Music’s best box sets of 2015: Bowie, Dylan, Little Richard, Frank Sinatra and more

Here are 10 of the most notable box sets released this year.

David Bowie, “Five Years 1969-1973” (Parlophone, US$97)

Bowie had spent the five years previous to this box set trying to break out as a theatrical crooner in swinging London. Five Years documents David Jones’ transition into rock with the 1969 David Bowie album, which included his first hit, the poignant, otherworldly Space Oddity. He enlisted a band with guitarist Mick Ronson and did some myth-building. He appeared in drag on the cover of The Man Who Sold the World, impersonated a rock messiah from space in Ziggy Stardust, and announced “the last show we will ever do”. In addition to six studio albums and two live recordings from the era (all previously available), Five Years includes two discs’ worth of singles and rarities, notably early takes on Hang on to Yourself and Moonage Daydream released in 1971 under the name The Arnold Corns.

Bob Dylan, “1965-66 The Cutting Edge Deluxe Edition: The Bootleg Series Vol 12” (Legacy, US$100)