Pearl Jam fans will have a few more black (silver?) circles to spin when Vs. and Vitalogy are reissued this March - and now we've got full details on the sets, including deluxe formats.
We mentioned a few days ago that Amazon had shown track listings for each album that had three bonus tracks apiece. It was also assumed that there would be a box combining both expanded albums with additional swag, not unlike 2009's Ten monolith. And now we have details on all that and more. First of all, in addition to the remastered and expanded albums, there's going to be a three-disc set that will pair the expanded Vs. and Vitalogy with the fan favorite live show from Boston's Orpheum Theater in April of 1994. Sounds like a good deal - until you get to the contents of the box.
That set will include four CDs of the same material, leading one to (probably correctly) assume that the show is going to be cut down for the three-disc edition. That's a bit of a rub, when you consider just how much else is in the box. That would include the same contents of the CDs on five vinyl LPs (one for Vs. and two each for Vitalogy and the Orpheum show), a cassette of the band's Monkeywrench/Self-Pollution radio show from early 1995, an "80-page composition book filled with photos, drawings and artwork by Eddie Vedder and Jeff Ament" and "a glassine envelope containing a collection of Vs. and Vitalogy- era memorabilia including beautiful lithographs of each band member, postcards, posters and much more."
That stuff's great for the super-fan, but for those who want to hear the concert in full (and it is supposed to be a great set list), it's a bit of a rub. And the box looks to be available only through the band's official Web site, which is particularly unusual as the Ten box was a surprise best-seller.
For vinyl collectors and PJ die-hards, the vinyl Vs. and double-vinyl Vitalogy will be available at indie shops on April 12 for Record Store Day (four days later). The full press release is embedded after the jump; we've also included the full Orpheum set list to give fans at least some perspective on what's to be expected from the eventual live releases.
(And a big tip of the hat to Matt Wardlaw of Addicted to Vinyl for passing this along!)
PEARL JAM'S CLASSIC ALBUMS VS. AND VITALOGY TO BE RELEASED IN NEWLY RESTORED AND EXPANDED EDITIONS ON TUESDAY, MARCH 29th
* * * * *
Epic Records and Legacy Recordings celebrate Pearl Jam's 20th anniversary with the release of newly restored and expanded editions of Vs. and Vitalogy, the second and third albums from Pearl Jam which broke all initial SoundScan records and secured the band's reputation as a preeminent force in American rock music.
Vs. and Vitalogy will be available in new Expanded Editions (featuring three bonus tracks on each) or together in a three-disc Deluxe Edition (featuring Live at the Orpheum Theater, Boston, April 12, 1994) and Limited Edition Collector's Box Set, on Tuesday, March 29th. Each album will also be released in new commemorative remastered Vinyl Editions on April 12th in time for Record Store Day 2011 (April 16th).
Pre-orders for the Vs. and Vitalogy Limited Edition Collector's Boxed Set begin today at www.PearlJam.com.
Details on the new Reissue Formats of Vs. and Vitalogy are as follows:
1. Expanded Editions (CD and Digital)
The expanded editions of Vs. and Vitalogy -- including the original studio albums, newly remastered, along with album-era bonus tracks -- will each be available on CD and digital formats:
The Expanded Edition of Vs. includes three bonus tracks recorded by Brendan O'Brien at The Site studio during the Vs. sessions:
- a previously unreleased acoustic version of "Hold On";
- "Cready Stomp" - a previously unreleased studio outtake;
- and the band's cover of Victoria Williams' "Crazy Mary" featuring Williams on backing vocals and guitar.
The Expanded Edition of Vitalogy includes three bonus tracks:
- the previously unreleased guitar/organ-only mix of "Betterman";
- a previously unreleased alternate take of "Corduroy" from the Vitalogy session (recorded by Brendan O'Brien);
- a previously unreleased demo version of "Nothingman," taken from the original DAT (recorded at John and Stu's in Seattle on October 14, 1993, featuring Richard Stuverud on drums).
2. Deluxe Editions (3 CDs or Digital Download Bundle at Various Digital Service Providers)
Deluxe Edition CD version - Vs. and Vitalogy will be available together in a CD deluxe edition which includes:
- the Expanded Edition of each album;
- a copy of Live at the Orpheum Theater, Boston, April 12, 1994. A special performance recorded at the tail end of the mythic Vs. tour, Live at the Orpheum Theater showcases a dream setlist created especially by the Pearl Jam crew and has for years been one of the most sought-after recordings among serious aficionados.
3. Limited Edition Collector's Box Set (5 LPs, 4 CDs, 1 Cassette, Digital Download, Composition Notebook, Memorabilia-filled Envelope)
- Vs. and Vitalogy will be available together in a limited edition collector's box set that includes 59 unique Pearl Jam performances on four CDs, five LPs and one cassette in addition to a number of guest artist performances. The Limited Edition Box set is only available for sale at pearljam.com.
- Contents include:
- Expanded Editions of Vs. and Vitalogy remastered with bonus tracks on CD;
- Remastered Vinyl Editions of Vs. (single LP) and Vitalogy (double LP);
- Double vinyl LP and CD of Live at the Orpheum Theater, Boston, April 12, 1994 plus an exclusive digital download of the concert. A special performance recorded at the tail end of the mythic Vs. tour, Live at the Orpheum Theater showcases a dream setlist created especially by the Pearl Jam crew and has for years been one of the most sought-after recordings among serious aficionados;
- Exclusive collector's cassette featuring live tribute and studio performances from a number of Pearl Jam's fellow artist friends. Broadcast on January 8, 1995, this recording is part of the legendary Monkeywrench/Self-Pollution Radio series produced by the band;
- 80-page composition book filled with photos, drawings and artwork by Eddie Vedder and Jeff Ament;
- A glassine envelope containing a collection of Vs. and Vitalogy- era memorabilia including beautiful lithographs of each band member, postcards, posters and much more.
4. Record Store Day Vinyl Editions (Remastered) - Available April 12th
Vs. and Vitalogy will be available at independent record retailers in new commemorative Vinyl Editions on April 12th in time for Record Store Day 2011 (April 16th).
Vs. (single LP) and Vitalogy (double LP) - both remastered
* * * * *
Vs.
Originally released in 1993, Vs., Pearl Jam's sophomore effort, faced the daunting challenge of following the success of Ten, the band's 1991 debut. Shattering all expectations, Vs., the first Pearl Jam album helmed by producer Brendan O'Brien, rolled into its first of five weeks atop the Billboard 200 at #1 with the highest first week's sales (more than 950,000 copies) in music history; a record it would hold for the next five years.
Vs. Original Tracklisting:
- Go
- Animal
- Daughter
- Glorified G
- Dissident
- W.M.A.
- Blood
- Rearviewmirror
- Rats
- Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town
- Leash
- Indifference
* * * * *
Vitalogy
Released in December 1994, Pearl Jam's third studio album, Vitalogy entered the Billboard 200 at #1, second only to Vs. as the fastest-selling CD in chart history at that time.
Vitalogy Original Tracklisting:
- Last Exit
- Spin The Black Circle
- Not For You
- Tremor Christ
- Nothingman
- Whipping
- Pry, To
- Corduroy
- Bugs
- Satan's Bed
- Betterman
- Aye Davanita
- Immortality
- Stupid Mop
* * * * *
Pearl Jam 20
In 1991, Pearl Jam's debut album Ten catapulted the little-known Seattle-based band into superstardom. Nine studio albums, hundreds of unique live performances and nearly 300 concert bootleg releases later, the band continue to be critically acclaimed and commercially successful -- with over 60 million albums sold worldwide. Over the past twenty years, the band has remained a major force in rock and roll, as much for its aggressive loyalty to its social and political principles and restless experimentation as for its rock radio staples and bestselling albums.
2011 will be a yearlong celebration of Pearl Jam’s rich twenty-year history. The anniversary festivities kicked off with the release of a new live compilation album, Live on Ten Legs, in January, followed by the March expanded reissues of Vs. and Vitalogy. Late summer brings a Pearl Jam 20th anniversary destination weekend bash followed by the fall release of Cameron Crowe’s film, Pearl Jam Twenty, along with an accompanying book and soundtrack album. Interspersed between these PJ20 highlights will be a number of additional special events and new, unexpected releases. For the latest Pearl Jam happenings, visit www.pearljam.com.
Pearl Jam - The Orpheum Theater, Boston, MA - 4/12/1994 - original set list:
- Oceans
- Even Flow
- Sonic Reducer
- State of Love and Trust
- Hard to Imagine
- Immortality (Hey Hey My My)
- Go
- Animal
- Glorified G
- Daughter (Suck You Dry)
- Alone
- Not for You
- Better Man
- Rats
- Blood
ENCORE
- Release
- Tremor Christ
- Once
- Fuckin' Up
- Dirty Frank
- Yellow Ledbetter
- Jam
- Rearviewmirror
- Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town
- I've Got a Feeling
Anth says
I'm so glad Pearl Jam is the one major grunge act I've never gotten into. Why are they releasing something on cassette? It was a cool gimmick the first time because it was supposed to replicate Eddie's demo tape...now it's just impractical.
Steve says
Be careful with that Deluxe Box.
Check out the description from Pearl Jam's store:
https://secure.pearljam.com/store/product.spring?sku=9395-SDX
"Check out the contents of this beautiful package:
3 Compact Discs-
Remastered version of VS featuring 3 bonus tracks
Remastered version of Vitalogy featuring 3 bonus tracks
The legendary live show from the Orpheum Theater show"
and
" Pre-order now and receive 6 digital live tracks from the Orpheum show that are not on the CD or the LP!
(A link to these tracks will be delivered via email on street date 3/29/2011)"
So, maybe only 3 CDs, and maybe 6 extra live tracks from the show only available digitally to those who pre-order from the bands' website, delivered via e-mail in 7 weeks.
For $150.00 + $17.00 S&H, billed "at time of purchase" per the description, I would make sure you don't jump in for that "4th" "complete" Orpheum disc.
Mike Duquette says
That's odd. We've put in a query with Legacy to confirm which is right.
I would hope that there wouldn't be a whole extra CD with that monster box...but I'd also hope there wouldn't be some exclusive MP3s with the same box, either.
Matt says
Weird. I wonder if the 6 bonus tracks will give you the complete show....I can't imagine that makes it complete.