The free CDs you get in magazines are a funny lot.
They're either 'the songs that influenced'-style compilation in which a selection of blues songs are labelled as specifically influential to, say, The Stones, when, actually, they're influential to all the 60s groups!
These CDs are also liable to have rogue Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole or Dean Martin songs on them which renders them virtually unusable (see the latest Mojo Bowie CD).
Or, and this is worse, a set of new songs and artists under some kind of 'Best of 2014' banner.....erm.....no thanks.
Never understood why Mojo/Uncut don't tie up their CDs with record companies - i.e. there's a Kinks' 6-CD box set due out soon, so why not have a Kinks' CD with actual Kinks' songs on the free CD.....potentially great, and definitely unique, CD / great advertisement for the box set. Win-win surely?
Imagine a 10-track Apple sampler of 'Live at the BBC Volume 2' - terrific. Every Beatles' fan would want one - those who aren't huge fans of the group might be tempted to buy the 2-CD version.
One such release that is worthwhile is No. 18 in the Charidee Box.
"Journey to Love: Rare & Early Elektra" - 15 tracks including Phil Ochs, Tim Buckley and Love - 50p.
Why can't they all be as good as this one?
18 CDs - Total paid: £24.12