Paul Westerberg Releases 2008-2017

The saga of Paul Westerberg's releases in the 21st century is.... confusing.....confounding.....maddening.....revelatory...pick your adjective. There's no easy way to chart his artistic journey over the last two decades, especially after he ditched the conventional way of releasing music in 2005 - apparently for good. Indeed, his manager reported a few years ago that he had "retired" so, for Paul's most recent releases, what we're left with is a patchwork quilt of mostly digital releases, pseudonyms and a release strategy that can best be described as "unconventional" - unannounced release dates, use of multiple platforms, discount pricing - all seemingly done at random. And that's just how this music was unleashed on the world; the breadth of creativity that these releases encompass - ranging from absurd mayhem to absolute brilliance - is a whole different story, one that bears continued study and an abundance of patience.... and that's assuming one can even track everything down. Even by the standards of someone who has pretty much thumbed his nose at convention since bursting on the scene with The Replacements in 1980, navigating Paul Westerberg's discography in the 21st century is one wild ride.

The turn of the century started out in fairly typical fashion for Westerberg, with a flurry of 5 albums worth of material coming in less than 3 years, this all following a 4 year gap since the release of Westerberg's third solo album, Suicaine Gratification in 1998. The Stereo / Mono double album came first in 2002, the latter title (also released by itself) reprising the "Grandpa Boy" moniker for the first time since a pair of obscure releases in 1997: a 2 song single and a 5 song EP that introduced the world to yet another classic Westerberg nom de plume: Winthrope Marion Purvical V (see Grandpa Boy discography below). 2003 saw a Grandpa Boy follow up, Dead Man Shake (released on Fat Possum / Epitaph; the CD contained 2 more tracks than the LP) and Come Feel Me Tremble, issued both as a standalone studio CD and an accompanying DVD documentary with an abundance of additional material. Paul's last conventional album released under his name, Folker, came out in 2004. Except for Dead Man Shake, these releases were all on Vagrant, a Massachusetts-based punk/indie label. Two years after Folker, 8 original Westerberg compositions were released on the soundtrack album to Open Season (Lost Highway, 2006), an animated comedy (a now rare 10 inch vinyl mini album was also released featuring 5 of Westerberg's soundtrack songs + 2 alternate versions unique to that release).

Then Paul seemingly pulled the plug connecting him to what we know as the "music industry."

This article is an attempt to make sense of Westerberg's releases following the Open Season material in 2006, starting off with 49:00, one of Westerberg's greatest creations and possibly his best post-Mats release. Any additional info will be updated as needed.

PAUL WESTERBERG RELEASES 2008-2017

49:00 Of Your Time Life (full length – audio collage – 1 continuous track; 43:55)

01. 00:00 Who You Gonna Marry? (3:57)
02. 03:57 With or Without Her (Kentucky Risin’) (3:00)
03. 06:57 Something in My Life is Missing (3:41)
04. 10:38 Visitor’s Day (3:36)
05. 14:14 Thoroughbred (0:14)
06. 14:28 Devil Raised a Good Boy (3:10)
07. 17:38 You’re My Girl (0:26)
08. 18:04 Everyone’s Stupid (2:37) ***
09. 20:42 You're My Girl (reprise) (0:06)
10. 20:48 What Do You Want (0:19)
11. 21:07 Never Coming Back (0:45)
12. 21:52 Goodnight, Sweet Prince (3:55)
13. 25:47 Guess I’ll Be Going Then (0:07)
14. 25:54 Outta My System (3:22) **
15. 29:16 C'mon, Be My Darling (3:45)
16. 33:01 Down On the Farm (0:12)
17. 33:12 100,000 Pieces (1:12)
18. 34:24 I’m Clean (1:11)
19. 35:35 Your Sister (0:08)
20. 35:43 It’ll Never Die (4:03)
21. 39:46 Cover Medley * (0:55)
22. 40:41 I Think I Love You (1:05) (The Partridge Family cover)
23. 41:46 Oh Yeah! (2:09)

Total time = 43:55

* Includes snippets of “Hello Goodybe” - The Beatles; “Lost Highway” - Hank Williams; “Born to be Wild” - Steppenwolf; “Stupid Girl” - Rolling Stones; “I'm Eighteen” - Alice Cooper; “I'm a Rock” - Simon and Garfunkel; “Rocket Man” - Elton John; “Dandy” - The Kinks

** Another version with substantially different lyrics appears on the Hot Stove, Cool Music – Volume 1 compilation (2004, Fenway Recordings CD). The song was also remade by the I Don't Cares on the Wild Stab album in 2016. That version has lyrics similar to the 2004 version and may contain elements of that recording. It was also demo-ed in the Mono era.

*** Also performed live in 2007.

Note: Some song titles are guesses that have circulated through fan world. Official song titles were never announced. Track splits were done for convenience; original release was one single MP3 with no track indexes.

Copyright info (in metadata): Dry Wood Music 2008

Released digitally July 19, 2008 on Amazon Digital and Tunecore. Withdrawn August 1, 2008, apparently due to licensing issues with the cover medley. Currently streaming on Paul's Soundcloud page. CDR promo copies were reportedly distributed. Available on YouTube (minus the cover medley) with 5:05 included at the end.

In a 2016 Spin interview, Westerberg talks about 49:00: 

If I drop dead tomorrow, that’s my masterpiece. I’m so tempted to [make a record like that one] again, but I can’t go through it again. It was absolute insanity and I was so frightened when I made it that people would think I was schizophrenic.

5:05 (1 song; 5:05)

Released digitally August 5, 2008 on Tunecore. No longer available. Currently streaming on Paul's Soundcloud page. Also available on YouTube. (link dead as of 1/12/25). 5:05 is added to the end of 49:00 here.

3oclockreep (2 songs; 23:32)

• 3oclockreep (audio collage – 1 continuous track) (20:02)

  • 00:00 Tell 'Em All, Go to Hell (2:49)

  • 02:49 Mash of outtakes (0:44)

  • 03:33 It's Ridiculous, Everybody Wants to Be Famous (2:49)

  • 06:22 Only Excuse Is (2:14)

  • 08:36 You're Still Mine (1:03)

  • 09:39 If Only You Were Lonely (0:45) *

  • 10:24 Studio ramblings (1:56) *

  • 12:20 We Know the Night (2:47) *

  • 15:07 Lowdown Monkey Blues (4:55) *
    * - recorded 1988 with Tom Waits

• Finally Here Once (3:29)

Released digitally Aug 26, 2008 on Amazon Digital. Still available from Amazon for streaming and download. Also available on YouTube.

Bored of Edukation (1 song; 4:46)

Released digitally Sept 13, 2008 on Amazon Digital and Tunecore. Still available from Amazon for streaming and download. Also available on YouTube.

D.G.T. ( 3 songs; 9:33)

• Away in a Manger (2:43)

• Streets of Laredo (3:14)

• D.G.T. (3:43)
  
  

Released digitally Dec 24, 2008 on Amazon Digital. Still available from Amazon for streaming and download. Also available on YouTube: Away in a Manger, Streets of Laredo and D.G.T.

PW & the Ghost Gloves Cat Wing Joy Boys (6 songs; 24:11)

• Ghost on the Canvas (3:41) *

• Drop Them Gloves (3:44)

• Good As the Cat (3:43)

• Love on the Wing (5:28)

• Gimme Little Joy (4:11)

• Dangerous Boys (3:24)

Released digitally Sept 22, 2009 on Amazon Digital and also on CDR (on-demand). Still available from Amazon for streaming & download. CDR no longer available. Also available on YouTube.

* "Ghost on the Canvas" was covered by Glen Campbell and released on his album of the same name in 2011.

Mr. F 45 (2 songs; 5:25)

• This Machine (2:49)

• Foolish Hand Shake (2:36)

Vinyl 45 released Oct 29, 2010 on Nimbit Music. Artist listed as “Mr. F.” Included bonus digital download (see Grandpaboy's Last Stand). Out of print. Available on YouTube: This Machine and Foolish Hand Shake

Grandpaboy's Last Stand (2 songs; 37:47)

• Grandpaboy's Last Stand (audio collage – 1 continuous track) (35:41)

  • 00:00 Getting My MBA

  • 01:57 Doing Me Wrong

  • 03:32 Mystery Train

  • 07:41 Love You in Reverse

  • 10:45 Anybody Looking For God (aka Save Elrod Puce)

  • 16:18 Don't Shoot or I'll Move

  • 20:16 Be My Tennis Shoe

  • 21:54 Mr. Cigarette (take 1)

  • 24:26 Mr. Cigarette (take 2)

  • 28:48 Love You in Reverse (disco version)

  • 32:23 Grandpabboy meets his maker (dialog)
    
    

• Grandpaboy's Last Stand (epilogue) (2:06)

Grandpaboy's Last Stand is a purported audio verite documentation of a Grandpaboy “recording session”. Lots of mayhem and general nonsense in between “songs.”

Released digitally Oct 29, 2010 on Nimbit Music as bonus digital content to the Mr. F (aka Paul Westerberg) “This Machine” b/w “Foolish Hand Shake” 45. Out of print. Available on YouTube.

My Road Now (1 song; 3:32)

Released digitally Sept 21, 2012. Originally available as a free download on the I Will Dare blog. Also available on YouTube

Down at the Heel / One More Try [The Silks] (2 songs; 5:27)

Released on 7 inch vinyl and digital, May 25, 2013 in a limited edition of 300 copies (220 black / 80 white).

Produced by Paul Westerberg. B-side features PW on lead vocals and guitar.

Recorded by Ed Ackerson at Flowers Studio in Minneapolis (note: this is where the 2 new songs - “Message to the Boys” and “Pool & Dive” - released on The Replacements' Don't You Know Who You Think I Was? 2006 compilation were recorded). 

B-side is a Rolling Stones cover written by Jagger/Richards and originally released on the US version of the Out of Their Heads LP in 1965. A-side was also released on The Silks 2013 album Last American Band (CD/LP, self-released) which was produced by PW.

Poke Me In My Cage [The Replacements] (1 song; 24:22)

Released digitally Dec 17, 2014 on The Replacements Soundcloud page. Recorded at Woolly Mammoth Sound in Waltham, MA on October 28, 2014. Engineered by David Minehan, assisted by Matt Jones. Written by Paul Westerberg & Tommy Stinson & Josh Freese. © 2014. Available on YouTube.

Wild Stab [The I Don't Cares] (16 songs)

1. Back (3:52)

2. Wear Me Out Loud (2:41)

3. Born For Me (4:08) [Paul Westerberg version on Suicaine Gratifaction & Come Feel Me Tremble. Performed live in 2002, 2004 and 2005]

4. 1/2 2P (2:44)

5. Sorry For Tomorrow Night (2:41)

6. Dance To The Fight (2:16)

7. Kissing Break (3:18)

8. Just A Phase (3:26)

9. Outta My System (3:40) [Paul Westerberg version on 49:00 - see note]

10. Need The Guys (2:27)

11. Love Out Loud (2:14)

12. King of America (3:29) [Originally an Eventually-era outtake which was released on a promo CDR. Also performed live circa 1996]

13. Little People (1:42)

14. Whole Lotta Nothin' (3:51)

15. Done Done Done (2:18)

16. Hands Together (6:51)

Released on CD and digital Jan 22, 2016. Full length album with Juliana Hatfield on the Dry Wood Music label. Currently out of print.

Dry Wood Garage (12 songs; 38:40)

1. Hawk Ripping at Your Throat (3:58) – released 7/8/17 #
2. Got It Made (3:04) – released 7/15/17 #
3. Feelin' Good (2:44) – released 7/22/17 #
   Note: with Tim O'Reagan (bg vox) & Keely Lane (drums)
4. Dead Sick Of (2:17) – released 7/29/17 #
5. Someday You'll Call My Name (2:58) – released 7/29/17 #
   Note: Hank Williams cover
6. Oompa (3:36) – released 8/5/17 #
7. Come Hither (3:42) – released 8/9/17 #
8. Surrounded by Morons (2:58) – released 8/12/17 * &
9. What the Gym Couldn't Do (2:08) – released 8/29/17 * &
10. Country Boy (4:38) – released 9/3/17 * &
11. Mrs. Beethoven (3:21) – released 9/9/17 * &
12. September (3:16) – released 9/20/17 #
    Note: this song has been performed live at least twice before: Minneapolis Nov 2004 & Boston Sept 2005

* paid downloads

# = originally posted on Soundcloud User 964848511 page; still there as of 1/12/25.
& = originally posted on on the Dry Wood Garage Bandcamp page (still there as of 1/12/25) and the Nimbit Dry Wood Garage page (page active at least through 8/28/20; apparently dead now)

NOTES

At first, these were weekly digital releases – usually on Saturday – on Soundcloud from “User 964848511” and were announced on the Dry Wood Garage website starting 7/8/17. Initially, the songs were available on Soundcloud for streaming with no download option. Then starting with “Surrounded by Morons,” the songs were instead offered on Bandcamp (with artwork images) and Nimbit for paid download. Things moved back to Soundcloud on 9/20/17 for the final DWG song, “September.”

The Dry Wood Garage site initially featured embedded links to the Soundcloud songs. When the switch was made to the Dry Wood Garage Bandcamp page, the DWG site included standard links to those songs under a section called “Stuff For Sale.” The embedded Soundcloud links were listed under a section called “Free Stuff.”

Dry Wood Garage website: https://www.drywoodgarage.com/ (UPDATE: apparently dead as of 8/28/20)

Soundcloud User 964848511 (streaming only): https://soundcloud.com/user-964848511

Nimbit Dry Wood Garage page: http://www.nimbitmusic.com/drywoodgarge (UPDATE: apparently dead as of 2/21/22)

Bandcamp Dry Wood Garage page (streaming and paid downloads): https://drywoodgarage.bandcamp.com/

artwork for 1-12

alternate artwork for 3,7,9

UPDATES

UPDATE 11/16/17

As of Nov 16, 2017 the embed for “Feelin' Good” is no longer on the Dry Wood site but it's still available on the Soundcloud page.

UPDATE 8/28/20

Tracks above marked # are on Soundcloud User 964848511 page.

Tracks above marked & are on the Dry Wood Garage Bandcamp page and the Nimbit page.

The Dry Wood Garage website appears to be dead.

Amazon availability as noted above is still accurate.

UPDATE 2/21/22

The Nimbit Dry Wood Garage page appears to be dead.

UPDATE 5/16/22

All links not marked as dead are verified as still working.

Amazon availability as noted above is still accurate.

UPDATE 8/1/22

All links not marked as dead are verified as still working.

Amazon availability as noted above is still accurate.

UPDATE 1/20/23

All links not marked as dead are verified as still working.

PW & the Ghost Gloves – Cat Wing Joy Boys on demand CDR no longer available.

Amazon availability as noted above is still accurate.

UPDATE 1/12/25

All links not marked as dead are verified as still working.

5:05 YouTube link now dead.

Amazon availability as noted above is still accurate.

Last update: 01/13/25

BONUS GRANDPA BOY DISCOGRAPHY
variation: Grandpaboy

Grandpa Boy single (2 songs)

• I Want My Money Back (2:19)
  
  
• Undone (2:59)

Released on 7-inch vinyl and CD single in 1997 on Soundproof / Monlyth. Promo CD singles also released. Catalog # 1313.

Credits 

• Artwork - Grandpaboy
• Layout - Bill Expectorate
• Mastered by Tony Dawsey
• Songwriter – Winthrope Marion Purcival V

Grandpa Boy EP (5 songs)

1. Hot Un
2. Ain't Done Much
3. Psychopharmacology
4. Lush and Green
5. Homelesssexual

Released on CD EP in 1997 on Soundproof / Monolyth. Catalog # 1315.

Credits (mostly PW pseudonyms)

• Artwork [All Drawings And Collages] - Grandpaboy
• Bass – Zeke Pine
• Drums – Henry Twiddle
• Guitar, Vocals – Grandpaboy
• Handclaps, Backing Vocals – Elrod Puce
• Mastered By – Bob Ludwig
• Photography By [Photo] – Sen. Jim Dracula
• Recorded By – Rory Gilligan
• Saxophone – Thaddeus Moonbeam
• Songwriter – Winthrope Marion Purcival V
• 
  
• 
  

Mono (11 songs, full length)

1. High Time (3:01)
2. Anything But That (3:13)
3. Let's Not Belong Together (3:51)
4. Silent Film Star (3:26)
5. Knock It Right Out (2:25)
6. 2 Days 'Til Tomorrow (3:27)
7. Eyes Like Sparks (2:32)
8. Footsteps (3:25)
9. Kickin' the Stall (2:56)
10. Between Love & Like (3:21)
11. AAA (3:10)

Released on CD in 2002 on Vagrant (VR368). Promo CDs also released.

Bundled as a bonus disc with Paul Westerberg's Stereo on 2 CD in 2002 on Vagrant (VR368/VR369). A promo CD single of 2 Days 'Til Tomorrow was released in 2002 in Australia/New Zealand.

Stereo / Mono was reissued on 2LP for Record Store Day in 2019 (two songs from Stereo were omitted for the vinyl reissue).

Credits

Backing Vocals, Maracas, Handclaps – Elrod Puce
Bass – Zeke Pine
Design – Joby J Ford
Drums – Henry Twiddle
Guitar, Vocals – Grandpa Boy
Lead Guitar [Superfluous Lead Guitar] - Luther Covington

Dead Man Shake (14 songs, full length)

1. MPLS
2. Do Right In Your Eyes
3. Vampires & Failures
4. No Matter What You Say *
5. Take Out Some Insurance (written by Charles Singleton & Waldense J Hall)
6. Cleaning House
7. Natural Mean Lover (written by Elrod Puce aka PW)
8. Get a Move On
9. Bad Boy Blues
10. Souvenirs (written by John Prine)
11. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (written by Hank Williams)
12. O.D. Blues *
13. Dead Man Shake
14. What Kind of Fool Am I? (written by Anthony Newley & Leslie Bricusse)

Released on CD and LP in 2003 on Fat Possum. Catalog # 0377. Promo CDs also released. Tracks with * were released on the CD version only.