Weezer Deluxe Albums: Part I: The Blue Album

This is not a post about the official Weezer "Blue Album" deluxe album.

Both the Blue and Pinkerton deluxe albums are a "must-have" for any hardcore Weezer fan (especially for new fans who just getting into Weezer).  Both albums are in many ways "The Best of Weezer".  If you were trying to preserve two albums of Weezer for the future, it would be those official deluxe albums.

However, as with any Weezer post-2000 release the track list leaves much to be desired and is filled with disappointments. So, I've created my own versions of Weezer albums.

Because I can.

At first, I thought this was going to be an easy post, I had my deluxe albums already designed but as the time came to actually write the post, I started to re-think and re-visit my own track list. There were some major additions to be had.

Building a deluxe edition of any album offers the challenge of balancing between making an actual album as a listening experience and being comprehensive of the band's output in that specific time period.  On one hand, fans want everything. After all, any fan of any band wants every listenable track. Well, maybe not.

Exhibit 1: In How to Squeeze Every Last Dollar Out of Dead Person. I have mixed feelings about this. It's a cash grab, but no one is forcing anyone to buy this. I want Rivers COR demos and I would pay for the scraps too. 

My first impulse was to leave out almost all redundant tracks (i.e., "The Good Life" is tacked on four times on Pinkerton Deluxe)!  I wanted my deluxe album to be more than just collecting random live versions of songs.  And, you won't find any live versions on my deluxe albums.

However, before I decided to publish my deluxe album, I started having doubts. Did I get every track?  I am a pretty big Weezer fan but there's always something I forgot or something that got lost off of an old hard drive.

So, Weezerpedia, Youtube and Soulseek to the rescue.

Once I had decided to make it more comprehensive, there was another conundrum that I had to face. Should I include Rivers' demos or just the band material? In the case of Pinkerton, it would open up the track list to adding 10 or so more songs and end up including all of Rivers' scrapped space opera, Songs from the Black Hole. So I started to actually spend time in life to figure this all out.

Actually typing this made me realize what a nerd I am.

Here were some of my guidelines in building the track lists:

• Music recorded as a band takes priority over Rivers' demos 
• Rivers' demos are included if they were already included in the official deluxe release
• Rivers' demos that are "significantly interesting" are included 
• Songs that were not seriously considered for the final album were not included
• Almost all band recording sessions songs are included
• Almost anything that has been released that was recorded during the actual recording sessions of the album is included. 

So, here's the track list....

Blue Deluxe Tracklist

1-10  - Original Album

11. My Evaline ("Undone" Single)

12. Mykel & Carli ("Undone" Single)

13. Mykel & Carli (Death to False Metal - Album Sessions Rehearsal)

14. Jamie (DGC Rarities) 

15. Suzanne (Mallrats Soundtrack Version)

16. Suzanne (Alone III - Rivers' Demo)  

17. You Gave Your Love To Me Softly (Angus Soundtrack Version)

18. Lullaby for Wayne (Blue Deluxe - Album Sessions Rehearsal)

19. Paperface (Alone II - Rivers' Demo)
20. Paperface (Kitchen Tape Demo - Blue Deluxe)
21. Let's Sew Our Pants Together (Kitchen Tape Demo) *
22. Thief, You've Taken All That Was Me (Kitchen Tape Demo) *

23. My Name is Jonas (Kitchen Tape Demo) *

24. No One Else (First Real Demo) *
25. Say It Ain't So (First Real Demo) *
26. The World Has Turned....(First Real Demo) *
27. Undone (First Real Demo) *
28 Surfwax America (First Real Demo) *
29. Just What I Needed (Album Sessions Rehearsal - Incomplete) *

* Denotes commercially unreleased

^ First Real Demo is also known as the "3rd Demo"

Omissions

The biggest omission is that of "I Swear It's True", which is actually on the official Blue deluxe track list. It was recorded during the album rehearsals and in my estimation, it was a little rough around the edges. If I hadn't placed two different versions of this song on my Pinkerton Deluxe, it would have found a home here.  

I also omitted the "Undone" and "Only in Dreams" from the Kitchen Tape Demos, which are also on the official release.  The main reason is because I don't find them pleasant to listen to and in the case of "Undone", I find the "First Real Demo" version superior.

"Suzanne" from the "Undone" single was left off  because "Suzanne" from the Mallrats soundtrack is superior in just about every way possible.

A "flowing album" - there are few songs that were back-to-back, I simply didn't know where else to put them. Most people rarely listen to albums in order any way, especially one that is non-existent. So, the hell with a "listening experience".

Interesting Additions

I added the "Suzanne" demo from Alone III, largely, because it's a great song but I also really love that "Kurt Cobain" line that was dropped after his death.

After re-visiting the "First Real Demos" on Youtube, I really felt like most of it needed to be included. They sound great and they are different enough to be included in a deluxe set. I have no idea why the "Say It Ain't So" demo didn't make it onto the official release....so mysterious/lazy/stupid. Take your pick.

Finally, the album ends with a tragically incomplete version of the The Car's "Just What I Needed". The song was recorded during rehearsals for the album in NYC.  The band was just having fun, but it's still a pretty cool take.  Apparently, the tape ran out before the song was over. I think Karl or the band leaked this treat several years ago. 

Hopeful Additions 

There's hope that in time more material will be released, so there could be a few more tracks to be included in the years to come.  In the last 5 years or so, we received the "Suzanne"  & "Paperface" demos and the "Mykel & Carli" rehearsal track. Who knows what the future might bring?  

"In the Garage" Reprise - this idea was supposedly kicked around as an addition to the album.  I think there are at least a few takes and it would be sweet to hear - even if it wasn't finished or if it is incomplete. It's cool thinking Rivers started to see the themes of the album and how they could be emphasized for effect. Maybe a little foreshadowing from Songs From A Black Hole?

"Getting Up and Leaving" and "Jamie" - NYC Album Rehearsals.

Any and all Rivers' demos of the songs

LMU Sessions - I think "Surfwax" was attempted and an alternate "Jamie" was attempted. This was the session that "Jamie" was culled from (for a sound engineering student's assignment).  

"Tracking Roughs" - on Pinkerton Deluxe we got a few "rough tracks" (which really weren't that rough!) so any alternate takes would be awesome to hear. 

The Unknown  - Karl kept meticulous recording history chronology for this time period but we didn't have a clue about "Tragic Girl", so maybe there's something else we don't know about! 

That's it for now, I hope you enjoyed this post of Weezery goodness.

The Pinkerton Deluxe post will be coming soon!