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THE DREAM SYNDICATE

The Dream Syndicate

Medicine Show: I Know What You Like - 2025 Reissue

    This deluxe Medicine Show reissue arrives as an expansive 4xCD box set, collecting 42 Dream Syndicate tracks that span rare live recordings, radio sessions, rehearsals, demos, and previously unreleased material from 1983 to 1984. Alongside it, the original album returns as a standalone LP, all via Down There Records (distributed by Fire Records).

    In 1982, The Dream Syndicate started their own record company, Down There Records, to release their self-titled four-song twelve-inch EP, which included the first versions of ‘When You Smile’ and ‘That’s What You Always Say’. They went on to sign with Slash for The Days of Wine and Roses, followed by A&M for the Medicine Show album. After years, the band has earned the right to reissue Medicine Show as a 42-song, 4xCD set featuring 29 unreleased recordings from the 1983 to 1984 era. For this special occasion, The Dream Syndicate are resurrecting their Down There label, which will be distributed by Fire Records.

    Medicine Show has always been a controversial album, even before it was recorded. The indie rock darlings became the first Paisley Underground band to sign to a major label, hire a mainstream rock producer, change bass players, and spend months recording the album - after having banged out their previous one, The Days of Wine and Roses, in mere hours.

    What this new box set reveals is that, as a live band, they were on fire. For the first time ever, the complete WXRT radio broadcast from the original reel-to-reel master tape is included. This is accompanied by rehearsal and live tapes of Kendra, recorded just before her departure.

    It’s all part of the story: early, primitive versions of original songs, plenty of cover versions that the band mangled into something new, and a journey of finding themselves along the way. Thankfully, shows from venues like CBGB’s, Zaders, and Soap Creek reveal some incendiary magic. Beyond the live audio, the album itself has now been remastered from the original analog tapes.

    Like many psychologically complex albums, Medicine Show took time to truly settle into listeners’ minds. It’s long overdue, but it has finally arrived.

    TRACK LISTING

    LP Tracklisting
    1 Still Holding On To You
    2 Daddy’s Girl
    3 Burn
    4 Armed With An Empty Gun
    5 Bullet With My Name On It
    6 The Medicine Show
    7 John Coltrane Stereo Blues
    8 Merrittville

    CD Box Set Tracklisting
    Disc One: Medicine Show + Unreleased Bonus Tracks
    1 Still Holding On To You
    2 Daddy’s Girl
    3 Burn
    4 Armed With An Empty Gun
    5 Bullet With My Name On It
    6 The Medicine Show
    7 John Coltrane Stereo Blues
    8 Merrittville
    9 John Coltrane Stereo Blues (Album Out-Take)
    10 The Medicine Show (Solo Acoustic)
    11 John Coltrane Stereo Blues (Live At WMMS, June 1983)

    Disc Two: This Is Not The New Dream Syndicate Album... Live!
    1 Tell Me When It’s Over (Live At The Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, 1984)
    2 Bullet With My Name On It (Live At The Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, 1984)
    3 Armed With An Empty Gun (Live At The Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, 1984)
    4 The Medicine Show (Live At The Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, 1984)
    5 John Coltrane Stereo Blues (Live At The Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, 1984)
    6 Burn (Live At The Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, 1984)
    7 The Days Of Wine And Roses (Live At The Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, 1984)
    8 John Coltrane Stereo Blues (Live In Lund, Sweden, 1984)
    9 Bullet With My Name On It (Live At The Stone, San Francisco, 1984)
    10 Witness (Live At The Stone, San Francisco, 1984)
    11 Weathered And Torn (Rehearsal Recording, 1983)

    Disc Three: The Road To Medicine Show
    1 Still Holding On To You (Live At CBGBs,1983)
    2 Armed With An Empty Gun (Live At CBGBs, 1983)
    3 Let It Rain (Live At CBGBs, 1983)
    4 The Medicine Show (Live At CBGBs,1983)
    5 Bullet With My Name On It (Live At CBGBs,1983)
    6 John Coltrane Stereo Blues (Live At CBGBs, 1983)
    7 Burn (Live At CBGBs, 1983)
    8 Morning Dew (Live At CBGBs, 1983)
    9 Burn (Rehearsal Recording With Kendra Smith,1983)
    10 John Coltrane Stereo Blues (Rehearsal Recording With Sandy Pearlman, 1983)

    Disc Four: What Is And What Should Never Be
    1 Susie Q (Live At Club Zadar, New Hope, PA, 1983)
    2 Evil Ways (Live At Club Zadar, New Hope, PA, 1983)
    3 Don’t Fear The Reaper (Live At Club Zadar, New Hope, PA, 1983)
    4 Bullet With My Name On It (Live At Club Zadar, New Hope, PA, 1983)
    5 Still Holding On To You (Live At Soap Creek Saloon, Austin, TX, 1983)
    6 Born On The Bayou (Live At Soap Creek Saloon, Austin, TX, 1983)
    7 Don’t Fear The Reaper (Live At Soap Creek Saloon, Austin, TX, 1983)
    8 Still Holding On To You (Rehearsal Recording With Kendra Smith, 1982)
    9 Armed With An Empty Gun (Rehearsal Recording With Kendra Smith, 1982)
    10 Witness (Live In Japan, 1984)

    The Dream Syndicate

    Sketches For Out Of The Grey (RSD25 EDITION)

      THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2025 EXCLUSIVE, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.



      Steve Wynn

      I Wouldn't Say It If It Wasn't True : A Memoir Of Life, Music, And The Dream Syndicate

        I Wouldn't Say It If It Wasn't True is a tale of writing songs and playing in bands as a conduit to a world its author could once have barely imagined -- a world of major labels, luxury tour buses, and sold-out theaters, but also one of alcohol, drugs, and a low-level rock n roll Babylon. Beginning with Wynn's childhood in California in the 60s and 70s, the book builds to a crescendo with the formation of the first incarnation of The Dream Syndicate in 1981 as an antidote to the prepackaged pop music of the era. It charts the highs and lows of the band's early years at the forefront of the Paisley Underground scene alongside Green On Red, Rain Parade, and The Bangles; the seismic impact of their debut album, The Days Of Wine And Roses; the spiraling chaos of the sessions for the follow-up, Medicine Show; the dissolution of the band s first line-up and the launch of a second phase of The Dream Syndicate with Out Of The Grey and Ghost Stories; and more, culminating with the release of the landmark live album Live At Raji's.

        This is Wynn's story, but it also features some of the biggest and most colorful characters of the period, offering a detailed field guide to the music business that manages to both glorify and demystify in equal measure. And, ultimately, it's a tale of redemption, with music as a vehicle for artistic and personal transformation and transcendence.

        The Dream Syndicate

        Sketches For The Days Of Wine And Roses (RSD24 EDITION)

          THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2024 EXCLUSIVE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE INSTORE ON SATURDAY APRIL 20TH ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.

          IF THERE ARE ANY REMAINING COPIES THEY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT 8PM ON MONDAY APRIL 22ND.



          The Dream Syndicate

          Live Through The Past, Darkly

            Steve Wynn and Kendra Smith founded The Dream Syndicate in 1981 and the band was a mainstay of the Paisley Underground movement. Reformed in 2012 by Steve Wynn, the band is still touring and recording.

            The LA Times said the Dream Syndicate “rocked with the highest degree of unbridled passion and conviction.”

            ‘Live Through the Past, Darkly’ is available on CD or coloured vinyl double LP, with both formats including a DVD of the The Dream Syndicate’s ‘How Did We Find Ourselves Here?’ documentary.

            DVD includes previously unreleased bonus video of a complete 1984 live show from The Roxy in LA.

            The documentary includes Chris Robinson, Stephen McCarthy, Ryan Adams, Chris Cacavas, Chris D., David Fricke, Russ Tolman, Tim Devine, Tom Gracyk, Pat Thomas, Karen Schoemer, Kari Pearson, Scott McCaughey, Sandy Pearlman, Dan Stuart and Howe Gelb.

            TRACK LISTING

            The Medicine Show (1983) The Roxy
            Still Holding On To You (1983) Club Lingerie
            Halloween (1984) Tokyo
            Forest For The Trees (1986) Roskilde Festival
            Now I Ride Alone (1988) Vitoria Gasteiz
            See That My Grave Is Kept Clean (1988) Vitoria Gasteiz
            That’s What You Always Say (2014) KEXP
            How Did I Find Myself Here? (2017) KEXP
            Glide (2019) WXPN
            Bullet Holes (2019) WXPN
            John Coltrane Stereo Blues (2023) The Lexington

            The Dream Syndicate

            Ultraviolet Battle Hymns And True Confessions

              The brand-new album from The Dream Syndicate blends vintage Krautrock, Eno-like ambience, Neu-inspired rhythmic groove and a Californian sun baked sheen into the their classic psychedelic, melodic, hue.

              The Dream Syndicate have moved well past their early Velvet Underground influences and taken on British glam, German prog, and more Featuring singer/songwriter/guitarist Steve Wynn, drummer Dennis Duck, bassist Mark Walton, lead guitarist Jason Victor plus their newest member Chris Cacavas on keyboards, plus guest appearances from Stephen McCarthy (of The Long Ryders) and Marcus Tenney's expressive sax and trumpet work.

              “Clever, ambitious, and blessedly noisy.” - AllMusic.

              “Atmospheric rock music veering between noise and subtlety compelling.” - Pitchfork.

              TRACK LISTING

              A1. Where I’ll Stand
              A2. Damian
              A3. Beyond Control
              A4. He Chronicles Of You
              A5. Hard To Say Goodbye
              B1. Every Time You Come Around
              B2. Trying To Get Over
              B3. Lesson Number One
              B4. My Lazy Mind
              B5. Straight Lines

              The Dream Syndicate

              What Can I Say? No Regrets... Out Of The Grey + Live, Demos & Outtakes

                The Dream Syndicate’s 1986 album is back on CD for the first time in 24 years. Hidden inside of ‘Out of the Grey’ are some of Steve Wynn’s strongest songs - “Slide Away” is delightful pop, “Now I Ride Alone” is moody and intense “like the hardboiled typewriting of novelists Jim Thompson, Ross MacDonald, and James Cain” that Wynn dug back in July ‘85. The epic “Boston” imagines the era in which Van Morrison was holed-up in that city circa 1967-68 writing the songs that comprised Astral Weeks while “50 in a 25 Zone” is a vehicle for a band-driven, slow burn groove.

                Deliciously remastered with new liner notes from the band’s historian Pat Thomas, the package compiles 51 songs spread across 3 CDs, including a previously unreleased live album (from July 1985) and many unreleased demos and out-takes. The deluxe reissue also features interviews with Steve Wynn, Mark Walton, Paul Cutler, and Dennis Duck - plus plenty of rare photos.

                Discs 2 and 3 reveal a wealth of unreleased material – including a never-before-heard July 1985 live album which has the ‘balls to the wall’ energy hard not captured in the studio. The songs were so fresh on that July night - they had not been recorded in the studio yet. On Disc 3, you’ll hear alternate versions of several Out of the Grey songs recorded as ‘demos’ before the album versions. These studio versions also have the raw energy of the live show, plus the band plays rare cover versions by Pink Floyd, Cream, Santana, Green on Red, Alice Cooper, Temptations, and Dolly Parton.

                51 songs including 34 never-before heard Dream Syndicate recordings – released under the title of: What Can I Say? no regrets... Out of the Grey + live, demos & outtakes… in other words, you need this!

                TRACK LISTING

                Disc 1 – Out Of The Grey
                1 Out Of The Grey
                2 Forest For The Trees
                3 50 In A 25 Zone
                4 Boston
                5 Blood Money
                6 Slide Away
                7 Dying Embers
                8 Now I Ride Alone
                9 Drinking Problem
                10 Dancing Blind
                11 You Can't Forget
                12 Let It Rain
                13 Cinnamon Girl
                14 Ballad Of Dwight Frye
                15 Shake Your Hips
                16 I Won't Forget
                17 The Lonely Bull

                Disc 2 - Live At Scorgies NY, 1985
                1 Out Of The Grey (Live At Scorgies NY, 1985)
                2 50 In A 25 Zone (Live At Scorgies NY, 1985)
                3 That's What You Always Say (Live At Scorgies NY, 1985)
                4 Slide Away (Live At Scorgies NY, 1985)
                5 Dancing Blind (Live At Scorgies NY, 1985)
                6 Blood Money (Live At Scorgies NY, 1985)
                7 Dying Embers (Live At Scorgies NY, 1985)
                8 It Hits You Again (Live At Scorgies NY, 1985)
                9 Now I Ride Alone (Live At Scorgies NY, 1985)
                10 John Coltrane Stereo Blues (Live At Scorgies NY, 1985)
                11 Still Holding Onto You (Live At Scorgies NY, 1985)
                12 When You Smile (Live At Scorgies NY, 1985)
                13 Days Of Wine And Roses (Live At Scorgies NY, 1985)

                Disc 3 - Odds & Sods
                1 Here On Earth As Well (Demo, 1985)
                2 Dancing Blind (Demo, 1985)
                3 Blood Money (Demo, 1985)
                4 Dying Embers (Demo, 1985)
                5 Slide Away (Demo, 1985)
                6 It Hits You Again (Demo, 1985)
                7 Now I Ride Alone (Demo, 1985)
                8 Eighteen
                9 Another Brick In The Wall
                10 Brain Damage
                11 Out Of The Grey Waltz
                12 The Munster's Theme Song
                13 Sixteen Ways
                14 Papa Was A Rolling Stone
                15 Low Rider
                16 Papa Jam
                17 I Ain't Got Nobody
                18 Jeannie's Afraid Of The Dark
                19 Badge
                20 Dancing Blind (Live At The Stone SF, 1984)
                21 Blood Money (Live At The Stone SF, 1984)

                The Dream Syndicate

                The Universe Inside

                  When one thinks of the Dream Syndicate, it’s not just the wild abandon with which singer/guitarist Steve Wynn, drummer Dennis Duck, bassist Mark Walton, and lead guitarist Jason Victor perform - it’s the carefully constructed songwriting of Wynn that comes to mind.

                  By now every rock critic in the country has predetermined who he or she feels Wynn reminds them of and what they think of that style of songs. This time, don’t! Which brings us to The Universe Inside. Every article or review ever written will claim “this is new and different” - well, it is! Just look at the song lengths: 20:27, 7:36, 8:56, 9:55 and 10:53. Ok, sure - the Syndicate have occasionally committed a long song to vinyl, “John Coltrane Stereo Blues” was 9 minutes with live versions over the ten-minute mark.

                  For the first time, every song is a group songwriting effort. What seeps in are Dennis Duck’s knowledge of European avant-garde music, Jason Victor’s passion for 70s prog, Mark Walton’s experience in Southern-fried music collectives and Wynn’s love of vintage electric jazz. The dazzling display of album cover artwork alone should clue you into the changes. But don’t take our word for it. Dive in!

                  TRACK LISTING

                  The Regulator
                  The Longing
                  Apropos Of Nothing
                  Dusting Off The Rust
                  The Slowest Rendition


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