style case which is considerably larger than a standard CD jewel case. The outer dimensions are 6-3/4" (wide) by 6-7/8" (high) by 1-7/8" (deep). As Mark indicated, the inside compartment holds two hardcover books: one with 120 pages of text and photos on high-quality glossy paper stock; the other with the four discs in cardboard sleeves. The books are each 6 inches square and one-half inch thick. Inside is attached a black ribbon for lifting out the books which sit one on top of another (similar to the design of the Vegas box set).

There is no separate photo of FS such as shown in the image at the top of this thread. (That is simply one of the photos on a book page.) In fact, there are no text markings whatever on the package (outside or inside), other than Frank Sinatra's signature on the front. (There is a removable paper insert on the back and spine of the outer package which, unfortunately, will not fit inside without folding or trimming.)

The photos are deceiving: There is no blue. The outside covers are a light/dark black pinstripe, and the inside is entirely black. The shell is made from THICK cardboard covered by glossy paper.

As Chuck indicated, there are date errors and omissions in the discography. For the timebeing, where differences exist, I believe the information I have provided above is accurate. It would be nice if a corrected discography could be supplied here or on the Legacy website.

For those with "advance" promo copies (Ron and Bernhard, at least): The production discs are not digitally identical to the advance versions. Tracks 19 and 20 are reversed on Disc 1. Except for five aircheck tracks on Disc 2, the track times are the same, and Discs 3 and 4 have the same computer "signatures." However, some digital tweaking has been performed on ALL tracks. (Computer checksums do not match.) The only change noticeable to me is Track 14 on Disc 2 ("It's Been A Long, Long Time") which has been extended by five seconds to include the closing audience applause. (I don't notice any difference in the track Bernhard mentioned, so there may have been different advance copies issued.)

I'm still waiting to hear from Bernhard if the "5x10" box contains a taller book. I think it is conceivable that the taller packaging simply contains the same two square books placed side by side instead of one on top of another as in the clamshell box.

In summary: This is HIGHLY deluxe packaging. To call it a "cube" is misleading, and I would not delay placing an order solely because of that description.

In summary: This is HIGHLY deluxe packaging. To call it a "cube" is misleading, and I would not delay placing an order solely because of that description.

Unless:

a.) You are made of money and can afford both sets.

b.) You prefer a long box form to the cube form.

c.) The long box has a larger book.

Paul: My point is that this is NOT just a thick CD jewel case, commonly referred to as a "cube." It is a clamshell cardboard box, which is two-thirds the height of, and thicker than, the Vegas box set (for example). I hope the description was helpful to others.

Originally Posted by paulmock

Unless: [...] You are made of money and can afford both sets.

On several online sites I have looked at, including Amazon, the clamshell version is selling currently at a discount of 10–20% of the longbox version. All the more reason to go for the clamshell alternative. Both have the same list price.

(Amazon now shows availability of both versions, although—based on Mark's experience—if you order the longbox, you may get the clamshell anyway.)

P.S. I'm not made of money.

[SinatraFan]

Thanks for the description, Bob. It helped me better undersand what the "cube" version is like.

[chris]

Expert description of the boxset thanks Bob.

The two listings on Amazon have changed their descriptions to read the same way!

So theres no way to differenciate between the much discussed 'cube' or 'long box' now.

I think I'll settle for the 'cube' edition