The Stooges Gets Deluxe Reish – Again!

Boasts elaborate packaging plus a slew of material that didn't make it onto the previous reissue. Differences between the two discussed below.

By Blurt Staff

The Stooges, whose March 15 induction the other night into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was long overdue, have been in the news a lot lately - in particular, for the group's massively expanded reissue of Raw Power, due April 27, and of course the reunion tour that will bring guitarist James Williamson back into the fold.

Also getting into the act Rhino Handmade via a "Collector's Edition" of the Stooges self-titled 1969 debut, a two-disc version going for $49.98.

Sharp-eyed Stooges fans will now be scratching their heads and saying, "Waitaminnit - Rhino issued two-CD editions of The Stooges and Fun House back in August 2005. What gives?" Well, Rhino Handmade is essentially folding the 10 bonus tracks from that release into this one and adding 8 additional ones, for a total of 18 cuts not appearing on the original '69 LP, so this represents a substantial expansion/upgrade. Not to mention the elaborate packaging and a vinyl goodie that will be included, as you'll read below. You can compare the tracklistings of each edition at the bottom as well.

At any rate, scheduled to ship in late April, The Stooges is to be a 26-track collection issued in a 7" x 7" hardbound booklet that contains two CDs along with a 7" single that features the previously unreleased track "Asthma Attack." A staple of the group's early live shows, this is the first time a studio version of the song has been released.

The Collector's Edition's first disc combines the original album's eight songs with producer John Cale's original mixes, including unreleased versions of "We Will Fall" and "Ann." Also featured is the mono single version of "I Wanna Be Your Dog," a song Rolling Stone named #438 on its list of "500 Greatest Songs Of All Time"-right behind Elvis' "Love Me Tender."

The second disc opens with "Asthma Attack," written when The Stooges' 20-minute live sets were dominated by arty experiments in feedback and improvisation. The remainder of the disc presents an alternate version of the original album with alternate takes of every song, including full versions of "No Fun" and "Ann," plus unreleased versions of "We Will Fall," "Real Cool Time," and the album closer, "Little Doll."

 "The Stooges' influence is legion-to name all of the bands, singers, and would-be rock stars who drank from the well could fill 1,000 phone books," writes author (and BLURT contributor) Mike Edison in the collection's liner notes. "There is not a hard or heavy band anywhere on the planet that's not in earnest awe of The Stooges."

Track Listing:

Disc 1

1.      "1969"

2.      "I Wanna Be Your Dog"

3.      "We Will Fall"

4.      "No Fun"

5.      "Real Cool Time"

6.      "Ann"

7.      "Not Right"

8.      "Little Doll"

9.      "I Wanna Be Your Dog" - Mono Single Version

10.  "1969" - Original John Cale Mix

11.  "Not Right" - Original John Cale Mix

12.  "We Will Fall" - Original John Cale Mix*

13.  "No Fun" - Original John Cale Mix

14.  "Real Cool Time" - Original John Cale Mix

15.  "Ann" - Original John Cale Mix*

16.  "Little Doll" - Original John Cale Mix

17.  "I Wanna Be Your Dog" - Original John Cale Mix

Disc 2

1.      "Asthma Attack"*

2.      "1969" - Alternate Vocal

3.      "I Wanna Be Your Dog" - Alternate Vocal

4.      "We Will Fall"*

5.      "No Fun" - Full Version

6.      "Real Cool Time" - Takes 1 & 2*

7.      "Ann" - Full Version

8.      "Not Right" - Alternate Vocal

9.      "Little Doll" - Takes 1-5*

*Previously unreleased

Disc 2 of the 2005 reissue contained these tracks (Disc 1 was a remastered version of the original LP):

1. No Fun [Original John Cale Mix]
2. 1969 [Original John Cale Mix]
3. I Wanna Be Your Dog [Original John Cale Mix]
4. Little Doll [Original John Cale Mix]
5. 1969 [Alternate Vocal]
6. I Wanna Be Your Dog [Alternate Vocal]
7. Not Right [Alternate Vocal]
8. Real Cool Time [Alternate Mix][Alternate Take]
9. Ann [Full Version]
10. No Fun [Full Version]