After a long-protracted debate with Universal Music Group – Eighties alt-rock band Dream Syndicate revealed that it has earned the right to reissue their sophomore album Medicine Show from 1984 as a new, 42 song 4CD box expanded collection featuring 29 unreleased recordings from the band's 1983-84 era via their own Down There label, distributed by Fire Records.
This expanded deluxe edition CD collection features previously unreleased 1983-84 live recordings, radio sessions, rehearsals, demos and other unreleased from the band’s archive. A stand alone classic original album will also be available on vinyl.
“Let’s see—it took 6 months to make and over 30 years to get Medicine Show back in print,” said singer Steve Wynn of The Dream Syndicate. “I’d like to think that in both cases it was worth the wait. I can’t wait to get out there and revisit, inhabit and play the whole album on stage every night.”
The box set offers for the first time ever, the complete WXRT radio broadcast from the master tape (the original A&M Live LP was truncated) – plus rehearsal and live tapes of original bassist Kendra Smith – just before she exited the band.
The unreleased tracks are part of the untold story of Medicine Show – early primitive versions of original songs, cover songs that the band mangled into new forms, finding themselves along the way. No longer, can anyone say “you should have heard the original 1982 lineup on stage” – no, if you skipped the band performing 1983-84, you missed out. Shows from CBGB’s, Zaders, Soap Creek – reveal incendiary magic. In addition to the live shows, the remastered studio album (from the original analog tapes), now sounds as Steve recently declared, “as I remember hearing it while we mixed it”
Like many other psychologically complex albums upon their release, Lou’s Berlin, Neil’s On the Beach, Big Star Third, John Lennon’s solo debut Plastic Ono Band, The Who’s Quadrophenia, Dylan’s Blood On The Tracks - it takes a while, sometimes a long while to let it marinate into the psyche of the listener. The Medicine Show has arrived – long overdue.
For those who have read Steve Wynn’s recent memoir
I Wouldn’t Say It If It Wasn’t True (Jawbone Press, 2024) – you know about the ‘breakdown’ he suffered while recording this album.
Reissue producer/band historian Pat Thomas listened to dozens of rare tapes, choosing what needed to be mastered.
Track Listing:
MEDICINE SHOW: I Know What You Like (4 CD Deluxe Edition)
DISC ONE: (REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL ANALOG TAPES)
1. Still Holding On To You
2. Daddy's Girl
3. Burn
4. Armed With An Empty Gun
5. Bullet With My Name On It
6. The Medicine Show
7. John Coltrane Stereo Blues
8. Merrittville
UNRELEASED BONUS TRACKS
9. John Coltrane Stereo Blues (album outtake)
10. The Medicine Show (solo acoustic)
11. John Coltrane Stereo Blues (live - WMMS June 1983)
DISC TWO:
THIS IS NOT THE NEW DREAM SYNDICATE ALBUM... LIVE!
REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL ANALOG TAPES.
THE COMPLETE WXRT JULY 1984 CHICAGO CONCERT FOR THE FIRST TIME
1. Tell Me When It's Over
2. Bullet With My Name On It
3. Armed With An Empty Gun
4. The Medicine Show
5. John Coltrane Stereo Blues
6. Burn (previously unreleased)
7. The Days of Wine and Roses (previously unreleased)
UNRELEASED BONUS TRACKS
LIVE - LUND. SWEDEN SEPTEMBER 13, 1984 (WITH MARK)
8. John Coltrane Stereo Blues
LIVE - THE STONE. SAN FRANCISCO NOVEMBER 30,1984 (WITH MARK)
9. Bullet With My Name On It
10. Witness
REHEARSAL JULY 25,1983 (WITH DAVE)
11. Weathered And Torn
DISC THREE:
THE ROAD TO MEDICINE SHOW
ALL RECORDINGS PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED.
LIVE - CBGBS (WITH DAVE)
1. Still Holding On To You
2. Armed With An Empty Gun
3. Let It Rain
4. The Medicine Show
5. Bullet With My Name On It
6. John Coltrane Stereo Blues
7. Burn
8. Morning Dew
REHEARSAL WITH KENDRA
9. Burn
REHEARSAL WITH SANDY PEARLMAN
10. John Coltrane Stereo Blues
DISC FOUR:
WHAT IS AND WHAT SHOULD NEVER BE
ALL RECORDINGS PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED LIVE-
CLUB ZADAR. NEW HOPE. PA (WITH DAVE)
1. Susie Q
2. Evil Ways
3.Don't Fear The Reaper
4. Bullet With My Name On It
LIVE- SOAP CREEK SALOON AUSTIN. TX FEBRUARY 6,1983
(WITH KENDRA)
5. Still Holding On To You
6. Born On The Bayou
7. Don't Fear The Reaper
REHEARSAL WITH KENDRA DECEMBER 1982
8. Still Holding On To You
9. Armed With An Empty Gun
LIVE - JAPAN DECEMBER 1984
(WITH MARK)
10. Witness
George Paul
