Two decades after its release, Wilco’s A Ghost is Born is getting the deluxe treatment. The 20th-anniversary edition of the band’s Grammy-winning fifth album will be released on February 7, 2025, via Nonesuch Records, featuring a treasure trove of unreleased content and exclusive materials.
What’s Included in the Deluxe Edition
The anniversary package comes in two formats: a nine-LP or nine-CD/four-CD configuration. Both editions expand on the original album with:
65 Previously Unreleased Tracks:
Alternates, outtakes, and demos that document the album’s creative evolution.
2004 Live Concert Recording: A full performance at Boston’s Wang Center, showcasing Wilco during the A Ghost is Born tour.
Workshop Sessions: A behind-the-scenes look at the band’s “fundamentals” sessions, which shaped the album’s unique sound.
48-Page Hardcover Book: Includes liner notes by Grammy-winning writer Bob Mehr and a collection of unpublished photos.
To tease the release, Wilco has unveiled an alternate version of “Handshake Drugs”, recorded at New York’s Sear Sound in November 2003.
The Legacy of A Ghost is Born
Released in June 2004, A Ghost is Born was a daring follow-up to Wilco’s critically acclaimed Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. The album reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200, marking the band’s highest-charting record at the time. Critics praised it as both challenging and deeply rewarding, describing it as “Wilco’s richest work” and “their most uncompromising album to date.”
The album earned Wilco two Grammy Awards in 2005 for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Recording Package, cementing its place as a fan-favorite in the band’s catalog.
Jeff Tweedy Reflects on the Album
In the newly penned liner notes, frontman Jeff Tweedy shares how the album was a reflection of his personal struggles and growth:
“I was worried the album was going to feel like something dark and not me anymore. But the album was ahead of me as a person. It was the part of me that I was trying to preserve—enthusiastic and furious about the world, as well as open and loving.”
Formats and Release Details
The 20th-anniversary edition will be available for pre-order starting December 1, 2024. Fans can choose between vinyl and CD formats to suit their preferences.
Whether revisiting the album for its bold experimentation or diving into its newly unearthed material, A Ghost is Born promises to offer a rich experience for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.
—
Photo Credit: Carl Beust / Shutterstock.com