Nonesuch Records will release two new Wilco collections on November 17 in conjunction with the Chicago band’s 20th anniversary. The first, Alpha Mike Foxtrot, is a 4-CD/4-LP/DIGITAL-box-set of rare studio and live recordings collected from the band’s extensive audio archives. The second, What’s Your 20, is a 2-CD/DIGITAL compilation of essential tracks culled from the band’s previously released studio recordings.
Both collections are produced by Grammy-nominated producer Cheryl Pawelski, co-founder of Omnivore Recordings, whose credits include Big Star’s Keep an Eye on the Sky, The Band’s A Musical History and Townes Van Zandt’s Sunshine Boy: The Unheard Studio Sessions and Demos 1971–1972. These are the first compilations of Wilco music of any kind. They are available now for pre-order at Wilcoworld.net, Nonesuch.com, iTunes and Amazon; Alpha Mike Foxtrot orders include a free instant download of “A Magazine Called Sunset,” a rarity that Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy calls “a mysterious omission from an official recorded output and a real attempt at complete pop music.”
“Like a lot of fans, I had collected these straggling tracks over the past two decades of following Wilco’s every move,” Pawelski said. “Alpha Mike Foxtrot includes almost every unique, essential performance that appeared on soundtracks, tribute albums and B-sides—and there are probably a few surprises for even the sharpest collector. This set presents an alternate history of the band, kind of a sideways view, and ultimately, it’s a super-fun listening experience.”
Alpha Mike Foxtrot features 64 pages of liner notes that include track-by-track recollections from Tweedy, notes by band members Nels Cline and John Stirratt, and reflections from members of Wilco’s extended professional family. The booklet also showcases dozens of archival and never-before-seen photos from a wide array of photographers chronicling all phases of the band’s career.
What’s Your 20 gathers songs from Wilco’s eight studio albums plus two songs from Mermaid Avenue, the collection of Woody Guthrie-penned tunes set to music by Wilco and Billy Bragg.
ALPHA MIKE FOXTROT: RARE TRACKS 1994–2014
(CD & Digital) Track List
Disc one:
Childlike and Evergreen (Demo)
Someone Else’s Song (Demo)
Passenger Side (Demo)
Promising
The T.B. is Whipping Me – with Syd Straw
I Must Be High (Live)
Casino Queen (Live)
Who Were You Thinking Of (Live)
I Am Not Willing
Burned
Blasting Fonda
Thirteen
Don’t You Honey Me
The Lonely 1 (White Hen version)
No More Poetry
Box Full of Letters (Live)
Red-Eyed and Blue (Live)
Forget the Flowers (Live)
Sunken Treasure (Live)
Monday (Demo)
Disc two:
Passenger Side (Live)
Outtasite (Outta Mind) (Live)
I Got You (At the End of the Century) (Live)
Outta Mind (Outta Site) (Live)
James Alley Blues – with Roger McGuinn (Live)
At My Window Sad and Lonely (Jeff Tweedy solo)
California Stars (Live)
One Hundred Years From Now
A Shot in the Arm (Remix)
ELT (King Size demo)
Nothing’severgonnastandinmyway (again) (Dave Kahne Remix)
She’s a Jar (Austin demo)
Tried and True
Student Loan Stereo
True Love Will Find You in the End
I’m Always in Love (Solo acoustic live)
Via Chicago (Austin Demo)
Can’t Stand It (Live)
Airline to Heaven (Alternate)
Any Major Dude Will Tell You
Disc three:
I’m the Man Who Loves You (Live)
The Good Part
Cars Can’t Escape
Camera
Handshake Drugs (First version)
A Magazine Called Sunset
Bob Dylan’s 49th Beard
Woodgrain
More Like the Moon
Let Me Come Home
Old Maid
Hummingbird (Alternate)
Spiders (Kidsmoke) (Live)
Hell is Chrome (Live)
At Least That’s What You Said (Live)
The Late Greats (Live)
Just a Kid – with The Blisters
Kicking Television
Disc four:
Panthers
Theologians (Live)
Another Man’s Done Gone (Live)
I’m a Wheel (Live)
How to Fight Loneliness (Live)
One True Vine
The Thanks I Get
Let’s Not Get Carried Away
Hate it Here (Live)
Impossible Germany (Live)
I Shall Be Released – with Fleet Foxes (Live)
What Light (Live)
Jesus, Etc. – with Andrew Bird (Live)
Glad It’s Over
Dark Neon
The Jolly Banker
Unlikely Japan
You and I – with Feist (Live)
I Love my Label
WHAT’S YOUR 20: ESSENTIAL TRACKS
(CD & Digital) Track List
Disc one:
I Must be High
Box Full of Letters
Passenger Side
Casino Queen
Misunderstood
Red-Eyed and Blue
I Got You (At the End of the Century)
Monday
Outtasite (Outta Mind)
Sunken Treasure
California Stars
Hesitating Beauty
A Shot in the Arm
Can’t Stand It
She’s a Jar
I’m Always in Love
How to Fight Loneliness
Via Chicago
Airline to Heaven
Disc two:
I am Trying to Break Your Heart
I’m the Man Who Loves You
War on War
Jesus, Etc.
Ashes of American Flags
Heavy Metal Drummer
Hummingbird
Theologians
Handshake Drugs
The Late Greats
Hate it Here
Impossible Germany
Walken
Wilco (the Song)
You and I
You Never Know
I Might
Born Alone
Whole Love
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