40 Odd Years


40 Odd Years is a compilation box set by American singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III, released on May 3, 2011 on Shout! Factory. The set contains music from throughout Wainwright's career, alongside a DVD of live performances and documentary pieces. The collection is co-produced and curated by filmmaker Judd Apatow, who also writes an introduction in the liner notes.
The album's fourth disc features both rare and unreleased tracks, including a newly recorded song for the collection, entitled "Dead Man".

Background

Regarding filmmaker Judd Apatow's involvement in 40 Odd Years, Wainwright noted, "I would see him and he would say, "You gotta have a box!" And I'd say, "Yeah, sure, I agree." But because of his interest and his influence, he was able get together with the people at Shout! Factory and encouraged them to make it happen. And he was also quite involved from the creative side of things. I sent him my choices, and the DVD was pretty much created by him and his team. So, he's a very big part."
Regarding the box set's track listing, Wainwright stated, "I've mourned over the kittens that have been put in the sack, that didn't make it into the box. That was an aspect that was difficult at that stage - choosing what could be included and what couldn't be included because there were digital space requirements. I took one song off because it made my wife wince too much. I cut her some slack. It takes a lot to make me wince; as far as I'm concerned, bad taste is timeless. I like to wince. I like to think that people are going 'Eeeghegh!' I put one song on there that I never had the guts to put on a record - which was this song called "Laid" - so I thought, 'What the hell? I'm almost dead. I'll put it out there'."
On the album's fourth disc of rarities, Wainwright included a duet with him and his ex-wife Kate McGarrigle, entitled "Weave Room Blues". Wainwright stated, "It seemed important to include something with the two of us: "Weave Room Blues' was the choice. We were having a lot of fun. And that was what I wanted to convey with that choice, that we did have fun."

Track listing

Disc 1 (1969–1983)

  1. School Days
  2. I Don't Care
  3. Uptown
  4. Be Careful There's A Baby In The House
  5. Saw Your Name In The Paper
  6. Dead Skunk
  7. New Paint
  8. Drinking Song
  9. The Swimming Song
  10. Dilated To Meet You
  11. Down Drinking At The Bar
  12. The Man Who Couldn't Cry
  13. Whatever Happened To Us?
  14. Crime Of Passion
  15. Kick In The Head
  16. Summer's Almost Over
  17. Just Like President Thieu
  18. Golfin’ Blues
  19. The Heckler
  20. Natural Disaster
  21. Red Guitar
  22. Hollywood Hopeful
  23. DTTYWLM
  24. The Grammy Song

    Disc 2 (1984–1995)

  25. Westchester County
  26. I'm Alright
  27. Screaming Issue
  28. Unhappy Anniversary
  29. Your Mother And I
  30. Synchronicity
  31. Hard Day On The Planet
  32. You Don't Want To Know
  33. Bill Of Goods
  34. Thanksgiving
  35. Your Father's Car
  36. When I'm At Your House
  37. The Picture
  38. Men
  39. So Many Songs
  40. Tip That Waitress
  41. I'd Rather Be Lonely
  42. April Fool's Day Morn
  43. The Acid Song
  44. IWIWAL
  45. A Year
  46. Dreaming

    Disc 3 (1996–2010)

  47. So Damn Happy
  48. Primrose Hill
  49. Bein’ A Dad
  50. Four Mirrors
  51. It's Love And I Hate It
  52. Christmas Morning
  53. Pretty Good Day
  54. White Winos
  55. Bed
  56. Surviving Twin
  57. The Shit Song
  58. Between
  59. My Biggest Fan
  60. When You Leave
  61. Make Your Mother Mad
  62. Daughter
  63. Grey In L.A.
  64. Muse Blues
  65. Motel Blues
  66. The Deal
  67. Rowena
  68. High Wide & Handsome

    Disc 4 (Rare and Unreleased)

  69. Weave Room Blues
  70. McSorley's
  71. Black Uncle Remus
  72. Funny Having Money
  73. The Hardy Boys At The Y
  74. Laid
  75. Outsidey
  76. That Cat
  77. Surfin’ Queen
  78. Newt
  79. 4X10
  80. Somethin’ Stupid
  81. The Miles
  82. So Good So Far
  83. Big Fish
  84. No Sure Way
  85. Hey There 2nd Grader
  86. More I Cannot Wish You
  87. Florida
  88. Hank & Fred
  89. Your Eyes
  90. Dead Man
  91. At The End Of A Long Lonely Day

    Disc 5 (DVD: Filmed Performances)

  92. One Man Guy - 1993 Dutch television documentary
  93. BBC4 Sessions: Loudon Wainwright: One Man Guy - Filmed at Bush Hall, London, on May 2, 2005 - 4 Song
  94. Loudon Wainwright III at The BBC - Aired on September 23, 2005 - 11 Songs
  95. Dead Man - Filmed on May 24, 2010; recording session documentary
  96. Entertainment Desk - Aired on Canadian television in 1995 - 1 Song with Martha Wainwright
  97. High Wide & Handsome – The Charlie Poole Project - Filmed in 2009 for documentary on making of album
  98. The Basement - Filmed in Sydney, Australia in 2008 - 1 Song with Lucy Wainwright Roche
  99. Austin City Limits - 5 Songs
  100. Saturday Night Live - Aired on NBC on November 15, 1975 - 2 Songs
  101. The Garfield House - Filmed on May 24, 2010 - 6 Songs
  102. 826LA Benefit - Filmed on January 16, 2007 - 2 Songs
  103. PBS Soundstage - Aired on February 2, 1977 - 1 Song
  104. McCabe's Guitar Shop - Filmed on February 3, 2007 - 1 Song
  105. The Mike Douglas Show - Aired on April 25, 1978 - Interview and 1 Song
  106. Nightline - Aired on ABC on June 22, 2005 - 1 Song
  107. Carrott Confidential - Aired on BBC on February 14, 1987 - 1 Song