The collection of 56 historical Ben Folds tracks, the Ben Folds Fifty-Five Vault, is now live and available for download. The list includes many remastered and original songs from Ben’s collection of demo and alternate takes and material from Sony’s vaults as well. More than half the tracks are previously unreleased. The tracks can be purchased here from myplayonline.com. The complete collection costs $29.99, but individual tracks can be purchased for 99 cents each. Those who purchase Best Imitation of Myself, which goes on sale Tuesday, Oct. 11, will get a code which can be redeemed for a free five-song EP containing a sampling of the tracks available for download. The Free Folds Five EP, as it’s known, contains the tracks Dr. Yang, Narcolepsy (with Darren and Robert), and early demos of Song For the Dumped, Steven’s Last Night in Town and Underground. (more…)
Announcements
The vault is open
Free LA show on Monday
Ben will be performing in Hollywood Monday, September 26 as part of It’s a School Night, a Monday night regular series at Bardot, 1737 Vine Street. Free entry may be had by RSVPing at the It’s a School Night website. Hosted by DJ Chris Douridas, formerly the music director at KCRW in Santa Monica and host of the station’s long-running music program Morning Becomes Eclectic, the show will also feature live sets by English singer-songwriter Charlie Winston, and the pop escapist sound of Chad Valley, the side project of Jonquil’s frontman Hugo Manuel, along with sets by two local DJs.
Related show
Second new Ben Folds Five track released
The second track from the upcoming retrospective collection The Best Imitation of Myself by the reunited Ben Folds Five is now out. Stereogum is hosting Tell Me What I Did, which was recorded in June as part of a three-track taste of what may be to come from Ben, Robert and Darren. The first track, House, came out last week, and the third track, a cover of Stumblin’ Home Winter Blues by Darren’s post-BFF band Hotel Lights, is expected soon.
Report: Ben Folds Five getting back together
News from the press tour for the NBC-TV series The Sing-Off, held earlier this week, is that Ben  mentioned he will be getting back together with Darren Jessee and Robert Sledge, former bandmates in Ben Folds Five, to record an all-new album later this year. According to Boston Globe music writer Sarah Rodman, the timeframe given was December, following wrapup on the TV show. When asked about potential touring, Ben was unsure, preferring instead to take it “one step at a time.” First, however, he’s producing Sara Bareilles’ new EP.
Retrospective announcement with track listing
Updated:Â See below.
The Best Imitation of Myself is the natural name for Ben’s latest project, a 3-disc set consisting of greatest hits, live tracks and rarities. It’s due to drop October 11, and the cover art and packaging is still being worked on (and you can help), is shown at left, but the sequencing is done. It’s a treasure trove of all things Ben that every fan will want. The track listing: (more…)
