Regina Spektor confirms that her beloved second album, Songs, will be formally released for the first time, after previously being sold exclusively at her live shows. Songs will be widely available on November 29. Pre-order HERE.
To celebrate, she shares the original version of a fan-favorite song, “Samson”; listen/share HERE.
In 2002, Spektor found herself writing dozens of songs that she struggled to keep track of as they poured out. Her friend Joe Mendelson offered to help her archive them so she wouldn’t forget what she had written. After some time, the pair decided to select twelve of these songs—each recorded in one take—and turn them into an album. This collection became Songs. Until now, the album was only sold on homemade burned CDs, and this will mark its first commercial release, with mastering by Bob Ludwig, who came out of retirement for this special project.
In addition to “Samson,” the album also includes the original version of “Ne Me Quitte Pas.” Both songs were later re-recorded—“Samson” appearing on Begin to Hope, and “Ne Me Quitte Pas” on What We Saw From the Cheap Seats.
“It’s hard to believe that after 22 years of living their scrappy DIY life, these little songs get to be reborn,” Spektor says. “I used to burn a few CDRs and head downtown, hoping someone would buy them from my backpack. Now, beautifully mastered by Bob Ludwig and available to stream or on limited edition vinyl, hopefully, all the people who have listened all these years can enjoy them in a new way.”
On December 10, she will play a special show at Warsaw in Brooklyn, where she will perform Songs in its entirety, along with other selections from her extensive catalog. Tickets and more info HERE.
Her latest studio album, Home, Before and After, was released in 2022 to critical praise from The New York Times, NPR Music, and more.
Regina Spektor is synonymous with New York City. The Russian-Jewish-American singer, songwriter, and pianist has a sign on the Bronx Walk of Fame, as well as a dedicated “Regina Spektor Day” (June 11, 2019), proclaimed by Mayor Bill de Blasio. The Grammy Award nominee first saw commercial success with the RIAA Gold-certified LP Begin to Hope, which includes the singles “On the Radio,” “Better,” and “Samson,” as well as “Fidelity,” which climbed the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Spektor’s fifth album, Far (2009), and sixth album, What We Saw From the Cheap Seats (2012), both debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Spektor has performed at The White House, on Broadway, and on Saturday Night Live, and has contributed to many projects spanning film, television, and music, including The Hamilton Mixtape.
SONGS—TRACKLIST (CD & DSP)
Samson
Oedipus
Prisoners
Reading Time With Pickle
Consequence of Sounds
Daniel Cowman
Bon Idee
Aching to Pupate
Lounge
Lacrimosa
Lulliby
Ne Me Quitte Pas
SONGS—TRACKLIST (VINYL)
SIDE A
Samson
Oedipus
Prisoners
Reading Time
Consequence of Sounds
Aching to Pupate
SIDE B
Daniel Cowman
Bon Idee
Lounge
Lacrimosa
Lulliby
Ne Me Quitte Pas
