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!  

Thought of the Day

Asking what someone else deserves will you get you no where and it ultimately, distracts from the true answer of what you or we should do. 

Honestly ask yourself, what do you deserve?

Fun With My Scanner: Burrito Boy

Found this beauty in a folder with a slew of notes, cartoons, weird stuff from the the late 90's.

ALL OF THIS IS TRADEMARKED.

If you steal this idea and make millions, I am coming after you. If you want to develop this for a CARTOON NETWORK show, contact me and let's make MILLIONS TOGETHER -- I have other weird characters that could appear and make this the next  ADVENTURE TIME.

Yes, that's right, now that this is on the WORLD WIDE WEB - I am sure this will take off ---get in now why you still can!!

Notice the beans spilling out of Burrito Boy. I love how the Devil is the actual antagonist on the show and that he looks ridiculous. Randy the chicken shows promise.  You might ask yourself why is there a tiny strawberry lifting a barbell? But don't, don't ask that question. It's better the world never finds out. 

Thought of the Day

Guns may make you feel safe, but only love will save you.

Dino Fragments

My three-year old just wrote a few songs last night and I recorded them.

I thought I would share the lyrics to my favorite version (they all centered on dinosaurs). This one I have entitled, "Dinosaur-Rock n' Roll"

Dinosaur
Dinosaur
Rock n'Roll
Dinosaur
Dinosaur
Rock n'Roll
Dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaur
Rock n'Roll
Hey Love You
(Da  Da Da - De De De) - this is long bridge break down (about 20 seconds) that includes rhythmic tongue clicks.
I Love You
You
You
You
You
You
WHY ARE YOU
KILLING THE
DINOSAURS?

There's another alternate version that talks about killing people and Jesus as well ("Why are you killing people and Jesus? Because you're a bad guy!")

SO PUNK.

This weekend was interesting. On Friday, I heard a holocaust survivor speak on Friday, on Saturday, I heard a dude that used to be a sex addict and then on Sunday I attended part of a Sikh worship service.  Diverse to the max.

Feeling like my Ecuador Study Abroad is hanging by a thread. I have one application in (we need at least 4 more) and we've got 3 weeks to go. Frankly, it's not looking good.

Starting playing The Legend of Zelda on NES a week or so ago. Never really played as a kid. I've got 3 TRIFORCE. It's awesome, how did I miss out on this as a kid????

My good ol' buddy wants me to star in our Christmas play at church. I told him I would do it. Finally, my stardom has come after all these years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gotta go get some TRIFORCE. In the meantime, breathe out the hatred, and breathe in the love.

Art Post: Dr. Suess' The Sleep Book

I love Dr. Seuss. 

He's one of my heroes of life. He had such a distinctive, authentic and creative outlook in his art.

I "copied" this out of the excellent The Sleep Book this past week. My son loves the story and I had been itching for an art project. The great thing about the book is that it actually makes us tired before bed time!  Seuss just keeps the readers viewing all these varieties of characters yawning and it's contagious!  So awesome.  

It's a copy but it's completely free hand. I had to leave out some of the characters (no room) and because of shape/size of the paper, I had to add additional characters (a few of which are my creation but of course based in the Suessian world). 

I added the night sky and some other details, but nothing to get excited about. I originally planned on painting it but, nah, I'll just leave it be for now. Enjoy and go to sleep, will ya, it's getting late?  

Mix-Tape # 2: Forlorn Love in Early 21st Century

A little over a month ago, I wrote an ode to mix tapes when I discovered the track list for the first mix tape I had made my first love.

I found another track list in the same journal. So I'm back for more of the same. 

This mix tape was also to that first love (Marie) but a few years later. Our relationship at this point (I am estimating this was the spring of 2000) had run the gamut - together, broken up, in between, friends (kinda), back-together, broken-up, wistfully broken up but still friends, etc., etc. 

This found track list was in a rough draft of a letter explaining the tracks. It's incomplete and I am not sure if this ended up being a CD or tape. I was unsure what was more convenient for Marie at the time. I thought about giving Youtube links but they will eventually just expire, so just copy and paste them and take the two seconds. I promise you, some of these songs are awesome. Especially if you just been through a heart-break. 

1. Paul Simon - I am Rock

2. The Apples in Stereo - You Said That Last Night

3. Ben Folds Five - Emaline 

4. Radiohead - Black Star

5. Beatles - For No One 

6. Spoon - Car Radio

7. Sloan - Bells On

8. Coward - unspecified 

*Track 8 was probably Coward's "I'm Alright". 

I must have felt this was a "desperate times call for desperate measures" time. 

It was pathetic and ballsy all at the same time. It's equal parts sadness and defiance.  I was also sending her the not-so-subtle hint, "I'd take you back in a heart-beat".  If any track sums it all up, it's the Beatles "For No One" from Revolver. A great track that I had actually kinda forgotten about (Paul forgive me!). Another highlight is Radiohead's "Black Star" - crazy good song from a crazy good album. 

The only track that isn't themed is the Spoon track (off the under-rated "A Series of Sneaks"), which was purposefully placed to give her some much needed lift after "For No One" and then, the slow and sleepy, "Bells On" from Sloan (from "Twice Removed" another excellent 90's under-rated album in the US - but not in Canada). I think I could have found a more fitting song but I adored that song, so that could explain it. 

The Ben Folds track was very meaningful to me at the time. It described how I felt at the time to a tee (with some minor lyrical issues that were very specific to the song and not my life). Still a great track to this day. 

If you haven't heard of Coward it's because they were FOW/Weezer type band that bombed. Still that CD is a wonderful, cheesy guilty pleasure. It's S/T - pick it up if you enjoy "Power Pop". That particular song would make for a great stopping point for a short tape or CD or the end of side A 

Looking back, if there was a Side B,  I don't know where I would have gone from there. The only logically place would be straight-up love songs. I don't remember what the final product was and it's even likely my rough draft changed a bit (but most definitely made it). 

I have vague memories of eventually sending a CD instead of a tape but maybe that was yet ANOTHER mix-tape/CD. I remember I made a cover featuring this famous Van Gogh. Maybe it was another Van Gogh but this was what sprang to mind first. 

At the time we were living in separate cities so I sent some version of this sucker off in the mail to her. I have no recollection of how she responded, although I do know she listened to it (at least once). Time went by and....

It actually worked! The tape or CD worked! 

It kept me fresh in Marie's mind and gave me a puncher's chance at getting her back. During December of 2000, we almost got back together (well, at least for one night). Maybe I'm giving this tape/CD too much credit....but so what? Just let me just live with the idea that it changed everything. Some of this is briefly recounted at the end of this blog.  Mix-tapes and CD's are a lost art but they make for some great memories. 

I doubt I will find another track list of a mix CD or tape but you never know.....plus if I get really bored I still have a box of tapes I could listen to and find more treasures from the 90's. Until that day, make your own mix today and go ahead, burn a copy and give it to your lover.