Nice Guys Don't Get Paid

Soul Asylum's historical reputation is deservedly based upon their 1986-90 peak, a 4-year hot streak of consistently great shows, strong songwriting, good to very good albums (though a bit betrayed by period production values), oddball covers, and pure balls. Since it's always nice to be reminded of this band at its best, let's revisit.

What's not as well known about Soul Asylum during this era was their equally compelling acoustic side. That's where this collection comes into play. It's a combo platter of radio gigs and Dave Pirner/Dan Murphy acoustic performances that highlights the SA high point.

1. Oh, Lonesome Me [Don Gibson/Neil Young]

2. Chevy Van [Sammy Johns]

KFAI, Minneapolis, 1986

1986 was the year Soul Asylum made the jump, releasing Made To Be Broken, While You Were Out, and Time's Incinerator, the latter on the visionary XLII 90 format (pictured left). On top of the officially-released treasures is this radio gig, featuring a rare vocal appearance by bassist, Karl Mueller, on "Chevy Van." RIP Karl.

3. Cartoon

4. Closer To The Stars

The Siberia, NYC, January 13, 1988

Soul Asylum's two best songs??? "Cartoon" certainly is. "Stars" has to be way up there. How many bands were better than SA in 1988? Let's get a list going. I'll start with I don't know.

5. Never Really Been

6. Gullible's Travels

7. Let The Good Times Roll [The Cars]

8. Drive [The Cars]

KJJO, Minneapolis, October 10, 1990

"Yeah, we're just gonna drop by the studio and play the best acoustic versions of 'Never Really Been' and 'Gullible's' you've ever heard, plus throw in a couple of hilarious Cars references, k?" Saw these guys for the first time a little over a month later at the Country Club in Reseda, California, with Thelonious Monster opening. Probably Top 10 show ever.

9. Nice Guys Don't Get Paid

10. Twiddly Dee

11. P-9

12. Sonic Reducer [Dead Boys]

Top Note, Chicago, April 1991

It's hard to believe this gig took place when the future of Soul Asylum was very much in doubt. And The Horse They Rode In On is probably the band's best album, but it was roundly ignored upon its release in 1990, and A&M dropped them to focus on Soundgarden ("It's louder than love, but I don't think they know what it means").

Pirner and Murphy played as an acoustic duo throughout 1991-92 in an effort to drum up label interest, eventually getting Columbia to take a chance. Say what you will about Clarence selling out to the milk carton, Soul Asylum brought the noise for a decade before making it, with 4 of those years being years other bands would kill for. Dig it.

13. Hoot Medley

The Siberia, NYC
January 13, 1988

Basically, "James At 16" done acoustically. And god bless 'em for it.

American Pie [Don McLean]

Delta Dawn [Tanya Tucker]

Wildfire [Michael Murphey]

Black Water [Doobies]

Afternoon Delight [Starland Vocal Band]

One Toke Over The Line [Brewer & Shipley]

Amazing Grace [Traditional]

The Gambler [Kenny Rogers]

Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song [BJ Thomas]

The One I Love [REM]

Renegade [Styx]

Rock And Roll All Night [Kiss]

Luka [Suzanne Vega]

Dueling Banjos [Deliverance]

P-9

....

Forever Young [Dylan]

Download all 13 songs [MP3] [71 MB]

MORE SOUL ASYLUM

Mostly Just Turning Out Wrong - January 29, 2011

Songs That Soul Asylum Taught Us (James At 16) - March 1, 2012