Just in case you were waiting on a track list to buy Rufus Wainwright's mega-box House of Rufus, the wait is over.
The 19-disc box set, which encompasses all the albums and DVDs the baroque-pop tunesmith has released in his career, is packed with some intriguing extras, too. Many of the CDs are augmented with some sort of bonus tracks, either extra songs that were released as retail exclusives, old or new live performances and outtake material. And there are another four discs of rarities as well: a rarities disc augments more rare promo-only or international bonus tracks with unreleased outtakes, another collates Rufus' best appearances on soundtracks (including the CD debut of his tune from the Canadian film Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller (1988), one of the earliest professional Rufus performances), a third collects guest tracks and collaborations (including material recorded with his illustrious family, including sister Martha, mother and aunt Kate and Anna McGarrigle and father Loudon Wainwright III) and another collects a clutch of unreleased demos.
It's certainly a lush package, although one that, at upwards of $260 in the U.S., must be a tough sell for all but the most loaded of Rufus fans. (One could certainly take all the material therein and make deluxe reissues of each of Rufus' LPs - although the singer/songwriter has criminally never been a sales juggernaut, so this one-shot deal is likely the best bet to obtain all these bonus cuts.)
House of Rufus, limited to just 3,000 copies, can be ordered here for a July 18 release. The full rundown is after the jump.
Rufus Wainwright, House of Rufus (Universal Music (U.K.), 2011)
Disc 1: Rufus Wainwright (originally released as DreamWorks Records DRMD-50010, 1998)
- Foolish Love
- Danny Boy
- April Fools
- In My Arms
- Millbrook
- Baby
- Beauty Mark
- Barcelona
- Matinee Idol
- Damned Ladies
- Sally Ann
- Imaginary Love
- Heartburn (from The McGarrigle Hour - Hannibal HNCD-1417, 1998)
- Goodnight Sweetheart (from The McGarrigle Hour - Hannibal HNCD-1417, 1998)
Disc 2: Poses (originally released as DreamWorks 0044-50237-2, 2001)
- Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk
- Greek Song
- Poses
- Shadows
- California
- The Tower of Learning
- Grey Gardens
- Rebel Prince
- The Consort
- One Man Guy
- Evil Angel
- In a Graveyard
- Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk (Reprise)
- Greek Song (KCRW-FM Session - 5/6/2001) *
- California (KCRW-FM Session - 5/6/2001) *
- Grey Gardens (KCRW-FM Session - 5/6/2001) *
Disc 3: Want One (originally released as DreamWorks Records B0000896-12, 2003)
- Oh What a World
- I Don't Know What It Is
- Vicious World
- Movies of Myself
- Pretty Things
- Go or Go Ahead
- Vibrate
- 14th Street
- Natasha
- Harvester of Hearts
- Beautiful Child
- Want
- 11:11
- Dinner at Eight
- Es Mus Sein (bonus track from special edition - Polydor 450 504-1 (U.K.), 2003)
- Velvet Curtain Rag (bonus track from special edition - Polydor 450 504-1 (U.K.), 2003)
- What You Got *
- 11:11 (Studio Demo) *
Disc 4: Want Two (originally released as Geffen B0003716-02, 2004)
- Agnus Dei
- The One You Love
- Peach Trees
- Little Sister
- The Art Teacher
- Hometown Waltz
- This Love Affair
- Gay Messiah
- Memphis Skyline
- Waiting for a Dream
- Crumb by Crumb
- Old Whore's Diet
- Coeur De Parisienne - Reprise d'Arletty (Live) (bonus track on special edition - DreamWorks 2103092 (U.K.), 2004)
- Quand Vous Mourez de Nos Amours (Live) (bonus track on special edition - DreamWorks 2103092 (U.K.), 2004)
- Southern Soul *
- Gay Messiah (Studio Demo)
Disc 5: Release the Stars (released as Geffen B0008767-02, 2007)
- Do I Disappoint You
- Going to a Town
- Tiergarten
- Nobody's Off the Hook
- Between My Legs
- Rules and Regulations
- Not Ready to Love
- Slideshow
- Tulsa
- Leaving for Paris No. 2
- Sanssouci
- Release the Stars
- Do I Disappoint You (Instrumental) (bonus track on international pressings - Polydor 1733587 (U.K.), 2007)
- Low Grade Happiness (bonus track on Best Buy download card (U.S.) and iTunes (U.K.))
- Going to a Town (Live @ Kenwood House, London - 3/7/2010) *
Discs 6-7: Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall (originally released as Geffen B0010318-02 IN02, 2007)
- Overture: The Trolley Song/Over the Rainbow/The Man That Got Away
- When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles with You)
- Medley: Almost Like Being in Love/This Can't Be Love
- Do It Again
- You Go to My Head
- Alone Together
- Who Cares? (So Long As You Care for Me)
- Puttin' on the Ritz
- How Long Has This Been Going On
- Just You, Just Me
- The Man That Got Away
- San Francisco
- That's Entertainment
- I Can't Give You Anything But Love
- Come Rain or Come Shine
- You're Nearer
- A Foggy Day
- If Love Were All
- Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart
- Stormy Weather
- Medley: You Made Me Love You/For Me and My Gal/The Trolley Song
- Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody
- Over the Rainbow
- Swanee
- After You're Gone
- Chicago
- Get Happy
- Someone to Watch Over Me (featuring Martha Wainwright) *
- Everytime We Say Goodbye *
Disc 8: Milwaukee at Last!!! (originally released as Decca B0013238-02, 2009)
- Release the Stars
- Going to a Town
- Sanssouci
- Rules and Regulations
- Leaving for Paris No. 2
- If Love Were All
- Nobody's Off the Hook
- Not Ready to Love/Slideshow
- Macushla
- Gay Messiah
Disc 9: All Days are Nights: Songs for Lulu (originally released as Decca B0014192-02, 2010)
- Who Are You New York?
- Sad with What I Have
- Martha
- Give Me What I Want and Give It to Me Now!
- True Loves
- Sonnet 43
- Sonnet 20
- Sonnet 10
- The Dream
- What Would I Ever Do with a Rose?
- Les Feux D'Artifice T'Appellent
- Zebulon
- Les Feux D'Artifice T'Appellent (Alternate Version) (bonus track on British edition - Decca 2736309 (U.K.), 2009
- Who Are You New York? (Live @ Kenwood House, London - 3/7/2010) *
- Martha (Live @ Kenwood House, London - 3/7/2010) *
- The Walking Song (Live @ Kenwood House, London - 3/7/2010) *
Disc 10: Rufus Rarities
- Money Song *
- Ups and Downs (from French bonus disc included with Poses - Polydor cat. # unknown, 2001)
- Red Thread *
- St James Infirmary *
- London *
- A Bit of You (Rufus Wainwright Japanese bonus track - DreamWorks DRMD-50060 (JP), 1998)
- Ashes *
- In with the Ladies (from Want - Polydor 9887273 (U.K.), 2005)
- Miss Otis Regrets *
- Cowboy Song (Release the Stars iTunes (U.S.) bonus track, 2007)
- Patience is a Virtue (Release the Stars Wal-Mart (U.S.) digital bonus track, 2007)
- Shoes *
- Fame Into Love Into Death *
- One More Chance *
- Hankering *
- Dreams and Daydreams *
Disc 11: Rufus at the Movies
- I'm a Runnin' (from Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller, 1988) *
- Le Roi d'Ys (from The Myth of Fingerprints: Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Velvet VEL 79705-2, 1997)
- On the Banks of the Wabash (from The Myth of Fingerprints: Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Velvet VEL 79705-2, 1997)
- Complainte de la Butte (from Moulin Rouge: Music from Baz Luhrman's Film - Interscope 490 507-2, 2001)
- Hallelujah (from Shrek: Music from the Motion Picture - DreamWorks Records 0044-50305-02, 2001)
- He Ain't Heavy...He's My Brother (from Zoolander: Music from the Motion Picture - Hollywood Records 2061-62324-2, 2001)
- Across the Universe (from I Am Sam: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture - V2 Records 63881-27119-2, 2002)
- It's Only a Paper Moon (from Stormy Weather: The Music of Harold Arlen - Sony Music SK-87888, 2003)
- I Wonder What Became of Me(from Stormy Weather: The Music of Harold Arlen - Sony Music SK-87888, 2003)
- I Eat Dinner (When the Hunger's Gone) (from Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason - The Original Soundtrack - Geffen B0003566-02, 2004)
- I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise (The Aviator: Music from the Motion Picture - Sony Music SK-93628, 2004)
- King of the Road (from Brokeback Mountain: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Verve Forecast B0005604-02, 2005)
- The Maker Makes (from Brokeback Mountain: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Verve Forecast B0005604-02, 2005)
- Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered (from The History Boys: The Original Soundtrack - Rhino R2 74754, 2006)
- Another Believer (from Meet the Robinsons: Original Soundtrack - Walt Disney D0000246-02, 2007)
Disc 12: Family and Friends
- What'll I Do - Kate & Anna McGarrigle with Rufus & Martha Wainwright (from The McGarrigle Hour - Hannibal HNCD-1417, 1998)
- Au Fond du Temple Saint - David Byrne and Rufus Wainwright (from Grown Backwards - Nonesuch 79826-2, 2004)
- So Easy - Teddy Thompson (from Teddy Thompson - Virgin 49718, 2000)
- Old Paint - Rufus Wainwright with Loudon Wainwright III (bonus track on Release the Stars Best Buy download card (U.S.), 2007)
- Casanova in Hell (Live) - Pet Shop Boys (from Concrete - Parlophone 00946 377460 2 8 (U.K.), 2006)
- What Can I Do? - Antony and The Johnsons (from I Am a Bird Now - Secretyly Canadian SC-105, 2005)
- To America - Joan as Police Woman (from To Survive - Cheap Lullaby CLR-024, 2008)
- Tired of Wasting Time - Sloan Wainwright and Rufus Wainwright (from Life Grows Back - Sloan Wainwright 3, 2006)
- Chelsea Hotel No. 2 (Live) (from Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man - Motion Picture Soundtrack - Verve Forecast B0007169-02, 2006)
- Everybody Knows (Live) (from Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man - Motion Picture Soundtrack - Verve Forecast B0007169-02, 2006)
- More Wine - Julianna Raye (from Restless Night - Three Crows Music 4391, 2001)
- Lowlands Away - Rufus Wainwright and Kate McGarrigle (from Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys - Anti Records 86817, 2006)
- Scarecrow - Kristian Hoffman (from & - Eggbert Records, 2002)
- Albatross (from Born to the Breed: A Tribute to Judy Collins - Wildflower 1313, 2008)
- Down Where the Drunkards Roll - Loudon Wainwright III and Rufus Wainwright *
Disc 13: Original Demos (all tracks previously unreleased)
- Foolish Love
- Danny Boy
- Beauty Mark
- Damned Ladies
- Liberty Cabbage
- Matinee Idol
- April Fools
- Get Out of Town
- Sally Ann
- Sweet Repose
- In My Arms
- Keep Cool Fool
Disc 14: Rufus Does Judy: Live from the London Palladium (DVD) (originally released as Geffen B0010319-09, 2007)
- Overture: The Trolley Song/Over the Rainbow/The Main That Got Away
- When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles with You)
- Medley: Almost Like Being in Love/This Can't Be Love
- Do It Again
- You Go to My Head
- Alone Together
- Who Cares? (So Long As You Care for Me)
- Puttin' on the Ritz
- How Long Has This Been Going On
- Just You, Just Me
- The Man That Got Away
- San Francisco
- That's Entertainment
- I Can't Give You Anything But Love
- Come Rain or Come Shine
- You're Nearer
- A Foggy Day
- If Love Were All
- Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart
- Stormy Weather
- Medley: You Made Me Love You/For Me and My Gal/The Trolley Song
- Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody
- Over the Rainbow
- Swanee
- After You're Gone
- Chicago
- Get Happy
- Hello Bluebird
- Someone to Watch Over Me
- Everytime We Say Goodbye
- San Francisco (Reprise)
- Credits
Disc 15: All I Want (DVD) (originally released as Geffen
A Portrait of Rufus Wainwright documentary
Live at Studio Frisson, Montreal
- Gay Messiah
- Crumb by Crumb
- Rebel Prince
- The Art Teacher
- This Love Affair
- Poses
Live at The Corn Exchange, Cambridge
- Movies of Myself
- Go or Go Ahead
- I Don't Know What It Is
- Beautiful Child
Live at Central Park Summerstage
- Beauty Mark
- Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk
- Dinner at Eight
Music Videos
- The One You Love
- California
- April Fools
- The Maker Makes
Disc 16: Prima Donna: The Story of an Opera (DVD) (originally released on Decca, 2010)
Disc 17: Milwaukee at Last!!! (DVD) (originally released on Decca, 2009)
- This is Me (interlude)
- Release the Stars
- Brooches 1 (interlude)
- Going to a Town
- Sanssouci
- Rules and Regulations
- Brooches 2 (interlude)
- Tulsa
- The Art Teacher
- Brooches 3 (interlude)
- Tiergarten
- Leaving for Paris No. 2
- Get Up to Dance (interlude)
- Between My Legs
- Interval (interlude)
- Do I Disappoint You
- A Foggy Day
- If Love Were All
- Nobody's Off the Hook
- Beautiful Child
- Not Ready to Love
- Slideshow
- Macushla
- 14th Street
- Playing-out and Changing-up (interlude)
- Coming Out (interlude)
- I Don't Know What It Is
- Pretty Things
- La Complainte De La Butte
- Glamming-up Onstage and Changing Backstage (interlude)
- Get Happy
- Gay Messiah
- Credits
Special Features:
- Grey Gardens (Live in Milwaukee)
- Rehearsing for a Wedding (Backstage Rehearsal)
- Not Ready to Love (Live from Montreux Jazz Festival 2007)
- 14th Street (Live from Montreux Jazz Festival 2007)
- Get Happy (Live from Montreux Jazz Festival 2007)
Disc 18: Live at the Fillmore (DVD) (included with deluxe edition of Want Two - Geffen B0003716-00, 2004)
- Intro
- L'absence
- 14th Street
- Harvester of Hearts
- Natasha
- The Art Teacher
- Hallelujah
- Matinee Idol
- Vibrate
- Gay Messiah
- Want
- Greek Song
- Foolish
- I Don't Know What It Is
- Dinner At Eight
- Beautiful Child
- Oh What a World
- Liberty Cabbage
- California
- As in Happy
- Credits
Disc 19: Release the Stars (DVD) (included with deluxe edition - Polydor 1733588 (U.K.), 2007)
- Track by Track interview
- The Art Teacher - Sympatico/MSN Presents Live @ The Orange Lounge
- Rebel Prince - Sympatico/MSN Presents Live @ The Orange Lounge
- Gay Messiah - Sympatico/MSN Presents Live @ The Orange Lounge
- Vibrate - Sympatico/MSN Presents Live @ The Orange Lounge
Don says
This idea may backfire. As you noted, a box set this huge will only appeal to uber-fans, and yet uber-fans probably already own 70-80 percent of the content. Is the remaining 20-30 percent worth $260?
Also, not to be nitpicky, but Rufus provided vocals for Pet Shop Boys' "Cassanova in Hell" on their live BBC album, "Concrete." The studio version from "Fundamental" has Neil Tennant on vox. I'm guessing the box set version is the live version, but it would be a cool rarity for PSB fans if it was actually a studio mix featuring Rufus.
Mike Duquette says
Don't say you're nitpicky, Don! As always, you guys are keeping us honest. Yeah, I think it's going to be the "Concrete" version of "Casanova" on the box - anything else would require some licensing trickery on Universal's part, and there's enough licensing to go around as it is.
Bill Janowski says
Don, you're probably right on those points,
but for dedicated RW fans, who knows how it'll
appeal to them??
Still, this will have sold out LONG before
I could afford it anyway.
Even though I have only a few of his CD's, I sure wouldn't mind WINNING a box set like this - LOL!!
Bill Janowski says
To add to my previous post:
Mike, from what you mentioned, I'm guessing that
Universal's U.S. division passed on doing this
deluxe package??
Actually, for $260 U.S., it's not too bad a deal for fans like me (that don't own most of this material), but again, it's something probably few can afford.
Jonathan H says
I still can't believe the box doesn't include Instant Pleasure, one of his best songs in my opinion.
Here it is on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_BFXvqBjvg
Arthur Rimbaud says
it does include Instant Pleasure,its the fourth song on the 'At The Movies' disc (from the film Big Daddy) not sure why its not on the list here,but i have the disc and assure you its there (check discogs too you'll see)