As 2008 flames out and 2009 hurtles faster than a cannonball, thoughts invariably turn to what anniversary CD boxsets the coming year will bring...and what you're hoping for.

For starters, can I respectfully suggest:

"Purple Rain" - 25th anniversary edition, with all the attendant B-sides, 12" versions and unreleased full-length versions. Comprehensive liner notes by Prince not expected but gratefully received.

"Stone Roses" - 20th anniversary edition. Yes, I know it's been repeatedly repackaged to within an inch of its life but there must be something still unheard out there...

"The Specials" - 30th anniversary edition. Heck, you know it's coming...

Any other suggestions ?

Next month, the Thompson Twins' early '80s albums "Quick Step And Side Kick" and "Into The Gap" get reissued on CD. But this time, they're coming with the 12" remixes and bonus tracks previously available on the cassette versions. Be still, my synthpop beating heart!

The refracting haze of nostalgia is probably making me more excited by this news than I really should be. And publicly admitting to liking the Thompson Twins will no doubt lose me serious credibility points amongst Word readers.

What essentials from the vinyl and cassette age are still unavailable on CD ?

The make of the blank cassette...
The length of the tape... (120 mins? Too thin, too risky!)
The careful pre-selection of tracks...
The decision - to count up the various track lengths or daringly wing it, with the possible dire consequence of the tape ending mid-song...
The dropping of stylus onto vinyl...
The simultaneous release of the pause button...
The writing of the track listing in ballpoint...
The satisfying removal from the cassette of the recording tabs...

December brings "The Joshua Tree (Remastered Super Deluxe 2CD & DVD Box Set)" and the Pink Floyd vinyl replica CD box set. I have all these albums already - some of them multiple times (I regular trip over my stack of Dark Side Of The Moons). But I find myself reaching for the credit card and placing advance orders online all the same...

This madness has to stop. I'm sure it's just a matter of discipline to break the habit. But, boy, is a tough being a music collector at this time of the year. Christmastime brings a deluge of beautifully packaged box sets, deluxe double CD sets and surround sound remixes of your old favourites...

Is there a Twelve Steps for audiophiles ?

What next ? Robbie Williams going his separate ways ? Prince having creative differences with himself ?

What is Simply Red apart from Mick and whatever band of session musicians he hires at the time ? I'm sure that after a decade of the solo Mickster, the "Simply Red Reunites!" tour will follow as sure as autumn follows summer...