Unearthed 31-year old recording marks band’s first official live release

By Brent Thompson

It’s always been regrettable that The Replacements called it quits before Alt-Rock blossomed in the ’90s. Though many have regularly cited the influence of The Mats, Paul Westerberg & Co. were out of commission before commercial radio went actively looking for the raw sounds that the quartet had already perfected. Now, over 31 years since the show was recorded in Hoboken, N.J., Rhino has released For Sale: Live At Maxwell’s 1986, The Replacements’ first official live release. Catching the band with its original lineup still intact, Westerberg, Bob Stinson, Tommy Stinson and Chris Mars rip through a 29-song set that includes band staples “I Will Dare,” “Left Of The Dial,” “Kiss Me On The Bus,” “Bastards Of Young” and “Color Me Impressed.” Brilliant, spontaneous and a sometimes sloppy, For Sale is not only a Replacements live album, it’s THE live album that fans and newcomers alike need to own. The timing of the recording is especially significant as Bob Stinson would leave the band a few months after the show took place. Available in vinyl, CD and digital formats, the album includes liner notes by Bob Mehr, author the band’s biography, Trouble Boys.

Photo Credit: Caryn Rose