OVER THE PAST several years, record labels have been churning out expanded editions of classic albums, often tied to anniversaries and appealing to fans willing to spend big bucks for a deeper listening experience. Let’s look at some typical components.

Remastered tracks Deluxe editions typically start with a newly remastered version of the original album. That means the original source material gets cleaned up and sounds better.

Previously unreleased songs Recordings that had been left on the cutting room floor are often revived. For example, Prince’s 1991 Diamonds and Pearls had 13 songs. The superdeluxe edition added another 33 original songs.

Live performances These are common even for albums that were studio releases. The superdeluxe upgrade of Guns N’ Roses’ 1991 Use Your Illusion albums includes concert recordings from that tour.

Deluxe packaging This may include a book or other clever extras. “Fans want to hold that rare photo or that ticket from the show they saw,” says Bruce Resnikoff, president and CEO of Universal Music Enterprises.
—Edna Gundersen