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Wilco / A Ghost is Born reissue

Massive 20th anniversary deluxe editions

By Paul Sinclair

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American rock band Wilco’s fifth studio album, A Ghost is Born, will be reissued early next year in multiple formats.

Released in 2004, A Ghost is Born saw Wilco develop the sound that had seen them garner much acclaim on 2002’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, resulting in another critical success for the band. The album also saw lead singer Jeff Tweedy take further creative control, assuming lead guitar duties after the departure of previous guitarist Jay Bennett. Recorded between New York and Chicago and co-produced by the band and Jim O’Rourke, A Ghost is Born was their first top ten US album and won the 2005 Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album.

9CD deluxe of the A Ghost is Born 20th anniversary reissue (click image to enlarge)

This new series of reissues ranges from an album-only 2LP set to a deluxe edition available in both 9LP+4CD and 9CD format. Both of those deluxe sets feature the same audio content: 38 bonus outtakes/alternates and 23 live tracks in the form of the complete 2004 concert recording from Boston’s Wang Centre. In other words, the nine vinyl records carry the same content is the first five CDs in the 9CD box. The extra four CDs common to both sets feature the bands “fundamentals” workshop sessions. Both deluxe editions also include a hardcover book featuring previously unreleased photos and sleeve notes from Bob Mehr. Mastering for the deluxe editions is by Bob Ludwig and vinyl has been pressed in Germany by Optimal Media.

If all that is more Wilco than you really want, there’s a 2CD edition which includes a second disc of outtakes and alternates. This additional CD isn’t actually a ‘highlights’ disc, it’s the same as CD 2 in the 9CD deluxe.

A Ghost is Born will be released on 7 February 2025 via Nonesuch Records.

Tracklisting

A Ghost is Born Wilco / 20th anniversary editions

    • LP 1: A Ghost is Born
      Side A
      1. At Least That’s What You Said
      2. Hell Is Chrome
      3. Spiders (Kidsmoke)
      Side B
      1. Muzzle of Bees
      2. Hummingbird
      3. Handshake Drugs
    • LP 2: A Ghost is Born
      Side C:
      1. Wishful Thinking
      2. Company in My Back
      3. I’m a Wheel
      4. Theologians
      Side D:
      1. Less Than You Think
      2. The Late Greats
    • LP 3: dBpm: Outtakes/Alternates 1
      Side E
      1. At Least That’s What You Said(8/13/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      2. Hell Is Chrome(10/5/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      3. Spiders (Kidsmoke)(9/28/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      4. Muzzle Of Bees(7/15/03 SOMA-Chicago)
       Side F
      1. Hummingbird(2/8/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      2. Handshake Drugs(11/13/03 Sear Sound-NYC)
      3. Wishful Thinking(11/1/03 Sear Sound-NYC)
      4. Company In My Back(2/8/03 Hothouse-St. Kilda, Melbourne, Australia)
    • LP 4: dBpm: Outtakes/Alternates 1
      Side G
      1. I’m A Wheel(August 2002 SOMA-Chicago)
      2. Theologians(3/19/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      3. Less Than You Think(11/11/03 Sear Sound-NYC)
      4. The Late Greats(7/19/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      5. Kicking Television(3/18/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      6. The High Heat(2/5/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      Side H
      1. Panthers(March 2003 SOMA-Chicago)
      2. Diamond Claw(3/21/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      3. Bob Dylan’s 49th Beard(June 2002 SOMA-Chicago)
      4. More Like The Moon(2/8/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      5. Improbable Germany(10/7/03 SOMA-Chicago)
    • LP 5: Unstitched: Outtakes/Alternates 2
      Side I
      1. Handshake Drugs (First Version) (6/26/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      2. Hummingbird (February 2002 recorded live during tracking at SOMA-Chicago)
      3. The High Heat (2/4/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      4. Spiders (Kidsmoke) (February 2002 SOMA-Chicago)
      Side J
      1. Diamond Claw (March 2003 SOMA-Chicago)
      2. Muzzle Of Bees (October 2003 Sear Sound-NYC)
      3. Like A Stone (11/10/03 Sear Sound-NYC)
      4. Leave Me (Like You Found Me) (6/26/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      5. Losing Interest (11/11/03 Sear Sound-NYC)
    • LP 6: Unstitched: Outtakes/Alternates 2
      Side K
      1. Old Maid (6/26/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      2. Spiders (Kidsmoke) (August 2002 SOMA-Chicago)
      3. Panthers (October 2003 Sear Sound-NYC)
      4. Muzzle Of Bees (7/16/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      5. Diamond Claw (10/9/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      Side L
      1. Losing Interest(7/20/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      2. Spiders (Kidsmoke)(October 2003 SOMA-Chicago)
      3. The Thanks I Get(6/26/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      4. Two Hat Blues(March 2003 SOMA-Chicago)
      5. Improbable Germany(January 2002 Pre-Production Loft session-Chicago)
    • LP 7: The Hook at The Wang (Live)
      Live October 1, 2004 at the Wang Center-Boston, MA
      Side M
      1. Muzzle Of Bees
      2. Company In My Back
      3. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
      4. A Shot In The Arm
      Side N
      1. Hell Is Chrome
      2. Handshake Drugs
      3. Jesus, Etc.
      4. Hummingbird
    • LP 8: The Hook at The Wang (Live)
      Live October 1, 2004 at the Wang Center-Boston, MA
      Side O
      1. I’m Always In Love
      2. At Least That’s What You Said
      3. Ashes Of American Flags
      4. Theologians
      Side P
      1. I’m The Man Who Loves You
      2. Poor Places
      3. Spiders (Kidsmoke)
    • LP 9: The Hook at The Wang (Live)
      Live October 1, 2004 at the Wang Center-Boston, MA
      Side Q
      1. She’s A Jar
      2. A Magazine Called Sunset
      3. Kingpin
      4. The Late Greats
      Side R
      1. I’m A Wheel
      2. Via Chicago
      3. California Stars
      4. Christ For President
    • CD 1: Fundamentals 1 & 2
      1. Fundamental 1
      2. Fundamental 2
    • CD 2: Fundamentals 3 & 4
      1. Fundamental 3
      2. Fundamental 4
    • CD 3: Fundamentals 5 & 6
      1. Fundamental 5
      2. Fundamental 6
    • CD 4: Fundamental 7
      1. Fundamental 7

Tracklisting

A Ghost is Born Wilco / 20th anniversary editions

    • CD 1: A Ghost is Born
      1. At Least That’s What You Said
      2. Hell Is Chrome
      3. Spiders (Kidsmoke)
      4. Muzzle of Bees
      5. Hummingbird
      6. Handshake Drugs
      7. Wishful Thinking
      8. Company in My Back
      9. I’m a Wheel
      10. Theologians
      11. Less Than You Think
      12. The Late Greats
    • CD 2: dBpm: Outtakes/Alternates 1
      1. At Least That’s What You Said (8/13/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      2. Hell Is Chrome (10/5/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      3. Spiders (Kidsmoke) (9/28/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      4. Muzzle Of Bees (7/15/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      5. Hummingbird (2/8/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      6. Handshake Drugs (11/13/03 Sear Sound-NYC)
      7. Wishful Thinking (11/1/03 Sear Sound-NYC)
      8. Company In My Back (2/8/03 Hothouse-St. Kilda, Melbourne
      9. I’m A Wheel (August, 2002 SOMA-Chicago)
      10. Theologians (3/19/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      11. Less Than You Think (11/11/03 Sear Sound-NYC)
      12. The Late Greats (7/19/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      13. Kicking Television (3/18/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      14. The High Heat (2/5/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      15. Panthers (March, 2003 SOMA-Chicago)
      16. Diamond Claw (3/21/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      17. Bob Dylan’s 49th Beard (June, 2002 SOMA-Chicago)
      18. More Like The Moon (2/8/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      19. Improbable Germany (10/7/03 SOMA-Chicago)
    • CD 3: Unstitched: Outtakes/Alternates 2
      1. Handshake Drugs (First Version – 6/26/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      2. Hummingbird (February, 2002 SOMA-Chicago)
      3. The High Heat (2/4/02 SOMA-Chicago) (3:04)
      4. Spiders (Kidsmoke) (February, 2002 SOMA-Chicago)
      5. Diamond Claw (March, 2003 SOMA-Chicago)
      6. Muzzle Of Bees (October, 2003 Sear-NYC)
      7. Like A Stone (11/10/03 Sear Sound-NYC)
      8. Leave Me (Like You Found Me) (6/26/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      9. Losing Interest (11/11/03 Sear Sound-NYC)
      10. Old Maid (6/26/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      11. Spiders (Kidsmoke) (August, 2002 SOMA-Chicago)
      12. Panthers (October, 2003 Sear-NYC)
      13. Muzzle Of Bees (7/16/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      14. Diamond Claw (10/9/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      15. Losing Interest (7/20/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      16. Spiders (Kidsmoke) (October, 2003 SOMA-Chicago)
      17. The Thanks I Get (6/26/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      18. Two Hat Blues (March, 2003 SOMA-Chicago)
      19. Improbable Germany (January, 2002 Pre-Production Loft session)
    • CD 4: The Hook at The Wang (Live) – Pt 1
      1. Muzzle Of Bees (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
      2. Company In My Back (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
      3. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
      4. A Shot In The Arm (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
      5. Hell Is Chrome (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
      6. Handshake Drugs (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
      7. Jesus, Etc. (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
      8. Hummingbird (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04
      9. I’m Always In Love (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
      10. At Least That’s What You Said (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
      11. Ashes Of American Flags (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04
      12. Theologians (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
    • CD 5: The Hook at The Wang (Live) – Pt 2
      1. I’m The Man Who Loves You (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
      2. Poor Places (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
      3. Spiders (Kidsmoke) (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
      4. She’s A Jar (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
      5. A Magazine Called Sunset (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
      6. Kingpin (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
      7. The Late Greats (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
      8. I’m A Wheel (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
      9. Via Chicago (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
      10. California Stars (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
      11. Christ For President (Live at Wang Center-Boston, MA 10/1/04)
    • CD 6: Fundamentals 1 & 2
      1. Fundamental 1
      2. Fundamental 2
    • CD 7: Fundamentals 3 & 4
      1. Fundamental 3
      2. Fundamental 4
    • CD 8: Fundamentals 5 & 6
      1. Fundamental 5
      2. Fundamental 6
    • CD 9: Fundamental 7
      1. Fundamental 7

Tracklisting

A Ghost is Born Wilco / 20th anniversary editions

    • CD 1: A Ghost is Born
      1. At Least That’s What You Said
      2. Hell Is Chrome
      3. Spiders (Kidsmoke)
      4. Muzzle of Bees
      5. Hummingbird
      6. Handshake Drugs
      7. Wishful Thinking
      8. Company in My Back
      9. I’m a Wheel
      10. Theologians
      11. Less Than You Think
      12. The Late Greats
    • CD 2: dBpm: Outtakes/Alternates
      1. At Least That’s What You Said (8/13/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      2. Hell Is Chrome(10/5/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      3. Spiders (Kidsmoke)(9/28/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      4. Muzzle Of Bees(7/15/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      5. Hummingbird(2/8/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      6. Handshake Drugs(11/13/03 Sear Sound-NYC)
      7. Wishful Thinking(11/1/03 Sear Sound-NYC)
      8. Company In My Back(2/8/03 Hothouse-St. Kilda, Melbourne, Australia)
      9. I’m A Wheel(August 2002 SOMA-Chicago)
      10. Theologians(3/19/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      11. Less Than You Think(11/11/03 Sear Sound-NYC)
      12. The Late Greats(7/19/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      13. Kicking Television(3/18/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      14. The High Heat(2/5/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      15. Panthers(March 2003 SOMA-Chicago)
      16. Diamond Claw(3/21/03 SOMA-Chicago)
      17. Bob Dylan’s 49th Beard(June 2002 SOMA-Chicago)
      18. More Like The Moon(2/8/02 SOMA-Chicago)
      19. Improbable Germany(10/7/03 SOMA-Chicago)

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