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Dial-A-Song: 20 Years Of They Might Be Giants

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Dial-A-Song: 20 Years of They Might Be Giants TMBG compilation cover
Dial-A-Song: 20 Years of They Might Be Giants
Collection by They Might Be Giants
First released September 17, 2002 Tracks 52
Label Rhino Length 140:01

Promo Sleeve
Promo Sleeve
Contents of Box Set
Contents of Box Set

[edit] Purchase

Contents

Seller Format Price Purchase!
Amazon CD $31.98
$28.99!
TMBG Merchandise Store CD $32.00

From Rhino:

Dial-A-Song is the first and only collection to span They Might Be Giants' entire career. Compiled by the band's John Flansburgh, this two-disc anthology gathers 52 tracks from albums, EPs, singles, and soundtracks -- including hits like "Birdhouse In Your Soul" and "Boss Of Me" (from TV's Malcolm In The Middle) -- plus four previously unreleased tracks.

Millions have been introduced to the clever, eccentric pop of They Might Be Giants with "Boss Of Me," the band's theme song for the hit TV series Malcolm In The Middle. They Might Be Giants' colorful history actually stretches back more than two decades. Childhood friends John Flansburgh (vocals, guitars, keyboards) and John Linnell (vocals, accordion, sax, keyboards) , came up through the early-'80s New York performance scene, and founded Dial-A-Song, a novel means of exposing their original material (folks can call a number and hear songs played on an answering machine).

The Giants' eponymous 1986 debut and its follow-up, Lincoln, were both major hits on college radio and MTV, where their videos for "Don't Let's Start" and "Ana Ng" aired frequently. Their breakthrough album, Flood, went platinum with the international hits "Birdhouse In Your Soul" and "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" In the mid-90s TMBG expanded to a full band and continued to record and tour extensively The band released the critically acclaimed children's album No! earlier this year.

[edit] Track Listing

Disc One:

  1. Birdhouse In Your Soul - 1990
  2. Ana Ng - 1988
  3. Don't Let's Start (Single Mix) - 1987
  4. Boss Of Me - 1999
  5. Older - 1999
  6. Istanbul (Not Constantinople) - 1990
  7. Doctor Worm - 1998
  8. The Guitar - 1992
  9. Doctor Evil - 1999
  10. New York City - 1996
  11. Particle Man - 1990
  12. Cyclops Rock - 2001
  13. Minimum Wage - 1990
  14. Man, It's So Loud In Here - 2001
  15. We're The Replacements - 1986
  16. Why Does The Sun Shine (Live STD) - 1998
  17. Your Racist Friend - 1990
  18. Bangs - 2001
  19. Snail Shell - 1994
  20. Twisting - 1990
  21. Another First Kiss - 2001
  22. They'll Need A Crane - 1988
  23. The Statue Got Me High - 1992
  24. (She Was A) Hotel Detective (Single Mix) - 1987
  25. Put Your Hand Inside The Puppet Head - 1986
  26. I Palindrome I - 1992

Disc Two:

  1. She's An Angel -1986
  2. How Can I Sing Like A Girl - 1996
  3. James K. Polk (Dial-A-Song Anthology Version) - 2002
  4. Meet James Ensor - 1994
  5. Mammal - 1992
  6. Pet Name - 1996
  7. No! - 2002
  8. I Can Hear You - 1996
  9. Spider - 1992
  10. I Should Be Allowed To Think - 1994
  11. Fingertips - 1992
  12. She's Actual Size (New Live Version) - 2002
  13. Spy (Original Version) - 1993
  14. Stormy Pinkness (Live In Berlin 1989) - 2001
  15. Exquisite Dead Guy - 1996
  16. Robot Parade (Adult Version) - 2000
  17. Boat Of Car - 1985, 1986
  18. S-E-X-X-Y - 1996
  19. Number Three - 1985
  20. The End Of The Tour - 1994
  21. They Might Be Giants - 1990
  22. Hey, Mr. DJ, I Thought You Said We Had A Deal - 1989
  23. Nightgown Of The Sullen Moon - 1991
  24. Snowball In Hell - 1988
  25. Purple Toupee - 1988
  26. Cowtown - 1988

[edit] Trivia/Info

  • The press pack of Dial-A-Song came with:
    • a press release sheet, detailing how great the album is,
    • a one-sheet b&w print of John & John's Forest and Skyscraper publicity photos, and
    • a sheet of how people take things from cars in New York City.
  • This album was given a "classic" 5 out of 5 rating by Rolling Stone.