In 1988, seminal, alternative-rock band Jesus and Mary Chain released a disc called "Barbed Wire Kisses" comprised of 20 hard-to-find tracks. Other similar compilations were released in subsequent years. But now, band founders and brothers Jim and William Reid has helped Rhino Records rifle through these compilations and its catalog vault. They've come up with 81 tracks for inclusion in this four-CD box set. The list of hard-to-find JAMC tracks include previously unreleased works such as "Till I Found You," the demos of "My Little Underground" and "Dirty Water," and alternate takes of "Coast to Coast" and "Never Understand." The dark, in-the-well singing and garage-worthy soundscapes highlight covers such as two versions of the Beach Boys' "Surfin' USA" and the Temptations' "My Girl," which sound like the Velvet Underground spliced with Bob Dylan in the Reids' hands. — S.I.

BILLY JOEL; "The Stranger: 30th Anniversary Edition" (Columbia/Legacy) ***

Billy Joel's 1977 breakthrough album "The Stranger" turned 30 last year. This year, Columbia and Legacy have remastered and repackaged the celebrated disc. In addtion to the remastered CD, this collection features a live CD, recorded at Carnegie Hall in 1977 (prior to the release of "The Stranger"), and a DVD that features live promotional videos for "The Stranger" and "Just the Way You Are," as well as a concert filmed for the BBC in 1978. It's nice to hear the album, especially the hits "Just the Way You Are," "Only the Good Die Young" and "She's Only a Woman" in context with the other discs. Add to that a booklet of liner notes by various music critics, including David Fricke, and a collector's replica poster. — S.I.

GEORGE JONES; "The Hits ... Then 'Til Now" (Time Life) ****

The title of this three-CD box set tells it all. There are 60 remastered hits by the Ol' Possum himself. "White Lightning," "Tender Years," "She Thinks I Still Care" and duets "Southern California," "Two Story House," "Golden Ring," "We're Gonna Hold On" and "The Ceremony," with Tammy Wynnette, are definitely highlights. However, he and Wynette's song "Near You" is not included.

Still, his honky tonk version of "Maybellene," with Johnny Paycheck, and the buddy-song "We Don't See a Thing," with Ray Charles, are shiners as well. The box set ends with "Tramp on Your Street" and gives the listener a fullfilling career rundown of George Jones' recordings. — S.I.

LESS THAN JAKE; "GNV FLA Deluxe" (Sleep It Off) *** 1/2

OK you old-school ska/punk fans. This box is for you. Florida's Less Than Jake has outdone itself with this collectors' edition box set. Not only does it feature the full "GNV FLA" CD but also three vinyl discs featuring exclusive B-sides and live tracks. There are live versions of "Lion City, "Summon Monsters" and "Sleep It Off," as well as acoustic versions of "Golden Age," "Malachi Richter's Liquor's Quicker" and demos of "Settling Son, "Handshake" and "All time Low." In additon, the box set features a DVD of the band in the studio and a limited edition poster. — S.I.