Over the course of their illustrious 25-year career, Blues Traveler have sold more than 10 million combined units worldwide, played over 2,000 live shows in front of more than 30 million people, and, in “Run-Around,” had the longest-charting radio single in Billboard history, which earned them a Grammy® for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. A television favorite, they have been featured on Saturday Night Live, Austin City Limits, VH1’s Behind the Music and they hold the record for the most appearances of any artist on The Late Show with David Letterman.
On March 6, 2012, Hip-O Select/Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) releases Blues Traveler: 25, a 2-CD retrospective that spans the first 25 years of the band’s incredible recording career. 25 features a total of 29 tracks including a newly recorded cover version of Sublime’s “What I Got,” their greatest hits, B-sides, unreleased demos and rarities— among them a remix of “Run-Around” by acclaimed electronic producers Gunslinger, and excerpts from the band’s online concept album Decision of the Skies: A Traveler Tale of Sun and Storm.
Remarks vocalist John Popper, “In a quarter century, through every possible kind of high and low, through every dream realized, through every hope dashed, always there was a return to that dedication and belief in the music and in each other. On behalf of all of Blues Traveler, I am privileged to express how honored we are, how deeply proud we are to share with you the first of our quarter-century celebration and appropriate look back at some favorites you may find familiar as well as rarities that for some reason or another have yet to see the light of day. In our hearts we view this as a time to step back to look at what we’ve done. We hope you will share that experience with us with as much satisfaction as we have had in bringing it to you.”
Originally from the suburbs of New Jersey, Blues Traveler moved to New York in the late ’80s where they became an integral part of a new wave of artists coming up in the jam-band scene, packing clubs like Nightingale’s, Wetlands and Mondo Cane. The band’s live reputation landed them a deal with A&M Records and over the years they released a string hit albums including their 1990 self-titled debut; 1991’s Travelers & Thieves; 1993’s Save His Soul; the platinum selling Straight on till The Morning; and their massive, 1994 multi-platinum breakthrough release Four.
Disc one of Blues Traveler: 25 features the band’s biggest hits and staple tracks representing all nine of their studio albums. Included are their No. 1 hit single “Run-Around,” and their top 20 hit “Hook.” Both songs were taken from 1994’s Four which climbed to No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and has now sold over six times platinum. Other tracks featured are the No. 4 hit single “Carolina Blues” from 1997’s Straight on till Morning, which reached No. 11 on the Billboard 200; the band’s first top 20 hit “But Anyway” plus “Gina” and “100 Years” taken from their 1990 self-titled debut; “Amber Awaits” and “After What” from their top 50 album Bastardos!, an album produced by former Wilco member Jay Bennett; the hard-rocking, Led Zeppelin-esque track “How You Remember It” and “You, Me And Everything” from their most recent 2008 release, North Hollywood Shootout; plus a new 2011 recording of Sublime’s “What I Got” which is only available on this two-CD set.
Disc Two of 25 is a collection of rarities including B-sides, unreleased demos and studio tracks. Featured are early demo versions of “But Anyway” and ”Trust In Trust” recorded in 1988; the quirky “The Poignant and Epic Saga of Featherhead and Lucky Lack” which was recorded in 1993 but never made it to an album; the unreleased studio track “Demon” which was written in 2000 during a songwriting session in Austin; plus the tracks ”12 Swords,” “The Sun and the Storm” and the 20-minute odyssey “Traveler Suite,” all taken from their 2000 concept album Decision of the Skies: A Traveler Tale of Sun and Storm, which was originally only made available as a download through the band’s website.
As Blues Traveler prepares for the next 25 years, they are currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on their tenth studio album. They are about to embark on a nationwide tour celebrating 25 years of making music, and Blues Traveler: 25 offers a glimpse into the evolution of one of the most beloved artists to come out of the jam-band scene.
Disc 1-Greatest Hits
1. Run-Around
2. Hook
3. The Mountains Win Again
4. But Anyway
5. You, Me and Everything
6. Amber Awaits
7. After What
8. Back In The Day
9. Girl Inside My Head
10. Carolina Blues
11. Let Her and Let Go
12. Gina
13. 100 Years
14. What’s For Breakfast
15. NY Prophesie
16. Unable To Get Free
17. How You Remember It
18. What I Got (bonus track)
Disc 2-B-sides/Unreleased
1. The Demon
2. The Poignant and Epic Saga of Featherhead and Lucky Lack
3. Blue Hour
4. Trust In Trust
5. Didn’t Mean To Wake Up
6. But Anyway’88
7. Random Amounts
8. Twelve Swords
9. The Sun and The Storm
10. Traveler’s Suite
11. Run Around (Gunslinger Remix) (bonus track)
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