Customer Reviews

Sold Out

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Okay, you're probably wondering what "Sold Out" is considering there's no album art, no track list and it's not in stock.

"Sold Out" is an exclusive 6-track EP that you can only buy at a Squirrel Nut Zippers concert or direct from their online store (...).

Anyway, here's a rundown of what's on it:

1. St. Louis Cemetary Blues -- One of the tracks originally intended for "Perrenial Favorites" but pulled at the last minute. It's a really nice track with special guests Hawkeye on the mandolin and Andrew Bird on violin.

2. Bedlam Ballroom -- This, as most of you now, is the title track to the "Bedlam Ballroom" LP. Well, this exclusive live version recorded at Spaceland in Hollywood features the late Stacy Guess, who wrote the song, on trumpet.

3. Pallin' with Al -- This live version of the "Perrenial Favorites" track showcases the Zippers' talent of improvising and changing lyrics around at the spur-of-the-moment. Listen and you can hear Tom Maxwell sing some scat about halfway through.

4. La Grippe -- This is an awesome live version of "The Inevitable" track. In this 1997 recording, the Zippers' special guest, the salsa band Bio Ritmo, takes center stage with their vocalist, Rene Herrera, adding some Spanish lyrics of his own.

5. I Raise Hell -- Katherine Whalen takes the helm with this interesting track written by Boston songwriter Milo Jones.

6. Fell to Pieces -- Here is the real exclusive on this EP: "Fell to Pieces" was recorded at the Zippers' second practice session back in 1993! The recording quality is really poor, but the music is a wonder.

Oh, wait! There's more. If you wait a minute or two after "Fell to Pieces" there are three hidden tracks:

*1. Carousel -- I'm guessing on the title, but this instrumental sounds like it belongs right next to those horses attached to poles going 'round and 'round.

*2. Santa Claus is Smoking Reefer -- Cut from "Christmas Caravan" for obvious reasons, if you can get past the utterly silly lyrics, the melody is really fun to listen to.

*3. If You Were Mine -- Another live track featuring Katherine Whalen makes the perfect ending to a smashing EP.

(P.S. Listen after "Bedlam Ballroom" and "I Raise Hell" for jingles from the Squirrel Brand Company, the company that makes the Squirrel Nut Zipper candy!)

While I do enjoy the CD, it is more for dedicated fans of the SNZs than casual listeners or people just getting into them. The CD does adds another dimension to their existing albums, but the sound quality is not as good, nor is it as polished (much of it is live).

If you like the band and already have Hot and the Inevitable, than consider this one. Otherwise go with those two first (or perhaps the Best of, but I don't have that one).

Hey, Zipper heads - as noted below, "Sold Out" contains "Santa Claus Is Smoking Reefer" as a hidden track. The song was originally recorded as "Santa's Secret" by Johnny Guarnieri with Slam Stewart (Savoy, 1944). The Squirrel's version was originally released on "Kevin & Bean's Christmastime In The LBC" (1996), one of a series of annual releases by the popular KROQ morning team.

This is a great album full of creative and clever tracks. I've had this album for a long time and I can still listen to it because of the variety. Some tunes are catchy (Pallin' With Al, Fell To Pieces), some are dark (I Raise Hell, St. Louis Cemetery Blues) but they are all emotive and much different then what you will normally hear.

"Sold Out" is definatly my favorite out of all the Squirrel Nut Zippers collection. This cd greatly shows the bands excitment and passion for music. "If you were mine" is one of my all time favirte songs and shouldn't be missed. If you are a SNZ fan, this cd should definatly be in your collection.