Mark Lanegan’s ‘Bubblegum’ Expanded For 20th Anniversary
Late Screaming Trees frontman Mark Lanegan‘s 2004 album Bubblegum will be reissued in expanded form as part of a 20th anniversary boxed set on Aug. 23 through Beggars Arkive in conjunction with the Lanegan estate. The album was executive produced by Lanegan’s manager from that time, Brian Klein.
Bubblegum will be available both as a double LP and a 4 LP/3 CD/digital release containing 40 remastered tracks. Of those, 12 are previously unreleased, including songs tracked in hotel rooms with Troy Van Leeuwen and “Union Tombstone” featuring Beck. Lanegan had sent the latter artist the song 20 years ago but he was unable to contribute at the time while working on his own album. Beck added new vocals and harmonica to “Union Tombstone” earlier this year.
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The boxed set edition will boast 64-page hardcover book with essays by Lanegan’s friends and collaborators, including Troy Van Leeuwen, Josh Homme, Chris Goss, Alain Johannes, David Catching, Greg Dulli, Duff McKagan, and Brett Netson.
“These hotel demo sessions were basically forgotten,” Van Leeuwen says. “When I heard the news of Mark’s passing, these memories started rushing back to me. I searched through my archive of drives and somehow magically was able to open up these sessions. I thought to myself, ‘that NEVER happens.’ These ideas couldn’t be more fresh out of the tap. The original rough mixes are a real time capsule that stands up to the 20 years that have passed. It’s a true gift from Mark to those of us who love him and his unvarnished expression of beauty. With every listen, I am humbled and honored to share his gift with you.”
Lanegan died of unannounced causes in Ireland in February 2022 after struggling for years with a variety of health challenges.
See the tracklisting for each version below:
BUBBLEGUM – 2 LP
A1. When Your Number Isn’t Up
A2. Hit The City (w/PJ Harvey)
A3. Wedding Dress
A4. Methamphetamine Blues
B1. One Hundred Days
B2. Bombed
B3. Strange Religion
B4. Sideways In Reverse
C1. Come to Me (w/PJ Harvey)
C2. Like Little Willie John
C3. Can’t Come Down
D1. Morning Glory Wine
D2. Head
D3. Driving Death Valley Blues
D4. Out of Nowhere
HERE COMES THAT WEIRD CHILL (METHAMPHETAMINE BLUES, EXTRAS & ODDITIES) – 1 LP
A1. Methamphetamine Blues
A2. On The Steps of the Cathedral
A3. Clear Spot
A4. Message to Mine
A5. Lexington Slow Down
A6. Skeletal History
B1. Wish You Well
B2. Sleep With Me
B3. Sleep With Me – Version…
Bonus Tracks:
B4. Sympathy
B5. Mirrored
B6. Mud Pink Skag
DEMOS & UNRELEASED SONGS – 1 LP
A1. Heard a Train %
A2. Union Tombstone feat. Beck %
A3. Josephine %
A4. Kingdom %
A5. Soldier %
A6. Little Willie John %
A7. Blood (Crackers & Honey) %
B1. You Wild Colorado # (Johnny Cash cover)
B2. Revolver #
B3. Leaving New River Blues #
B4. St. James Infirmary # (cover)
B5. Willie John #
B6. Pure Religion #
% outtake
# Troy Van Leeuwen Hotel Session
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