Left of the Dial

Now we come to my favorite Replacements album, Tim. This album was their first major label release (on Sire Records, a subsidiary of Warner Brothers), and their first recording without Twin/Tone Records co-founder Peter Jesperson. Many fans complain about the production on this album, not to mention the ugly artsy-fartsy album cover, but I still think its their strongest, especially in terms of songwriting. But, a major label can also mean major headaches.

Paul Westerberg: "We're making money, but we don't see it because you got like lawyers and accountants and fuckheads." (p. 169)

From: The Replacements: All Over But the Shouting, An Oral History (2007)

This major label exposure also got The 'Mats on Saturday Night Live in January 1986. Apparently the band got drunk as hell and Westerberg said "fuck" on national television, not to mention singing "Kiss Me on the Butt," instead of "Bus." Awesome. Oh how I wish You Tube footage of that performance existed! Screw you lip-syncing Ashley Simpson, take some notes from the professionals.

Here is The Replacements homage to 1980s college radio:

Left of the Dial.mp3
Buy: Tim (1985, reissued with bonus tracks 2008)