Dream Theater Library.

[billybobjoe1881]

I'm working on completing my DT CD/DVD/Blu-Ray collection.  I own Awake, Change Of Seasons, Dramatic Turn Of Events, Dream Theater, Images And Words, Metropolis 2, Octavarium, Systematic Chaos, Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence on CD as well as Live At Budokan and Live at Luna Park.   When buying the rest of the studio albums should I buy the plain CD's or are there certain special editions I should look out for?  And what live albums are available on which format?  I want to get them on CD if available as well as Blu-Ray or DVD depending on what's been released.  Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

[Shadow2222]

First things first, get Score on DVD (their best live album in my opinion), and from ytsejamrecords.com (don't worry, it's an "official" bootleg site that is actually run by Dream Theater), buy When Dream and Day Reunite on DVD (it's their full debut album played live in 2004).

For studio albums, get them in the following order: Black Clouds, Falling Into Infinity, Train of Thought, When Dream and Day Unite (you may want to just skip this for now if you get the Live DVD)

[?]

Black Clouds & Silver Linings was released as a 3CD edition that includes a disc of cover songs and an instrumental versions of all the songs on the album. That edition was limited, but I'm pretty sure there are still lots of copies available.

[PolarizeMe]

I know A Dramatic Turn of Events has the CD/DVD version that had The Spirit Carries On documentary as the DVD. There's also the box set edition of A Dramatic Turn of Events that had the CD, DVD, vinyl version plus an instrumental of the entire album on CD, but I'm not sure if it's completely sold out.

Speaking of Ytsejam Records, is the website still active? Cause I've been looking at buying the Bucharest 2002 and When Dream A Day Reunite DVDs.

[PolarizeMe]

I know A Dramatic Turn of Events has the CD/DVD version that had The Spirit Carries On documentary as the DVD. There's also the box set edition of A Dramatic Turn of Events that had the CD, DVD, vinyl version plus an instrumental of the entire album on CD, but I'm not sure if it's completely sold out. Systematic Choas had a CD/DVD version that had a making of documentary and the album in 5.1.

Speaking of Ytsejam Records, is the website still active? Cause I've been looking at buying the Bucharest 2002 and When Dream A Day Reunite DVDs.

[PolarizeMe]

Sorry for an unintentional triple post (my computer's acting up on me) but I forgot to mention that Systematic Chaos had a special edition that had the entire album in 5.1 plus a making of documentary.

[TheGreatPretender]

Sorry for a double post but I forgot to mention that Systematic Chaos had a special edition that had the entire album in 5.1 plus a making of documentary.

Which is really, really, REALLY worth getting! I own two copies just in case my original DVD gets damaged from wear and tear.

[billybobjoe1881]

Sorry for an unintentional triple post (my computer's acting up on me) but I forgot to mention that Systematic Chaos had a special edition that had the entire album in 5.1 plus a making of documentary.

Thanks for this, I own both the Systematic Chaos special edition and Dramatic Turn Of Events CD/DVD version.  I'll have to watch for the Box set.

[Kotowboy]

I normally ONLY buy special editions. You just get nicer packaging and more content for only a couple of quid more.

I even bought the 2 disc DT12 even though I can't play the 2nd disc.

[billybobjoe1881]

Do all the live albums have CD's and DVD's?  And are Live At Budokan and Live At Luna Park the only blu-rays?

[cramx3]

Do all the live albums have CD's and DVD's?  And are Live At Bangkok and Live At Luna Park the only blu-rays?

Live at Bangkok? Sounds interesting.

[billybobjoe1881]

Do all the live albums have CD's and DVD's?  And are Live At Bangkok and Live At Luna Park the only blu-rays?

Live at Bangkok? Sounds interesting.

Sorry should be Budokan. 

[Rodni Demental]

I had thought the Live in Tokyo/5 Years in a Live time double live album had a Blu-ray version but I don't think so because I can only find the DVD when I look online, but this DVD is a must own imo. If not just for the Live in Tokyo show, but you can't go wrong with a double pack, and then there's all the extra behind the scenes stuff of the Kevin and Derek eras, and another definite highlight would be the 2 commentaries (which the original release might not have had? Although I could be mistaken here). Commentary tracks is another reason I particularly like Scenes from New York and When Dream and Day ReUnite DVDs as well.

Chaos in Motion has some cool content on it but, it is probably be the last one I'd looked for. 

[Fiery Winds]

DTF, I am disappoint: https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/discography/

[Daso]

That's not updated, though. It lacks info on ADToE, DT12 and LaLP, just as it doesn't mention L@B has a BD version, to say a few things.

[Rodni Demental]

There's also a lot of stuff on that list that would torment a collector if they really wanted everything DT related because some of those items (eg. some special editions/fanclub releases) are on really low supply. 

Besides you gotta at least start off with the studio albums, then live albums, then live video albums (which have all been mentioned in this thread) before you get into bootlegs, obscurities and side projects. And even then, your collecting will never be complete to your satisfaction.

[Sycsa]

Yeah, at a point I could see myself, as a collector, being frustrated for not owning the recalled flaming New York release of Live Scenes. With a band with such massive legacy, there really is no visible finish line when it comes to collecting.

[billybobjoe1881]

There's also a lot of stuff on that list that would torment a collector if they really wanted everything DT related because some of those items (eg. some special editions/fanclub releases) are on really low supply. 

Besides you gotta at least start off with the studio albums, then live albums, then live video albums (which have all been mentioned in this thread) before you get into bootlegs, obscurities and side projects. And even then, your collecting will never be complete to your satisfaction.

I don't need to own absolutely everything they've ever released, just the essentials.  With RUSH I bought the blu-ray of R30 because it had the complete show which the DVD didn't.  Later I found out that there was a special edition DVD that came with a CD.  There was never a stand alone CD so I had to go out and buy it. I created this thread so that I know what to look for when I go shopping, not just the basic CD or DVD.

[ytserush]

There's also a lot of stuff on that list that would torment a collector if they really wanted everything DT related because some of those items (eg. some special editions/fanclub releases) are on really low supply. 

Besides you gotta at least start off with the studio albums, then live albums, then live video albums (which have all been mentioned in this thread) before you get into bootlegs, obscurities and side projects. And even then, your collecting will never be complete to your satisfaction.

I don't need to own absolutely everything they've ever released, just the essentials.  With RUSH I bought the blu-ray of R30 because it had the complete show which the DVD didn't.  Later I found out that there was a special edition DVD that came with a CD.  There was never a stand alone CD so I had to go out and buy it. I created this thread so that I know what to look for when I go shopping, not just the basic CD or DVD.

You might want the Greatest Hit CD because of the three Images and Words remixes  and another alternate mix.  And all Roadrunner releases have some deluxe or limted edition component to them.

[cramx3]

There's also a lot of stuff on that list that would torment a collector if they really wanted everything DT related because some of those items (eg. some special editions/fanclub releases) are on really low supply. 

Besides you gotta at least start off with the studio albums, then live albums, then live video albums (which have all been mentioned in this thread) before you get into bootlegs, obscurities and side projects. And even then, your collecting will never be complete to your satisfaction.

I don't need to own absolutely everything they've ever released, just the essentials.  With RUSH I bought the blu-ray of R30 because it had the complete show which the DVD didn't.  Later I found out that there was a special edition DVD that came with a CD.  There was never a stand alone CD so I had to go out and buy it. I created this thread so that I know what to look for when I go shopping, not just the basic CD or DVD.

You might want the Greatest Hit CD because of the three Images and Words remixes  and another alternate mix.  And all Roadrunner releases have some deluxe or limted edition component to them.

That I would say is for beginners (to get the hits) or collectors.  I cant say I have ever listened to any of the remixes since the release.

[kiwiclapton]

Don't forget the book , Lifting Shadows .

[Rodni Demental]

Yeah, Greatest Hit is kind of a novelty item. Although it does have enough subtle differences to hold my interest at first but after checking it out, you mostly go back to the original versions. Some edits can throw you if you're used to the original. Misunderstood is a lot shorter and cuts to the built up bits a lot sooner, Solitary Shell and Lie both have their instrumental/solo sections trimmed out (making them very bland versions imo). Although most of the other edits are just tracks that have been refined on the edges to turn them into a atand alone single instead of having transitional sounds that might have led to or from another song.

The Images and Words remix's are alright, work better for a car stereos and whatnot but it's ultimately just more compressed and louder (and debatably less dynamic than the I&W counterparts). The Snare and Kick drums are different aswell which could be significant for some people. I find it interesting but could go either way.

I guess it does have a modern mix of To Live Forever that you'd otherwise need to track down one of the old Awake singles or fanclub CDs to have as it's not on any other studio albums, so that's something new I guess. Anyway, I think it's worth owning as I used Greatest Hit as a semi gateway to some of their earlier years. I was only familiar with roughly half of it when I got it so I dug deeper into their discography after hearing I&W/Awake/FII material thanks to GH+21. I think MP was focusing on this idea when he was considering the track list and a lot of thought still went into it because in fairness, even the edits were probably very reluctantly and carefully chosen so to cram as much content on each disc as possible, I mean 'The Dark Side' only has 9 seconds to spare on the CD! So you could say not a single edit was unnecessary or the particular compilation that we got wouldn't be possible.

[hefdaddy42]

DTF, I am disappoint: https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/discography/

I know, I know.  We need to rectify that.