Initial thoughts and musings on the 12GCG Deluxe Edition and future reissues
I must admit, even though I try to be fairly positive with all things Ween, I was concerned that this record would somehow be overlooked in its recognition and appreciation. I am beyond delighted I was wrong.
Given all the goodies they’ve listed today, and what I’ve already preordered, I’m going to have to get back to work and start saving up for the chatchki and physical media I expect will drop next year. Namely The Mollusk of course, but I also thought that I can’t entirely see them dragging out 30th anniversary editions for everything in the catalog either. Some might be 25 years, or even 35.
Conceivably, Pure Guava could get some love next year and/or La Cucaracha. That might end up being too much of a financial hit though that they would concede to, and if they did two next year I’d prefer Pure Guava get the love. But if not, hey man that’s fine. We’re going to need to recover from all things Mollusk undoubtedly.
Noticing how the extra tracks include b-sides, very well known unreleased tracks and several unheard, I’m inclined to think Shinola Volume 2 will probably never happen now. Kim Smoltz is universally lauded, and rightfully so, and that would have been the obvious centerpiece of a Vol. 2 collection, but now I think it has to be right at the forefront of any Mollusk expanded edition. If they start to be that thorough with these reissues, that might just dry up that well. However, maybe there’ll be some leftovers that could fill that collection. Off the top of my head, The Stallion Part 4 would have been on my wishlist of C & C bonus tracks and it’s not there. So if there are any tracks left behind, maybe that would still be a thing that could come into existence.
I hope that this means we’ll be getting Wash Me Down available properly down the road.
I also hope the live records will get some live accordingly. An expanded Live In Toronto and Live in Chicago (full concert on audio and maybe a blu-ray???) would be fantastic. I recall All Request Live was once hinted at being an RSD release. Given that the past RSD/RSD Black Friday events have had representation, it wouldn’t surprise me if that turned up at the next one. No frills, but at least available on vinyl finally. I can’t even begin to predict what they would have in store for future RSD events but it’ll be curious to see which way they go.
I hope that when it comes to the Mollusk, the boys do participate in some fashion, be it with new liner notes and observations. That’s undoubtedly wishful thinking on my part, but if there’s going to be one record we’d like to hear from them talk about even more, it’s that one.
The next 4-6 years are going to be exciting on this end of things. Whatever they decided on having Rhino handle their catalog, and I’m more convinced now that they set this in motion before all of the business that went down two years ago, it’s very promising. Even though Rhino dropped the ball initially in February, this official news of 12GCG and the potential going forward leaves me feeling very positive.