Five Great Genre-bridging Replacements Tracks

While mainstream rock has its pantheon (from the Beatles on down), alternative rock has a set of heroes all its own. And even the shortest list of alterna-rock heroes includes the Replacements. The Minneapolis group featuring singer, songwriter and guitarist Paul Westerberg started out as a hardcore punk outfit, but over time the group bridged the gap between its shamobolic, high-energy approach and the more tuneful side of its artistry.

Tasked with putting together a five-best list, the most dedicated ‘Mats fans might cite tracks from the group’s earliest releases. But a rundown of the Replacements’ most enduring and accessible songs – the tunes that helped expand the audience for alternative rock – might well include the songs enumerated below. On the 40th anniversary of the release of the band’s provocatively-titled breakthrough album Let it Be, here are five great Replacements tunes.

“I Will Dare” from Let it Be (1984)
After a pair of great (if modestly-selling) albums – 1981’s Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash and 1983’s Hootenanny – the Replacements released their final album on Minneapolis’ Twin/Tone Records. Playfully named after the Beatles’ final LP, Let it Be displayed the group’s creative growth, a development made without sacrificing the qualities that made the ‘Mats great to begin with. As testimony to the enduring appeal of the album’s standout cut “I Will Dare,” the track was featured on the soundtrack of Guardians of the Galaxy 3.

“Left of the Dial” from Tim (1985)
A love letter to the college radio stations at the lower end of the FM radio spectrum, “Left of the Dial” also had its title used as the name of Rhino Records’ landmark 4CD compilation of alternative rock. In 2023, the Tim album received a makeover in the form of a new (and arguably superior) mix by ace producer-engineer Ed Stasium. But make no mistake: even the original mix by the Ramones’ Tommy Erdelyi was pretty great.

“Can’t Hardly Wait” from Pleased to Meet Me (1987)
Recorded at famed Ardent Studios in Memphis (the studio where Replacements hero Alex Chilton recorded many of his solo and Big Star classics), Pleased to Meet Me was the first ‘Mats album to chart outside the U.S. (#79 in Canada). Pleased to Meet Me was reissued in expanded from in 2020; that version featured a total of 67 tracks, including non-album singles, demos, outtakes and rough mixes.

“I’ll Be You” from Don’t Tell a Soul (1989)
The Replacements’ 1989 album was their first without founding guitarist Bob Stinson; acclaimed Minneapolis guitarist Bob “Slim” Dunlap took his place. With a more radio-friendly sound, Don’t Tell a Soul alienated some longtime fans, but critical reception remained positive. Westerberg – whose skills as a songwriter were coming even more to the fore – was never happy with the mix, and a Grammy-winning 2019 boxed set called Dead Man’s Pop aimed to deliver a finished product closer to the band’s wishes, adding copious bonus material (live and studio) as well.

“Merry Go Round” from All Shook Down (1990)
The opening track on what would turn out to be the final studio release from the Replacements, “Merry Go Round” sounds very much like a Paul Westerberg tune; it would have fit nicely on his solo debut 14 Songs, released in 1993. In fact, All Shook Down was originally intended as Westerberg’s solo debut. The song also bears some similarity to an earlier ‘Mats song, “Achin’ to Be” from Don’t Tell a Soul.