Violent Femmes’ 1983 self-titled debut to get deluxe reissue for 40th anniversary in December

Craft Recordings will mark the 40th anniversary of Violent Femmes’ 1983 self-titled debut with a special reissue. Due out December 1 and available for pre-order now, the deluxe 2-CD and digital formats will feature newly remastered audio and over a dozen demos, B-sides, and live performances from the folk-punk trio — including alternate versions of “Blister in the Sun,” “Please Do Not Go,” “Gone Daddy Gone,” and “Add It Up.”

A special 4-disc vinyl box set will follow February 9, 2024, limited to 5,000 copies worldwide. Housed in a lift-top box with die-cut window detail, this collectible edition offers three 180-gram LPs — the original album, alongside the demos, and live material — plus, a replica 7-inch single (“Ugly”/“Gimme the Car”).

The original album and single discs are cut from the original analog tapes, while lacquers for the complete set were cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio. Both the CD and LP editions will feature a book with new liner notes by journalist and Rolling Stone senior editor David Fricke, complete with interviews with Violent Femmes members Gordon Gano, Brian Ritchie, and Victor DeLorenzo.

Reflecting on the album’s 40th anniversary, bassist Brian Ritchie shares: “I am frequently stopped on the street by people who tell me, ‘Your album changed my life,’ or some variant. I don’t have to ask, ‘Which album?’ because it is implied that they’re talking about the first one. The uncanny thing is that these people range from early teens to septuagenarians, and they all have the same testimony.” Ritchie adds, “Sometimes music is more than just a pleasing sound that entertains. It takes on greater meaning. Multiple generations have found the songs to be relevant in their life situations. Some people say they had sex for the first time listening to it (which I find appalling but whatever) and someone even said, ‘I was conceived to your music.’ Wow.”

Fans can visit digital platforms to pre-save Violent Femmes (Deluxe Edition) and stream or download the advance single, “Gone Daddy Gone / I Just Want to Make Love to You (Live).” Recorded in January 1983 at Folk City in New York, NY, this early version includes a complete verse from Willie Dixon’s 1954 song “I Just Want to Make Love to You” (originally recorded by Muddy Waters). Like all the bonus material featured on Violent Femmes (Deluxe Edition), “Gone Daddy Gone (Live)” was previously unavailable in digital format.

The CD version of the debut was released in 1987 and featured two extra songs, “Ugly” and “Gimme the Car.” Both originally appeared on a 7-inch released by London-based indie label Rough Trade in 1983.

Violent Femmes' studio catalog includes nine studio albums. They played Coachella (in a highly anticipated reunion set in 2013), and have seen their songs reimagined by major acts like Gnarls Barkley (who covered “Gone Daddy Gone” for their Platinum-certified debut album St. Elsewhere in 2006). 

Visit vfemmes.com for tour and ticket information. Click here to pre-order Violent Femmes (Deluxe Edition), or stream/download the advance single and pre-save the album.

Track list – Violent Femmes (Deluxe Edition) (2-CD edition):

Disc 1:

1. Blister In The Sun

2. Kiss Off
3. Please Do Not Go
4. Add It Up
5. Confessions
6. Prove My Love
7. Promise
8. To The Kill
9. Gone Daddy Gone / I Just Want To Make Love To You
10. Good Feeling
11. Ugly
12. Gimme The Car

Disc 2:

1. Girl Trouble (Demo)
2. Breakin’ Up (Demo)
3. Waiting For The Bus (Demo)
4. Blister In The Sun (Demo)
5. Kiss Off (Demo)
6. Please Do Not Go (Demo)
7. Add It Up (Demo)
8. Confessions (Demo)
9. Prove My Love (Demo)
10. Special (Live At Beneath-It-All Café, Milwaukee, WI - 9/12/1981)
11. Country Death Song (Live At Beneath-It-All Café, Milwaukee, WI - 9/12/1981)
12. To The Kill (Live At Beneath-It-All Café, Milwaukee, WI - 9/12/1981)
13. Never Tell (Live At Beneath-It-All Café, Milwaukee, WI - 9/12/1981)
14. Break Song (Live At The Jazz Gallery, Milwaukee, WI - 12/8/1981)
15. Her Television (Live At The Jazz Gallery, Milwaukee, WI - 12/8/1981)
16. How Do You Say Goodbye (Live At The Jazz Gallery, Milwaukee, WI - 12/8/1981)
17. Theme and Variations (Live At The Jazz Gallery, Milwaukee, WI - 12/8/1981)
18. Prove My Love (Live At Folk City, New York, NY - 1/26/1983)
19. Gone Daddy Gone / I Just Want To Make Love To You (Live At Folk City, New York, NY - 1/26/1983)
20. Promise (Live At Folk City, New York, NY - 1/26/1983)
21. In Style (Live At Folk City, New York, NY - 1/26/1983)
22. Add It Up (Live At Folk City, New York, NY - 1/26/1983)

Tour Dates:

10/27 - Arizona State Fair (Phoenix, AZ)

11/16 - The Novo (Los Angeles, CA)

11/18 - Darker Waves 2023 (Huntington Beach, CA)