The Magnetic Fields to re-issue 69 Love Songs

The Magnetic Fields is songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Stephin Merritt. His three-hour magnum opus 69 Love Songs is to be reissued on vinyl on October 7th through Domino Records. Comprised of 6 x 10” vinyl, the box set will include a full size 24-page colour booklet with liner notes by Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) including an in-depth interview and a track-by-track with Merritt. The box set will be limited to 1000 copies.

69 Love Songs was released in 1999 and 17 years later, it is still a singular achievement - a bold undertaking by one of pop music’s most innovative and acclaimed songwriters. Originally conceived by Merritt to be a live musical revue of 100 songs, Merritt realised that 100 songs, even at 2 minutes each, would be far too long a show and decided upon the next meaningful number, 69. 69 songs about life, loss, hope and beauty.  69 songs about the pursuit of that ever elusive and patently undefinable holy grail, love. 

Stephin Merritt wrote all 69 songs but enlisted the help of numerous friends to record the album including long-time collaborator Claudia Gonson, guitarist John Woo, cellist Sam Davol and Daniel Handler. 24 of the songs feature guest vocals from LD Beghtol, Dudley Klute, Shirley Simms and Gonson.

A career-defining work (as Merritt intended it to be), 69 Love Songs routinely ranks in Best Albums of All Times lists and has earned cult status. It is a celebration to the beauty, magic, humor, frustration, longing and tenderness of the human condition.

Pre-order the 69 Love Songs box set here. 

Tracklisting:

Volume 1

1.     Absolutely Cuckoo

2.     I Don't Believe In The Sun

3.     All My Little Words

4.     A Chicken With Its Head Cut Off

5.     Reno Dakota

6.     I Don't Want To Get Over You

7.     Come Back From San Francisco

8.     The Luckiest Guy On The Lower East Side

9.     Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits

10.  The Cactus Where Your Heart Should Be

11.  I Think I Need A New Heart

12.  The Book Of Love

13.  Fido, Your Leash Is Too Long

14.  How Fucking Romantic

15.  The One You Really Love

16.  Punk Love

17.  Parades Go By

18.  Boa Constrictor

19.  A Pretty Girl Is Like...

20.  My Sentimental Melody

21.  Nothing Matters When We're Dancing

22.  Sweet-Lovin' Man

23.  The Things We Did And Didn't Do

Volume 2

1.     Roses

2.     Love Is Like Jazz

3.     When My Boy Walks Down The Street

4.     Time Enough For Rocking When We're Old

5.     Very Funny

6.     Grand Canyon

7.     No One Will Ever Love You

8.     If You Don't Cry

9.     You're My Only Home

10.  (Crazy For You But) Not That Crazy

11.  My Only Friend

12.  Promises Of Eternity

13.  World Love

14.  Washington

15.  Long-Forgotten Fairytale

16.  Kiss Me Like You Mean It

17.  Papa Was A Rodeo

18.  Epitaph For My Heart

19.  Asleep And Dreaming

20.  The Sun Goes Down And The World Goes Dancing

21.  The Way You Say Good-Night

22.  Abigail, Belle Of Kilronan

23.  I Shatter

Volume 3

1.     Underwear

2.     It’s A Crime

3.     Busby Berkeley Dreams

4.     I’m Sorry I Love You

5.     Acoustic Guitar

6.     The Death Of Ferdinand De Saussure

7.     Love In The Shadows

8.     Bitter Tears

9.     Wi’ Nae Wee Bairn Ye’ll Me Beget

10.  Yeah! Oh, Yeah!

11.  Experimental Music Love

12.  Meaningless

13.  Love Is Like a Bottle Of Gin

14.  Queen Of The Savages

15.  Blue You

16.  I Can’t Touch You Anymore

17.  Two Kinds of People

18.  How To Say Goodbye

19.  The Night You Can’t Remember

20.  For We Are The King Of The Boudoir

21.  Strange Eyes

22.  Xylophone Track

23.  Zebra