Details Revealed On Massive New Guns N’ Roses Box Sets

Details Revealed On Massive New Guns N’ Roses Box Sets
Original Photo Credit: By Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Guns N’ Roses landmark 1991 albums “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II” are getting the deluxe box set treatment. Set for release on Nov. 11, the super deluxe versions feature a total of 97 tracks, 63 of which are previously unreleased. It will be available in many configurations including a 7 CD + Blu-ray, 12-LP + Blu-ray, 2 CD deluxe editions and standard 1 CD and 2 LP versions of both albums. 

“Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II” have been fully remastered. All versions will be available to stream and as digital downloads. Upon release, “Use Your Illusion I” reached No. 2 and “Use Your Illusion II” took the No. 1 position on the Billboard 200 chart concurrently, selling over 500,000 copies in the first two hours of release, with an estimated sales of over 685,000 and 770,000, respectively, within the first week of release.

“Use Your Illusion I” features megahits “November Rain,” “Live And Let Die” and “Don’t Cry.” “Use Your Illusion II” features megahits “You Could Be Mine,” “Civil War” and “Knocking On Heaven’s Door” along with an alternate version of “Don’t Cry” featuring different lyrics. 

A press release for the album details the albums: 

“Use Your Illusion I & II” Super Deluxe Seven-CD + Blu-ray and Super Deluxe Twelve-LP + Blu-ray box sets feature a whopping 97 songs, 63 of which are unreleased audio and video tracks. The original studio albums “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II” are both remastered for the first-time from high-resolution 96kHz 24-bit transfers from the original stereo 1/2-inch analog master tapes. The box set features an impressive, anamorphic illusion showcasing each of the two covers at different angles. The Twelve-LP box is pressed on 180-gram heavy weight audiophile black vinyl with six premium tip-on gatefold jackets. Both Super Deluxe Editions also include the complete live audio recording “Live In New York”, taped at the Ritz Theatre on May 16, 1991, with sound newly mixed from original multi-track tapes. This legendary show is one of three warmup shows for the “Use Your Illusion” tour and features Izzy Stradlin on guitar, the original version of “Don’t Cry” and a special performance of “You Ain’t The First” both of which features the late Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon on guest vocals. Also included is the complete audio recording of “Live In Las Vegas” taped at Thomas & Mack Center on January 25, 1992, newly mixed from the original multi-track tapes and features the band’s then-new guitarist Gilby Clarke. The bonus disc is a Blu-ray Video of the complete “Live In New York” concert film, newly transferred from 35mm film prints to 4K UHD and presented in 1080p 24fps HD, in its entirety, along with audio mixed in Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround, and PCM 48kHz 24-bit stereo. The Blu-ray menu features the brand-new live music video “You Could Be Mine”. This is the first-time release of any complete audio and video concerts from the “Use Your Illusion”-era GN’R.” 

“The Super Deluxe box sets are housed with a 100-page hardcover book with unreleased photos, memorabilia & archival documents, Conspiracy Inc. replica fan club folder with membership card, four Conspiracy Inc. 1991/1992 “Use Your Illusion”-era replica fan club newsletters, 10 Double-design lithos that reveals 1 of 2 unique images when inserted into the supplied red & blue reveal sleeves, seven band 8″x10″ photo prints, four “Use Your Illusion” tour replica cloth sticky backstage passes, a Ritz Theatre 5/16/1991 replica concert ticket (with the original misprinted date of 5/15/1991) and a brand new 24″x36″ band poster.”

Both “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II” are packaged together in a limited-edition 4LP set, each housed in a premium tip-on gatefold jacket with a 12″x12″ insert and feature both original studio albums fully remastered for the first-time ever from high-resolution 96kHz 24-bit transfers from the original stereo 1/2-inch analog master tapes. “Use Your Illusion I” includes the debut of the newly recorded “November Rain (2022 Version)” with a first-ever real 50-piece orchestra conducted and arranged by Grammy Award winner and Emmy Award-nominated composer Christopher Lennertz. Both albums are housed in an exclusive foil-art slipcase showcasing both “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II” covers. “Use Your Illusion I” LP 1 is pressed on yellow vinyl and LP 2 is pressed on red vinyl. “Use Your Illusion II” LP 1 is pressed on blue vinyl and LP 2 is pressed on purple vinyl. As an added bonus, exclusive to this set is a zoetrope turntable mat that when combined with a strobing light effect animates the mat’s artwork while spinning on a turntable.”

“Use Your Illusion I”: 2CD Deluxe Edition

“Disc one features the original studio album “Use Your Illusion I”, fully remastered for the first-time ever from high-resolution 96kHz 24-bit transfers from the original stereo 1/2-inch analog master tapes onto 44.1kHz 16-bit CD, and now includes the debut of the newly recorded “November Rain (2022 Version)” featuring a real 50-piece orchestra for the first-time conducted and arranged by Grammy Award winner and Emmy Award-nominated composer Christopher Lennertz.

Disc two features 13 unreleased, newly mixed live tracks from London, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, New York, and Las Vegas recorded during the “Use Your Illusion” 1991/1992 tour including the track “Always On The Run (Live in Paris – 6/6/92)” featuring Lenny Kravitz, complete with a 24-page booklet with expanded artwork and unreleased photos and images.”

“Use Your Illusion II”: 2CD Deluxe Edition

“Disc one is the original studio album “Use Your Illusion II” fully remastered for the first-time ever from high-resolution 96kHz 24-bit transfers from the original stereo 1/2-inch analog master tapes onto 44.1kHz 16-bit CD. Disc two features 13 newly mixed, unreleased live tracks from London, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, New York and Las Vegas recorded during the “Use Your Illusion” 1991/1992 tour including special guest appearances by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of AEROSMITH for live renditions of “Mama Kin & Train Kept A Rollin’ (Live in Paris – 6/6/92)”. Included is a 24-page booklet with expanded artwork and unreleased photos and images.”

“Use Your Illusion I”: 2LP 180g Vinyl / “Use Your Illusion II”: 2LP 180g Vinyl

“Each pressed on 180g heavy-weight audiophile black vinyl as a 2LP set, both “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II” are available separately and each housed in a gatefold jacket with a 12″x12″ insert and feature the original studio album fully remastered for the first-time ever from high-resolution 96kHz 24-bit transfers from the original stereo 1/2-inch analog master tapes. “Use Your Illusion I” includes the debut of the newly recorded “November Rain (2022 Version)” with a first-ever real 50-piece orchestra conducted and arranged by Grammy Award winner and Emmy Award-nominated composer Christopher Lennertz.”

“Use Your Illusion I”: 1CD & Digital / “Use Your Illusion II”: 1CD & Digital

“For the first-time ever, the 1CD versions of “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II”, both available separately, have been remastered from high-resolution 96kHz 24-bit transfers from the original stereo 1/2-inch analog master tapes onto 44.1kHz 16-bit CD. “Use Your Illusion I” includes the newly recorded “November Rain (2022 Version)” with a first-ever real 50-piece orchestra conducted and arranged by Grammy Award winner and Emmy Award-nominated composer Christopher Lennertz and each housed in a jewel case with 16-page booklet.”

B.J. LISKO
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