Strangers Almanac - Deluxe 2LP

Whiskeytown, the highly acclaimed band of the alt-country scene, who launched the careers of four-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter-guitarist Ryan Adams as well as that of fiddler-singer-songwriter Caitlin Cary and singer-songwriter-guitarist Phil Wandscher.

Founded in Raleigh, NC, in 1994, Whiskeytown made its indie debut with Faithless Street. Upon hearing this release the band was signed to Outpost, a Geffen Records label. The band, led by 22-year-old Adams, was in turmoil: There was a new rhythm section (bassist Jeff Rice and drummer Steven Terry joined Adams, Cary and Wandscher), Cary was in a relationship with the former drummer Eric “Skillet” Gilmore, Adams had been offered his own solo deal and they had no guitars because they had been misplaced during the trip to Nashville. The acoustic guitar heard on Strangers Almanac was bought in a pawnshop. Despite all the misfortunes the band sensed something special and continued on.

Producer Jim Scott tempered some of Whiskeytown’s spirit of reckless abandon while still allowing the band’s earthy emotion and beautiful raggedness to shine through on tracks such as “Yesterday’s News,” “16 Days,” “Inn Town,” “Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart Tonight,” “Everything I Do” and “Dancing With The Women At The Bar.” Side D features 5 bonus, Live-in-the-Studio Radio Performances from September 1997.

After one more album, Whiskeytown disbanded. Adams went on to a highly successful solo career and Cary and Wandscher to other worthy musical ventures. Strangers Almanac reveals why Whiskeytown is still invoked as one of alt-country’s all-time best.

Track Listing

Side A

1. Inn Town
2. Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart Tonight
3. Yesterday's News
4. 16 Days

Side B

1. Everything I Do
2. Houses on the Hill
3. Turn Around
4. Dancing with the Women at the Bar

Side C

1. Waiting to Derail
2. Avenues
3. Losering
4. Somebody Remembers the Rose
5. Not Home Anymore

Side D: Live-in-the-Studio Radio Performances, September 1997

1. Houses on the Hill (Live)
2. Nurse with the Pills (Live)
3. I Don't Care What You Think About Me (Live)
4. Somebody Remembers the Rose (Live)

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