It’s official – we officially have our first mega-reissue to get excited about for 2009.

March 24th, 2009 to be precise.

On that date, Pearl Jam will reissue their classic debut album Ten, which will be available in four different packages. The extensive list of bonus material in the reissues includes 6 previously unreleased bonus tracks, and for the first time, a DVD issue of the band’s classic 1992 MTV Unplugged performance in full 5.1 Surround Sound.

Pre-orders began today, by the way.

Hey Louie…..it’s about time, RIGHT?

Pearl Jam – State of Love and Trust (MTV Unplugged)

The Ten reissue is the starting point for a planned two year reissue campaign of the band’s catalog leading up to the 20th anniversary of Pearl Jam in 2011.

Each Ten package will include two versions of the album: the remastered version of the original album PLUS an accompanying remixed version done by the band’s long-time producer, Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC, Audioslave).

“The band loved the original mix of Ten, but were also interested in what it would sound like if I were to deconstruct and remix it,” says producer Brendan O’Brien. “The original Ten sound is what millions of people bought, dug and loved, so I was initially hesitant to mess around with that. After years of persistent nudging from the band, I was able to wrap my head around the idea of offering it as a companion piece to the original – giving a fresh take on it, a more direct sound.”

Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament handled art direction for the original Ten album packaging and worked with designer Andy Fischer of Cameron Crowe’s Vinyl Films on the new reissues:

“The goal was to assemble the ultimate fan-piece,” explains Fischer. “Something Pearl Jam lovers could pore over as they experience an indelible record all over again, in an entirely new way.”

“The original concept was about really being together as a group and entering into the world of music as a true band…a sort of all-for-one deal,” says Jeff Ament. “There were some elements of the original Ten artwork that didn’t turn out the way we had hoped, due to time constraints. With this reissue, we’ve been able to take our time and invest resources into making the design the way we had originally intended.”

Fans will also have the chance to get their hands on a replica of “Momma-Son” – the original Pearl Jam 3 song demo cassette featuring the first recorded versions of “Alive,” “Once,” and “Footsteps.”

Ament talks about the cassette:

“I think the first time that Ed or I had opened any of those boxes was a few weeks ago. I knew that the original ‘Momma-Son’ cassette was somewhere, but I hadn’t listened to it in 17, 18, 19 years. It was cool to sit down and play it for the first time with Ed and see his reaction. And to find that 90% of it stayed exactly the same as what ended up on the record. A lot of elements were identical. There was some energy flying around at that point even from 1,300 miles away from Seattle to San Diego.”

Here’s the complete rundown, including the scoop on vinyl of Ten, which will be available separately, and also as part of the “Super Deluxe” edition.

Folks, I am SO stoked for this reissue, and I look forward to finding out what PJ will have up their sleeves for the other albums in the catalog. Sign me up for that “Super Deluxe!”

Ten reissue details:
pre-order now

1. Legacy Edition (2-disc set in mini-LP style slipcase):
· Disc 1: original Ten tracklisting digitally remastered (original mix)
· Disc 2: original Ten tracklisting digitally remastered and remixed by Brendan O’Brien, plus six bonus tracks: “Brother,” “Just a Girl,” “State of Love and Trust,” “Breath and a Scream,” “2,000 Mile Blues” and “Evil Little Goat”
· Re-designed packaging

2. Deluxe Edition (2-disc set plus DVD specially designed hardbound package):
· Disc 1: original Ten tracklisting digitally remastered (original mix)
· Disc 2: original Ten tracklisting digitally remastered and remixed by Brendan O’Brien, plus six bonus tracks: “Brother,” “Just a Girl,” “State of Love and Trust,” “Breath and a Scream,” “2,000 Mile Blues” and “Evil Little Goat”
· DVD of Pearl Jam’s previously unreleased 1992 MTV Unplugged performance including never before seen bonus performance of “Oceans” with 5.1 surround sound audio remix

3. Vinyl Collection (2-LP set)
· LP 1: original Ten tracklisting remastered for vinyl
· LP 2: original Ten tracklisting remastered for vinyl and remixed by Brendan O’Brien

4. Super Deluxe Edition (2-disc set plus DVD, 4 LPs and replica cassette in linen-covered, slip-cased clamshell box):

· Disc 1: original Ten tracklisting digitally remastered (original mix)
· Disc 2: original Ten tracklisting digitally remastered and remixed by Brendan O’Brien, plus six bonus tracks: “Brother,” “Just a Girl,” “State of Love and Trust,” “Breath and a Scream,” “2,000 Mile Blues” and “Evil Little Goat”
· DVD of Pearl Jam’s previously unreleased 1992 MTV Unplugged performance including never before seen bonus performance of “Oceans” with 5.1 surround sound audio remix
· LP 1: original Ten tracklisting remastered for vinyl
· LP 2: original Ten tracklisting remastered for vinyl and remixed by Brendan O’Brien
· LP 3 & 4: Drop in the Park – Live at Magnuson Park in Seattle on September 20, 1992 (audio mixed by Brendan O’Brien)
· Cassette: replica of original “Momma-Son” Pearl Jam demo cassette featuring “Alive,” “Once” and “Footsteps”
· Package also includes an Eddie Vedder-style composition notebook filled with replica personal notes, images and mementos from the collections of Eddie Vedder and Jeff Ament, a vellum envelope with replicated era-specific ephemera from Pearl Jam’s early work and a two-sided print commemorating the Drop in the Park concert.

Related:

Pearl Jam – Porch (live in Holland ’92)

Grab the entire Holland show here.