Replacements, The - Pleased to Meet Me (Ltd. Ed. Blue Vinyl)

The Replacements: Paul Westerberg (vocals, guitar); Tommy Stinson (bass); Chris Mars (drums). The Replacements' brand of brash, dirty rock & roll reached its apex on PLEASED TO MEET ME. A stomping collection of blistering, no-bull compositions and performances, this album represents a wild, angry, and ultimately beautiful marriage of inspired songcraft and punk rock abandon. The album's biggest hit, "Alex Chilton," is a swinging, stomping homage to the pop stylist to whom the Replacements were so deeply indebted, with plenty of the stadium-sized power-chords that comprise the groups less-fashionable influences (Kiss's "Black Diamond" was one of their better-known covers).

The rollicking "Red Red Wine" is an homage of another sort--the Replacements were a band fueled by alcohol; live gigs were always unpredictable, well-lubricated affairs. The disarming acoustic ballad "Skyway" has a timeless feel, expertly performed and evocatively delivered. The album's closer, "Can't Hardly Wait," provided the 'Mats with another signature tune; Paul Westerberg is at his raspy, poetic best, while idol Alex Chilton is credited with guitar.

The making of Pleased To Meet Me was a transformative journey for The Replacements, one that began with the combustible Minneapolis combo on the brink of collapse and culminated in one of the definitive albums of the band’s career. 

Pleased To Meet Me was recorded over three months at Ardent Studios in Memphis with legendary producer Jim Dickinson before it debuted in April 1987. 

TRACKS:

1. I.O.U.

2. Alex Chilton

3. I Don't Know

4. Nightclub Jitters

5. The Ledge

6. Never Mind

7. Valentine

8. Shooting Dirty Pool

9. Red Red Wine

10. Skyway

11. Can't Hardly Wait