Yesterday's News
Encyclopedia
"Yesterday's News" is a song by alternative country
band Whiskeytown
, co-written by Ryan Adams
and Phil Wandscher
. It first appeared on Whiskeytown's Strangers Almanac album, and was released in 1998 as a CD single
.
An earlier version of the song - recorded during the band's "Baseball Park" sessions - was released on the 1998 reissue of the band's first album Faithless Street
. Ryan Adams calls this "the definitive version. It sounds younger and freer than the one on Strangers Almanac, a little bit faster and louder. That was our Big Star
phase. I played through a Vox amp
at [producer] Chris Stamey’s
request. Phil
put a space-echo on the solo, and he talks underneath me in the choruses. The singing is better on the original... I had just written the song when we recorded it with Chris [Stamey] for the Baseball Park Sessions. The person it was about was still fresh in my mind."
The lyrics of the song mention "The Comet", i.e., The Comet Lounge, a favorite Raleigh, NC, hangout for the band. The bar has since closed.
Alternative country
Alternative country is a loosely defined sub-genre of country music, which includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream or pop country music...
band Whiskeytown
Whiskeytown
Whiskeytown was an alternative country band formed in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1994. Fronted by Ryan Adams, other members included Caitlin Cary, Phil Wandscher, Eric "Skillet" Gilmore, and Mike Daly. They disbanded in 2000, with Adams leaving to pursue his solo career...
, co-written by Ryan Adams
Ryan Adams
David Ryan Adams is an American alt-country/rock singer-songwriter, from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Initially part of the group Whiskeytown, Adams left the band and released his first solo album Heartbreaker in 2000...
and Phil Wandscher
Phil Wandscher
Phil Wandscher is the former guitarist of the alt-country band Whiskeytown, and is currently a member of Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter.Wandscher appeared on Death Cab For Cutie's album Transatlanticism, singing backing vocals on the album's title track...
. It first appeared on Whiskeytown's Strangers Almanac album, and was released in 1998 as a CD single
CD single
A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s...
.
An earlier version of the song - recorded during the band's "Baseball Park" sessions - was released on the 1998 reissue of the band's first album Faithless Street
Faithless Street
Faithless Street is the debut studio album by alternative country band Whiskeytown, released in 1995 on Mood Food Records. The album was re-issued by Outpost Recordings in 1998 with several bonus tracks added, and the track "Oklahoma" omitted...
. Ryan Adams calls this "the definitive version. It sounds younger and freer than the one on Strangers Almanac, a little bit faster and louder. That was our Big Star
Big Star
Big Star was an American rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1971 by Alex Chilton, Chris Bell, Jody Stephens and Andy Hummel. The group broke up in 1974, but reorganized with a new line-up nearly 20 years later...
phase. I played through a Vox amp
Vox AC30
The Vox AC30 is a guitar amplifier manufactured by Vox and known for its "jangly" high-end sound. First introduced in 1958 due to the growing demand for higher-wattage amplifiers, it became an iconic amplifier for British musicians and soon for others....
at [producer] Chris Stamey’s
Chris Stamey
Chris Stamey is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. After a stint playing with Alex Chilton, and a brief partnering with Mitch Easter under the name Sneakers, he formed The dB's, whose stewardship he would share with Peter Holsapple.In 1977 in New York, Chris founded the...
request. Phil
Phil Wandscher
Phil Wandscher is the former guitarist of the alt-country band Whiskeytown, and is currently a member of Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter.Wandscher appeared on Death Cab For Cutie's album Transatlanticism, singing backing vocals on the album's title track...
put a space-echo on the solo, and he talks underneath me in the choruses. The singing is better on the original... I had just written the song when we recorded it with Chris [Stamey] for the Baseball Park Sessions. The person it was about was still fresh in my mind."
The lyrics of the song mention "The Comet", i.e., The Comet Lounge, a favorite Raleigh, NC, hangout for the band. The bar has since closed.
Track listing
Personnel & Production Credits
- Ryan AdamsRyan AdamsDavid Ryan Adams is an American alt-country/rock singer-songwriter, from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Initially part of the group Whiskeytown, Adams left the band and released his first solo album Heartbreaker in 2000...
— acoustic & electric guitars, singing, banjo, piano, percussion - Phil WandscherPhil WandscherPhil Wandscher is the former guitarist of the alt-country band Whiskeytown, and is currently a member of Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter.Wandscher appeared on Death Cab For Cutie's album Transatlanticism, singing backing vocals on the album's title track...
— electric guitar, singing, organ, percussion - Caitlin CaryCaitlin CaryCaitlin Cary is an alt-country musician.Born to Hall Cary and Carol Campbell Thomas in East Cleveland, Caitlin Cary was raised with her half-brothers, Brian, Craig, and Keith Thomas, in East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights. She began playing the violin at age six. She attended the College of...
— violin, singing - Steven Terry — drums, singing, percussion
- Jeff Rice — bass guitar
- Produced, engineered, and mixed by Jim ScottJim ScottJim Scott is a guitarist, singer/songwriter and composer in the genres of jazz, classical and folk music.-Life:Jim Scott has made it his business to create and perform music that celebrates peace, justice and the earth. He co-wrote the celebrated Missa Gaia - Earth Mass and many other pieces with...