# The Replacements (band) - Where do I start? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 25, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662 "2011-04-25T15:44:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662/1 "2011-04-25T15:44:28Z")
By all indicators, I should be a really big fan of the band The Replacements. I have their entire discography available to listen to, but just have never been able to dig into their music because the amount of material they have is pretty overwhelming to me and I don’t know where to start. So, Replacements fans, give me a list of four or five songs/recordings that you think are a good “Gateway” for me to get into this band. I do enjoy the solo Paul Westerberg stuff, if that helps. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662/2 "2011-04-25T15:55:00Z")
Hmm. Gateways for the “mats” is anything they have done. I’d start with: I Will Dare IOU Skyway Alex Chilton Bastards of Young ---
**Author:** ![Meltdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Meltdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meltdown)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662/3 "2011-04-25T16:03:38Z")
I won’t argue with yanceylebeef’s choices – great songs all – but my personal favorites would be: 1. Unsatisfied 2. Can’t Hardly Wait 3. Color Me Impressed 4. Answering Machine 5. Bastards of Young ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662/4 "2011-04-25T16:12:32Z")
My 5: 1. Unsatisfied 2. IOU 3. Here Comes A Regular 4. Color Me Impressed 5. I’ll Be You ---
**Author:** ![Gus\_Gusterson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@Gus\_Gusterson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gus_Gusterson)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662/5 "2011-04-25T16:19:45Z")
Since you like Westerberg’s solo stuff, I’d say that you should start with Don’t Tell a Soul. Assuming that you like that one, go back to Tim. If you’re still in, it’s safe to say that you like the Replacements and you’ll like everything. I’m not a pick-five-songs kind of person since I almost always listen to CDs straight through. I couldn’t even tell you the names of some of my favorite songs. I just know what CD they’re on. Some of my favorite songs are on the two CDs I noted above. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662/6 "2011-04-25T16:26:53Z")
My top 5: Favorite Thing I Will Dare Color Me Impressed Shiftless When Idle Kiss Me on the Bus Here Comes a Regular I.O.U. Oops, that’s 7, and I even pared it down! And just for fun: Waitress in the Sky ---
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662/7 "2011-04-25T17:02:49Z")
Can’t Hardly Wait (Pleased To Meet Me) Alex Chilton (Pleased To Meet Me) Skyway (Pleased to Meet Me) Kiss Me on the Bus (Tim) I’ll Be You (Don’t Tell a Soul) ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662/8 "2011-04-25T17:43:22Z")
I agree with all of you. Love the 'Mats! ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662/9 "2011-04-25T17:52:00Z")
Everything off Let It Be and Tim? Wait, that’s probably cheating isn’t it. Ok, my favorite songs that have not yet been mentioned: Androgynous Sixteen Blue Then everything else in the thread. Extra points for Unsatisfied, Kiss Me on the Bus, and I Will Dare. Oh, and Can’t Hardly Wait from Please to Meet Me is pretty good too, as is most of the rest of that album. Hootenanny is a good album too. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662/10 "2011-04-25T17:53:06Z")
So many great songs. I agree with everything already mentioned and I’ll add some that haven’t: Within Your Reach Left Of The Dial Bent Out Of Shape Rock & Roll Ghost Can’t Hardly Wait (the Tim version, released on All For Nothing/Nothing For All) ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662/11 "2011-04-25T18:07:11Z")
Some more (I can’t stop): I Hate Music Johnny’s Gonna Die Hold My Life ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662/12 "2011-04-25T18:10:40Z")
With this [Best of CD](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=13726509)… ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662/13 "2011-04-25T18:15:16Z")
Yeah, honestly, even though I made a list in this thread, I’d say just listen to _Tim_. It’s got all the elements of why people love them, and it’s the perfect bridge between their earlier, more punky stuff and their later, more “mature” work. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662/14 "2011-04-26T00:40:04Z")
I’d start with one of the mid-period albums, either _Let It Be_,_Tim_, or _Pleased To Meet Me_(my personal favorite). Then go forward or backwards depending on your tastes - for raw and punky go back to _Sorry Ma…_ or _Stink_. For more mainstream, go forward to _Don’t Tell A Soul_. Personally, I was always disappointed with the last album released under their name, “All Shook Down”. Then I found out it was supposed to be Westerberg’s first solo album, but Sire insisted on releasing it as a 'Mats disc. So don’t be surprised if it seems off somehow. Five tracks: Never Mind I.O.U. I Will Dare Kiss Me On The Bus Unsatisfied ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662/15 "2011-04-26T00:53:36Z")
The Ledge ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662/16 "2011-04-26T01:07:37Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > I’d start with one of the mid-period albums, either _Let It Be_,_Tim_, or _Pleased To Meet Me_(my personal favorite). Then go forward or backwards depending on your tastes - for raw and punky go back to _Sorry Ma…_ or _Stink_. For more mainstream, go forward to _Don’t Tell A Soul_. Great approach. _Pleased to Meet Me_ is my favorite as well. I sense a Replacements listening binge coming on. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662/17 "2011-04-26T04:19:13Z")
Mark me down as another vote for _Pleased To Meet Me_. I like everything on it. Let me also mention that Paul Westerberg wasn’t the only band member who put out some pretty decent work after the smoke cleared. I enjoy Tommy Stinson’s album with Bash & Pop quite a bit, and Chris Mars’ first solo album, _Horseshoes and Hand Grenades_, genuinely surprised me (even if he’s not much of a singer). ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662/18 "2011-04-26T05:05:53Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > Chris Mars’ first solo album, _Horseshoes and Hand Grenades_, genuinely surprised me (even if he’s not much of a singer). I own, and really enjoy, all four of Mars’s solo albums, though they get increasingly uneven in quality. If it didn’t sound like a back-handed compliment, I’d say that, for a drummer, he’s a pretty good guitar player. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662/19 "2011-04-26T05:13:40Z")
Actually, if there’s [one song that sums up what The Replacements are all about](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xhVs_zxhxQ)… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662/20 "2011-04-26T05:49:42Z")
The set these are from is surprisingly good quality - _really_ early Replacements do [Hank Williams](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x01T9il47Q&feature=related), among other things. Not a good intro necessarily, but fun stuff for aficionados. Look at how young Tommy Stinson is ;). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-replacements-band-where-do-i-start/579662.md?page=2)