Westerberg best-of collection, Replacements reissues on the way

Billboard is reporting that Paul Westerberg's solo work will be the subject of a retrospective to be released this spring by Rhino Records. The 20 track set will feature two new songs, b-sides, soundtrack contributions and rarities from his post-Replacements work. No track listing or release date have been announced yet.

Also, while appearing on Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones' radio show last week, Westerberg revealed that he recently recorded a song with Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson for Cameron Crowe's forthcoming film "Elizabethtown." Paul reminisced about the band's early days, in particular "when we were riding in the van and we ripped the seats out and would just listen to tapes and listen to Black Flag. [We would] sort of slam dance and stuff around in the back of the van and be drinking hard liquor at noon and it was just, you know, carefree times. We didn't give a damn." The entire interview can be downloaded from Westerberg's website.

Speaking of the `Mats, their entire catalogue will get the reissue treatment soon. Rykodisc, which owns the rights to the band's Twin Tone releases, will reissue the Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash, Stink, Hootenanny and Let It Be in the fall with rare bonus tracks. Rhino is expected to do the same for the band's Sire Records releases as well.