If you’ve ever been on an obsessive Daniel Johnston kick like I have, then you’ll probably be excited to know that you can start the cycle all over again with The Story of an Artist, a 6CD/6LP set scheduled for release June 22 by Munster Records. Now, I love me some Yip/Jump Music and 1990, but if I had to choose when Johnston’s songwriting was at its most vibrant and creative, I’d choose his early, cassette-only years, which include Songs of Pain (1981), Don’t Be Scared (1982), The What of Whom (1982), and More Songs of Pain (1983). Johnston recorded all of these albums on a shitty $59 Sanyo recorder, but the low fidelity wasn’t an aesthetic consideration; it was out of necessity, and it sounds fantastic.
The limited-edition box set will collect these albums, along with both volumes of The Lost Recordings, each packed in individual sleeves, for a total of 131 songs. The set will also feature a 64-page booklet, including Johnston’s art, photos, extensive liner notes by Everett True, and a two-sided poster.
The Story of an Artist tracklisting:
Disc 1: Songs of Pain
01. Grievances
02. A Little Story
03. Joy Without Pleasure
04. Never Relaxed
05. Brainwash
06. Pothead
07. Wicked World
08. Lazy
09. I Save Cigarette Butts
10. Like A Monkey In A Zoo
11. Wicked Will
12. An Idiot’s End
13. Wild West Virginia
14. Since I Lost My Tooth
15. Urge
16. Living Life
17. Tuna Ketchup
18. Premarital Sex
19. Don’t Act Nice
20. Hate Song
Disc 2: Don’t Be Scared
01. Going Down
02. Lost Without A Dame
03. Harley Man
04. Evening Stars
05. Something More
06. Cold Hard World
07. I Had A Dream
08. The Story Of An Artist
09. My Yoke Is Heavy
10. Stars On Parade
11. And You Love It
12. I Had Lost My Mind
13. The Sun Shines Down On Me
14. Loner
15. I Don’t Want To Be Scared
16. Lullaby
17. I Was Alone
18. Mother Mom Said
Disc 3: The What of Whom
01. Man Obsessed
02. Peek-a-boo
03. Never Before/Never Again
04. The Goldfish & The Frog
05. Scuttle-butt
06. Heart, Mind & Soul
07. Blue Clouds
08. Surely You Don’t Work All Night
09. I Can’t Think Anymore
10. Excuse Me
11. Polka Dot Rag
12. Why/Without You
13. An Incoherent Speech
14. Wicked World
15. To Go Home
16. Scrambled Eggs
17. Peace & Tranquility
18. When You’re Pretty
Disc 4: More Songs of Pain
01. Phantom Of My Own Opera
02. Man At War
03. Only Missing You
04. More Dead Than Alive
05. I Will
06. Poptunes
07. You Put My Love Out The Door
08. You’re Gonna Make It Joe
09. Theme For Grievances
10. Never Get To Heaven
11. Follow That Dream
12. POW
13. For The Love Of Pete
14. Blue Cloud
15. Grievances Revisited
16. True Grief
17. My Baby Cares For The Dead
18. Mabel’s Grievances
Disc 5: The Lost Recordings I
01. Take A Little Walk
02. Before It’s Too Late
03. Oh What A Wonderful Feeling
04. I’d Like To Say Goodbye
05. That’s Silly
06. There Ain’t Much You Can Do
07. I’m A Song
08. You Should Have Been My Wife
09. You Ruined It For Yourself
10. Once Upon A Dream
11. I Love You
12. Scattered Like Birds
13. More About Wicked Will
14. Good Luck
15. Got To Go On
16. It’s Real
17. If You Were Here Today
18. Girlfriend
19. Void (Space For The Memories)
20. Sad And Lonely
21. I’m Nervous
22. Cosmic Kid
23. Never Die
24. Kiss Me Again
25. I Wish I Could Call You
26. Love Is Weird
27. Burn Baby Burn
28. No Fun
29. Art Peace
30. Instrumental
Disc 6: The Lost Recordings II
01. All Around The World
02. You’re Not Laura (After You’re Gone)
03. I’m Gonna Buy Me A Car
04. Out West
05. The Undertaker’s Assistant
06. Dreams Come True
07. Mean To Me
08. Fly Me To The Moon
09. Love Defined
10. Love
11. How I Love That Organ Music
12. We Could Be Together Again
13. Happy Talk
14. The Miracle Of Love
15. Who Killed The Monkey
16. The Wedding
17. Unfinished Symphony
18. Blue Cloud
19. I Never Meant To Be Spooky
20. Dream Lover
21. What’s A Matter With Me
22. If I Kissed You Once
23. I Give Up
24. Lonely Orphan On The Run
25. The Goat Show
26. You’ve Got A Funny Sense Of Humor
27. Last Song For You
• Daniel Johnston: http://www.hihowareyou.com
• Munster: http://www.munster-records.com
