R&B, Blues, Country, Rockabilly & Soul Label Compilations

I started collecting some of these when they started coming out in the 90s, but sort of stalled because the cost was prohibitive. For example, there were several volumes of complete Sun Records singles for $200 each. They're now out of print. Right now there's one copy of the 15 disc The Chess Story available on Amazon for $700. The all or almost-nothing m.o. is most annoying with Motown. You can either get the 4 CD Hitsville USA set that misses a ton, or get the complete singles, over 14 volumes, 70-80 CDs, for just under $2,000. Hardly less than $1 a song. Either way, label box sets seem to be the best way to get a good sample of 50s and 60s music. Recommend your favorites, or ones that are missing. I'm in the process of ripping the sets I have, so trading could be possible.

The Ace Story, Vols. 1-4 (Ace)
Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-74 (Atlantic)
Atlas Blues Explosion (Empire Musicwerks)
The Bert Berns Story Volume 1: Twist & Shout 1960-1964 (Ace)
Chess Blues (MCA)
Chess New Orleans 1953-65 (MCA)
Chess Soul (MCA)
The Chess Story 1947-75 (MCA)
The Cobra Records Story 1956-58 (Capricorn)
The Curtom Story (Charly)
The Ebb Records Story Vol. 1: The Group Era 1957-59 (Specialty)
The Ebb Records Story Vol. 2: Blues N’ Rhythm & Rock N’ Roll 1957-59 (Specialty)
The Fire/Fury Records Story (Capricorn)
History of Hi Records R&B Vol. 1: Beginnings (MCA)
History of Hi Records R&B Vol. 2: Glory Years (MCA)
The Jewel/Paula Records Story 1965-75 (Capricorn)
The King R&B Box Set (King)
The Minit Records Story (EMI)
The Modern Records Story (Ace)
Hitsville USA, Vol. 1: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-71 (Motown)
The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 1: 1959-61 (Motown)
The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 2: 1962 (Motown)
The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 3: 1963 (Motown)
The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 4: 1964 (Motown)
The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 5: 1965 (Motown)
The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 6: 1966 (Motown)
The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 7: 1967 (Motown)
The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 8: 1968 (Motown)
The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 9: 1969 (Motown)
The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 10: 1970 (Motown)
The Okeh Rhythm & Blues Story 1949-57 (Columbia)
The Best of Ric Records: Carnival Time (Rounder)
Sam Cooke’s SAR Records Story 1959–1965 (ABKCO)
The Sceptor Records Story (Capricorn)
Soundstage 7 Story (Charly)
The Specialty Story (Specialty)
The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-68 (Atlantic)
The Complete Stax-Volt Singles, Vol. 2: 1968-71 (Atlantic)
The Complete Stax-Volt Singles, Vol. 3: 1972-75 (Atlantic)
The Legendary Sun Records Story (Castle/Pulse)
The Legendary Sun Records Story, Vol. 2 (Castle/Pulse)
The Sue Records Story: New York City – The Sound of Soul (Capitol)
The Sun Records Collection (Rhino/WEA)
Sun Records: The Early Years (Sun)
The Swing Time Records Story: R&B, Blues, Gospel 1946–1952 (Capricorn)
Vee–Jay: The Definitive Collection 1953–66 (Shout Factory)

I'm trying to decide between these two:

Chess Rhythm & Roll 4 disc, $64 for last copy at Jazz Record Mart, one on Amazon for similar price
Disc: 1
1. Chicago Boogie
2. Boogie Woogie Blues - Samuels, Clarence
3. Hey Jack
4. Little Boy, Little Boy - Dranes, Earl
5. Rocket 88 - Brenston, Jackie
6. Booted - Courtney, Thomas
7. Leo the Louse - Brenston, Jackie
8. Mumbles Blues - Kirkland, Leroy
9. I Don't Know - Mabon, Willie
10. Roll 'Em - Mars, Mitzi
11. Train, Train, Train - Overbea, Danny
12. Jock-A-Mo - Crawford, James "Su
13. Should I - Carruthers, Charles
14. Wine, Wine, Wine - Binkley, Jimmy
15. I'm a Young Rooster - Tarver, Leonard
16. Darling I Know - El Rays
17. Will You Be Mine
18. That Man Is Walking - Liggett, Larry
19. Love Your Lovin' Ways
20. Sincerely - Freed, Alan
21. Bo Diddley - McDaniel, Elias
22. Need Your Love - Carey, Zeke
23. Maybellene - Berry, Chuck
24. No One
25. If You Love Me, Tell Me So - Gayten, Paul
Disc: 2
1. See You Later, Alligator - Guidry, Robert
2. The $64,000 Question - Sears, C.
3. I'll Be Home - Lewis, Stan
4. Heavyweight Baby - Homes, Horace
5. Too Much Monkey Business - Berry, Chuck
6. Who Do You Love? - McDaniel, Elias
7. Frog Hop - Hooker, Earl, Zeb
8. Country Girl
9. See Saw - Davis, Roquel
10. Four O'Clock in the Morning - Tucker, Alonzo
11. Laura Lee - Gayten, Paul
12. Ain't Got No Home - Henry, Clarence "Fr
13. The Big Wheel (Squeeze Box Shuffle) - Chenier, Clifton
14. Been So Long - Ervin, Difosco
15. School Days - Berry, Chuck
16. Over the Mountain, Across the Sea - Garvin, Rex & Might
17. Lucky Lou - Williams, Jody
18. Happy, Happy Birthday Baby - Lopez, Gilbert
19. Susie-Q - Broadwater, Eleanor
20. Lady With the Hat Box - Henry, Clarence "Fr
21. Nervous Boogie - Gayten, Paul
22. Crazy Love - Glasser, Dick
23. Walk That Walk - Bocage, Eddie
24. Flatfoot Sam - Wills, Clara
25. Teardrops - Calhoun, Roy
Disc: 3
1. Look Out Mabel - Crockett, G.L.
2. The Book of Love - Davis, Warren
3. Mr. Big Wheel - Nelson, Jimmy
4. Nothin' Shakin' (But the Leaves on the Trees) - Colacrai, Cirino
5. Johnny B. Goode - Berry, Chuck
6. Say Man - Diddley, Bo
7. Everybody Rock (New Orleans Beat) - McCracklin, Jimmy
8. I Found My Girl
9. I'm So Young - Tyus, William Prez
10. I Love You So - Diddley, Bo
11. You Got Me Whistlin' - Fuller, Johnny
12. Lazy Susan - Hawkins, Dale
13. La-Do-Dada - Hawkins, Dale
14. Do You Love Me - Berry, Chuck
15. Sugaree - Robbins, Marty
16. What Do You Know About Love? - Diddley, Bo
17. I Want to Know - Badger, Ron
18. Anna Macora - Daniels, Ted
19. This Broken Heart - Franklin, William
20. Um Huh My Baby - Barrage, Harold
21. This Heart of Mine - Hamilton, Bob [Detr
22. Goin' Back to Memphis - Kiss
23. This Should Go On Forever - Jolivette, Bernard
24. Let It Rock - Berry, Chuck
25. All I Want Is You - Robinson, Smokey
Disc: 4
1. At Last - Gordon, Mack
2. I Need Your Love - Cook, L.C.
3. My Heart Cries - Fuqua, Harvey
4. Let Me In - Baker, Yvonne
5. Saving My Love for You - Johnson, Sherman
6. Peanut Butter - Barnum, H.B.
7. You're Mine - Overbea, Danny
8. Smokey Places - Spector, Abner
9. Your Skies of Blue - Neil, Fred
10. Reap What You Sow - Stewart, Billy
11. You Can't Judge a Book By Its Cover - Dixon, Willie
12. Mama Didn't Lie - Mayfield, Curtis
13. Got You on My Mind - Biggs, Howard
14. Hi-Heel Sneakers - Higginbotham, Rober
15. That's What They Put Erasers On Pencils For
16. Sally Go Round the Roses - Sanders, Zell
17. No Particular Place to Go - Berry, Chuck
18. Going to the River - Riley, Robert
19. Don't Mess Up a Good Thing - Sain, Oliver
20. Who's Cheating Who? - Davis, Billy
21. Searching for My Love - Moore, Bobby [Saxop
22. Maybelle Sings the Blues - Briggs, Fred
23. O-O I Love You - Miller, Bobby [Prod
24. Tell Mama - Carter, Clarence

Vee-Jay: The Definitive Collection, 4 Disc, $60
Disc: 1
1. Jimmy Reed And His Trio - High And Lonesome
2. The Spaniels - Baby, It's You
3. The Spaniels - Goodnite Sweetheart, Goodnite
4. Floyd Jones And Band - Ain't Times Hard
5. Jimmy Reed And His Trio - You Don't Have To Go
6. L.C. Mckinley - Blue Evening
7. Billy Boy Arnold - I Wish You Would
8. The El Dorados - At My Front Door
9. Morris Pejoe - Hurt My Feelings
10. Eddie Taylor - Bad Boy
11. The Highway QC's - Somewhere To Lay My Head
12. Jay McShann's Orchestra, Vocalist Priscilla Bowman -Hands Off
13. The Five Echoes - Fool's Prayer
14. Earl Phillips - Oop De Oop
15. The El Dorados With Al Smith's Orchestra -I'll Be Forever Loving You
16. Jimmy Reed - Ain't That Lovin' You Baby
17. Al Smith's Combo - Fooling Around Slowly
18. The Magnificents - Up On The Mountain
19. Eddie Taylor - Big Town Playboy
20. Camille Howard - Rock `N Roll Mama
21. The Dells - Oh What A Nite
Disc: 2
1. John Lee Hooker - Dimples
2. Pee Wee Crayton - The Telephone Is Ringing
3. Snooky Pryor - Judgment Day
4. The Staple Singers - Uncloudy Day
5. Sonny Til's Orioles - For All We Know
6. The Delegates - Mother's Son
7. Billy Emerson - The Pleasure's All Mine
8. Jimmy Reed - Honest I Do
9. The Harmonizing Four - Farther Along
10. Gene Allison - You Can Make It If You Try
11. Elmore James - It Hurts Me Too
12. Hank Ballard & The Midnighters - The Twist
13. Priscilla Bowman With The Spaniels -A Rockin' Good Way
14. Lee Diamond And The Upsetters - Hattie Malatti
15. Bobby Parker - Blues Get Off My Shoulder
16. Jerry Butler & The Impressions - For Your Precious Love
17. Leonard Carbo - Pigtails And Blue Jeans
18. John Lee Hooker - I Love You Honey
19. The Original 5 Blind Boys Of Mississippi -Leave You In The Hands Of The Lord
20. Dee Clark - Nobody But You
21. Sheriff & The Ravels - Shombalor
22. Harold Burrage - Crying For My Baby
Disc: 3
1. The Swan Silvertones - Mary Don't You Weep
2. Memphis Slim - Steppin' Out
3. Rosco Gordon - Just A Little Bit
4. Jimmy Reed Baby - What You Want Me To Do
5. Donnie Elbert - Will You Ever Be Mine
6. The Staple Singers - Will The Circle Be Unbroken
7. Wade Flemons - Easy Lovin'
8. John Lee Hooker - No Shoes
9. J.B. Lenoir - Oh Baby
10. Jerry Butler - He Will Break Your Heart
11. Eddie Harris - Exodus
12. Jimmy Reed - Big Boss Man
13. Dee Clark - Raindrops
14. The Pips With Gladys Knight - Every Beat Of My Heart
15. The Sallie Martin Singers - Old Ship Of Zion
16. Jimmy Reed - Bright Lights, Big City
17. The Dukays - Nite Owl
18. Gene Chandler - Duke Of Earl
19. The Moonglows - Real Gone Mama
20. The "5" Royales - Help Me Somebody
21. John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom
Disc: 4
1. Christine Kittrell - I'm A Woman
2. Jerry Butler - Make It Easy On Yourself
3. The Four Seasons - Sherry
4. Gene Chandler - Rainbow
5. The Pyramids - Shakin' Fit
6. Birdlegs & Pauline And Their Versatility Birds - Spring
7. Aki Aleong & The Nobles - Body Surf
8. Betty Everett - You're No Good
9. The Original Blind Boys Of Alabama -I Can See Everybody's Mother
10. Betty Everett - The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)
11. Jimmy Hughes - Steal Away
12. The Honeycombs - Have I The Right
13. Jerry Butler & Betty Everett - Let It Be Me
14. Hoyt Axton - Bring Your Lovin'
15. Betty Everett - Getting Mighty Crowded
16. The Caravans - Walk Around Heaven All Day
17. Gloria Jones - Tainted Love
18. Billy Preston - Billy's Bag
19. The Dells - Stay In My Corner
20. Fred Hughes - Oo Wee Baby, I Love You
21. Joe Simon - Let's Do It Over
22. Little Richard - I Don't Know What You've Got But It's Got Me

Rockabilly - essentials?

damn, that's a hell of a choice. I'd probably go VeeJay, 'cause it has Rosco Gordon on it. And the El Dorados. And the Staples.

of your original list, the Atlantic R&B box is the one I think I go to the most, and I'm the happiest when I hear it. It might be just the hits, but MAN! what a roll that label was on in the 50s and early 60s.

THe Hi, King and Stax/Volt boxes are all very solid in their own ways, as well. I expect some of the Motown series would be great to have, but wierdly it's never been something I felt a need for. I am probably very wrong here, but I feel like I've heard that stuff often enough.

I like the Sun "Roots of the Blues" and "Into the 60s" boxes, but I don't really play them much. Has anyone boxed up the series of comps that Charly did of Goldband, the Lake Charles, Louisiana label? that is one beautiful stack of material, worth a tribute box, liner notes, historical research and such. I have probably 10 or 12 of the vinyl comps, they could do a 4-6 CD box very nicely.

I burned the complete Sun Records singles on Bear Family. If anyone wants a trade....