Nazareth - The Naz Box [4CD Remastered Deluxe Edition Box Set] (2011)

On the face of it, this 69-song selection from one of Scotland’s finest and most underrated rock acts is a boon for followers. As well as 40 studio cuts, there are 20 BBC session numbers and a further nine unissued studio tracks. But while they offer new insights into the band’s work over the last 40-odd years, it’s a shame that there wasn’t room for other rarities, unreleased mixes and a more balanced overview.

The bias in selection is heavily weighted on Nazareth’s more balladic/ chart-oriented fare. Taking Discs One and Two as the sum of their parts, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Nazareth were anything but a heavy blues-rock band. The meat for the collector, though, lies in the companion discs, the third kicking off with the BBC jingle, Turn On Your Receiver, followed by 13 cuts from London’s Paris Theatre, 1972-73/75. The audio quality is decent enough, with the bluesy Goin’ Down followed by the slide of Vigilante Man and the reggae What You Gonna Do About It, as well as a selection of mainly boogieing rockers.

Of the nine unaired songs from the band’s archive, Paper Sun is a slowly building rocker, the organ-led Mexico demo has a Doors feel about it, while Read The Book could be a UFO ballad. Meanwhile, Syndrums reappear for a cover of Abba’s SOS, a breezy take on Cream’s Sunshine Of Your Love and the Top Gun soundtrack wannabe of See You See Me. Much of the material has been bootlegged, already, though, and it’s a shame that room couldn’t have been found for the Move Me demos and original mix of Boogaloo.