Colour Me Impressed! Replacements Reunite

It’s been good news all around of late if you happen to be a fan of the Replacements.  From brand new songs from front man Paul Westerberg to news yesterday that the former had reunited with ex-bandmate Tommy Stinson to record four cover tunes for a new EP.  (The two longtime bandmates had previously confirmed plans to work together for a track to benefit guitarist Slim Dunlap, the former Replacements member who suffered a stroke earlier this year.)

Rolling Stone is now reporting that the collection will released under the Replacements banner rather than another band name. The cover tunes, which were recorded in a day at a Minneapolis studio in late September, are as follows: Busted Up by Slim Dunlap, Everything's Coming Up Roses from the musical Gypsy, I'm Not Sayin' by Gordon Lightfoot, and Lost Highway by Hank Williams.

These songs will be pressed on 10-inch vinyl in a limited run of 250 copies, all of which will be auctioned off online. Proceeds will go to Dunlap.

So, could a full scale Replacements reunion be in the works?

"It's possible," Westerberg said."After playing with Tommy last week, I was thinking, 'All right, let'scrank it up and knock out a record like this.' I'm closer to it now than I was two years ago, let's say that."

Time to start crossing your fingers and your eyes folks.

Color Me Obsessed Coming to Toronto

Organizers of Toronto’s NXNE Festival and Conference have announced a screening of Color me Obsessed. Yes, that one… That much ballyhooed flick I blogged earlier about this being the first documentary to unravel the myth of the much loved The Replacements... Labelled “the last best band” by Spin Magazine, this one is not to be missed.  Yes THAT one.

'Obsessed' Director Gorman Bechard was himself a huge fan: “The Replacements should have been the next Rolling Stones,” he says, “and to the people who loved them, I think they were.”

With over 140 interviews with rockers (Colin Meloy of The Decemberists, Craig Finn of The Hold Steady, Tommy Ramone, Grant Hart and Greg Norton of Husker Du, all three members of Goo Goo Dolls), journalists (Robert Christgau, Legs McNeil, Ira Robbins, Greg Kot, Jim DeRogatis), and fans, Color me Obsessed is the story of (to many) the greatest rock band of all time: The Replacements.

Not sure of exact dates yet. The NXNE Festival runs later this year from June 13th to the 19th.

Plan to attend! I’ve heard only great things about this one.

I’ll post more information on additional festival goings on as they become available.

RE: Review - Replacements - Remastered

So far 2008 has been an amazing year to be a fan of The Replacements- (‘the Mats’ for the faithful.) In addition to Jim Walsh’s comprehensive book, All Over But the Shouting, the news had broken earlier this year that the full back catalogue would be getting the ubiquitous remastered/bonus track/’fancy pantsedness’ treatment this year. The first round of these reissues, now on store shelves are the albums originally released on Minneapolis’ Twin/Tone Records. As I mentioned in an earlier posting, in addition to a wealth of unreleased material, these seminal albums have finally received a complete sonic remastering; The quality of which far surpassing previous cd incarnations from Twin/Tone or Ryko in 2000. To quote Paul Westerberg: “Hallefuckinglujah…” For the fans, at last they’ve done it right.

Needless to say, the quandary remains. As a good friend recently lamented… “How many copies of the freaking White Album does one person need?” To turn the phrase then, are the Replacements remasters worth adding to your collection (in some cases again)? -Without question. One listen to their 1984 masterpiece Let It Be and I was completely sold yet again. This could be the best thirty three minutes you will spend this week. Hearing the opening notes of I Will Dare in all its renewed glory actually caused the hair on the back of my neck to stand on end. Primal stuff and so very affecting, The Replacements have played the soundtrack to my life and this was almost like hearing it again for the first time.

What really makes this a truly worthwhile venture though is the plethora of bonus tracks accompanying each original disc. Thirty songs spread out over the four original albums, these are the true musical treasures. On Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash the original basement demo tape recordings that Paul Westerberg gave to Peter Jesperson back in 1980 are included for the first time ever. You’re Getting Married from 1982’s Stink bonus disc is perhaps the highlight of the entire lot though. The song is a testament to the promise of what would be to come from Westerberg. The Let It Be release also includes a set of bonus material with a slate of fantastic covers (20th Century Boy, and Heartbeat - It’s a Lovebeat). That’s right dear Pop reader, T-Rex and the DeFranco Family.



In the interest of full disclosure, this is the music of my youth. The stuff that made me love music and the stuff that got me through it all. If you’ve never taken the Replacements plunge before, now would be the perfect time to start. If you like your music passionate and more than a little torn and frayed you will not be disappointed. I am a little envious though, this music has already changed my life.

Highly Recommended

Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash – PPPP
Stink – PPPPP
Hootenanny – PPPP
Let it Be - PPPPP

First Johnny, Then Neil, Now Glen

(FROM NO DEPRESSION.NET) -- Glen Campbell returns to Capitol, the label which nurtured his solo career, with an album of new material called Meet Glen Campbell and scheduled for release August 10. He is set to premiere the songs at the Stagecoach Festival May 2.

Songs include Travis' "Sing", Tom Petty's "Angel Dream" and "Walls", the Replacements' "Sadly Beautiful", U2's "All I Want Is You", the Velvet Underground's "Jesus" and Green Day's "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)." But no Jimmy Webb songs. The press release says he selected these songs. In fact, from the press release:

"I really like all of the songs and I had a great time recording them. While I didn't write these songs, this sounds like a Glen Campbell album, which is important to me," says Glen Campbell.

The album was produced in LA by Julian Raymond (Rosanne Cash, Fastball, Wallflowers) with engineer and co-producer Howard Willing. Artists appearing on the album include Cheap Trick's Robin Zander, Roger Joseph Manning Jr. and Jason Faulkner (both from Jellyfish), and Chris Chaney (Jane's Addiction). Campbell's sons and daughters recorded backing tracks.

Here's the full track listing, with the caveat that it's not the final sequence:

1. Jesus (Velvet Underground)
2. All I Want Is You (U2)
3. Times Like These (Foo Fighters)
4. Grow Old With Me (John Lennon)
5. Angel Dream (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
6. Sadly Beautiful (The Replacements)
7. Sing (Travis)
8. These Days (Jackson Browne)
9. Walls (Circus) (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
10. Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) (Green Day)

Replacements Rerereissues On the Way

My favourite band ever, The Replacements' first three albums and an EP will be reissued yet again this spring. This time though, the good people at Rhino Records are doing it right. Remastered and finally expanded these releases mark a long awaited upgrade of the seminal band's early works, "Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out the Trash," "Stink," "Hootenanny" and "Let It Be".

Originally released on the band's hometown label, Minneapolis’ Twin/Tone Records , the albums were prepped for reissue by former Replacements manager Peter Jesperson, with involvement from the surviving band members.

The goods will arrive April 22nd and I know I can’t hardly wait. (Let it Be, one of my top five of all time.) Later this year, Rhino will continue the reissue campaign with expanded editions of the Replacements' Sire catalog: "Tim," "Pleased To Meet Me," "Don't Tell a Soul" and "All Shook Down."

While you’re listening to your fancy pants remasters go read All Over But the Shouting by Jim Walsh for an insider look at one of the most important bands of this generation.

Here is the bonus material for the Replacements reissues (previously unissued tracks marked with a letter p.)

"Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out the Trash":

"Raised in the City," live, 1980 – demo p

"Shutup," live, 1980 - demo p

"Don't Turn Me Down," live, 1980 - demo p

"Shape Up," live, 1980 – demo p

"You Ain't Gotta Dance," studio demo p

"Get on the Stick," studio demo p

"Oh Baby," studio demo p

"Like You," outtake p

"Get Lost," outtake p

"A Toe Needs a Shoe," outtake p

"Customer," alternate take p

"Basement Jam," rehearsal p

"If Only You Were Lonely"

"Stink":

"Staples in Her Stomach," outtake p

"Hey, Good Lookin'," outtake p

"(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock," outtake p

"You're Getting Married," solo home demo p

"Hootenanny":

"Lookin' for Ya"

"Junior's Got a Gun," outtake - rough mix p

"Ain't No Crime," outtake p

"Johnny Fast," outtake - rough mix p

"Treatment Bound," alternate version p

"Lovelines," alternate vocal p

"Bad Worker," solo home demo p

"Let It Be":

"20th Century Boy"

"Perfectly Lethal," outtake p

"Temptation Eyes," outtake p

"Answering Machine," solo home demo p

"Heartbeat -- It's a Lovebeat," outtake - rough mix p

"Sixteen Blue," outtake - alternate vocal p

Madonna, Leonard Cohen Inducted Into Rock Hall of Fame

The results are in and another crop of music legends will soon join the membership of the venerable Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

This time Madonna, Leonard Cohen, John Mellencamp, Dave Clark Five, and the Ventures make up the 2008 class. According to the Associated Press, Little Walter will also be honored for his work as a sideman, and Gamble & Huff will be honored for their production work.

Many of these artists and others will no doubt be in attendance at the March 10, 2008 induction ceremony at New York City's Waldorf Hotel.

The dubious hall of fame distinction was arrived at by an "international voting body of more than 500 rock experts". I guess that that explains why Beastie Boys, Donna Summer, Chic, and Afrika Bambaataa didn’t make the cut this year? (Insert sighing sound here) Maybe I’ll start my Replacements petition tonight.

The Almost-Impossible Rock & Roll Quiz

You may know the Replacements original monicker, but just who did Phil Spector threaten with a gun while in the recording studio? Challenge yourself to four decades of the trickiest, weirdest and most off-the-wall trivia questions ever in Rolling Stone's fifty-eight question quiz, and tabulate your own rock & roll IQ.

For the record I scored a 45. Ranking me as expert and apparently I know my Bowie from my Bambaataa.This is great fun. Leave your scores in the comments section. I’d love to see how you fared and what you think.

Click here or on Jimi to give it a try.

THE LIST NO. 1 - Discovery, Catharsis and Devotion

I will follow this up from time to time with a brief story about each of these recordings and the importance each has in my life.

• Revolver – The Beatles
  
• Between the Buttons - The Rolling Stones


• The Village Green Society – The Kinks


• The Ramones – The Ramones


• The Clash – The Clash


• Low – David Bowie


• Remain in Light - Talking Heads


• Kind of Blue – Miles Davis


• Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (The Historic 1955 Debut Recording) - Glenn Gould


• Murmur – R.E.M.


• Let it Be – The Replacements
  
• Fun House – the Stooges


• OK Computer – Radiohead