Pleased to Meet Me

Pleased to Meet Me is the fifth studio album by the American rock band the Replacements, released in 1987 by Sire Records. The album was acclaimed by music critics.

Pleased to Meet Me
Studio album by the Replacements
Released	June 17, 1987
Recorded	1986–1987
Studio	Ardent Studios, Studio B, Memphis
Genre	Alternative rock power pop post-punk
Length	33:00
Label	Sire
Producer	Jim Dickinson
The Replacements chronology
Tim (1985) Pleased to Meet Me (1987) Don't Tell a Soul (1989)
Singles from Pleased to Meet Me
"The Ledge" Released: 1987 "Alex Chilton" Released: 1987 "Can't Hardly Wait" Released: July 1987

Background and recording

Pleased to Meet Me is the only album recorded by the band as a trio. After their previous album Tim, guitarist Bob Stinson was no longer with the band. Stinson was still a member when the album's demos were recorded in August 1986; however, he only showed up for one recording session.

The main recording sessions for the album took place at Ardent Studios in Memphis between November 1986 and January 1987, under the supervision of producer Jim Dickinson.

Guitarist Bob "Slim" Dunlap joined the band soon after the recording sessions.

Music and lyrics

While the punk roots of the group were still apparent on Tim, by Pleased to Meet Me they were there more in spirit as the band delved into other genres, such as soul and cocktail jazz, alongside tracks featuring their customary hard rocking sound. Perhaps due to the album's recording in soul music center Memphis, Tennessee, or the influence of producer Jim Dickinson, the band augmented its sound with saxophone on the tracks "I Don't Know" and "Nightclub Jitters" and a horn section on "Can't Hardly Wait", which features Big Star vocalist Alex Chilton on guitar.

A music video was made for "The Ledge", but it was banned from airplay on MTV due to its lyrical content about suicide.

Artwork and release

The album's cover art mocks the band's transition from young punks to successful musicians with a major record deal, depicting a handshake between one person clad in a suit, starched white shirt, glitzy watch and diamond ring and the other wearing a ripped workshirt. Westerberg was the man in the ripped shirt, but his face was not shown in the shot used on the cover. The self-mocking tone continues on the song, "I Don't Know", with its chorus, "One foot in the door/The other one in the gutter."

The artwork is also an homage to the cover art of Elvis Presley’s 1960 soundtrack album G.I. Blues, from the film of the same name.

Pleased to Meet Me was released in 1987 by Sire Records and peaked at #131 on the Billboard Music Chart's Top 200. According to Our Band Could Be Your Life author Michael Azerrad, the album sold "about 300,000 copies."

On September 23, 2008, Pleased to Meet Me was remastered and reissued by Rhino Entertainment with 11 additional tracks consisting of studio demos, B-sides, and alternate takes. New liner notes were written by Peter Jesperson.

In 2020, Rhino Entertainment released a deluxe edition that contained 3 CDs and 1 LP.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
The Austin Chronicle
Chicago Sun-Times
Entertainment Weekly	A
Los Angeles Times
Pitchfork	9.3/10
Q
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Spin Alternative Record Guide	7/10
The Village Voice	A−

Pleased to Meet Me was acclaimed by music critics. Writing for Rolling Stone, David Fricke described it as "an album alive with the crackle of conflicting emotions and kamikaze rock & roll fire." In a retrospective review, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic felt that Pleased to Meet Me "was the last time [The Replacements] could still shoot for the stars and seem like their scrappy selves and, in many ways, it was the last true Replacements album". The album appeared at number three in The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop critics' poll for 1987. In 2012, Paste placed the record at number 70 on its list of "The 80 Best Albums of the 1980s".

Track listing

All tracks are written by Paul Westerberg, except where noted

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"I.O.U."		2:57
2.	"Alex Chilton"	Westerberg Tommy Stinson Chris Mars	3:11
3.	"I Don't Know"	Westerberg Stinson Mars	3:20
4.	"Nightclub Jitters"		2:44
5.	"The Ledge"		4:04
6.	"Never Mind"		2:47
7.	"Valentine"	Westerberg Stinson Mars	3:31
8.	"Shooting Dirty Pool"	Westerberg Stinson Mars	2:20
9.	"Red Red Wine"		3:00
10.	"Skyway"		2:04
11.	"Can't Hardly Wait"		3:02

2008 CD reissue bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
12.	"Birthday Gal" (Demo)		4:39
13.	"Valentine" (Demo Version)	Westerberg Stinson Mars	4:09
14.	"Bundle Up" (Demo)	Westerberg Stinson Mars	2:59
15.	"Photo" (Demo)		3:46
16.	"Election Day"		2:56
17.	"Alex Chilton" (Alternate Version)	Westerberg Stinson Mars	3:37
18.	"Kick It In" (Demo)		3:33
19.	"Route 66"	Bobby Troup	2:57
20.	"Tossin' n' Turnin'"	Ritchie Adams Malou Rene	2:20
21.	"Can't Hardly Wait" (Alternate Version)		3:00
22.	"Cool Water"	Bob Nolan	3:04
Total length:			70:00

2020 Deluxe Edition

All tracks are written by Paul Westerberg, except where noted

Disc One: Pleased to Meet Me (2020 Remaster) + Rare, Single-Only Tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"I.O.U."		2:58
2.	"Alex Chilton"	Westerberg Tommy Stinson Chris Mars	3:13
3.	"I Don't Know"	Westerberg Stinson Mars	3:21
4.	"Nightclub Jitters"		2:45
5.	"The Ledge"		4:07
6.	"Never Mind"		2:50
7.	"Valentine"	Westerberg Stinson Mars	3:35
8.	"Shooting Dirty Pool"	Westerberg Stinson Mars	2:22
9.	"Red Red Wine"		3:01
10.	"Skyway"		2:04
11.	"Can't Hardly Wait"		3:06
12.	"Election Day"		2:55
13.	"Jungle Rock"	Ralph Simonton, Hank Mizell, James Bobo, Bill Collins	2:37
14.	"Route 66"	Bobby Troupe	2:55
15.	"Tossin' N' Turnin'"	Malou Rene, Ritchie Adams	2:19
16.	"Cool Water"	Bob Nolan	2:41
17.	"Can't Hardly Wait (Jimmy Iovine Remix)"		3:04

All tracks are written by Paul Westerberg, except where noted

Disc Two: Blackberry Way Demos

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
18.	"Bundle Up" (Demo)		2:57
19.	"Birthday Gal" (Demo)		4:40
20.	"I.O.U." (Demo)		3:15
21.	"Red Red Wine" (Demo)		3:21
22.	"Photo" (Demo)		3:48
23.	"Time Is Killing Us" (Demo)		4:14
24.	"Valentine" (Demo)		4:08
25.	"Awake Tonight" (Demo)	Tommy Stinson	3:47
26.	"Hey Shadow" (Demo)	Tommy Stinson	3:55
27.	"I Don't Know" (Demo)	Paul Westerberg, Tommy Stinson, Chris Mars	3:25
28.	"Kick It In" (Demo 1)		3:55
29.	"Shooting Dirty Pool" (Demo)	Paul Westerberg, Tommy Stinson, Chris Mars	2:56
30.	"Kick It In" (Demo 2)		3:42
31.	"All He Wants To Do Is Fish" (Demo)	Chris Mars	2:59
32.	"Even If It's Cheap" (Demo)	Tommy Stinson	2:56

All tracks are written by Paul Westerberg, except where noted

Disc Three: Rough Mixes, Outtakes, & Alternates

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
32.	"Valentine" (Rough Mix)		3:41
33.	"Never Mind" (Rough Mix)		2:50
34.	"Birthday Gal" (Rough Mix)		4:26
35.	"Alex Chilton" (Rough Mix)	Paul Westerberg, Tommy Stinson, Chris Mars	3:15
36.	"Election Day" (Rough Mix)		2:46
37.	"Kick It In" (Rough Mix)		3:30
38.	"Red Red Wine" (Rough Mix)		3:22
39.	"The Ledge" (Rough Mix)		4:14
40.	"I.O.U." (Rough Mix)		3:00
41.	"Can't Hardly Wait" (Rough Mix)		3:07
42.	"Nightclub Jitters" (Rough Mix)		2:47
43.	"Skyway" (Rough Mix)		2:08
44.	"Cool Water" (Rough Mix)	Bob Nolan	2:40
45.	"Birthday Gal" (2020 Remaster)		3:52
46.	"Learn How To Fail"		3:39
47.	"Run For The Country"		4:30
48.	"All He Wants To Do Is Fish" (2020 Remaster)	Chris Mars	2:42
49.	"I Can Help" (Studio Outtake)	Bill Lance Swan	3:33
50.	"Lift Your Skirt"		2:15
51.	"Till We're Nude" (2020 Remaster)		2:08
52.	"Beer For Breakfast" (2020 Remaster)		1:38
53.	"Trouble On The Way"	Tommy Stinson	3:10
54.	"I Don't Know" (Out Take, 2020 Remaster)		3:05

All tracks are written by Paul Westerberg, except where noted

LP Track Listing Side A

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
55.	"Valentine" (Rough Mix)		3:41
56.	"Never Mind" (Rough Mix)		2:50
57.	"Birthday Gal" (Rough Mix)		4:26
58.	"Alex Chilton" (Rough Mix)	Paul Westerberg, Tommy Stinson, Chris Mars	3:15
59.	"Election Day" (Rough Mix)		2:46
60.	"Kick It In" (Rough Mix)		3:30

All tracks are written by Paul Westerberg, except where noted

LP Track Listing Side B

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
61.	"Red Red Wine" (Rough Mix)		3:22
62.	"The Ledge" (Rough Mix)		4:14
63.	"I.O.U." (Rough Mix)		3:00
64.	"Can't Hardly Wait" (Rough Mix)		3:07
65.	"Nightclub Jitters" (Rough Mix)		2:47
66.	"Skyway" (Rough Mix)		2:08
67.	"Cool Water" (Rough Mix)	Bob Nolan	2:40

Personnel

• Paul Westerberg – lead and background vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, piano (on "Nightclub Jitters"), six-string bass (on "Skyway", "Can't Hardly Wait"), harmonica (on "Can't Hardly Wait")
• Tommy Stinson – bass guitar (except "Skyway"), background vocals, upright bass (on "Nightclub Jitters"), acoustic guitar and guitar fills (on "Can't Hardly Wait")
• Chris Mars – drums, background vocals, cowbell (on "Alex Chilton"), foot tap (on "Skyway")
• Jim Dickinson (credited as East Memphis Slim) – keyboards (on "I.O.U.", "The Ledge", "Can't Hardly Wait"), background vocals (on "I.O.U."), organ (on "Valentine"), vibes (on "Skyway")
• James "Vito" Lancaster – background vocals (on "I.O.U.", "Alex Chilton", "Shooting Dirty Pool")
• Teenage Steve Douglas – baritone sax (on "I Don't Know"), bass flute (on "The Ledge")
• Prince Gabe – saxophone (on "Nightclub Jitters")
• Luther Dickinson – guitar solo (on "Shooting Dirty Pool")
• Alex Chilton – guitar fills (on "Can't Hardly Wait")
• Max Huls – strings (on "Can't Hardly Wait")
• The Memphis Horns (on "Can't Hardly Wait"):
  • Andrew Love – tenor sax
  • Ben Cauley (credited as Ben Jr.) – trumpet
• John Hampton – engineer, mixing
• Joe Hardy – engineer, mixing
• Ted Jensen – mastering
• James Lancaster – production Assistant, inner sleeve photography
• Daniel Corrigan – cover and inner sleeve photography
• Glenn Parsons – design

External links

• Pleased to Meet Me at Discogs (list of releases)