The Close-Up albums were explicitly designed by Suzanne Vega to provide a fresh coat to much of her already well-loved songs. Re-done in personal acoustic style, the series created a thematic approach that resonated with her fans. In 2010, Suzanne Vega released her first volume of her four Close-Up albums, Love Songs. Love Songs reached into her many solo albums and stripped away the high production that may have chained her real feeling about each song. Later in the year, she followed up Love Songs with the second volume of Close-Up, People and Places. It is in People and Places that her biggest hit, “Luka”, in its new incarnation, can be found.
In 2011, Suzanne Vega issued her third volume, States Of Being, with her last volume, Songs Of Family arriving in 2012. All in all, Suzanne Vega re-interpreted 53 of her songs, more if you counted the exclusive iTunes bonus tracks that were offered only if you went the iTunes way.
On August 12, Razor & Tie Records will combine all four volumes into a single boxed edition (Close-Up Series) that will give the Suzanne Vega fan physical access to the personal re-recorded tracks. As a desirable extra, the bonus iTunes tracks previously mentioned will be included on a fifth CD, completing the entire journey within a single set, 63 tracks in all. To add more value, the 5CD set will be augmented by a DVD inclusion that features Suzanne Vega’s live Close-Up performances at the City Winery in New York City. The DVD will also include an interview with the artist, and a look at rehearsals for the show.
The set is beautiful and well-rounded. All of the discs, the five CDs and the single DVD, will be housed in a 68-page hard-bound book within pockets. the book itself will contain pictures, lyrics, song and album information, and memorabilia tied into the the sessions.
