So what has Pete Yorn been up to lately?
I am so excited about this post. There are some 24 great songs in this post. You can jump to them, but let’s chat a bit first. A while back I posted a set that Pete Yorn did in 2001 at the Roxy in L.A. In the comments, fellow blogger Jesus posed the question “is this yorn fella going to release something new soon?” That stuck in my mind as a quest, and I love quests, so off I went and here’s what I found. (“We’re on a mission from God.”)
You may remember Pete Yorn from when he burst onto the scene in 2001 as a 26-year-old drummer-turned-singer/songwriter whose album Musicforthemorningafter was a gold seller, based in part on the strength of singles like “Life on a Chain” and “Strange Condition.” I personally love the completely creative and refreshing percussive layer behind the entire album. When I listen to it, that’s one of the things that stands out for me, and now I know why (because he was a drummer first).
In fact, he is such a stellar drummer that the Channel 4 News Team from the movie Anchorman tapped him (in a fabulously large moustache) to play bongos in their music video for “Afternoon Delight.” Excellent.
Following Musicforthemorningafter, Yorn released Day I Forgot in 2003 and the excellent Live From New Jersey double disc in 2004. Since then, he’s been busy working on a new album with an unspecified release date, although some say this summer is a possibility. Yorn has been touring with the guys from Minibar as his backing band, and recently did a fantastically small benefit show for tsunami relief for a $5 cover (plus tips!) at O’Brien’s bar in Santa Monica which raised $13,000. And while exact dates are still unconfirmed, Minibar’s website says they expect to be touring with Pete starting in July. Yorn’s also been keeping busy working with the Dixie Chicks (really?) on songwriting for their upcoming new album Taking The Long Way, which will be released next month.
Check out some of his unreleased/new/cover stuff you may not have heard that he’s been crankin out:
NEW SONGS
These three songs were posted over the last couple months on Pete’s MySpace (streaming), but are taken down now. These are likely candidates for release on the new album, whenever that may be.
If you visit his MySpace page, appreciate how his music genre is listed as “crunk”:
“Old Boy“ (new song, MySpace)
“For Us“ (new song, MySpace)
“When She’s Mine“ (new song, MySpace)
(Thanks a million to Kraig for the first two tracks – I was posting all over God’s green earth looking for someone who had them, and he found me with just the two I was looking for. He’s just started a new blog, title also based on a Pearl Jam lyric, and so far his track record of featured music is stellar. Check him out: A Spacious Hole In The Ground)
Pete offered Nancy Sinatra three of his songs to choose from to record for her 2004 eponymous album. She chose “Don’t Mean Nothin’” – here is her version (which is so clearly Yorn-ey):
“Don’t Mean Nothin’” – Nancy Sinatra
Then hear how it sounds with Pete performing his song, this version from a live set on WOXY last summer, along with two other new ones he played:
“Don’t Mean Nothin’” – Pete Yorn live on WOXY
“Broken Bottle“ (new song, live on WOXY)
“Lions” (new song, live on WOXY) – coming soon!
Thanks on these ones to Kevin from So Much Silence who helped me immensely with the audio ripping. He is a music master of live radio shows, check out who he’s had on his blog lately. It’s all good.
OTHER YORN SONGS, new or unreleased or rare:
“Baby, I’m Gone“ (unreleased, live) – sound quality is not the best on this one, but I really like the melody & drive of this song. I hope a nice clean studio version is on his new album because this rocks.
“Knew Enough To Know Nothing At All“ (musicforthemorningafter vinyl)
“Seventeen“ (Day I Forgot import)
“Hunter Green“ (released on Trampoline Records Greatest Hits Volume I, 2005)
“Rooftop“ (unreleased) – recommended!
“Model American“ (unreleased)
“Farmer vs. River“ (unreleased)
“You Never Knew“ (unreleased)
COVER ME
And then, ahhh, the covers. You all know how much I love the covers and Pete apparently does too. Let’s browse:
“China Girl“ (Iggy Pop then Bowie cover, musicforthemorningafter bonus disc)
“Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)“ (from the Just Like Heaven OST, 2005)
“New York City Serenade“ (Light Of Day: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen) – check the stirring harmonica
“Chimes of Freedom“ (live at the Axis Of Justice benefit concert with Serj Tankian & Tom Morello)
“Splendid Isolation“ (Enjoy Every Sandwich: The Songs of Warren Zevon)
“Suspicious Minds” (two versions, the “Dawn Version“ (love this) and the “Dusk Version.” Total side note, but the dusk/dawn dichotomy reminds me of some of my favorite Michelangelo sculptures that I once did a huge presentation on in situ and is one of the things I am most proud of.)
Other Soundtrack Contributions:
“Ever Fallen in Love“ (from the Shrek 2 OST, 2004)
“Undercover“ (from the Spiderman OST, 2002)
“Red Right Hand“ (from the Hellboy OST)
Now have at it:
DOWNLOAD YOURSELF A PETE YORN BONANZA IN ZIP
Oh, and I knew there was another reason I loved him: He was a Communication major like me. Oh yeah, go Comm majors! There’s one that made something of himself.
Keep me posted if you hear any new album/tour news, kids. And enjoy the unique new sounds of Mr. Yorn’s recent musings.
Name: Heather Browne
Great Post – Pete went to Syracuse
Thanks for all the great new info.
Stephanie — April 28, 2006 @ 9:20 am
THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!! pretty much all i need to do is upload whatever you post onto my ipod and im set for days. this and the ryan adams stuff has made my week so much better. you hear any of that new bruce springsteen yet? i love that too with my whole heart. thanks for all this great music heather!
wwjblog — April 28, 2006 @ 1:15 pm
speaking of iggy, it was iggy who wrote china girl, not bowie
Arya — April 29, 2006 @ 12:30 am
Thanks for the Pete Yorn awesomeness.
I’m quite a big fan and yes, musicforthemorningafter is a beautiful album.
Definitely one of the best pop albums I’ve ever heard in life.
Drummers rule.
That is all for now.
Rock on miss.
Cousy — April 29, 2006 @ 1:21 am
Thanks for all that Pete goodness! Totally made my weekend.
Anonymous — April 29, 2006 @ 7:22 pm
Enjoying your blog immensely — especially this PY stuff! Thanks so much. Well done.
Anonymous — May 1, 2006 @ 5:24 pm
can’t give enough props on the PY collection!
Anonymous — May 4, 2006 @ 10:42 am
great post! Wowzers!
Rich — May 5, 2006 @ 3:44 pm
Your so right with this post! Pete Yorn is great! Thank you for letting me no about your website, I really apreciate it!
The Peanut — May 6, 2006 @ 4:10 pm
Great Post! Awesome awesome awesome. I’m a big fan and collect some of his live stuff. If you’re interested, drop me a line: antelope030674@yahoo.com. I have a collection of b-sides and live shows from 2005 and 2001.
Anonymous — May 9, 2006 @ 7:19 am
Interesting to read your post on Pete. I was lucky to have a nice NY Times assignment to take photos of him at Jones Beach Theater opening for REM. This was 2003 on a very cold October night (last show of the season). This was my introduction to Pete’s music and I thought he was a great talent. I’ve posted a photo from the show on my site and should post a few more of him warming up back stage. Thanks for this post and the link to his site! http://philm25.blogspot.com/
philm400 — May 10, 2006 @ 8:46 pm
Hust love your site, it’s awesome! Know any personal things about Pete, like kids, girlfriends/boyfriends, stuff like that?
Ana — May 17, 2006 @ 10:17 am
Thanks for the new PY song posts!!!!! Can’t wait till Aug. 15 for the new album…!!!
Bobby's Blog — May 24, 2006 @ 1:18 pm
Outstanding! I’ll be driving up to Austin at the end of June to see Pete on his acoustic tour, and now I have something to listen to on the way up. Thanks!
Anonymous — June 10, 2006 @ 1:13 am
Thanks for the odds ‘n’ sods! I bought “musicforthemorningafter” last year after first hearing “Strange Condition” in 2003. (It was first heard on the “Me, Myself & Irene” soundtrack in 2000, right? By the by, the Farrelly Brothers have really good taste in pop music.) Loved the song, loved the album. Then I checked out “Day I Forgot” from the library last fall after having read in ’03 that it wasn’t that great. Well, I disagree. “Day” has a bunch of stellar songs, so now I’m anticipating “Nightcrawler,” or whatever it’ll be called, this August.
Mulberry Panda 96 — June 20, 2006 @ 12:53 am
you made my day, i feel like a kid in a candy store with all these songs downloaded now (f*&# limewire) or i feel like i’ve found the hidden treasure. anyway, this makes me so happy. by any chance anyone know if there’s a cover of “never my love” that he did surfing on the net? if not it’s ok it will be on the westerns ep =)
chumpster — June 22, 2006 @ 12:31 am
thanks, chumpster! I had fun assembling it. And no, I never, never did find a cover of Never My Love although it was one I looked for mightily because I’ll bet that sounds fantastic. Ah, well, in a few weeks I can buy the Westerns EP at the Denver show!
heather — June 22, 2006 @ 8:26 am
Saw Pete in Mpls last weekend and he rocked for 2 hours. It was awesome. Never My Love is beautiful. Good Advice is a kicking song. Can’t wait for Nightcrawler. Westerns is being played to death!
sandyoka — July 26, 2006 @ 5:30 am
You don’t know how long I’ve been looking for Pete’s unreleased songs. Thank you SOOOO much!
Anonymous — August 27, 2006 @ 11:26 pm
hey Get blog!
Went and saw Pete play last month in Melbourne Australia….It was his first tour out here and it rocked!!!! Spoke to Malcom the drummer (who is from the rockin’ band Minibar) and he invited Myself and a friend to see him play at the dixi chicks concert!!!! He was AMAZING!!!! the best musician….and a hottie at that!!! x candice
Anonymous — November 25, 2006 @ 4:08 am
Help support Pete!!!!!!
http://peteyornteam.com/CDA5240F87574D8387EBDE8FEC733210/tracklink.asp?guid=6A7BF05CEFEC4AACB77BD548D1A880DD“
click there and vote for him to be #1 in the countdown!!!!
Anonymous — January 14, 2007 @ 8:58 pm
Comm Majors Rock!
Chris in Madison (’81 UWSP)
Chris — February 9, 2007 @ 11:33 pm
How can I listen to these Pete Yorn b-sides? It asks for a username and password. I’m lost – can you help?
Fellow Comm Major
Devin — February 24, 2007 @ 10:18 am
All you fine Comm majors –
I’d have to re-up the links. Maybe later today. They’re old ones that won’t work — I don’t have EZArchive anymore…
heather — February 24, 2007 @ 10:21 am
Any chance of these coming back?
I have many, but I couldn’t find the live “Don’t Mean Nothin” and “Broken Bottle”. Also need “Knew Enough To Know Nothing At All”, “Rooftop”, “Model American”, “Farmer vs. River”, You Never Knew”, and “China Girl”.
Thanks!
-Another comm major
Anonymous — October 12, 2008 @ 12:08 am
please I tried to email you about reupping this but I would appreciate if you could!
Tg — July 16, 2009 @ 5:01 pm
I’ve reupped many of these songs here: http://fuelfriendsmp3.com/listenup/Yorn%20rare.zip
Enjoy!
browneheather — September 25, 2009 @ 8:22 pm
I would love that zip file, if it’s still handy! Thanks so much!
Rachael — August 2, 2019 @ 11:06 am