69 Love Songs

~ Release by The Magnetic Fields (see all versions of this release, 8 available)

Annotation

The following artists made significant vocal contributions to the album, but are generally not considered regular members of the band; therefore, they currently have the "guest" attribute flagged on their performance ARs:
LD Beghtol, Dudley Klute and Shirley Simms.
(applies to all three volumes)

Suboptimal AR credits:
Volume 2, Track 12, "Promises of Eternity": Chris Ewen plays the instruments and provides the backing track. (Currently credit as: guest performed by Chris Ewen.)

'Volume 3, Track 2, "It's a Crime": Chris Ewen plays all instruments and provides the backing track. (Currently credit as: guest performed by Chris Ewen.)
Volume 3, Track 15, "Blue You": Claudia Gonson provides whistling. (Currently credited as: other vocal performed by Claudia Gonson.)

Annotation last modified on 2023-10-13 10:55 UTC.

Tracklist

| |
CD 1
#TitleRatingLength
1Absolutely Cuckoo
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Absolutely Cuckoo
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
4.651:35
2I Don’t Believe in the Sun
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
I Don’t Believe in the Sun
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
4.354:16
3All My Little Words
guest lead vocals:
LD Beghtol
recording of:
All My Little Words
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
4.82:46
4A Chicken With Its Head Cut Off
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
A Chicken With Its Head Cut Off
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
4.352:42
5Reno Dakota
lead vocals:
Claudia Gonson
recording of:
Reno Dakota
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
41:05
6I Don’t Want to Get Over You
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
I Don’t Want to Get Over You
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
4.752:23
7Come Back From San Francisco
guest lead vocals:
Shirley Simms
recording of:
Come Back From San Francisco
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
4.352:48
8The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side
guest violin:
Ida Pearle (violinist)
guest lead vocals:
Dudley Kludt
recording of:
The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.753:43
9Let’s Pretend We’re Bunny Rabbits
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Let’s Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.752:25
10The Cactus Where Your Heart Should Be
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
The Cactus Where Your Heart Should Be
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
41:11
11I Think I Need a New Heart
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
I Think I Need a New Heart
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
42:33
12The Book of Love
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
The Book of Love
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
publisher:
Gay And Loud Music
4.42:42
13Fido, Your Leash Is Too Long
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Fido, Your Leash Is Too Long
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
42:34
14How Fucking Romantic
guest lead vocals:
Dudley Kludt
recording of:
How Fucking Romantic
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.350:59
15The One You Really Love
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
The One You Really Love
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
42:53
16Punk Love
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Punk Love
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.650:58
17Parades Go By
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Parades Go By
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.352:57
18Boa Constrictor
guest lead vocals:
Shirley Simms
recording of:
Boa Constrictor
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.350:59
19A Pretty Girl Is Like…
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
A Pretty Girl Is Like…
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.351:51
20My Sentimental Melody
guest lead vocals:
LD Beghtol
recording of:
My Sentimental Melody
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
4.653:08
21Nothing Matters When We’re Dancing
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Nothing Matters When We’re Dancing
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
4.352:27
22Sweet‐Lovin’ Man
lead vocals:
Claudia Gonson
recording of:
Sweet-Lovin’ Man
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
4.654:59
23The Things We Did and Didn’t Do
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
The Things We Did and Didn’t Do
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
42:11
CD 2
#TitleRatingLength
1Roses
guest lead vocals:
LD Beghtol
recording of:
Roses
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
30:28
2Love Is Like Jazz
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Love Is Like Jazz
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
32:57
3When My Boy Walks Down the Street
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
When My Boy Walks Down the Street
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.652:38
4Time Enough for Rocking When We’re Old3.52:04
5Very Funny
guest lead vocals:
Dudley Kludt
arranger:
Claudia Gonson
recording of:
Very Funny
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
41:27
6Grand Canyon
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Grand Canyon
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.52:28
7No One Will Ever Love You
guest lead vocals:
Shirley Simms
recording of:
No One Will Ever Love You
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
43:14
8If You Don’t Cry
lead vocals:
Claudia Gonson
recording of:
If You Don’t Cry
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
4.353:07
9You’re My Only Home
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
You’re My Only Home
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.52:18
10(Crazy for You but) Not That Crazy
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
(Crazy for You but) Not That Crazy
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.52:19
11My Only Friend
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
My Only Friend
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
42:01
12Promises of Eternity
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
guest performer:
Chris Ewen
arranger:
Chris Ewen
recording of:
Promises of Eternity
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
43:46
13World Love
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
arranger:
Claudia Gonson
recording of:
World Love
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
4.53:07
14Washington, D.C.
lead vocals:
Claudia Gonson
recording of:
Washington, D.C.
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
41:53
15Long‐Forgotten Fairytale
guest lead vocals:
Dudley Kludt
recording of:
Long-Forgotten Fairytale
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
43:37
16Kiss Me Like You Mean It
guest lead vocals:
Shirley Simms
recording of:
Kiss Me Like You Mean It
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
42:01
17Papa Was a Rodeo
guest lead vocals:
Shirley Simms
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Papa Was a Rodeo
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.655:02
18Epitaph for My Heart
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Epitaph for My Heart
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.52:50
19Asleep and Dreaming
guest keyboard:
Daniel Handler
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
arranger:
Daniel Handler
recording of:
Asleep and Dreaming
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
41:53
20The Sun Goes Down and the World Goes Dancing4.352:46
21The Way You Say Good‐Night
guest lead vocals:
LD Beghtol
recording of:
The Way You Say Good-Night
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
52:45
22Abigail, Belle of Kilronan
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Abigail, Belle of Kilronan
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.52:01
23I Shatter
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
I Shatter
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
53:09
CD 3
#TitleRatingLength
1Underwear
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Underwear
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
42:50
2It’s a Crime
guest lead vocals:
Dudley Kludt
guest performer:
Chris Ewen
arranger:
Chris Ewen
recording of:
It’s a Crime
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
53:55
3Busby Berkeley Dreams
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
arranger:
Claudia Gonson
recording of:
Busby Berkeley Dreams
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.653:37
4I’m Sorry I Love You
guest lead vocals:
Shirley Simms
recording of:
I’m Sorry I Love You
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.53:06
5Acoustic Guitar
lead vocals:
Claudia Gonson
recording of:
Acoustic Guitar
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.52:38
6The Death of Ferdinand de Saussure
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
The Death of Ferdinand de Saussure
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
4.653:11
7Love in the Shadows
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Love in the Shadows
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
42:54
8Bitter Tears
guest lead vocals:
LD Beghtol
recording of:
Bitter Tears
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
42:51
9Wi’ Nae Wee Bairn Ye’ll Me Beget
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Wi’ Nae Wee Bairn Ye’ll Me Beget
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.51:56
10Yeah! Oh, Yeah!
guitar:
Claudia Gonson
lead vocals:
Claudia Gonson and Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Yeah! Oh, Yeah!
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
4.52:20
11Experimental Music Love
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Experimental Music Love
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
30:30
12Meaningless
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Meaningless
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
42:08
13Love Is Like a Bottle of Gin
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Love Is Like a Bottle of Gin
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
4.51:46
14Queen of the Savages
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Queen of the Savages
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.652:13
15Blue You
guest theremin:
Chris Ewen
guest lead vocals:
Dudley Kludt
whistling:
Claudia Gonson
recording of:
Blue You
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.53:03
16I Can’t Touch You Anymore
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
I Can’t Touch You Anymore
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
43:06
17Two Kinds of People
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Two Kinds of People
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
41:10
18How to Say Goodbye
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
How to Say Goodbye
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.52:48
19The Night You Can’t Remember
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
The Night You Can’t Remember
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
4.352:18
20For We Are the King of the Boudoir
guest lead vocals:
LD Beghtol
recording of:
For We Are the King of the Boudoir
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.51:15
21Strange Eyes
guest lead vocals:
Shirley Simms
recording of:
Strange Eyes
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
4.352:02
22Xylophone Track
guest harmonium:
LD Beghtol
lead vocals:
Stephin Merritt
recording of:
Xylophone Track
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
3.52:47
23Zebra
guest accordion:
Daniel Handler
lead vocals:
Claudia Gonson
recording of:
Zebra
lyricist and composer:
Stephin Merritt
32:16

Credits

Release group

covers:Absolutely Cuckoo: Minnesota Covers ‘The 69 Love Songs’ by Various Artists (add compilations to this artist)
You Can Sing Me Anything: A Tribute to 69 Love Songs by Various Artists (add compilations to this artist)
includes:69 Love Songs, Volume 1
69 Love Songs, Volume 2
69 Love Songs, Volume 3
part of:David Starkey: Best of 99 (number: 1) (order: 1)
Justin Stranzl: Best of 1999 (number: 2) (order: 2)
Peter Solderitsch: Best of 99 (number: 4) (order: 4)
The Top 20 Albums of the Year (SPIN magazine, 2000-01) (number: 4) (order: 4)
Sarah Sharpe: Best of 99 (number: 5) (order: 5)
Pitchfork: Top 10 Albums of 1999 (number: 8) (order: 8)
Sarah Zupko: Best of 1999 (number: 11) (order: 11)
Exclaim! 1999 Shocks & Surprises (number: Surprises (Andrea Gin)) (order: 40)
33⅓ (number: 69) (order: 70)
Exclaim! 1999 Shocks & Surprises (number: Surprises (Christopher Waters)) (order: 73)
Exclaim! 1999 Shocks & Surprises (number: Surprises (Lia Kiessling)) (order: 147)
Exclaim! 1999 Shocks & Surprises (number: Surprises (Michael Barclay)) (order: 155)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2020 edition (number: 406) (order: 406)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2023 edition (number: 406) (order: 406)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2012 edition (number: 465) (order: 466)
Discogs:https://www.discogs.com/master/22493 [info]
reviews:http://www.avclub.com/review/the-magnetic-fields-em69-songs-about-loveem-21035 [info]
other databases:https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/the_magnetic_fields/69_love_songs/ [info]
Allmusic:https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000601205 [info]
Wikidata:Q1412554 [info]