Ween – 12 Country Greats (30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) (Elektra/Rhino)
It has been 30 years since Ween took a strange trip down Route 66 and went Country on their third major label album, 12 Golden Country Greats. To celebrate, Rhino Records has reissued the album as an expanded and remastered Deluxe Edition digitally and as 3LP or 3CD sets. The previously unreleased bonus material is highlighted by demos, covers and outtakes.
When Dean and Gene traded in the 4-track recorders for the polished studios of Nashville and recruited legendary session players such as, Elvis Presley’s The Jordanaires, and fiddler Buddy Spicher and pianist Hargus “Pig” Robbins, it came as a shock to both fans and their label. Ween kept the recording a secret from their label and fans were not quite sure what to think at first. But their crude yet clever sense of humor remained, especially on tracks such as, “Mister Richard Smoker”, “Help Me Scrape The Mucus Off My Brain” and the tear-jerking album closer, “Fluffy”. Elsewhere, the Ween boys play it surprisingly straight on the statement-making album opener, “I’m Holding You” and the standout track, “Powder Blue”.
With the bonus material, 12 Golden Country Greats goes from a tongue-in-cheek tracklist of 10 songs (yes, there actually were only 10 Golden Country Greats on the original release) to 36 tracks, including demo versions of all songs. Highlighting the set are demo versions of two songs cut from the original release; “So Long Jerry”, their loving tribute to the recently passed Grateful Dead legend, and “I’ve Got No Darkside”, as well as their cover of “Fool To Cry” by the Rolling Stones and long time fan favorites, “Boston Chicken” and “Good Timing Rhyming Song”.
Additionally, the included booklet features many great photos from the recording sessions and liner notes written by album producer Ben Vaughn with insight into the recording and inspiration behind the album.
More recently, Ween surprise released a new digital EP, titled Golden Wastes, which features 4 more songs from the sessions but that were not included on the Deluxe Edition of 12 Golden Country Greats. The EP is highlighted by a rocking outtake of “Pretty Girl” with the title, “There’s A Smooth Talkin’ Dude Around” and an alternate take of fan-favorite “Mister Richard Smoker”.
Ween was always has been known for being eclectic and willing to push the limits of their influences but no one ever expected a straight up old school Country & Western album. This new deluxe edition of 12 Golden Country Greats along with the new EP Golden Wastes, provides a comprehensive look at the making of this incredible album.
By Justin Kreitzer for Icon Fetch