Forget your average greatest hits collections! In 2004, Ilan Ben Shahar unleashed a musical treasure trove upon Israel with the "Best Of The Original Recordings" series for Hed Arzi. This wasn't just some lazy cash-grab; it was a loving tribute to music as a whole, a meticulously curated collection of some of the most extensive compilations ever released.
But here's the kicker: these CDs came with BOOKLETS. Not flimsy little pamphlets, but massive, 30+ page tomes crammed with information, photos, and glorious reproductions of the original CD artwork. These booklets were so thick, they barely squeezed into the jewel cases!
Imagine: you're not just listening to the music, you're immersed in it. You're poring over the history, the liner notes, the visual feast of album covers. It's like having a personal museum exhibit dedicated to your favorite Israeli artists, right there in your CD collection.
Ben Shahar understood that music is more than just sound; it's a tangible, visual experience. He tapped into that collector's instinct, that desire to hold something in your hands, to connect with the music on a deeper level.
These CDs were more than just compilations; they were artifacts, lovingly crafted and brimming with passion. If you ever stumble across one of these gems, snatch it up! You won't just be getting a collection of songs; you'll be getting a piece of Israeli music history.