In spite of the longevity, breadth and perpetual underground status of the artistic output of Wire and it's individual members, the period of the bands' first flowering between 1977 & 1979 has remained a touchstone and entry point for fans old & new... Perpetually re-contextualised as each generation of "hip young gunslingers" adopts it, the work seems to grow in importance as each year passes, sounding to some ears as new in 2006 as it did in the late 70s.

So it is with pride that Pinkflag (America) presents the collectors' edition, limited edition box set version of the 2006 re-releases. This edition contains five CDs [Pink Flag (1977), Chairs Missing (1978), 154 (1979), Live at The Roxy, London (1977), Live at CBGB Theatre, New York (1978)] presented in mini-vinyl sleeves, the first three being replicas of the original vinyl covers, and a sixty page booklet containing extensive sleeve notes about all five releases and a selection of images, including individual & band photos.

The studio albums, Pink Flag, Chairs Missing and 154, have been lovingly re-mastered by Denis Blackham (who has, incidentally, mastered every release on the Pinkflag label and every CD release on Colin Newman's Swim label) and are stripped back to their original vinyl versions. Informed opinion seems to be that listening to these must be akin to what the finished mixes might have sounded like in the studio on completion, thus bringing the listener closer to the creative process as should be the function of all re-evaluations.

The live albums operate as a historical context around the studio albums, the former being Wire's first and second gigs as a four piece in their entirety - the track listing of Glad All Over sitting cheek by jowl with Lowdown and Three Girl Rumba giving something of a lie to the notion that the release of Pink Flag signalled Wire's arrival from an alien planet. The latter CD, recorded during the bands' only visit to the USA during the 70s, catching a road-hardened band fresh from recording their second album and encompassing a set of material from both Pink Flag and Chairs Missing.

The booklet has been completely redesigned and includes additional material in comparison to the individual re-releases also available. It also has lyrics for Pink Flag, Chairs Missing and 154.The redesign of both booklet and mini vinyl sleeves is by Dave Coppenhall who has worked on all previous Pinkflag releases.

The box set, alongside the previously released Wire On The Box: 1979, provides a set of the essentials of 70s Wire provided from both the "official" (studio) and "unofficial" (live) standpoints. Here you have the touchstone albums brought back to vibrant colour, each contextualised by documentation of a series of transitional performances, contemporary images and writing designed to bring the whole alive. These are simply the essential documents for a serious appreciation of 70s Wire and should be in every serious fans' collection.

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Shipping rates:
Shipping prices for the set are:
UK: £2.60 for the first box set in an order, and £1.40 for each additional set.
Europe: £3.50 for the first box set in an order, and £2.40 for each additional set.
Rest Of World: £5.00 for the first box set in an order, and £3.80 for each additional set.

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