Edsel has just announced a 13-CD box set looking at the career of alternative music star (and one of our favorite artists here at Second Disc HQ) Ben Folds, both as a solo artist and as a member of Ben Folds Five.  Brick: The Songs of Ben Folds 1996-2012, due June 22, contains nearly all of Folds' core studio albums together with a live album and some other odds and ends.  It traces his career from the first Ben Five Folds record through his solo recordings to the Five's reunion album in 2012.

Ben Folds formed his first band, Majosha, in his home state of North Carolina in the late 1980s.  The group won the Duke University Battle of the Bands in 1988 and went on to release an EP and album. But the group broke up, and by 1990, Folds was living in Nashville with a music publishing deal and working as a session musician. He then attended school in Florida on a percussion scholarship but quit before he graduated and moved to New Jersey to pursue acting. By 1993, he was back in North Carolina where he formed the quirky Ben Folds Five, a trio consisting of Folds on lead vocals and piano accompanied by Robert Sledge (bass, synthesizers, backing vocals) and Darren Jessee (drums, backing vocals). The "Five" released their self-titled debut album in 1995 on the independent Passenger/Caroline label. The album didn't chart in the U.S., but found success in Australia and Japan, where it went Gold.  U.S. labels were interested in the up-and-comers, however, and the band signed to Sony imprint 550 Music.

In 1997 the group released their sophomore album, Whatever and Ever Amen, which became their breakout album.  Recorded in a rented house in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the album featured the singles "Battle of Who Could Care Less" and "Kate," as well as U.K. Top 30 and Billboard Modern Rock top ten hit "Brick," a heartbreaking ballad inspired by an abortion.  While the album never got very high on the charts, it nonetheless sold steadily and went platinum.  The third and final Ben Folds Five album (until their 2012 reformation) was 1999's ambitious, more sophisticated The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner.  It did not meet with the same warm reception from the public as its predecessor (although as a sign that Folds has always utilized digital platforms well, it did hit No. 3 on the Internet albums chart).  Soon after, Folds decided to go out on his own.

On the tragic date of September 11, 2001, Ben Folds released his first solo album, Rockin' The Suburbs, on Epic.  It had been recorded in Adelaide, Australia, where he was living at the time, with Folds playing nearly every instrument on the album. The title track would be a hit for Folds and was remade for the 2006 animated film Over the Hedge, featuring William Shatner on vocal duties (both versions appear on this box set, as well as the five other songs recorded for the movie). This was followed in 2005 by Songs for Silverman, which reached No. 13 on the Billboard chart.  It featured the lush single "Landed," which was met with some success.

The next year Folds released Supersunnyspeedgraphic, a compilation of songs originally released in 2003-2004 on the EPs Sunny 16, Speed Graphic and Super D.  The final Folds solo album to appear in this box set is 2008's Way to Normal, which is his highest-charting solo album to date in the U.S., having entered at No.11 on the Billboard chart. The album featured a guest appearance by Regina Spektor.  It was followed by an alternative version of the LP entitled Stems and Seeds. For this, Folds created a different track order and stem files, which allowed the listener to use computer applications to produce their own remixes. (The stem files from the original release are not in the box set).  In 2011, Ben Folds Five reunited to record new tracks for a Folds retrospective. Excited by the experience, the band reconvened in Folds' studio and recorded what would become their first album in 13 years. With the title track's lyric supplied by Folds collaborator Nick Hornby, The Sound of the Life of The Mind was to be the band's highest charting album, reaching No. 10 on the Billboard chart.  It is the most recent album in the box.

Brick: The Songs of Ben Folds 1996-2012 features 13 CDs housed in a box designed to look like a brick. The 194 tracks span all the Ben Folds Five and Ben Folds solo studio albums, and also includes the 2002 Ben Folds Live album, the live Songs For Goldfish which accompanied Songs For Silverman, and bonus tracks, B-sides and rarities from the period. The box includes a 60-page booklet featuring a brand-new artist interview conducted by Paul Myers.  It does not feature a couple of releases such as the EP Live at Tower Records or live material released as The Sound of Last Night...This Morning!, nor does it offer Folds' collaborative albums including 2009's Ben Folds Presents: University A Capella (with various college a capella groups), 2010's Lonely Avenue (with Nick Hornby) and 2015's So There (with youth orchestral ensemble yMusic, Folds' last album release).  It also does not have most of the bonus material from several of Folds' compilations such as The Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective and Fifty-Five Vault (both from 2011) or 2015's Playlist.  So, you may want to hang onto some of your compilations for completeness' sake.

If you would like to take a look back at Ben Folds' career with this large box set overview due on June 22 from Edsel, we've got the full track listing and pre-order links below.  There is an Amazon exclusive edition which features A4 signed print featuring the hand-written lyrics to "Brick."  However, this may have already sold out within hours of its announcement.  Should be more copies be made available, you'll find them at the link below!  And if you'd like a blast from the past, check out our Second Disc interview with Ben from way back in 2011!

Brick: The Songs Of Ben Folds 1995-2012 (Edsel (U.K.), 2018)

Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada TBD
Amazon U.K. Exclusive Edition with signed print

Disc 1: Ben Folds Five (originally released as Passenger/Caroline Records PSR 9501-2, 1995) and bonus tracks

1. Jackson Cannery
2. Philosophy
3. Julianne
4. Where's Summer B.?
5. Alice Childress
6. Underground
7. Sports & Wine
8. Uncle Walter
9. Best Imitation Of Myself
10. Video
11. The Last Polka
12. Boxing
13. Eddie Walker
14. Tom and Mary
15. Dick Holster
16. Emaline
17. Jackson Cannery (Original 7" Version)

Tracks 13-16 released on Naked Baby Photos - Caroline CAR 7554, 1998
Track 17 released on Wholemeal Music 7" single (self-released), 1994

Disc 2: Whatever and Ever Amen (originally released as 550 Music BK 67762, 1997)

1. One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces
2. Fair
3. Brick
4. Song For The Dumped
5. Selfless, Cold and Composed
6. Kate
7. Smoke
8. Cigarette
9. Steven's Last Night In Town
10. Battle Of Who Could Care Less
11. Missing The War
12. Evaporated

Disc 3: Whatever and Ever Amen...and Ever Amen

1. Song For The Dumped (Japanese Version)
2. For All The Pretty People
3. Michell Lane
4. All Shook Up
5. Champagne Supernova (Live @ LA2, London - 11/26/1996)
6. Theme From "Dr. Pyser" (Live @ LA2, London - 11/26/1996)
7. Hava Nagila
8. For Those Of Ya'll Who Wear Fannie Packs
9. One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces (Shitless Version)
10. Bad Idea (Demo Version)
11. Missing The War (Live @ Gaston Hall, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. - 12/4/1997)
12. She Don't Use Jelly
13. Smoke (Live On "Morning Becomes Eclectic" KCRW-FM, Los Angeles - 7/17/1997)
14. Brick (Radio Mix)
15. Video Killed The Radio Star
16. Kate (Ska Mix)
17. Bad Idea
18. Air

Tracks 1 and 11-13 from "Brick" U.K. CD singles - 550 Music 665661 2/5, 1998
Tracks 2-4 and 10 from "Kate" U.K. CD singles - 550 Music 664536 2/5, 1997
Tracks 5-8 from "Battle Of Who Could Care Less" U.K. CD singles - 550 Music 664095 2/5, 1997
Track 8 also from Lounge-a-Palooza - Hollywood Records HR-62072-2, 1997
Track 9 from "One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces" promo single - 550 Music BSK 0491, 1997
Track 14 from "Brick" promo single - 550 Music BSK 2967, 1997
Track 15 from expanded edition of Whatever and Ever Amen - Epic EK 86082, 2005
Track 16 from Sabrina The Teenage Witch: The Album - Geffen Records GEFD-25220, 1998
Track 17 from The Truth About Cats & Dogs: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - A&M Records 314 540 507-2, 1996
Track 18 from Godzilla: The Album - Epic/Sony Music Soundtrax EK 69338, 1998

Disc 4: The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner (originally released as 550 Music BK 69808, 1999) and bonus tracks

1. Narcolepsy
2. Don't Change Your Plans
3. Mess
4. Magic
5. Hospital Song
6. Army
7. Your Redneck Past
8. Your Most Valuable Possession
9. Regrets
10. Jane
11. Lullabye
12. Theme From "Dr. Pyser" (from "Army" U.K. CD single - 550 Music 667218 2, 1999)
13. Birds (from "Army" U.K. CD single - 550 Music 667218 5, 1999)
14. Leather Jacket (from "Army" U.K. CD single - 550 Music 667218 5, 1999)
15. Don't Change Your Plans (Radio Edit) (from 550 Music promo single BSK 42557, 1999)

Disc 5: Rockin' The Suburbs (originally released as Epic EK 61610, 2001)

1. Annie Waits
2. Zak and Sara
3. Still Fighting It
4. Gone
5. Fred Jones Part 2
6. The Ascent Of Stan
7. Losing Lisa
8. Carrying Cathy
9. Not The Same
10. Hiro's Song (from Japanese pressing of album - Epic ESCA 8352, 2001)
11. Rockin' The Suburbs
12. Fired
13. The Luckiest

Disc 6: Rockin' The Bonus

1. Rockin' The Suburbs (Radio Edit)
2. Girl
3. Make Me Mommy
4. One Down
5. The Secret Life Of Morgan Davis
6. Zak and Sara (Live @ The Chapel, Newtown, NSW, Australia For MTV)
7. Boxing (Live @ The Chapel, Newtown, NSW, Australia For MTV)
8. Bizarre Christmas Incident
9. Lonely Christmas Eve
10. Protection
11. Wandering
12. All U Can Eat
13. Rockstar
14. Songs Of Love

Track 1 from "Rockin' The Suburbs" promo single - Epic ESK 16690, 2001
Tracks 2-5 from Rockin' The Suburbs Japanese EP - Epic EICP 16, 2001
Tracks 6-7 from "Still Fighting It" Australian CD single - Epic 672291 2, 2002
Track 8 from Maybe This Christmas - Nettwerk 0 6700 30295 2 0, 2002
Track 9 from Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Interscope Records 069 480 765-2, 2000
Tracks 10-11 from Speed Graphic - Attacked By Plastic EL 90647, 2003
Tracks 12-15 from Sunny 16 - Attacked By Plastic EL 90663, 2003

Disc 7: Ben Folds Live (originally released as Epic EK 86863, 2002)

1. One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces (Live @ The 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C. - 6/12/2002)
2. Zak and Sara (Live @ The State Theatre, Portland, ME - 6/10/2002)
3. Silver Street (Live @ Clutch Cargo's, Pontiac, MI - 6/25/2002)
4. Best Imitation Of Myself (Live @ The Roseland Ballroom, New York, NY - 6/13/2002)
5. Not The Same (Live @ The Calvin Theatre, Northampton, MA - 6/7/2002)
6. Jane (Live @ The 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C. - 6/12/2002)
7. One Down (Live @ The 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C. - 6/12/2002)
8. Fred Jones Part 2 (Live @ The Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA - 3/25/2002)
9. Brick (Live @ The Roseland Ballroom, New York, NY - 6/13/2002)
10. Narcolepsy (Live @ The Roseland Ballroom, New York, NY - 6/13/2002)
11. Army (Live @ The Roseland Ballroom, New York, NY - 6/13/2002)
12. The Last Polka (Live @ Clutch Cargo's, Pontiac, MI - 6/25/2002)
13. Tiny Dancer (Live @ The Newport Music Festival, Newport, RI - 7/6/2002)
14. Rock This Bitch (Live @ The Vic Theatre, Chicago, IL - 3/6/2002)
15. Philosophy/Misirlou (Live @ The Moore Theatre, Seattle, WA - 3/20/2002)
16. The Luckiest (Live @ The Rococo Theatre, Lincoln, NE - 6/23/2002)
17. Emaline (Live @ XM Radio, Washington, D.C. - 6/12/2002)

Disc 8: Songs For Silverman (originally released as Epic EK 81704, 2005) and bonus tracks

1. Bastard
2. You To Thank
3. Jesusland
4. Landed
5. Gracie
6. Trusted
7. Give Judy My Notice
8. Late
9. Sentimental Guy
10. Time
11. Prison Food
12. Landed (Strings Version) (from DualDisc edition - Epic EN 94191, 2005)

Disc 9: Songs For Goldfish (originally released as Attacked By Plastic EL 94452, 2005)

1. In Between Days (Live @ Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA - 1/28/2005)
2. Gone (Live @ Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA - 1/28/2005)
3. Hiro's Song (Live @ Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA - 1/28/2005)
4. You To Thank (Live @ Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA - 1/28/2005)
5. Weather Channel Music (Live @ Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA - 1/28/2005)
6. Evaporated (Live @ The Roseland Ballroom, New York City - 6/13/2002)
7. There's Always Someone Cooler Than You (Live @ The El Rey, Los Angeles - 10/22/2004)
8. Rockin' The Suburbs (Live @ The El Rey, Los Angeles - 10/22/2004)
9. Radio Jingles For Tokyo's Inter-FM
10. Side Of The Road

Disc 10: Supersunnyspeedgraphic, the LP (originally released as Epic 88697 00536-2, 2006) and bonus tracks

1. In Between Days
2. All U Can Eat
3. Songs Of Love
4. There's Always Someone Cooler Than You
5. Learn To Live With What You Are
6. Bitches Ain't Shit
7. Adelaide
8. Rent a Cop
9. Get Your Hands Off My Woman
10. Bruised
11. Dog
12. Still
13. Kalamazoo
14. Them That Got (Live @ The Avalon, Boston, MA - 6/8/2002)
15. Family Of Me
16. Heist
17. Lost In The Supermarket
18. Still
19. Rockin' The Suburbs (Over The Hedge Version feat. William Shatner)
20. Still (Reprise)

Tracks 13-14 from Super D - Attacked By Plastic EL 90826, 2004
Tracks 15-20 from Over The Hedge: Music From The Motion Picture - Epic 82876 83369-2, 2006

Disc 11: Way To Normal (originally released as Epic 88697 09849-2, 2008) and bonus track

1. Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head)
2. Dr. Yang
3. The Frown Song
4. You Don't Know Me (feat. Regina Spektor)
5. Before Cologne
6. Cologne
7. Errant Dog
8. Free Coffee
9. Bitch Went Nuts
10. Brainwascht
11. Effington
12. Kylie From Connecticut
13. Black Glasses (feat. Angela Aki) (from Ben Folds File: Complete Best Of - Epic EICP 1099 (Japan), 2009)

Disc 12: Stems and Seeds (originally released as Epic 88697 46196-2, 2009)

1. Effington
2. Frown Song
3. Dr. Yang
4. You Don't Know Me (Feat. Regina Spektor)
5. Free Coffee
6. Cologne
7. Bitch Went Nuts
8. Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head)
9. Kylie From Connecticut
10. Errant Dog
11. Brainwascht
12. Cologne (Piano Orchestra Version)
13. Bitch Went Nutz
14. Way To Normal
15. Free Coffee Town
16. Lovesick Diagnostician
17. Frowne Song (Feeble Anthem)
18. You Don't Know Me (feat. Regina Spektor) (Late Night with Conan O'Brien Rehearsal, 2008)
19. Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head) (Japanese Version)
20. Brainwashed

Tracks 12-17 and 20 originally released on "fake" leaked version of Way To Normal

Disc 13: The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind (originally released as IMA Vee Pee Records/Sony Music 88725 46410-2, 2012) and bonus track

1. Erase Me
2. Michael Praytor, Five Years Later
3. Sky High
4. The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind
5. On Being Frank
6. Draw a Crowd
7. Do It Anyway
8. Hold That Thought
9. Away When You Were Here
10. Thank You For Breaking My Heart
11. House (from The Best Imitation Of Myself: A Retrospective - Epic/Legacy 88697 94445-2, 2011)