Today, author Bob Mehr releases Trouble Boys: The True Story of The Replacements, chronicling the tumultuous story of one of the most influential indie-rock bands of all time.  On March 29, Rhino will issue an ideal audio companion to the biography.  The 4-LP box set The Sire Years brings together all four of The Replacements' albums for Seymour Stein's fabled Sire label: Tim (1985), Pleased To Meet Me, (1987), Don't Tell A Soul (1989) and All Shook Down (1990).

The Sire Years follows last year's 4-LP box set The Twin/Tone Years which collected the band's early albums on vinyl.  All four albums feature the original album sequences with full original artwork.  The set is limited to 8,700 numbered copies, and as a special promotion, fans who pre-order the collection from select independent stores (while supplies last) will also receive an exclusive 7-inch vinyl single featuring "Can't Hardly Wait (The Tim Version)" b/w "Portland," both previously unreleased on vinyl .

Paul Westerberg, Chris Mars, Bob Stinson and Tommy Stinson made their Sire debut with Tim (1985). The LP introduced "Kiss Me on the Bus," "Left of the Dial," "Swingin' Party" and "Bastards Of Young." Pleased To Meet Me (1987) - the band's first album without founding guitarist Bob Stinson - introduced a more expansive, diverse sound on songs like "Alex Chilton," "Skyway" and "Can't Hardly Wait." (Chilton, who provided additional vocals and production on "Left of the Dial" on Tim was welcomed back for Pleased to Meet Me, along with Luther Dickinson, Jim Dickinson, The Wrecking Crew's Steve Douglas, and The Memphis Horns).  Guitarist Slim Dunlap joined the band in the studio for the first time on Don't Tell A Soul (1989), which reflected a more straightforward rock approach and premiered "I'll Be You," the group's highest-charting single. The band's final full-length album to date, All Shook Down (1990), was originally conceived as a Westerberg solo effort.  It features just one track with the entire line-up, though all four members play on it.  John Cale and Benmont Tench are among the other guests on this LP which boasts fan-favorites "Someone Take the Wheel." "Sadly Beautiful," and the Grammy-nominated "When It Began."

The Replacements' The Sire Years arrives on March 29 as part of Record Store Day's "Vinyl Tuesday" initiative.  You can pre-order at the links below!

The Replacements, The Sire Years (Sire/Rhino, 2016) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Includes:

1. Tim (1985)
2. Pleased to Meet Me (1987)
3. Don't Tell a Soul (1989)
4. All Shook Down (1990)