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Don't You Know Who I Think I Was? - The Best of the Replacements

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4.5 Stars

The Replacements (or the `Mats) were simply one of the greatest American rock bands of all-time. Formed in Minneapolis in 1979 and lasting until 1991, the `Mats, Paul Westerberg, (guitar/vocals) Tommy Stinson, (bass) Bob Stinson, (guitar) Chris Mars (drums) and later Slim Dunlap (guitar) and Steve Foley (drums) released seven albums and one EP. While the band matured over time, general themes of alienation, unrequited love, job dissatisfaction, and bewilderment were always prevalent in Westerberg's lyrics.

The band's new career spanning disc "Don't you Know who I Think I was?-The Best of the Replacements," (2006) does an excellent job at highlighting the 'Mats best work and includes tracks from the band's entire entire catalogue. This new compilation is an improvement over the band's first best of "All For Nothing, Nothing For All," (1997) which only included tracks from the band's Reprise albums, as the compilers couldn't gain access to the Twin Tone years.

The band's early work was more rough-around-the-edges and didn't sound unlike fellow Minneapolis icons Husker Du. These formative years yielded strong albums, with "Sorry Ma, Forgot to take out the Trash", (1981) "Stink" (EP), (1982) and "Hootenanny," (1983) which were for the most part fast and furious unadulterated punk.

While the early albums were strong, it was the band's next three albums, "Let it Be" (1984) "Tim," (1985) and "Pleased to Meet Me," (1987) which saw the band's finest offerings.

While "Let it Be" and "Tim" built on the punk-foundations of their predecessors, the songs were more refined, tightly written, with better hooks, a greater sense of melody, and with the occasional ballad, i.e., "Here Comes a Regular." While these songs were more radio-friendly/commercial, it was never overtly so. It was at this point that Westerberg really blossomed as a songwriter.

Substance abuse problems, however, saw guitarist Bob Stinson leave the band after "Tim," which carried on a trio for "Pleased to Meet Me." It's been speculated that Stinson also left over artistic differences, with him wanting to continue on in a more punk direction and unhappy with the ballads and experimentation (source Wikedpedia). "Pleased to Meet Me" saw the band go for a smoother sound, incorporating sax, organ, and keyboards into the mix, eschewing the punk of the band's earlier work.

"Don't Tell a Soul," (1989) guitarist Slim Dunlap's first album with the band, was an even more polished/mainstream album, which alienated some of the groups long-time fans. While not as strong as the band's previous three albums, it contained several gems.

The group's final album, the more stripped-down, refined, critically acclaimed "All Shook Down" (1990)was really a Replacement's album in name only (members of the `Mats as well as session musicians' play on this album). Originally intended as a Paul Westerberg solo album, Westerberg was forced to use the name "Replacements" at the insistence of Reprise Records.

While a massive following eluded the group throughout their career, and the `Mat's maintained a mostly underground (but large) following, "left of the dial," the band's legend has grown over time. Via a loyal following, critical praise, and word-of-mouth, the Replacements are one of the most hailed and beloved groups to emerge from the 1980s. While old fans have remained fiercely loyal, over time a whole new audience has discovered the band as well. For teens and twenty-something of today, who were too young to have followed the band in the 1980s, the Replacement's music is a breath of fresh air and sounds as fresh and vibrant today as it did twenty-some years ago.

"Don't you Know who I Think I was?-The Best of the Replacements" collects many of the band's best material from their entire career, with a greater emphasis on the "holy trinity" ("Let it Be," "Tim," Pleased to Meet Me"). For people unfamiliar with the band, this collection offers a great sampling of some of the band's finest moments and is a great introduction. That said; the Replacements aren't the type of band that produced albums with half-filler, in which all you really need is the greatest hits. Any great collection really requires, at the minimum, "Let it Be," "Tim," and "Pleased to Meet Me." Still, "Don't you Know who I Think I was?" is a good place to start.

My only complaint is that more songs could have been included (which is why I rate this CD 4.5 stars). Although twenty tracks are included, the CD holds only 65 minutes of music, nearly fifteen minutes short of the time allowed for a CD. "Sixteen Blue" at least, should have been included.

The new songs "Message to the Boys" and "Pool & Dive" are quite strong, sounding much like Westerberg's more polished solo material, and should please long-time fans.

For a single disc collection this is a nice overview of the Replacements and it does cover both their independent and major label releases. With overall good song selection it's hard to find much to complain about. But, I will. The problem with this type of career wide compilation is it places a priority on trying to get representation from all of their releases. Unfortunately, this short changes their best works, Let It Be, Tim and Please To Meet Me which all contain betters songs that were left out in favor of songs from all of their earlier CD's when Westerberg was still developing his immense song writing skills.

Accepting that approach it's hard to argue with the song selections except there are certainly better songs on Let It Be than Answering Machine. Other than that I would not dispute the song selections from each CD. And of course we also have 2 new songs! The story here is they are both excellent. After listening to this CD many times over, even hard core Replacements fans will admit they enjoy the new songs more than a couple of the earlier songs. They stand up very well with the major label version of the band. So, ultimately this CD is a success for both new fans and old fans who will certainly want to purchase it for the inclusion of the 2 new songs.

The Replacements are one of those bands where their legend almost over shades their actual recorded output. Some of what made the band what it was were their live performances (great, good, bad & ugly) so a 'best of' for The Replacements hardly makes for a by-the-numbers textbook greatest hits collection. So it can't accurately and fully represent the band that they were on one single disc. Having said this, this collection is pretty okay. The track selection seems is a tad off. "Shiftless When Idle" and "Takin' A Ride" could have been left off. Additions of "If Only You Were The Lonely", "Raised In The City", and "Little Mascara" and the great singles "I'm In Trouble", "When It Began", and "The Ledge" would have absolutely made this a definitive greatest hits collection.

For fans of the band there are two good, newly recorded (!) songs ("Message To The Boys" & "Pool And Dive"). And considering they haven't actively done anything as a band in fifteen years - they're great.
Paul sings and plays guitar, Tommy plays bass, Chris sings prominent backing-vocals (esp. on "Pool And Dive") and seeing as Chris hasn't played drums in a few years and his own preference of just wanting to sing and not play they used Josh Freese on drums (who backed Paul on his 14 Songs Tour). The songs themselves sound like superior Westerberg solo material although they are definitely 'Mats songs.

For the uninitiated this, again a pretty okay compilation but only begins to scratch the surface. I'd personally recommend 'Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash', 'Tim', 'Let It Be' and 'Pleased To Meet Me' and that's just for for starters.

If you are a fan of the alternative music today you need to get this albumn. The Replacements went from a punk-hardcore band to a band that played great rock and roll. They did for alternative music in the 80's what the Clash did for punk. This compilation includes songs from there whole career plus 2 new songs. It has a good crossection of all there albumns. It would be nice to see a few more songs from Let It Be but overall this is a great single cd best off. I could go on all day about the band but just listen to the songs and you will understand fans devotion to this band.

Simply put, The Mats were the greatest and coolest rock'n'roll band of the last twenty five years. A killer combination of the Stones, The Heartbreakers, Big Star etc., The Mats tower above their contemporaries and way above anything released this decade. While most fans own everything, it's still nice to see a collection include both the Twin Tone and Sire stuff. The new tunes rock too!! Too bad Mars wasn't behind the kit or Slim involved. According to the Westerberg page, this collection will be followed up with the remastered Twin Tone (again) and Sire albums. Let's all hope!!

I'm going to keep this short and sweet: The Replacements are a "glorious footnote" in the history of rock music, a band that didn't sell enough to make an impact when they were together (at least on the superficial charts of the Eighties), but I guarentee every indie band that followed had a record or two and practiced "Can't Hardly Wait" or "Kiss Me on The Bus" to learn their instruments.

So if you're wondering what all the fuss is about, pick up this disc. I owned Hootenanny for a while back in the day, but foolishly let it slip out of my hands. So when I saw this disc, I had to get it. You can't understand alternative rock without the Replacements, REM, Joy Division, and Mission of Burma.

Do yourself a favor and get this, you won't regret it.

The previous "hits" comp. "All for Nothing/Nothing for All" didn't feature any 'mats songs from the Twin Tone years, which hardly made it a best of. "Don't You Know Who I Think I Was?" has eight tracks from Twin Tone, ten tracks from Sire, and two new tracks recorded by the full band for this record.

I remember the first concert I ever went to was during Paul Westerberg's first solo tour. My friend Todd loaned me his Chris Mars shirt so I'd fit in. I stood right up front, and I remember Paul played a bunch of Replacements songs with a big smile on his face. I had a good time, too.

Some of the songs I miss, not on this comp: "Sixteen Blue" and "Androgynous" from "Let it Be"; "Hold my Life" and "Swingin' Party" from "Tim"; "Valentine" "Nevermind" and "The Ledge" from "Please to Meet Me"; "Talent Show" from "Don't Tell a Soul"; "Happytown" and "Nobody" from "All Shook Down." Thankfully, I bought all the LPs previously when I was a teenager, working at an auto/garden center.

I stole this record (I'll pay you back when I get the pay that comes much later) for the two new songs, "Pool & Dive" and "Message to the Boys." They're fun and upbeat. Thanks.

The only thing that makes the previous comp. worth picking up is the rarities disc, which has a few great songs, and some entertaining throwaways.

7A

Anyone who was around the 80's knew about this band, great lyrics, great guitars, songs like "I'll Be You" "Alex Chilton" and "I Will Dare" will definitely bring you back.

Don't You KNow Who I Think I Was is an worthy compilation and sumup for The Replacements. It covers their entire career, from their garagepunk-early days, to their radiofriendly alternative poprock of the 90s. Usually 3-4 songs from each album, plus some things from ep's and singles, you get the right impression of what The Replacements relly was all about. They managed to write killer rock-songs, either it was fast and grudgy, or if it was melodic og mellow. And they managed to write one of the 80s best aucustic songs, "Here Comes A Regular". And also there're two new (in 2006) recordings, wich is nice.
It's a good introduction allso, and made me go straight away and by "Let It Be" and "Tim".

Recommended!

For a compilation, this CD is awesome. It follows the Replacements from their punk rock roots to their more polished sound (lyrics and music). One of the best aspects of the Replacements was their refusal to apologize for not being famous rock stars. Sure, the critics loved them, and LET IT BE is on many top spots of top rock and roll albums of all time (as well it should be). Still, they never found the ultra-glamorous rock star lifestyle that so many seek. And their music is better for it.

The best way to listen to this is on a long, autumn drive on backroads, with the windows down and the volume loud. If you still have one of those archaic tape recorders, record a compilation tape and throw in some greats from this album. It only gets better with age.

And to address my own review title, I wish this had been two CDs. Or three.