Daniel Johnston and Jad Fair famously collaborated on the 1989 album It's Spooky — a record that will now be treated to a 30th anniversary reissue.
The release is due out on April 10 via Joyful Noise Recordings, adding another tribute to the late Daniel Johnston.
As the 2005 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston highlighted, Fair began corresponding with Johnston in the late '80s and finally met the songwriter in New York back in '89.
"I was doing some recording with Mo Tucker [of the Velvet Underground]," Fair told Rolling Stone. "Daniel was in town, staying with Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth. Daniel and I became friends and I invited him to my home in Maryland to record the album."
The resulting record became It's Spooky, which was completed in just one week.
"It was very intense," Fair recalled. "Daniel was so full of ideas and it was hard to keep up with them. Trying to do new songs with Daniel in two or three takes was a lot to keep on top of. But I was really pleased with the end result."
It's Spooky, which originally arrived as a single LP release, will be presented as a double-LP vinyl set for the reissue — something Johnston wanted from the start.
"Originally, that's what Daniel and I were wanting, to have it released as a double," Fair said. "It just was difficult for us to do at that time."
It's Spooky has also been remastered by esteemed producer Kramer (Galaxie 500, Butthole Surfers, Ween). The reissue will be pressed on limited-edition "Casper White" vinyl, which includes a bonus disc of Johnston's "I Live My Broken Dreams."
For a taste of the reissue, you can hear the song "Ashes on the Ground" below, where you'll also find a trailer for the release and its tracklist.
As Fair explained, the reissue was actually set to come out in October last year, but it was pushed back when Johnston suddenly died in September at the age of 58.
"I pretty much expected it, because I knew Daniel was in very bad health," Fair said. "But it hit me quite hard.... I can think of so many excellent musicians, but as far as lyricists go, that's a whole different game. Very few lyricists I really think are up to the same standard that Daniel is up to. He was just amazing."
You can now pre-order the It's Spooky reissue.
As previously reported, Johnston will also be treated to posthumous album with Built to Spill called Built to Spill Plays the Songs of Daniel Johnston, which will arrive on May 1 via Ernest Jenning Record Co. A similar album Chicago 2017 made with Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy arrived last month.
It's Spooky:
1. It's Spooky
2. Summertime
3. I Met Roky Erickson
4. Happy Talk
5. McDonalds on the Brain
6. I Did Acid With Caroline
7. If I'd Only Known
8. Tongues Wag in This Town
9. Tomorrow Never Knows
10. Oh Honey
11. A Vow of Love
12. When Love Calls
13. Frankenstein Vs. the World
14. Hands of Love
15. Kicking the Dog
16. What I've Seen
17. Something's Got a Hold on Me
18. Villain
19. Chords of Fame
20. Ostrich
21. Casper the Friendly Ghost
22. First Day at Work
23. Fun And Games
24. Nothing Left
25. Memphis Tennessee
26. Come Back
27. Tears Stupid Tears
28. The Making of the Album
29. Get Yourself Together
30. What the World Needs Now
31. Sweet Loafed
32. Ashes on the Ground
The release is due out on April 10 via Joyful Noise Recordings, adding another tribute to the late Daniel Johnston.
As the 2005 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston highlighted, Fair began corresponding with Johnston in the late '80s and finally met the songwriter in New York back in '89.
"I was doing some recording with Mo Tucker [of the Velvet Underground]," Fair told Rolling Stone. "Daniel was in town, staying with Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth. Daniel and I became friends and I invited him to my home in Maryland to record the album."
The resulting record became It's Spooky, which was completed in just one week.
"It was very intense," Fair recalled. "Daniel was so full of ideas and it was hard to keep up with them. Trying to do new songs with Daniel in two or three takes was a lot to keep on top of. But I was really pleased with the end result."
It's Spooky, which originally arrived as a single LP release, will be presented as a double-LP vinyl set for the reissue — something Johnston wanted from the start.
"Originally, that's what Daniel and I were wanting, to have it released as a double," Fair said. "It just was difficult for us to do at that time."
It's Spooky has also been remastered by esteemed producer Kramer (Galaxie 500, Butthole Surfers, Ween). The reissue will be pressed on limited-edition "Casper White" vinyl, which includes a bonus disc of Johnston's "I Live My Broken Dreams."
For a taste of the reissue, you can hear the song "Ashes on the Ground" below, where you'll also find a trailer for the release and its tracklist.
As Fair explained, the reissue was actually set to come out in October last year, but it was pushed back when Johnston suddenly died in September at the age of 58.
"I pretty much expected it, because I knew Daniel was in very bad health," Fair said. "But it hit me quite hard.... I can think of so many excellent musicians, but as far as lyricists go, that's a whole different game. Very few lyricists I really think are up to the same standard that Daniel is up to. He was just amazing."
You can now pre-order the It's Spooky reissue.
As previously reported, Johnston will also be treated to posthumous album with Built to Spill called Built to Spill Plays the Songs of Daniel Johnston, which will arrive on May 1 via Ernest Jenning Record Co. A similar album Chicago 2017 made with Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy arrived last month.
It's Spooky:
1. It's Spooky
2. Summertime
3. I Met Roky Erickson
4. Happy Talk
5. McDonalds on the Brain
6. I Did Acid With Caroline
7. If I'd Only Known
8. Tongues Wag in This Town
9. Tomorrow Never Knows
10. Oh Honey
11. A Vow of Love
12. When Love Calls
13. Frankenstein Vs. the World
14. Hands of Love
15. Kicking the Dog
16. What I've Seen
17. Something's Got a Hold on Me
18. Villain
19. Chords of Fame
20. Ostrich
21. Casper the Friendly Ghost
22. First Day at Work
23. Fun And Games
24. Nothing Left
25. Memphis Tennessee
26. Come Back
27. Tears Stupid Tears
28. The Making of the Album
29. Get Yourself Together
30. What the World Needs Now
31. Sweet Loafed
32. Ashes on the Ground
