Ween’s Iconic “12 Golden Country Greats” Gets New Deluxe Edition
If you know, then you know. If you don’t know, then you should get wise to the genius that is Ween’s 12 Golden Country Greats. The fifth album from the wild, experimental rock band released in July of 1996 was a complete sea change into a somewhat sarcastic form of country that has gone on to become one of the band’s and country music’s most cherished titles. Make no mistake, this is where many non-country fans found their love for country music.
Completely unhinged and inappropriate, with songs like “Piss Up A Rope” and “Mister Richard Smoker,” it’s questionable if even Wheeler Walker Jr. could release an album like this today. At the same time, parts of the albums were downright poignant and touching, and well-written.
To make the album right, Dean and Gene Ween (Mickey Melchiondo and Aaron Freeman) traveled down to Nashville, and recorded at the legendary Bradley’s Barn studio with likes of Country Music Hall of Famers Charlie McCoy, Hargus “Pig” Robbins, The Jordanaires, and legendary session players like Pete Wade and Buddy Spicher. Even when the songs got weird, the music was authentic to country. The backing band was coined “The Shit Creek Boys.”
Even though 12 songs were referenced in the album’s title, only 10 made the final cut. Ween at times claimed the “12 greats” were actually the 12 legendary country musicians who played on the album. Along with the two song omissions, many other demos and others recordings came out of the sessions, and that era of Ween overall that were never released. Now they’re all seeing the light of day in an expanded Deluxe Edition of the album to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of its release.
The Deluxe Edition’s bonus material includes “I’ve Got No Darkside” and the Jerry Garcia tribute “So Long, Jerry” (listen below) that were the two songs cut from the original album, and appear as both four-track demos and fully produced Nashville session outtakes. The 36 total tracks also include some songs done on 4-track Ween style that don’t really fit with the rest of the country tracks, including two tracks released already, “Boston Chicken,” and “Bad Day in Brownsville.”
Even if you have to do some digging for the best stuff, news of a Deluxe Edition of this album is music to the ears of Ween fans, and country fans that are fans of the original 12 Golden Country Greats. The set will officially be available on July 31st via 3 CDs, 3 LPs, a limited-edition color variant, as well as digitally.
12 Golden Country Greats (Deluxe Edition) is now available for pre-save/pre-order.
CD1: Original Album Remastered
- I’M HOLDING YOU (2026 REMASTER) [4:02]
- JAPANESE COWBOY (2026 REMASTER) [3:01]
- PISS UP A ROPE (2026 REMASTER) [3:33]
- I DON’T WANNA LEAVE YOU ON THE FARM (2026 REMASTER) [2:44]
- PRETTY GIRL (2026 REMASTER) [2:35]
- POWDER BLUE (2026 REMASTER) [3:14]
- MISTER RICHARD SMOKER (2026 REMASTER) [2:42]
- HELP ME SCRAPE THE MUCUS OFF MY BRAIN (2026 REMASTER) [2:45]
- YOU WERE THE FOOL (2026 REMASTER) [4:26]
- FLUFFY (2026 REMASTER) [3:31]
CD2: 12 Golden Demos
- I DON’T WANNA LEAVE YOU ON THE FARM (DEMO)* [2:37]
- PISS UP A ROPE (DEMO)* [3:28]
- MISTER RICHARD SMOKER (DEMO)* [2:06]
- HELP ME SCRAPE THE MUCUS OFF MY BRAIN (DEMO)* [2:38]
- PRETTY GIRL (DEMO)* [2:33]
- FLUFFY (DEMO)* [2:39]
- YOU WERE THE FOOL (DEMO)* [2:49]
- POWDER BLUE (DEMO)* [2:31]
- I’VE GOT NO DARKSIDE (DEMO)* [5:03]
- MAYBELLE (DEMO)* [4:27]
- I’M HOLDING YOU (DEMO)* [3:59]
- SO LONG JERRY (DEMO)* [4:55]
CD3: 14 Golden Outtakes and Demos
- I’VE GOT NO DARKSIDE* [5:16]
- BOSTON CHICKEN* [2:38]
- BAD DAY IN BROWNSVILLE* [1:10]
- GOOD TIMING RHYMING SONG* [1:29]
- SWEET TEXAS FIRE [2:31]
- TWINKLE* [2:18]
- IF YOU CAN’T LOOK ME IN THE EYE* [1:51]
- I’M GONNA FIX YOUR ASS* [4:54]
- FOOL TO CRY* [4:13]
- SPAGHETTI* [3:16]
- I’LL MISS YOU [2:55]
- MAYBELLE (WASTE VERSION)* [4:28]
- SCUM OF THIS TOWN* [1:54]
- SO LONG JERRY [5:35]
*Previously Unreleased
June 27, 2026 @ 8:16 am
Love this stuff. Genuinely affectionate homage with a sense of humor is a great way to do it. My biggest criticism with today’s country music would have to be the excessive self seriousness especially of people like Zach Bryan but also in general. Have a little fun with it!
This is also the rare box set/deluxe reissue that seems worth it. Excited to hear all the bonus tracks!
June 27, 2026 @ 9:42 am
Trigger,
You put me on to the genius that is Ween like 8 years ago and I can’t thank you enough sir.
June 27, 2026 @ 10:08 am
I have never heard of it.
And, maybe unfortunately, I will not give it a chance. The mention of wheeler walker as a slight comparison has soured me of this album.
June 27, 2026 @ 12:57 pm
Ween is kinda like Steely Dan or the Grateful Dead.
You don’t get them… until you do.
June 27, 2026 @ 2:47 pm
Yeah, I wasn’t really comparing this to Wheeler Walker Jr. There are a couple of purposely crass tracks on the album. But what Ween gets right on it is exactly what Wheeler Walker Jr. gets wrong, which is leaving nothing to the imagination, working in songs that are sentimental, having the things NOT said be more important than the things said. The Ween album is completely sarcastic. But it also shows a ton of respect to country music, and expresses its beauty more than any other country record from an actual country artist could.
June 28, 2026 @ 6:03 am
This is so true, of course there is tongue in cheek stuff like piss up a rope but you also have the wonderful tracks like So long Jerry and if you were ever in to The Grateful Dead you sow how they pay such a beautiful homage to not just Jerry but that era of music. Thanks Trigger.
June 27, 2026 @ 7:18 pm
Rollin’ and wheelin’ Stealin’ and dealin’
June 28, 2026 @ 5:59 pm
Ween is one of the great US bands of all-time, full stop. 12 Golden Country Greats may have some comedic lyrics (every Ween record does), but they weren’t spoofing country music, or goofing on it. It’s a serious homage, and a genuine record. And it’s old-school country music, the stuff they heard on old country radio way back in the day. Ween has something for everyone. They can sound like countless other bands, but no one sounds quite like Ween.
June 29, 2026 @ 2:20 pm
Ween is one of the great American bands! Their album stuff can be hard to get into with it’s very unconventional recording, but check out the live concert DVD. I think it’s Live in Chicago or something. Listening to the live stuff reveals that it’s actually “songs” not just the weird album stuff.
All hail Boognish and F Wheeler Walker!