Cracker - Alternative History: A Cracker Retrospective

Cracker — Alternative History: A Cracker Retrospective

Limited edition 1x yellow, 1x white and 1x orange vinyl plus booklet!

A truly career-spanning record which features never before-heard re-recordings, demos and live renditions! Available as a 3LP colored vinyl set. The lead track on the record is a version of "Sick Of Goodbyes" re-recorded with members of Drive-By Truckers.

To the uninitiated Cracker might seem to be just another '90s alternative rock band. However, fans recognize that the band is much more than that, having skillfully explored a wide array of styles throughout nearly 35 years. Regrettably, when newcomers hear a Cracker song and wish to learn more about the band, they often start with algorithmic streaming playlists. These playlists are typically limited to the dozen or so tracks with the most streams.

As a result, these playlists are dominated by a few albums from the early 1990s, the heyday of alternative rock radio. There are also a few "greatest hits" compilations for Cracker available, but these at best cover only the first third of the band's 35-year career. Both of these sources overlook some of the band's most critically acclaimed and fan-favorite work.

In response to this, the band started a discussion with Cooking Vinyl to see if they could rectify the situation by producing a retrospective that would encompass the band's entire career. Unfortunately, it became apparent that the cost of licensing tracks from the Virgin and Concord catalogs would be prohibitive. Undeterred, the band began to catalog the recordings they controlled, and a more promising idea emerged.

They realized they had a collection of re-recordings, demos, outtakes, collaborations, and live tracks that told an alternate history of the band. And this collection would not only serve as an introduction to the band for new fans, but also provide long-time, hardcore fans with access to some rare and unreleased recordings. Thus, Alternative History was born.

 

Side A

1. Sick of Goodbyes (Re-record with members of Drive-By Truckers)

2. Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)

3. Mr Wrong (feat. Leftover Salmon)

4. I See the Light (Redux Version)

Side B

1. Almond Grove (Re-record with John Keane)

2. Low (Redux Version)

3. Merry Christmas Emily (Emily's Version)

4. The World Is Mine (Redux Version)

Side C

1. Sweet Potato (feat. Leftover Salmon)

2. Turn on Tune In Drop Out with Me (Live at the Rockpalast Crossroads Festival)

4. 7 Days (Live in Madrid)

5. Big Dipper (Redux Version)

Side D

1. Eurotrash Girl Waltz (feat. Leftover Salmon)

2. King of Bakersfield (Acoustic)

3. I Need Better Friends

4. Father Winter (Hickman demo)

Side E

1. One Fine Day (Live at the Rockpalast Crossroads Festival)

2. Gimme One More Chance (Live at the Rockpalast Crossroads Festival)

3. Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey (Live in Madrid)

4. River Euphrates (Live in Berlin)

Side F

1. I Want Everything (Live in Madrid)

2. Movie Star (Live in Madrid)

3. Don't F*ck Me Up With Peace and Love (Live in Madrid)

4. Ain't Gonna Suck Itself

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