A long-awaited reissue of Bob Neuwirth’s self-titled debut album is set for CD and vinyl release on September 27, 2024 in conjunction with its 50th anniversary. Neuwirth, known for his multifaceted six-decade career, has been described as “the best pure songwriter of any of us” by T Bone Burnett and “a shakespearean jester who’s wiser than all the rest” by Kris Kristofferson. Beloved by his musical community, Neuwirth brought together a mind-boggling collection of talent in January of 1974 to perform on his debut record: Kris Kristofferson, Roger McGuinn, Don Everly, Cass Elliot, Richie Furay, Rita Coolidge, Booker T. Jones, Chris Hillman, Geoff Muldaur, Dusty Springfield, Timothy B. Schmit, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Stephen Bruton and many more. The recording sessions turned into a legendary multi-day party, but in later years Neuwirth felt it didn’t sound like the debut he would’ve made if he was sober at the time.
Now, 50 years later, each track has been completely remixed from scratch to reflect how Neuwirth had long intended the collection to sound. Engineer John Hanlon reworked each track from new high-resolution/audiophile-quality digital transfers of the original 16- and 24-track analog tapes, bringing new power, clarity and presence to the recorded performances. It’s the upshot of a conversation Neuwirth began with Hanlon years ago.
“Bob asked me ‘Have you heard my first record? Would you listen to it and tell me what you think?’” says Hanlon. “I knew I’d get a great sound out of it. I would just approach it differently. I never tried to match what was originally there, because that was in 1974,” Hanlon said, adding that he was never given any specific directives by Neuwirth in regard to a remix before he died May 18, 2022 at age 82. The only thing he told Hanlon, the engineer recalled, was “‘Hey man, I know your work, OK? That’s all I need to say. I know your work and you know my work.’ So, I just approached it really organically and I just made it sound like great rock ‘n’ roll.”
Today, listeners can get a taste of what can be expected on the full remixed collection with the digital release of “Kiss Money,” a country-rock lament targeting man’s inhumanity that too often is the rule rather than the exception. The driving track is elevated by exquisite steel guitar work of Ben Keith, yet another of the many top-flight musicians at Neuwirth’s side on the album. Listen to “Kiss Money” HERE.
Originally released on David Geffen’s Asylum Records, Bob Neuwirth is bookended by a pair of particular standouts, starting with “Rock and Roll Time” – which he co-wrote with Kristofferson and McGuinn. Roger McGuinn on writing with Neuwirth: “You have to have a good imagination. Definitely being a painter, I think, helps. It’s the same thing with Joni Mitchell: she’s an imaginative songwriter who painted. Bobby had that gift, too.” For this reason, Neuwirth’s originals continue to be recorded to this day, including his co-write with T Bone Burnett, “Blue Hawaiian Song,” which Burnett just included on his new record The Other Side.
The album closes with “Mercedes Benz,” the enduring Janis Joplin hit which Neuwirth co-wrote with Michael McClure and her in 1970. Neuwirth’s love of his community is clear in the subtle changes he made to the lyrics: “no help from my friends” becomes “no help BUT my friends,” and “buy me a Mercedes Benz” becomes “buy THEM ALL a Mercedes Benz.”
Whether in his music career or later in his life – helping those who struggled with addiction – it’s not only a singular talent but his dedication to those around him that makes Bob Neuwirth a truly one-of-a-kind figure in the history of rock and roll. And now his legacy lives on with this long-awaited reissue, timed to the 50th anniversary of his solo debut.
You can read more about the upcoming reissue via Rolling Stone HERE.
Pre-order Bob Neuwirth 50th Anniversary Reissue (out September 27) HERE. A print of Neuwirth’s artwork is included with a limited supply of vinyl. The digital release will follow in January 2025.
Bob Neuwirth will also be celebrated in an upcoming documentary, centered around tributes from friends and fans including T Bone Burnett, Sam Phillips, Steven Soles, David Mansfield, Happy Traum and Bob Thiele Jr and more. The film is directed by Claire Ferguson and Joan Churchill and produced by Paula Batson, Joan Churchill, Alan Barker and Chris Hegedus.
