Gov’t Mule‘s ongoing 20th anniversary celebration will include a series of special archival live releases — including the long-awaited official release of ‘Sco-Mule,’ a recording of the band’s 1999 concerts with guitarist John Scofield.
The double album, due in January, comes in the midst of a flurry of Mule activity that should find fans shelling out for a stack of new and from-the-vaults recordings. First on the calendar is ‘Stoned Side of the Mule: Volume 1,’ a collection of seven Rolling Stones covers scheduled to be released as part of Record Store Day’s Black Friday on Nov. 28. Recorded on Halloween 2009 at the Tower Theatre in Philadelphia, ‘Stoned Side’ is coming out on limited edition vinyl.
Next, as previously reported, comes ‘Dark Side of the Mule,’ a 90-minute set of Pink Floyd covers recorded Halloween 2008 at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston. That collection, due Dec. 15, will be available in several versions: standard single-disc, deluxe three-CD/one-DVD set and a two-LP vinyl edition.
Finally, early 2015 will bring ‘Dub Side of the Mule,’ a 2006 recording of a reggae set performed with Toots from Toots and the Maytals, as well as ‘Sco-Mule.’ The latter delivers three hours of instrumental performances captured roughly a year before Mule bassist Allen Woody’s death, and an official release has been on fans’ wish lists for years. Although they’ll have to wait a few more weeks to get their hands on the double-disc collection (available on CD and LP), we can all see the cover now, making its debut right here in this post on:
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/govt-mule-sco-mule-cover-art.
[Edited on 11/25/2014 by ABBDutchFan]
I hope I still have that 15% off Mule Merchandise code I got for signing up for the new mail list.
I love that cover. It reminds me of some of the best 1960's jazz releases.
WOW! Thanks for the heads-up..I knew about the Pink Floyd release, but not the others. Cannot wait for the ScoMule one. I have been hearing about it for years. Supposed to be incredible!
I'll pass on everything mentioned except the Sco-Mule disc, that one I'll definitely purchase.
Ordering info is up. 
http://mule.shop.musictoday.com/Dept.aspx?cp=268_68497
Gov't Mule Sco-Mule CD
In late September of 1999, John Scofield teamed with Gov't Mule, then featuring original bass player the late Allen Woody, in Georgia for two legendary shows. These shows were recorded with the intention of it being a live release after the studio album Life before Insanity. After the passing of Woody, and the start of The Deep End project, those plans had been set aside. There are no audience recordings from these shows, so this will be the first time that anyone will be able to hear or relive what took place that night.
Track Listing:
1. Hottentot
2. Tom Thumb
3. Doing It To Death
4. Birth of the Mule
5. Sco-Mule
6. Kind of Bird
7. Pass the Peas (Bonus Track)
8. Devil Likes It Slow (Bonus Track)
9. Hottentot (Alternate Version) (Bonus Track)
10. Kind of Bird (Alternate Version) (Bonus Track)
11. Afro Blue (Bonus Track)
12. Spanish Moon (Pre-Order Bonus CD)
13. Tom Thumb (Pre-Order Bonus CD)
14. Freeway Jam (Pre-Order Bonus CD)
All the press releases thus far say this is a 2 CD release with "2.5 hours" of music. But the way the CD is priced on mule.com ($14.99), leads me to believe this is a single disc release, and nowhere in the description does it say that it's 2 discs. Are we to assume that the track listing looks like this?
Disc 1:
1. Hottentot
2. Tom Thumb
3. Doing It To Death
4. Birth of the Mule
5. Sco-Mule
6. Kind of Bird
Disc 2:
1. Pass the Peas (Bonus Track)
2. Devil Likes It Slow (Bonus Track)
3. Hottentot (Alternate Version) (Bonus Track)
4. Kind of Bird (Alternate Version) (Bonus Track)
5. Afro Blue (Bonus Track)
Bonus Disc:
1. Spanish Moon (Pre-Order Bonus CD)
2. Tom Thumb (Pre-Order Bonus CD)
3. Freeway Jam (Pre-Order Bonus CD)
I don't understand why the 'bonus tracks' are listed as such...weren't they part of the concerts?
I don't understand why the 'bonus tracks' are listed as such...weren't they part of the concerts?
A lot of bands do this with archival releases of their live music so people will buy it during pre-sale for the bonus disc/tracks.
Then when it's past pre-sale time they only sell the CD or download without the bonus disc/tracks.
The dead do this with Dave's picks, and road trips. I also like the cover art.
[Edited on 11/28/2014 by The_Newt]
Is the "not recorded and never before heard" some sort of marketing ploy? I've had the Athens show w/ Sco forever...and it is UNREAL. Just curious as to why it is billed as such...regardless, I can't wait for this release and will be snatching it up, pronto!
Is the "not recorded and never before heard" some sort of marketing ploy? I've had the Athens show w/ Sco forever...and it is UNREAL. Just curious as to why it is billed as such...regardless, I can't wait for this release and will be snatching it up, pronto!
I think what they mean is that it's a soundboard?
Or, it's just marketing so people won't trade for an inexpensive audience recording, or download the AUD recording for free, and will instead buy a copy of the soundboard official release.
Okay, so I just reread the heading on link, and I see what I missed before. Still, the "bonus tracks" thing is a bit misleading. I gotta say, though, $14.99 for a double album with a bonus disc is a great deal. Looking forward to this one!
I gotta say, though, $14.99 for a double album with a bonus disc is a great deal.
Until you add on $14.80 for shipping to the UK if you want the extra disc (which I do!) through the pre-order. It'll be worth it - always enjoyed the bonus discs previously.
This is interesting. When I try to order it, I get the bonus CD.
When I put in two copies I get a free subscription to Rolling Stone. But no bonus CD for the second one.
So no Rolling Stone if I only buy one and no bonus disc for the second one.
Shipping charges are the same.
Huh?
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
