the LP RE-construction discussion : December 2025

I traded out some songs for the outtakes and demos included on the Deluxe Reissue version. Outtakes include "Pa" (not circulating), "Goodbye Honey", "Dear Chicago", "To Be Young (acoustic)", "When the Rope Gets Tight", "Petal in a Rainstorm", "War Horse", "Locked Away", etc.

RYAN ADAMS

Heartbreaker (2000)

(Argument with David Rawlings Concerning Morrisey)
To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High)
My Winding Wheel
Amy
Why Do They Leave?
Call Me On Your Way Back Home
Locked Away* (a.k.a. "Dreaming's Free"; re-recorded as "See Mary Dance")
Punk Jam*
Come Pick Me Up
Oh My Sweet Carolina
War Horse*
Shakedown on 9th Street
Petal in a Rainstorm* (a.k.a. "Oh My Sweet Valentine") (re-recorded with The Cardinals)
When the Rope Gets Tied* (re-recorded as "Don't Fail Me Now" for JCN)

Also See DESTROYER

RYAN ADAMS

Four Track Mind (2000)

Like the Lies She Tells to Me* [2023 IG post]
Folklore**
The String and the Wire** (re-recorded for Destroyer)
Play With Fire* (Rolling Stones cover) [2021 IG post]
other songs**

Not much is known about the contents of the lost 'Four Track Mind' tape that was mentioned as possibly being part of the Demolition album series (including possibly the Exile on Franklin Street disc, as well) in its early stages in 2002. There was only a Ryan Message Board post: "i destroyed the four track mind masters in a guinness/painkillers accident that was actually worth it for the laughs." (---Answering Bell, our first resource)

In Sept. 2021, RA shared an old 4-track recording ('from the Heartbreaker era') of the Rolling Stones' "Play with Fire" recorded with Gillian Welch-- in response to their drummer Charlie Watts's death. Another song, "Like the Lies She Tells to Me", was also included in the post (if memory serves).

In 2023, Ryan reportedly 'found a tape with sixteen 4-track masters going back to Heartbreaker. Ryan also had teased a similar collection (4-track recordings up 'til 2005 including "Now That You're Gone" and "If I'm a Stranger") back in 2007 as a 'bonus disc' included with the 20:20 boxed set (cancelled as well as the compilation with old and unreleased stuff proposed as 'an alternative') that Lost Highway would subsequently shelve (to release him from his contract) and instead, release Cardinology.

As of late 2025, it's believed RA has sold his music to a private buyer. What that means for any of the unreleased albums---who knows?

The 'finished' version of COMMERCIAL SUICIDE (as RA now calls it) includes a 16-piece string section with parts arranged by Ryan Adams. Also features drummer Brad Pemberton overdubbed with bass guitar. The finished mix also includes different songs including "Fix It" (piano version). The current 21-song promo 2CD has been circulating for years--but it only features RA in an acoustic session with support from the late, great Bucky Baxter singing harmony and playing slide guitar, etc.

RYAN ADAMS

Suicide Handbook (2001)

Wildflowers (re-recorded for Gold)
Perfect and True
Tell it To My Heart
She Wants to Play Hearts* (re-recorded for Gold)
Pretenders
Famous Eyes
For No One
You Don't Know Me
Bow to the Sad Lady (re-recorded as "Mara Lisa" for Gold)
Off Broadway (re-recorded for Gold and Easy Tiger)
Cracks in a Photograph
I'm Waiting
Cry On Demand* (re-recorded for Gold)
Miss Sunflower
Just Saying Hi (re-recorded as "Answering Bell" for Gold)
My California Love
Dear Chicago* (previously recorded for Heartbreaker; re-recorded for Gold)
Abigail+
Just Like a Whore+
Gimme Sunshine+ (re-recorded for Love is Hell)
Idiots Rule the World

+ = Taken from the Q Division Demos

Originally a proposed 25-track double CD set referred to as 'COMMERCIAL SUICIDE' ; I substituted some leftovers in place of songs that went on my mix of Suicide Handbook. Outtakes include "Fool's Gold", "From You to Me", "She Wants to Play a Game of Hearts", "Cry On Demand" and "Off Broadway"---as well as "Mara Lisa" and "Dear Chicago" (originally intended to close Heartbreaker).

I left off "Tina Toledo's Street Walking Blues" and "Sylvia Plath".

"Enemy Fire" & "Answering Bell" I added to my alt versions of the Pinkhearts album and Demolition, respectively.

Ryan Adams

GOLD (2001)

New York, New York
Cannonball Days
Rosalie Come and Go
When the Stars Go Blue
Make You Love Me More
Somehow, Someday
Harder Now That It's Over
The Fools We Are as Men
Touch, Feel & Lose (previously recorded for Commercial Suicide)
Nobody, Girl
La Cienega Just Smiled (previously recorded for Commercial Suicide)
The Bar Is a Beautiful Place
From You to Me*
The Rescue Blues (previously recorded for Commercial Suicide)
Sweet Black Magic
Goodnight Hollywood Boulevard
Fool's Gold+ [Fool's Gold bootleg]
Ghost+ [Cowboy Technical Service Session bootleg]
My Love For You is Real+ [Cowboy Technical Service Session]

+ = bonus track

LISTEN TO 'Fool's Gold 00/02' on YouTube (+not made by me+)

Alternate 'Demolition' with songs from '48 Hours'; 'Pinkhearts'; 'SH'; outtakes from 'Gold'; as well as cuts from 'Destroyer', 'Exile on Franklin Street' (2000),'The Stockholm Sessions' (2001), and the 'Cowboy Technical Service' session (2000).

Compilation of the two sessions with additional recording(?) with Scott Litt in 2002 session. The album was to be titled (at one point) 'Let It B-Minus' (an homage to The Replacements) and released in mid-2002. Outtakes include instrumental tracks to "Blowin' the Coug", "On My Way", "Testy, Testy" and an earlier take of "Enemy Fire"; an RHCP parody ("Around the World"/ Under the Bridge") as well as the Stones homage "Saturday Night" (diff song than Darkbreaker track), "Everybody's Talking 'Bout Shania Twain", "Game Over" (early version of "Interstellar Collider" / "Still Waiting on You"). This info came from a RS article circa-summer 2001 where DRA is laying down vocals to "Nuclear" and the band is struggling with recording the song ("Game Over"). Ryan announces he "had a dream about 'some chick being like this....interstellar collider'." He then proceeds to lay down the vocals with the newly inspired lyrics. The engineer tells Ryan the pitch on the vocal sounds funny--to which RA replies "Fuck pitch--I'm not playing baseball here!"

Ryan Adams

PINKHEARTS (2002)

Nuclear [Demolition]
Interstellar Collider* (re-recorded as "Still Waiting on You"; "Psalms" / f.k.a. "Testy, Testy")
Blue and Shy* (previously recorded as "Blue" for 48 Hours)
Red Red Red Red Wine* (re-recorded as "Luxury" for NYC Stratosphere Sessions)
Enemy Fire+ [Gold] (f.k.a. "Enemy Blanks" / n.k.a. "1986")
Gimme a Sign [Demolition]
Tomorrow (My Baby's Going Home) [Demolition]
I Took Your Puppies to a Race Car Track*
Win* (previously recorded with Whiskeytown / re-recorded as "On Fire")
Down at the Movies* (re-recorded as "Shallow" for Llor И' Kcor)
Tennessee Sucks [Demolition]
Starting to Hurt [Demolition]
Song For Keith ["Nuclear" UK 7" single]
Mega-Superior Gold* (n.k.a. "Mix Tapes")
Fuck It...I Broke Yer Cat* (re-recorded as "Do Miss America" for Llor И' Kcor)
Young Winds (I'll See You)* (re-recorded as "Wish You Were Here" for Llor И' Kcor)

According to DRA the finished mastered version was ready to go (as of 2007) and has tracks not available on the '48 Hours' promo CD. Because Universal still owns the released recordings (i.e. the 2002 Demolition comp)--the proposed unreleased albums (in particular 48 HOURS and 'The Suicide Handbook') were essentially bootlegged by his own label! Promotional CDs with the unfinished session were sent out by Lost Highway--and those promo CDs have been pirated by everybody, lol. Unfortunately, this has 'diminished' the value of selling the albums--because they would be incomplete. Since leaving Lost Highway in 2009, RA retained all the unreleased masters to release at his own discretion. So we're probably fucked, lol. At this rate--I think Blackhole and possibly a compilation of 4-track demos ("going back to Heartbreaker era up 'til 2005") is probably the most we can expect from any Lost Highway era archival releases in the future.

Ryan Adams

48 HOURS (2002)

01. Hallelujah*

02. Walls
03. Desire*
04. Angelina (previously recorded with diff. lyrics as "Dreaming's Free" for Destroyer)

05. Like the Twilight

06. Chin Up, Cheer Up*

07. Born Yesterday (previously recorded for Destroyer)
08. Blue** (re-recorded as "Blue and Shy" for Pinkhearts)
09. One for the Rose
10. Karina

11. Little Moon

Songs marked * appear on DEMOLITION compilation.

** import bonus track

Based on a track listing from a 10-song promo disc. 19 songs were recorded; but DRA says it was mostly scrapped. They finished up work on the 'Pinkhearts' record (includes "Charmed" and "Candy Doll") and a couple songs from the current live set including "Psalms" (or "Coma White" which is a/k/a "Sister, Sister") ,"See Mary Dance", and "Do Miss America". "I Know Where I Live", "Tears", and "See Mary Dance" (early version of "Dance All Night") are NOT circulating. "Hard Way to Fall" is the 'Fan Club version' which was either recorded then or re-done for 'Love is Hell' in New Orleans. "On Fire" was re-recorded as it appears on the 2006 Sad Dracula digital LP, 'Fasterpiece'. It's been stated by DRA that some of the stuff from 'the Scott Litt sessions' would appear as bonus material on the 'Pinkhearts' disc included in the shelved '20-20' box set. The leftover songs were re-recorded by Ryan on his own-- in response to a Twitter user asking 'what do they sound like?' Those re-recorded songs ("Game Over", "On Fire", "Free Dreams", "Actors on Actors", "Sweet Dreams" and "A Wish") were leaked in 2006 (e.g. War & Peace; Sad DRAcula albums).

RYAN ADAMS

Saturday Night Fever Blister (2002)

01. Saturday Night+ [The Pinkhearts Sessions - bootleg]

02. Candy Doll*

03. Charm Attached* (a.k.a. "Charmed")

04. Psalms (Baby Treat Me Right)* [TRAPPED IN THE NEW WORLD] (f.k.a. "Coma White" / "Sister Sister")

05. On Fire* (previously recorded as "Win")

06. Suspicion ["Wonderwall" CD2 single]

07. See Mary Dance* (a.k.a. "Dance All Night" with diff lyrics / f.k.a. "Dreaming's Free")

08. Tears* (a.k.a. "Hey There Mrs. Lovely" with new lyrics) [Extra Cheese E.P.]

09. Do Miss America* [Llor N' Kcor] (re-recorded as "A Wish" for W & P and Ratt Classics)

10. I Know Where I Live* [Exile on Franklin Street' promo*] (re-recorded as ""4th of July" / "Sweet Dreams")

11. Hard Way To Fall [Fan Club Version]*

12. Mix Tapes** (previously recorded as "Mega-Superior Gold")

13. 1986** (previously recorded as "Enemy Fire")

14. Soundtrack of Your Life** (previously recorded as "Red Red Red Red Wine" / n.k.a. "Luxury")

15. Vampire** (re-recorded for Love is Hell)

16. Diamonds or Hearts** (previously recorded as "Fool's Gold")

17. Queen of the World** (re-recorded as "One by One")

18. Sister, Sister** (previously recorded as "Testy, Testy" / f.k.a. "Still Waiting on You")

19. Sunday, Wish You Were Here** (previously recorded as "Young Winds")

* = non-circulating track (substituted where possible) / + = bonus track

See Trapped in the New World

Personnel:

Ryan Adams; Scott Litt; Warren Petersen; Brad Pemberton; Bucky Baxter; Dan Eisenberg; Brad Rice; Billy Mercer; others ?Bucky Baxter (guitar/pedal steel/vocals); Dan Eisenberg (organ/Wurlitzer); Billy Mercer (bass); Brad Pemberton (drums); Brad Rice (guitar).

THANK YOU to megasuperiorgold for sooo much info!

RYAN ADAMS

Demolition / Career Ender [5xLP Box Set] (2002-04)

Disc 1

THE SUICIDE HANDBOOK

Most likely all 21 songs would not have been included---as they do not fit on a CD.

Ryan claims there's a 3rd disc that wasn't circulated by Lost Highway with more songs.

Originally, Gold would have been 25 songs and included some cuts from this mixed in with album tracks, b-sides; and a version of "Dear Chicago" (not to be confused with the version on this album). There's a track list for it called 'Commercial Suicide'. Some of the songs on here are way better than the overblown re-makes on Gold. For instance, "Wildflowers" and "Answering Bell" ---with the re-make of "La Cienega Just Smiled" being the only improvement on the original.

Disc 2

48 HOURS

11 songs including "Walls", "Angelina", "Like the Twilight", "Karina", "Little Moon", etc.

Producer Ethan Johns said 'it wasn't an album'---though it's probably the unreleased session people seem to love the most from this period (2000-01).

14- song alt. version
of Demolition

"Blue" was included on an alternate early track list for Demolition. It was subsequently officially released as a b-side.

In 2003 (?), Ryan streamed several of these non-Demolition cuts from his website (?) as a promotional digital E.P. called

Rotten Apple. I don't think a physical release exists.

Though it can still be found on streaming sites.

Disc 3

Let It B-Minus (PINKHEARTS album)**

Two sessions recorded in Nashville with Ryan's Gold-era touring band (including future Cardinals bandmate Brad Pemberton) including songs like "Nuclear", "Starting to Hurt", "Tennessee Sucks", "Tomorrow", "Gimme a Sign", "Jesus (Don't Touch My Baby"), "Candy Doll", "Song for Keith", and others to fit on one disc. "Candy Doll" and "Song for Keith" were included on an alternate early tracklist for Demolition. The latter song was also officially released as a b-side.

Ryan's plans to follow-up Gold and his desire to release this material led to taking the current version of the band (The Sweetheart Revolution) into a Nashville studio with producer Scott Litt in April 2002.

Work was 'finished up' on the Pinkhearts disc (particularly "Charmed" and "Candy Doll"), and work began on songs like "Hard Way to Fall", "On Fire", "Suspicion", and a new version of "Hey There Mrs. Lovely" (the 'pears' line now removed---a new title, "Tears"); among others. 19 songs were recorded--but it was mostly scrapped. A lot of the left-over songs would subsequently evolve into the material that became the 2003 Stratosphere Sessions (RNR era).

The 10-song reference disc floating around out there is all there is (it would seem). As of 2007, this session has been not mentioned again by Ryan (RE: their non-inclusion on that year's 'box set' iteration).

Particularly during his 'stand-off' with Lost Highway over them not releasing Love is Hell in 2003, Ryan began posting online (message boards....alt-country.org, tobeyoung.org, Lost Highway, etc.) frequently and this is where the talk of the 'Career Ender' box-set began (following up on the cancelled Demolition box set before it). Ryan never got over them cutting it down from 60 songs to a 13-track single disc in 2002 (Ryan's second album released by Lost Highway). Now Suicide Handbook, 48 Hours, and the Pinkhearts disc would be joined by 10 more songs.

Ryan would later 'be inspired by a fan's question about what those songs sounded like' (on one of these internet message boards) to re-record a few of them during his yearlong session in ELS in 2006. These tracks would have been included as 'bonus material' on the Pinkhearts disc (for the 3rd iteration of the box set concept---20:20).

EXILE ON FRANKLIN STREET*

"Enemy Blanks" and "How Ya Doin?" are on disc 3. The latter has skips in it---though it has been repaired enough to make it listenable---though not enough for commercial release.

I don't know if a full version of "Rosalie Come and Go" exists, but it's not circulating.

Several songs date back to Whiskeytown's Pneumonia sessions (though they are probably Ryan solo or with Van Alston, or whoever around). Ryan bragged of having 'close to 100 songs in at least demo form' written for the last Whiskeytown album.

4-TRACK MIND SESSIONS**

"Like the Lies She Tells to Me" and 15 other songs (though the rest aren't circulating). Ryan claimed 'the masters were destroyed in a Guinness / painkillers accident' around the time it was also rumored to be included with the Demolition box set.

Exile on Franklin Street
A 26-song collection of demos recorded
between Pneumonia and Heartbreaker
(DEMOLITION 2002 box set)

-CAREER ENDER- (5xCD with bonus disc E.P.)

Disc 4

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVERBLISTER with Scott Litt (Nashville, TN)**

1 Hard Way to Fall (re-recorded for Love is Hell and JCN)
2 Sister, Sister** (a.k.a. "Baby Treat Me Right" / "Psalms")

3 Candy Doll**
4 Charm Attached** (a.k.a. "Charmed")

5 On Fire** (re-recorded for War and Peace)

6 Suspicion
7 See Mary Dance** (re-recorded as "Dance All Night")

8 Tears** (previously recorded as "Hey There Mrs. Lovely" for Destroyer)

9 I Know Where I Live** (previously recorded for Exile on Franklin Street)

10 Do Miss America** (version 2 / re-recorded for RNR)

"Do Miss America"
was first rec. in 1999 for Ryan's
Snow Kobra project
with Jesse Malin

Ryan also recorded several tunes in Sweden in 2001--

including "You Will Always Be the Same", "For Beth",

"Dear Anne", "Oh Charles"; etc. He also recorded a duet of

the Rolling Stones' song, "Brown Sugar", with Beth

Orton in England (it's not my favourite). Other than the songs considered for Demolition, the full session wouldn't be included the 2nd time around. They'd probably have shared space with the Saturday Night Feverblister disc. 2003 was the last mention of this session by RA.

Ryan also mentioned releasing the five discs (including Love is Hell) individually; after releasing the box-set as a whole with 'the first 2,000 copies' having exclusive 'bonus material'. Promotional films, extensive liner notes, 'handbills from every show since Heartbreaker', etc. were also mentioned and also---'cover songs'. Since "Lovesick Blues" and "Brown Sugar" are the only two I'm sure would be considered---it's unknown what other stuff there could have been.

**Other smaller unreleased sessions with songs like "My Love For You is Real" ; "Ghost"; "Just Like a Whore", "Gimme Sunshine", and "Abigail" may also have been considered for the boxed set concept.**

THE STOCKHOLM SESSIONS

with Michael Blair

1 You Will Always Be The Same [Demolition]

2 For Beth* (re-recorded with The Cardinals as "Friends" for Cold Roses)

3 Dear Anne [Alternate Demolition promo]

4 Oh, Charles (a.k.a "Prison Letter") [Alternate Demolition promo]

5 Madeline II* (re-recorded as "Clementine" for Darkbreaker)

6 Poor Jimmy*

7 My Love For You is Real (take 2)* (re-recorded for JCN and Follow the Lights)

8 Not In Love*

9 Friendly Fire*

10 Fool For You* (re-recorded with diff lyrics as "Do Miss America" and "A Wish")

Covers (exclusive bonus disc ?)

01 Brown Sugar* (with Beth Orton / Rolling Stones cover)

02 Lovesick Blues (Hank Williams cover) [Hank Williams Timeless]

03 Play with Fire** (with Gillian Welch / Rolling Stone cover)

LOVE IS HELL

19 songs recorded over sessions in New York and New Orleans with producer John Porter. The first half (NYC sessions---'11 songs, no b-sides' ---including "When the Music Don't Come") was rejected by Lost Highway. The full New Orleans session remains unreleased and several songs rumored to have been recorded are not circulating.

A few songs would be held back and re-worked for the 'Rock N' Roll Reverse' album (RNR)---that Lost Highway would accept (recorded on someone else's dime)---in a compromise to release LiH as a pair of E.P.s in 2003. This decision would subsequently lead to the box-set's eventual demise.

CAREER ENDER box set that was planned for 2003.
SUICIDE HANDBOOK / 48 HOURS / PINKHEARTS /
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVERBLISTER - STOCKHOLM SESSIONS / LOVE IS HELL

Ryan Adams

Llor И' Kcor (2003)

This Is It (previously recorded for Love is Hell)
Shallow (f.k.a. "Takin' Me Higher")
1974
Wish You Were Here
Note to Self: Don't Die (featuring Parker Posey)
Twice as Bad as Love+ [Love is Hell, pt.2]
So Alive
I Want to Go Home+ ["Wonderwall" CD2 single]
Political Scientist* [Love is Hell, pt. 1] (a.k.a. "Political Song for People I Hate to Sing")
Hypnotixed (f.k.a. "Sara Bell") [Love is Hell, pt. 1]
The Drugs Not Working (previously recorded for Love is Hell)
Gimme Sunshine+ [Love is Hell 3xLP import] (prev. recorded for Q Division demos)
Liar ["This Is It" 10" Single] (prev. recorded for Cowboy Technical Service session)

There were reportedly 11 songs recorded for the original James Barber produced sessions. "Political Song For People I Hate to Sing" and a collaboration with Josh Homme and Brody Dalle still remain unreleased and unheard. "Anybody Wanna Take Me Home", "The Drugs Not Working" and the title track originate from the Love is Hell sessions. They were remixed and overdubbed for this album. "I Want to Go Home" and the rest on the official album were taken from the earlier sessions produced by Eli Janney. I swapped some tracks out with my mixes of Love is Hell and the NYC Stratosphere songs left over.

Based on a 11-song promo CD circulating somewhere. These may be earlier versions* than their 'RNR' counterparts. I added "Halloween" from the 'LIH' NYC session, since I had no other place for it. DRA said an E.P. of songs from the NYC Stratosphere Sessions would be released along with the Love is Hell two E.P.s in late 2003. The full sessions remain unreleased. Reportedly about 25 songs were written on acoustic after LIH was rejected a second time. Those songs were recorded in a basement studio in New York (with Eli Janney producing).
"What Do You Want" was later released on 1985.

Ryan Adams

DIAMONDZ [NYC Stratosphere Sessions]

Red Lights ["This Is It" CD Single]
Burning Photographs [Llor 'N LloR]
Closer When She Goes ["This Is It" CD Single]
Luminol+ [Llor 'N LloR]
Ah, Life [Moroccan Role E.P.]
Halloween+ [Love is Hell, pt. 1]
Funeral Marching ["This Is It" Limited Edition 10" Vinyl Single]
Don't Even Know Her Name [Moroccan Role E.P.]
Days of Glory* (n.k.a. "She's Lost Total Control")
I'm Coming Over [Moroccan Role E.P.]
Boys+ [Llor 'N LloR]
Luxury ["So Alive" b-side]
What Do You Want+ [1985]
Hey Parker, It's Christmas+ [7" single]

Ryan Adams

Untitled LP sessions?

Between April and July of 2003. RA posted several times about going into the studio to work with Ethan Johns, Norah Jones, Gillian Welch, and David Rawlings. The plan was to make a back to basics record on an 8-track recorder, with simple accompaniment of acoustic guitar, banjo, and piano. It is unknown what became of these sessions.

It was later mentioned (in a fall 2003 article around the release of RNR) that Johns had initially invited him to L.A. to write songs for a new album [to replace Love is Hell]. Ryan invited him instead to come to New York to record with David Rawlings, Gillian Welch, and Norah Jones. They however, were unable to get together again until the August 2004 sessions for 29. It's believed Ryan may have subsequently intended to produce these sessions, himself.

Three new songs were laid down in three different studios following the Love is Hell New Orleans sessions with Smiths producer John Porter in early 2003---"I Want to Go Home", "One by One", and the acoustic version of "This Is It"---that we know of. "Suspicion" and "Hard Way to Fall" had been held-over from the scrapped April 2002 sessions with Scott Litt in Nashville, as well. According to Porter, these songs (later released as b-sides) were also considered for the final running order of Love is Hell before it was initially scrapped by Lost Highway in 2003. "Hard Way to Fall" was also worked on during the New Orleans sessions in early 2003.

Ryan streamed several unreleased songs from various sessions on his own web-site (?) in 2003-04 (including "Hard Way to Fall" and "One by One"---as well as the leftovers from 48 Hours).

Most likely this album idea was scrapped and then the 14 songs were recorded at Stratosphere Sound with Johnny T. on drums and Eli Janney producing. Obviously, he found his muse once again and the musical direction would lead into the Rock 'N Roll Reverse album (with another 11 songs) released later that year.

One by One+
I Want to Go Home+ (recorded by Rudyard Culliers at Stratosphere Sound in spring 2003)
Tears of Gold** (acoustic early version)
The Hardest Part** (solo acoustic version with "My Love For You Is Real" arrangement / performed with J.P. at The Cardinals early acoustic duo shows in 2004)
Avenue B**
You Will Always Be the Same** (solo acoustic re-make)
This Is It+ (acoustic version recorded at Peligro Audio / engineered by guitarist Johnny McNabb in spring 2003)
The Night** (performed live only once on 24 Oct 2004 at Roseland Ballroom in NY)
Love is Hell** (solo acoustic remake)
Don't Even Go There**
The Fools We Are as People** (f.k.a. "The Fools We Are as Men" - ver. II)

"Wonderwall" b-sides = + (except * = unreleased / ** = non-circulating demo)

Ryan solo on everything / mostly recorded solo acoustic at ELS with Justin Neibank engineering, between April and May 2003. Full session remains unreleased and hasn't been mentioned by RA since the internet postings in spring 2003.

Post from 4/14/03)
I'm recording at home. I'm gonna finish in Jacksonville where I'm from in an old house. I'm using an old 4track until i can get a half-inch 8 track or whatever is more portable. its just piano and vocals, or guitar and vocals, and I'm only overdubbing one or two instruments like a banjo or a weepy little guitar line. its sounding very cool so far. kinda like the trinity sessions or howling wolf bootlegs and a little Joni Mitchell and a shitload of early Dylan influences in the songwriting. they just started coming and so I'm going there.

(Post from 5/30/03)
"...…..Ethan's coming to New York and I have only a limited time if Norah Jones, Gillian Welch and David will be in the band with me and Ethan. merely days. i love you guys for hanging in there with me..."

Thank you to for the info, etc. An excellent resource!

Re-sequenced and edited down to 59 minutes with 14 songs. Includes the unreleased track "When the Music Don't Come" (NYC session). "Anybody Wanna Take Me Home" and "Rock and Roll" are subsequently remixed and edited for Rock and Roll. List of known outtakes include "Jeane", "Vampire", "Witch Hunt", "Stumblin' Through the Dark", "Murder, Sex, Death", "Hard Way to Fall", "Black Clouds", "Gimme Sunshine", "Twice as Bad as Love", "One by One", "This Is It (acoustic)", "Drugs Not Working (early mix)", "I See Monsters (alt. take)", "The Shadowlands" (alt. guitar solo mix)".

Ryan Adams

LOVE IS HELL (2004)

Anybody Wanna Take Me Home
Love is Hell
Wonderwall
The Shadowlands
Afraid Not Scared
When the Music Don't Come* [Black Clouds bootleg]
Rock N' Roll [LloR N' KcoR]
English Girls Approximately
City Rain, City Streets
Avalanche
World War 24
Please Do Not Let Me Go
This House is Not For Sale
I See Monsters

Recorded with producer Ethan Johns over two weeks in August 2004.
Originally planned to be released first in the 2005 trilogy that would include the first two Cardinals records, Cold Roses and Jacksonville City Nights---released in May and September of that year, respectively. 29 would be released in December 2005; making a total of three albums released in one year!

Based on the name of a bonus disc included with the proposed '20-20' box set (intended for a 2007 release?). I used the available tracks (or rather--available to me) that could have been included: "Like the Lies She Tells to Me" (4-Track Mind sessions tape---with 16 songs, that include "Folklore" and "String and the Wire"---demos from Heartbreaker to Cold Roses); 7-inch versions of "Now That You're Gone" and "If I Am A Stranger"; and the couple 4-track Version 7-inch E.P.s that were released (on Pax-Am) with songs from the Exile on Franklin Street discs. I filled the rest out with mostly songs( not repeated elsewhere) from that unreleased collection---including "How Ya Doin'?" from the hard to find (and scratched up) disc 3 (that also includes "Enemy Blanks"). Songs from the Cowboy Technical Service session and the Q Division demos would also possibly be considered, as well.
In August 2004, RA recorded ten songs with Cardinals bandmate J.P. Bowersock, session bassist Jennifer Condos, etc. Ethan Johns producing. "Whether We Make It Or Not" was rumored to be recorded for the album but remains unreleased. A live edited version from Jan. 2004 is included here. I know DRA wanted to release '29' on his Pax-Am label that year (as the first part of the 2005 trilogy). I just switched that idea out for this.

Ryan Adams

DEMOLITIOUS (2005)

Faker* (a.k.a. "Fuck the Universe" - re-recorded for Love is Hell)
California+ [California E.P.]
Do You Wanna Get High?+ (a.k.a. "Tractor Beam") [California E.P.]
Goodbye Honey* (re-recorded for Heartbreaker)
The Last Dance* (re-recorded as "See Mary Dance" for Saturday Night Feverblister)
I Know Where I Live* (re-recorded for Saturday Night Feverblister)
Waves Crashing+ (Pneumonia demo) [California E.P.]
Listen to the Radio* (n.k.a. "People Make Mistakes" / re-recorded for Pneumonia and Easy Tiger)
Choked Up* (re-recorded for Pneumonia)
Don't Ask for the Water* (re-recorded for Heartbreaker)
Secret Powers+ [California E.P.]
Blanket of Booze+ (Pneumonia demo) [California E.P.]
Tell Me How You Want Me+ (a.k.a. "Tell Me Why") [The Rescue Blues 4-track E.P.]
How Ya Doin' ?* (Pneumonia demo) [Exile on Franklin Street - disc 3]
Like the Lies She Tells to Me* [2023 IG post]
Just Like a Whore* [Q Division demos]
Ghost* [Cowboy Technical Service session]
My Love For You is Real* (re-recorded with The Cardinals for Follow the Lights E.P.)
Whether We Make It or Not** (live 29 outtake - 2004)
Now That You're Gone+ ["Now That You're Gone" 7" single]
If I'm A Stranger+ ["Now That You're Gone" 7" single]

Exile on Franklin Street
3 disc set (?) of demos rec. between
Pneumonia and Heartbreaker
(2000)

A double album with 19 new songs. Recorded in two sessions at Loho Studios in Dec. 2004 with producer and engineer Tom Schick. Leftover studio time led to more recording with over 30 more songs recorded live to tape over a single week of sessions in January---which was whittled down to 14 make The Cardinals' 2nd album of 2005, Jacksonville City Nights

Originally titled September with 15-song alternate tracklist including "What Sin Replaces Love" and an alternate full-band version of its title track. Recorded over 1 week at Loho Studios in NYC by Tom Schick. Additional songs recorded at Sear Sound (NY) include "Until Then (acoustic)", "Petal in a Rainstorm", "Your Love is an Impossible Dream", "Sad What We Do to Feel Love", "Brooklyn" (Jesse Malin cover) and others not currently circulating.

Ryan Adams and The Cardinals

SEPTEMBER [JCN Sessions]

The End
Shadows (possibly re-recorded for Haywire)
We're Doomed**
Where Dreams Go to Die** (poss. early version of "Sewers at the Bottom of the Wishing Well" ??)
Liar's Eve**
The Howling** (later re-recorded as "Nightmare" for 2018 ELS sessions)
Peaceful Valley
Dust and Alcohol**
Rosewood Cemetery** (poss. early version of "Cemetery Hill" ??)
Songs** (later re-recorded for Let It B-Minus)
Trains
Hard Way to Fall (previously recorded for Saturday Night Feverblister and Love is Hell)
When That Wild Wind Calls** (a.k.a. "When the Wild Wind Blows"; re-recorded for Darkbreaker)
Like the Lies She Tells to Me** (previously recorded as demo for Heartbreaker)
Pa (previously recorded for Heartbreaker)
Already Going and Gone**
Give Up?** (re-recorded with diff. lyrics as "Blue Hotel" for Follow the Lights)
On My Way to Jacksonville** (re-recorded as "Elizabethtown" for Darkbreaker)
Don't Fail Me Now (a.k.a. "When the Rope Gets Tied" - previously recorded for Heartbreaker)
Silver Bullets (re-recorded with diff lyrics as "Take Me Home" for Wednesdays)
A Kiss Before I Go
Dear John (duet w/ Norah Jones) (re-recorded for Follow the Lights)
September
My Heart is Broken (previously recorded with Whiskeytown)
Games
Withering Heights

Ryan Adams and The Cardinals

SEAR SOUND / JCN B-Sides and Outtakes

Your Love Is An Impossible Dream*
Petal in a Rainstorm* (f.k.a. "Oh My Sweet Valentine")
Until Then (acoustic)* (later re-recorded for Let It B-Minus - Sad Dracula)
Sad What We Do To Feel Love* (a.k.a. "One Hit from the Floor")
Brooklyn* (Jesse Malin cover)
What Sin Replaces Love+ ['September' pre-release promo]
Jeane+ (previously recorded for Love is Hell) ["Easy Plateau" single]
Diamond of Hearts** (previously recorded as "Fool's Gold")
My Love For You** (a.k.a. "My Love For You is Real" with diff lyrics)
Jim**
Already Going and Gone** (album outtake)
September (alternate version)+ [JCN Rhapsody bonus track]
The Hardest Part+ [Jacksonville City Nights]
I Still Miss Someone+ (Johnny Cash cover / previously recorded with Whiskeytown)
Always on My Mind+ (Willie Nelson cover / featuring Norah Jones; Bob Hoffnar)
A Kiss Before I Go (Demonstration Version)+
Games (Demonstration Version)**
Peaceful Valley (Demonstration Version)**
What Sin Replaces Love (Demonstration Version)+

This is the latest new find on YouTube of missing Ryan music. Recorded sometime in early 2005 at Sear Sound in NYC (solo and also with The Cardinals). "Until Then" appears as an electric version on the Sad Dracula digital LP release, Let It B-Minus, in late 2006. Byron Isaacs (of The Lumineers) may be the harmony vocalist on "Sad What We Do To Feel Love"--but no confirmation, yet. Those songs are believed to be recorded during mixing sessions for JCN at Sear Sound Studio (NY) in early 2005. Stay tuned for more updates!

Produced and Engineered by Tom Schick. Recorded at Sunset Sound Factory, Los Angeles and Electric Lady Studios in New York City (with The Cardinals and string section). Ryan plays all instruments on the first session. In 2007, RA mentioned including the solo tracks on the (now scrapped) 20:20 boxset as 'Darkbreaker' (a title that seems to be a lighthearted dig at singer Beth Orton's 2002 LP, 'Daybreaker'). All songs believed to be recorded have leaked in unmastered rough mix form. Probably another album we'll never see get a proper release.

Ryan Adams and The Cardinals

DARKBREAKER (Elizabethtown soundtrack) - Tom Schick Sessions (2005)

Personnel: Ryan Adams, Tom Schick; Cat Popper, Jon Graboff, Brad Pemberton; String section

Cemetery Hill* (remixed and overdubbed for War and Peace and III/IV)
The Sewers at the Bottom of the Wishing Well* (re-recorded for Fasterpiece / with The Cardinals for III/IV)
Clementine* (f.k.a. "Madeline") (previously recorded for The Stockholm Sessions)
Everyone Knows* (re-recorded with The Cardinals as "Everybody Knows")
When the Wild Wind Blows* (previously recorded with The Cardinals for JCN)
Dreams of the Working Class+ [Ryan Adams and The Cardinals, 2023 digital single]
Words+ [Elizabethtown, vol. 2: Songs For the Ride Home digital E.P.]
Lions of Broadway* (n.k.a "Steve Miller and Weed" / re-recorded for Star Wars demos)
Actors on Actors+ (previously recorded as "Tears" for Saturday Night Feverblister)
Who Were We?* (remixed and overdubbed for War and Peace)
Destroy Yourself+ (a.k.a. "Jessica" / recorded with diff lyrics for HOPE demos)
Maps* (re-recorded as "Take 'Em to the Stars and Back" for War and Peace)
4th of July (re-recorded as "Sweet Dreams" for War and Peace)
Until Then (previously recorded for Sear Sound demos)
Elizabethtown* (f.k.a. "On My Way to Jacksonville" / previously recorded for JCN)
Saturday Night+ (different song than Pinkhearts 2001 demo) [2024 IG leak]
Two* (re-recorded for Mercy Sound demos and Easy Tiger)
Willows* (re-recorded as "Temporary Vampires")
Everything Dies+ [2025 IG leak]
Elizabeth, You Were Born to Play That Part* (previously recorded for 29)
Don't Get Sentimental on Me*
Lighthouses* (re-recorded for War and Peace)
Two Hearts (acoustic)* [Feb 18, 2007 Mixes]

All songs unreleased * except where otherwise noted.

Songs in bold recorded with The Cardinals (rejected by DRA for release).

Dec. 2005 sessions (Star Wars demos)

Released on Let It B-Minus (Sad Dracula) digital LP in late 2006

Personnel: Ryan Adams, Brad Pemberton, Jon Graboff, Cat Popper, Neal Casal, Jamie Candiloro

Star Wars (remixed and overdubbed for III/IV)
Two Hearts* (Rock Version / re-recorded for Easy Tiger) [Feb 18, 2007 Mixes]
Everybody Knows* (re-recorded for Easy Tiger)
Off Broadway* (re-recorded for Easy Tiger)
My Favorite Song (remixed and overdubbed for III/IV)
Do the Resolve (remixed and overdubbed for III/IV)
Lovely and Blue (remixed and overdubbed for III/IV)
Be Careful+ (f.k.a. "Eviction Notice / "In Defense of the Brokenhearted Girl")
Wasteland* (remixed and overdubbed for III/IV)
Sunlight Shaker* (re-recorded as "Get Used to It" / "Users" for III/IV)
People Make Mistakes+ (f.k.a. "Listen to the Radio" / re-recorded for Easy Tiger)
The Songs+ (previously recorded for JCN demos)
Temporary Vampires+ (previously recorded as "Willows")
Steve Miller & Weed+ (f.k.a. "Lions of Broadway")
I Was Never There+ (re-recorded as "Dear Candy" for III/IV)
P.S* (re-recorded for III/IV)

"It was two separate sessions. Only the stuff with strings on it was recorded later. The first session was in the same room as GOLD ( sunset sound factory ) and I recorded it by myself with Tom Schick engineering and working the API in that little room. What a great sound. The rest of the stuff like Everything Dies and the slow stuff was after the Japan show disaster ( so many disasters to keep up with LOL ) and we were all so tired... But that was full on Cardinals with Cat, JP and Graboff--but they are not on Cemetery Hill and the Who Were We ( my fav from this ) and all that. They are only on the live sounding tracks. The song "Elizabethtown" which is fucking horrid, was just the tape rolling with me trying to write a song for the move. What is really sad about the entire session is that it was meant to be a session where I wrote an "uplifting" song for Cameron. Ha. This depressive brain muck is all I could muster. I was in a rather druggy state, imagine that, and I was just spinning out by the second session. I was ok on the first but the second was a disaster and you can really hear it. What a sad life it was. Once in awhile some asshole somewhere will say something like " He was so much better when he was on drugs, etc. blah blah" but really how I look at it is, I was always able to rise above whatever was going on and find some joy and make some music I loved. Thank goodness some things never change. Even if that means I have to be making some music that isn't for everyone.

I'll put this out one day as it was meant to be hopefully sans those awful end of the night tracks."

Ryan Adams

RNR 'Part Two' (Mercy Sound demos) / BLACKHOLE

late Dec. 2005 - Mercy Sound : 'RNR: Part Two' demos
Personnel: Ryan Adams (guitars / drums on "Lost and Found", "Two"; etc. / bass / piano) , Jamie Candiloro; Johnny T. (drums on "Oblivion"; etc.), Gus Olberg (bass)

Valhalla** [ORION bonus 7-inch]
California Gasoline (previously recorded as "California")
Lost and Found** [Pax-Am 001]
Why^ (remixed and overdubbed for 2010 ELS mix) [Heatwave]
S.O.S. (re-recorded as "Number 3" a.k.a. "Parts of Me")
Sarah
It Ends the Way it Started
Oblivion**
Sounds Good to Me (a.k.a. "F.U. Wait") [War and Peace]
Closure (re-recorded as "Natural Ghost" for W & P and Cardinology)
Starfire (re-recorded during ELS sessions)
Two** (Rock Version / re-recorded for Easy Tiger) [Feb 18, 2007 Mixes]
Waiting for the Sun (re-recorded as "For the Sun")
On Fire (previously recorded for Saturday Night Feverblister)
The Sewers at the Bottom of the Wishing Well (re-recorded for III/IV)
Too Late^ (remixed and overdubbed for ELS sessions) [Heatwave]
On a Side^ (instrumental / overdubbed and mixed for ELS sessions)
untitled various song fragments^ (instrumental / overdubbed and mixed for ELS sessions)

Released in late 2006 as the Sad Dracula digital LP, Fasterpiece

(except for "Two", "Why", "Too Late", and "On A Side")

** = mixed at ELS in Feb. 2007 / ^ = 2010 version (?)

late Dec. 2005 - Feb. 2006 ELS (LP sessions)

Personnel: Ryan Adams, Johnny T., Tom Schick, ; Jamie Candiloro, Charlie Stavish

Black Hole (n.k.a. "Disco Queen")
White Light
Number 3 (n.k.a. "Parts of Me")
Waiting for the Sun (version 2 / n.k.a "For the Sun")
Don't Disappear (a.k.a. "Starfire" - version 2)
Just You Wait
When You're There
She Isn't Vanishing (a.k.a. "The Vanishing")
Lost in Space (a.k.a. "Thunderclouds" / re-recorded as "Go Ahead and Rain")
When I Smile
Oblivion+ (remixed at ELS in 2007) [Pax-Am 005]
Lights Flashing (n.k.a. "Tomorrowland")
Call Me Back (n.k.a. "Truth or Dare")
Sarah* (re-recorded for PAX-AM sessions with new lyrics as "The Door")

SEPT 2006 Reference disc 12 tracks

(except "Oblivion" and "Sarah")

Ryan Adams / Phil Lesh

April 2006 session

21ST CENTURY WARS (instrumental) ?
ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT ? (remixed and overdubbed for III/IV)
TIME MACHINE ?
NOBODY LISTENS TO SILENCE ? (re-recorded during Easy Tiger sessions)
TO PHIL, LOVE RYAN ?
??

Taken from the Warren Peace digital release, 'WAR AND PEACE' (2006)

MORE INFO CAN BE FOUND HERE

Proposed solo 2xLP with around 35 songs recorded (mostly) with RA on everything between Feb and Apr 2006. Includes new versions of older songs like "Free Dreams" (a.k.a. "I'm Alright Today"), "Take 'Em to the Stars and Back" (a.k.a. "Maps"), "A Wish" (a.k.a. "Baby, I'm A Fool For You"), "Sweet Dreams" (a.k.a. "4th of July"), "Lighthouses" and "Who Were We?" Rumored versions of "Don't Get Sentimental on Me" and "Everything Dies" are said to have been recorded, as well. Outtakes include "On Fire", "Sewers at the Bottom of the Wishing Well", "Valhalla" and others found on the Warren Peace and Sad Dracula digital releases.

All other songs were re-recorded for The Cardinals' sessions for III/IV and Easy Tiger later that same year. Songs not in bold have either been released or leaked in some form.

Ryan Adams

WAR AND PEACE (2006)

No
Destroyers+ [III / IV bonus disc]
Icebreaker
Happy Birthday
Numbers
Dear Diary+ (a.k.a "My Reflection") [III / IV bonus disc]
Rock Dust*
Death and Rats
Eviction Notice* (a.k.a "Be Careful") [Let It B-Minus by Sad Dracula digital LP]
Take 'Em to the Stars and Back* (a.k.a "Star Maps" / re-recorded for Wednesdays)
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Ghost [III / IV bonus disc]
Game Over* (previously recorded with diff lyrics as "Baby Treat Me Right" and "Interstellar Collider")
A Wish* (f.k.a "Baby, I'm a Fool For You"; previously with dff lyrics as "Do Miss America")
Kisses Start Wars
Get Used To It (a.k.a "Users"; "Sunlight Shaker")
Free Dreams* (previously recorded as "See Mary Dance" for Saturday Night Feverblister)
Lighthouses* (previously recorded for Darkbreaker)
Movie Stars Hurt+ [War and Peace by Warren Peace digital E.P.]
Who Were We?* (previously recorded for Darkbreaker)
Cemetery Hill (previously recorded for Darkbreaker / longer version appears on III/IV bonus disc)
If You Wait+ (a.k.a "F U Wait") [Fasterpiece by Sad Dracula digital LP]
Sweet Dreams (a.k.a. "4th of July"; "Liar Machine" / later re-recorded with diff lyrics for Wednesdays)
Kill the Lights
Crossing Over Foggy Mountains+ [Orion bonus 7-inch]
Megawizard+ [Feel the Lazer by Werewolph digital LP]

21st CENTURY WARS / FIRE AND ICE / ULTRA VIOLET LIGHT-TIME MACHINE / MOVIE STARS HURT / CEMETERY HILL / DEAR DIARY / NOBODY LISTENS TO SILENCE / TO PHIL - LOVE RYAN / VALHALLA / ROCK DUST / TEMPORARY VAMPIRES / EVICTION NOTICE / PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES / EVERYTHING DIES / DESTROYERS / HAPPY BIRTHDAY / TAKE 'EM TO THE STARS AND BACK! / (You Make Me Feel Like A) NATURAL GHOST / GAME OVER / A WISH / FREE DREAMS / LIGHTHOUSES / WHO WERE WE? / IF YOU WAIT / ON FIRE / SWEET DREAMS / DON'T GET SENTIMENTAL ON ME

ORION
Recorded with Jamie C. at ELS, circa 2006

Ryan Adams and The Cardinals

CANDY ['Star Wars' - III/IV demos]

F-U WAIT (f.k.a. "Sounds Good to Me") [War and Peace]
BREAKDOWN INTO THE RESOLVE (f.k.a. "Do the Resolve")
LOVELY AND BLUE
IN DEFENSE (a.k.a. "Eviction Notice" / "Be Careful") [War & Peace]
WASTELAND
SUNLIGHT SHAKER (n.k.a. "Users") [War & Peace]
I WAS NEVER HERE (re-recorded as "Dear Candy") [Let It B-Minus, Sad Dracula]
P.S.
STAR WARS
TWO HEARTS+ (previously recorded for Darkbreaker) [Feb 18, 2007 Mixes]
OFF BROADWAY+ (previously recorded for Commercial Suicide)
MY FAVORITE SONG
JESSICA (n.k.a. "Destroy Yourself") [Let It B-Minus, Sad Dracula]
EVERYBODY KNOWS+ (previously recorded for Darkbreaker)
TWO+ (previously recorded for Darkbreaker) [Feb 18, 2007 Mixes]
WHO WERE WE? (previously recorded for Darkbreaker) [War and Peace]

-----------------------------------

Songs in bold appear in final form on III/IV / * = non-circulating mix / + = re-recorded for Easy Tiger

Thank you to a member* of the Ryan Adams Superfans FB page for sharing this info (the inlay of the III/IV vinyl has this tracklist for an album of Cardinals 2006 demos)

***I don't know if you want the credit, but I'll be glad to mention it***

Sessions timeline for 2005-07

Found on Discogs (believed to contain the 'Rock' versions of "Two" and "Two Hearts").

RYAN ADAMS

Easy Tiger (2007)

Goodnight Rose
People Make Mistakes* (a.k.a. "Listen to the Radio")
Two (previously recorded for Darkbreaker and III/IV)
Everybody Knows (previously recorded for Darkbreaker and III/IV)
Black Myrtle* [February 19, 2007 mixes]
Oh My God, Whatever, Etc. (previously recorded for III/IV)
Tears of Gold
The Sun Also Sets
Off Broadway (previously recorded for Commercial Suicide)
Pearls on A String
Rip Off (recorded with dif. lyrics as "Lighthouses" for Darkbreaker)
Lonely is As Lonely Does* [February 19, 2007 mixes]
I Taught Myself How to Grow Old
Nobody Listens to Silence+ (bonus track)
Alice+ (bonus track)

16 tracks that were assembled on a disc by producer Jamie Candiloro in late Sept. 2006. This was "essentially what would become ET," (quote from an interview done in Sept. 2010). It's rumored Ryan played bass on several tracks following Cat Popper's departure sometime in August 2006. Chris Feinstein would replace her in the band and perform his first show with the group the next month.

Instead of a potential 7xLP box set: 01 COMMERCIAL SUICIDE (2007) / 02 48 HOURS (2007) /
03 PINKHEARTS + SAT. NIGHT FEVER BLISTER (2006) / 04 DARKBREAKER (2005) / 05 BLACKHOLE (2006) /
06 DEMOLITIOUS (4-track demos 2000-05) / 07 LET IT B-MINUS (compilation of non-LP tracks)

We didn't even get Lost Highway's supposed retrospective, either. WTF?

Ryan Adams

20:20 [proposed 2007 Box-Set]

Perfect and True
Tell it To My Heart
She Wants to Play Hearts
Pretenders
Famous Eyes
For No One
You Don't Know Me
Alice+ [February 19, 2007 mixes]
Lonely is As Lonely Does+ [February 19, 2007 mixes]
Cracks in a Photograph
I'm Waiting
Cry on Demand
Miss Sunflower
My California Love
Dear Chicago
Nobody Listens to Silence+ [2007 digital single]
Hallelujah [Demolition]
Walls
Desire [Demolition]
Angelina
Like the Twilight
Chin Up, Cheer Up [Demolition]
Born Yesterday
Black Myrtle+ [February 19, 2007 mixes]
One For the Rose
People Make Mistakes (a.k.a. "Listen to the Radio")+ [Rat Classics, vol. 2]
Karina
24/7+ [Rat Classics, vol. 2]
Nuclear [Demolition]
Game Over+ (prev. recorded as "Baby Treat Me Right"; "Interstellar Collider") [War and Peace]
Candy Doll* [Saturday Night Feverblister]
Charmed* [Saturday Night Feverblister]
On Fire+ [Fasterpiece, Sad Dracula]
Tennessee Sucks [Demolition]
Mega-Superior Gold
I Took Your Puppies to a Race Car Track
Gimme a Sign [Demolition]
Tomorrow [Demolition]
Starting to Hurt [Demolition]
Jesus (Don't Touch My Baby) [Demolition]
Free Dreams+ (prev. recorded as "See Mary Dance") [War and Peace]
Actors on Actors+ (prev. recorded as "Tears") [Let It B-Minus, Sad Dracula]
Sweet Dreams+ (prev. recorded as "4th of July"; "I Know Where I Live") [War and Peace]
A Wish+ (prev. recorded with diff lyrics as "Do Miss America") [War and Peace]
Cemetery Hill+ [War and Peace]
When the Wild Wind Blows
Dreams of the Working Class [2023 digital single]
Destroyer+ [War and Peace]
Movie Stars Hurt+ [War and Peace]
The Sewers at the Bottom of the Wishing Well (ver. II) [Fasterpiece, Sad Dracula]
Take 'Em to the Stars and Back!+ (f.k.a. "Maps) [War and Peace]
Lighthouses+ (ver. II) [War and Peace]
Who Were We?+ [War and Peace]
Everything Dies [2025 IG post]
Saturday Night [2024 IG post]
Don't Get Sentimental on Me
White Light
The Vanishing
Number 3 (a.k.a. "Parts of Me" / formerly known as "S.O.S.")
Disco Queen
Tomorrowland
Waiting for the Sun (re-recorded as "For the Sun")
When I Smile
Starfire
When You're There
Thunderclouds (re-recorded as "Lost in Space" for Dear Impossible demos)
Just You Wait
Truth or Dare (n.k.a. "Call Me Back")

Tracks 1-16 ** versions with a string section (parts arranged by RA), bass (probably played by him), and drums by Brad Pemberton during Easy Tiger sessions. Tracks 30,33, 39-43 recorded by RA solo (on everything) appears on Pinkhearts disc.

(See entries for other albums)

ROSALIE COME AND GO+ [Gold - Side 4]
THE FOOLS WE ARE AS MEN+ [Gold - Side 4]
SWEET BLACK MAGIC+ [Gold - Side 4]
THE BAR IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE+ [Gold - Side 4]
CANNONBALL DAYS+ [Gold - Side 4]
MARA LISA
FROM ME TO YOU
BLUE
SONG FOR KEITH
AH, LIFE
DON'T EVEN KNOW HER NAME
I'M COMING OVER
LUXURY
THIS IS IT (acoustic)
RED LIGHTS
FUNERAL MARCHING
HALLOWEEN [Halloween E.P. promo]
CLOSER WHEN SHE GOES [Halloween E.P. promo]
TWICE AS BAD AS LOVE [Halloween E.P. promo]
ONE BY ONE
SUSPICION
BLACK CLOUDS (re-recorded as "Life is Beautiful") [Love is Hell 3xLP Japan import]
MY FATHER'S SON [Love is Hell 3xLP vinyl Japan import]
WORDS+ [Elizabethtown, vol. 2: Songs For the Ride Home digital E.P.]
TONIGHT ["Easy Plateau" b-side]
OPERATOR, OPERATOR [Cold Roses Japan import CD]
LEARN TO LOVE ["Easy Plateau" b-side]
SO HOT, SO COLD [Cold Roses Japan import CD]
ROCK DUST* [War and Peace]
HEAVEN* [Rat Classics, vol. 2]
ROLLIN' WITH THE PUNCHES* [Rat Classics, vol. 2]
A WISH* (version 2 / previously recorded for War and Peace) [Rat Classics, vol. 2]
THESE GIRLS (Rock Version)* [Curtain of Light]

Mercy Sound demos

Re: 48 Hours, 20/20 boxset etc. Ryan has said that it will pretty much never happen

STEREOGUM: What about that box set of the various unreleased albums, is that still going to happen?

ADAMS: I don’t understand what people don’t get about that. It mystifies me. People go, “Whatever happened to the 20/20 boxset?” I always want to go like, what are you fucking talking about?

STEREOGUM: Well, it’s been rumored on and off for years.

ADAMS: Yeah, like in 2003 or ’04 or something. I talked about it then. Trying to release unreleased records. But those records are common knowledge now. Like, “When are you going to release The Suicide Handbook?” When people call it that I’m like, “Why do you call it that?” It was actually originally called Commercial Suicide. It wasn’t called The Suicide Handbook because the record I wanted to release was just a double record of acoustic performances and string sections. The version that leaked, they don’t have the strings on it. It’s so known. The toothpaste left the tube so long ago, I’m not going to try to put it into a new toothpaste container. Why would I do that? [laughs] And also I can’t release anything that’s been previously released. I own all my unreleased masters. And then Universal, before I left, if it came out, they owned that. So that means a couple of songs from Commercial Suicide Handbook that were on Demolition make it an incomplete record, and then there was a record I did with Ethan at the end of Gold, it wasn’t really a record, it was just a session. We called it 48 Hours because we made it in 48 hours. And like … the reason it leaked is because my record label would put Lost Highway stickers on it and send it to people.
What I would find is that I would go and make the sessions and before [the songs] had any chance to be considered for anything, they were being shared. Not by me. I didn’t even have a fucking computer then. You can actually find copies still but they’re on eBay. They’ll say “48 Hours Sessions, Lost Highway Records” with a white label. So what eventually happened was twofold. By sharing them to the point where they were getting bootlegged so commonly, it destroyed the value of anything they could’ve ever been. And also the ones they decided to release on Demolition, by making a compilation of all the demos — which was not my idea and not something I wanted to do — they basically interrupted my ability to ever later claim ownership of those records and try to sell them that way.
But you know, I started PAX-AM, and so far we’ve done 7-inches of older stuff. I released the complete sessions around Easy Tiger as III/IV. Originally that record was going to be more rock and have some of those acoustic songs interlaced into the record. The record became what it became out of necessity and those tracks fell by the wayside and I wanted to release that. I’ve made so much music since that people don’t know about. Black Hole record, no one’s heard that. Which is awesome. I made this fucking sick record in New York right at the end of my contract with Lost Highway. I went to Electric Lady with my friend Johnny and made this big sprawling session, and I’ve released only a couple of little things on it, but it gave way to things like “Do I Wait” from Ashes & Fire. I did a Record Store Day single with that, a song called “The Darkness.” That session is so shit hot and I love it. I’ll probably put that out at some point. There’s a couple of other things, but they’re more recent.

I make music, I’m in the moment, I still play live. It would be the worst, possible, most ignorant idea ever and it would be stupid to go, “Hey you guys, I’m going to release this box set of shit you already have online that you’ve listened to forever, except it’ll be incomplete. Because some of these tracks are already on Lost Highway records and if that version exists you can’t have it. So I’ll sell you something you already have, but the incomplete version.” I mean, maybe at this point I could call it 14/9 or something, because the vision would be really impaired. It wouldn’t even be “hindsight is 20/20,” it’d have to be a decimal point and a couple of random numbers. That’s never going to happen, ever, nor should it ever happen, and nor do I think anyone, if they really thought it through, would really want to own it, or would think it would ever be a viable thing. It can’t. It cannot exist. But there’s still my very first four-track recordings up to like, 2005, when I still used cassette four-tracks. I assembled all of them in one place. I found that stuff. I found a shit ton of stuff around the Heartbreaker sessions, all this great stuff. I’m so stoked about that. - DRA interview

CARDINOLOGY (2008)
40 songs recorded for a triple album (with 22 leftover) at ELS with Tom Schick engineering, once again. Sessions are believed to have been around Dec. 2007. Visit the link below for my alternate version of this album. I just add "In the Meadow" to that and call it a day. I don't really like this album (it's okay, I guess). 20/20 and Lost Highway's planned retrospective (with unreleased songs) were both scrapped for this. Contractual obligation!
See 'CLASS MYTHOLOGY'

Ryan recorded many demos between ET and Cardinology and after that. I'm not a big fan of this work. However, there's playlists of it on graciousfew's YouTube (and elsewhere). Ryan shared many of these songs on his FOGGY blog posts in 2008. One song in particular is "JESSICA" (written for ex-girlfriend Jessica Joffe). I included this one on my alt. mix of Cardinology. You can read more about some of the plans he might have had for some of these songs like "NANCY" (a fave of mine--I don't hate them...just like other stuff more), at the link from MEGASUPERIORGOLD's page.

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

Cardinology 2/3 (2008)

In the Meadow [Romeo & Juliet]
Heavy Orange [Cardinology bonus 7-inch]
Asteroid [Cardinology bonus 7-inch]
The Colour of Pain+ [LP bonus track]
Memory Lane+ (re-recorded with diff lyrics for Pax- Am sessions) [LP bonus track]
Mercy* (re-recorded for L.A. RAIN sessions)
Your Name is on Fire [Class Mythology E.P.]
Future Sparrow
Go Ahead and Rain (re-recorded as "Lost in Space" for Dear Impossible demos)
Invisible Red
**22 more songs (out of 70 demos recorded) ?

By the time the band reconvened at Electric Lady Studios in June and July, Ryan had recorded demos of over 70 songs! Of these, 22 were recorded; with all but one seeing an official release (see below for more info). The songs on Cardinology were done live with everyone playing at once, and very little overdubbing. Sadly, these sessions would be the last time this lineup recorded together.

By the end of the summer, The Cardinals were back on the road again, continuing to play lengthy sets, and even opening arena shows for brit-pop gods - Oasis. These tours started to take a heavy toll on Ryan, as he began to suffer from heightened bouts of Meniere's disease; often leaving him dizzy, and with a constant high pitched ringing in his ears. Eventually these issues led him to quit the group, and take a step back from recording and playing shows (later reemerging in 2011 with the release of Ashes and Fire).

Only one confirmed song has leaked from these sessions (on Ryan's 2022 double-album solo release, Romeo & Juliet). Adams once mentioned in 2007 (regarding the follow-up to Easy Tiger) "a double album with me sharing lead vocals with Neal [Casal]"; however, none of the other Cardinals has ever mentioned this nor has Jamie C. But obviously recordings for a follow-up to Cardinology was in the works. I think 'Dear Impossible' had been scrapped at this point.

In total, Ryan recorded over 70 song demos for Cardinology. Many of which were posted by Ryan through his online blog. Song titles (that we know of) that didn't make it on the album were: Disappearing Act/ Allumette/ Something Sweet/ I'm Sorry of Sorry (Video)/ Bad Dreams/ Put it in Reverse/ I'm Rags/ I See a Rainy Face (Video)/ Damage Me/ Roll Credits (Video)/ Betray/ I Made My Bed/ Kate/ Run for Your Life/ Blank Pages/ Broken Arrow (Video)/ Goodbye Sunshine (Video)/ Yes I Know the Color (Video)/ Kaleidescope Eyes (Video)/ I Was Loved (Video)/ Wrong as a Night is Long/ The Usual/ You're So Cool/ So Quiet it's Loud (Video)/ Sunflowers and Hotels/ Fucking Normal/ Please Hold On/ You Pick Me Up/ Unnamed/ Thursday Night (Video)/ Writing the Hits (Video)/ C.R.A.Z.Y. Love/ A Song in the News/ Jessica (Video)/ Nancy/ I Am a Sad Person/ I'm Insane (Video)/ Sad Days (Video)/ Bug (Video)/ Laser Lights/ More than Faith/ This is My Face (Video)/ Saturday Again (Video)

Ryan released a bunch of his demos from Cardinology. These songs were from a demo album called Hope and included:

Fix It - demo version recorded in the winter of 2008 with wife - Mandy Moore and given away as a free download with pre-order of Ryan Adam's book - Hello Sunshine.

Let us Down Easy - demo version that came as a free download when you signed up on his blog.

Sink Ships and Go Easy were given away as free downloads when fans bought Pax-Am Digital Single #1.

Magick - demo was streaming off Ryan Adams' soundcloud website,

Evergreen - available on 7" vinyl and was given away for free with copies of Ryan Adams' book - Hello Sunshine.

Mercy - unreleased song demo streamed from the Foggy blog.

Demos and live recordings were included as bonus material;

as well as a tracklist for an early mix of the album (as an insert with the vinyl release).

Outtakes were previously released as part of the 2006 digital LP, 'LET IT B-MINUS' (released for free download under the name, Sad DRAcula).

Ryan Adams and The Cardinals

III / IV (2010)

BREAKDOWN / RESOLVE

DEAR CANDY

WASTELAND

TEMPLES OF GOD+ [Ratt Classics 2]

STOP PLAYING WITH MY HEART

LOVELY AND BLUE

PARTY CLOWN+ [Ratt Classics 2]

KISSES START WARS

JULIETTE*

GET USED TO IT (a.k.a. "Users")

-----------

NUMBERS

ICEBREAKER

ROACH HEAVEN*

HALLOWEENHEAD+ [Easy Tiger]

ANYTHING BUT NO*

STAR WARS

MY FAVORITE SONG

P.S.

DEATH AND RATS

KILL THE LIGHTS

-- All songs in bold taken from COLOR BARS (2006 reference disc)

Ryan Adams and Johnny T. worked more on polishing up Blackhole with Jamie C. to release on Ryan's new record label, Pax-Am Recordings in 2010.

Recorded between late Dec. - Feb. 2006 at ELS. The full session at Mercy Sound (NYC)---said to be made over the X-Mas holidays in Dec. 2005 ---is not circulating. "Oblivion", "Lost and Found", "S.O.S", "Waiting For the Sun" and the Fasterpiece tracks (released online as Sad DRAcula in late 2006) are believed to be from here. RA went back into ELS and re-cut vocals for "Lost and Found" and several other unfinished sounding tracks from the original sessions in 2010.

CLICK HERE for More info about the BLACKHOLE sessions

Ryan Adams

BLACKHOLE (2010)

Disco Queen+ [Pax-Am-003]
White Light*
Parts of Me*
Lost and Found+ [Pax-Am-001]
Why+ [Heatwave]
Waiting for the Sun*
Starfire*
Just You Wait*
When You're There*
The Vanishing*
Lost in Space** (a.k.a. "Thunderclouds" / previously recorded for Dear Impossible)
When I Smile*
Oblivion+ [Pax-Am-005]
Tomorrowland+ [Pax-Am-003]
Too Late*
Call Me Back* (a.k.a. "Truth or Dare")
On a Side+ [1985]
?? ** (instrumentals / song fragments with vocals and other ODs)

* = unreleased mix

Personnel: Ryan Adams, Johnny T., Jamie Candiloro, Charlie Stavish

The finished album would be a composite of the 2005-06 sessions with the new recordings.

A compilation of sessions produced by Jamie C., Tom Schick, and Glyn Johns.
. I named this after a collection of demos RA recorded with Noah Goldstein engineering at ELS in 2009.

Ryan Adams

DEAR IMPOSSIBLE (2011)

So Lost+ [Star Sign]
Do I Wait? [Do I Wait / Darkness]
Darkness+ [Star Sign]
Lucky Now [Ashes & Fire]
Empty Room [Empty Room / Nutshell]
Invisible Riverside [Ashes & Fire]
Come Home [Star Sign / Come Home]
Be Wrong+ [Star Sign]
'Til I Found You [A&F bonus track*]
Star Sign [Star Sign / Come Home] [strings version on Star Sign]

FOLLOW LINK TO MEGASUPERIORGOLD FOR MORE INFO:

DEAR IMPOSSIBLE was actually a collection of songs written for the next Cardinals album that Ryan ended up scrapping.

"So Quiet, It's Loud" / "OK I Surrender" /"Goodbye Sunshine" (n.k.a. "Showtime") / "T.V. Static" (n.k.a. "Do Not Disturb") re-recorded for Big Colors (ELS sessions, July 2018) / "Wild & Hopeless" re-recorded for L.A. Rain sessions in spring 2018 / "Lost in Space" (a.k.a. "Thunderclouds" / re-recorded as "Go Ahead and Rain") for Cardinology / "Universe-Sized Arms" was given to Chris Stamey to record for his 2015 album, Euphoria / All tracks from these sessions are unreleased.

Ryan later said this collection 'didn't work as an album'---or something to that effect---regarding their rejection from becoming the next Cardinals album. The band had reportedly another 22 songs leftover from the sessions for Cardinology (intended for a triple album ?).

2010 Sessions at Perfect Sound
Click above link to see more (coming soon)

Cold Roses' Evil Twin

Click above link to see more of Ryan's 2010 sessions with Tom Schick

Ryan in the studio with Glyn Johns

In 2013, DRA said he spent $100,000 or so on the scrapped 2nd album with Glyn Johns producing. "How Much Light", "This is Where We Meet in My Mind", "It Won't Heal", "In the Shadows", "Haywire", and early versions of "Kim" and "Too Bored to Run" are confirmed. Twenty tracks were reportedly done. The studio versions of full-band takes (featuring Don Was; Cindy Cashdollar; Jeremy Stacey; Benmont Tench) of "How Much Light", "I Do Not Feel Like Being Good" and "Too Bored to Run" are not circulating. Ryan performed the title track live on his IG feeds sometime in 2021. No studio version has been found, yet. A version of "Shining Through the Dark" (said to originally be leftover from Ashes & Fire) was also said to be part of the album. In 2023, he streamed "In the Shadows" among several unreleased projects teased for future release on LP.

I added "Keep Running", "Jacksonville"; and "Chris"---as well as "Tomorrow Never Comes" and "Speeding Car" from Star Sign.

Ryan Adams

HAYWIRE [Glyn Johns sessions / 2010 sessions / PAX-AM demos]

Jacksonville+ (f.k.a. "On My Way to Jacksonville" / "Elizabethtown") ["Jacksonville" 7-inch]
I Keep Running+ ["Jacksonville" 7-inch]
Kim** (re-recorded for Ryan Adams) [2022 YouTube leak]
This is Where We Meet in My Mind* [a.k.a "I Do Not Feel Like Being Good" 7-inch]
Chris+ (re-written as "Lucky Now" for Ashes & Fire) [CHRIS]
It Won't Heal** [2024 IG leak]
In the Shadows** (previously recorded with The Cardinals) [2023 IG leak]
Speeding Car+ [Star Sign]
Shining Through the Dark* (previously rec. for Ashes & Fire / Perfect Sound sessions) [Star Sign]
How Much Light* ["I Do Not Feel Like Being Good" 7-inch]

Ryan Adams

RYAN ADAMS (2014)

Gimme Something Good
Aching For More* ["Gimme Something Good" 7-inch]
Trouble
Am I Safe
My Wrecking Ball
Stay With Me
Shadows
Do You Laugh When You Lie?* ["Do You Laugh When You Lie" 7-inch]
Feels Like Fire
I Just Might
Tired of Giving Up
Let Go

Sept 2013 songlist for The Shining's unreleased 2xLP, 'ALIEN USA'. Most of these songs were later released as part of the 2022 albums, Chris and Devolver.

"No Shadow" features lead guitar work by Johnny Depp. "Cop City" was recorded with The Shining for their unreleased 'Alien USA' 2xLP. "Petal in a Rainstorm" (a.k.a "Oh My Sweet Valentine") was re-recorded around the same time as 'Ashes & Fire'.

Ryan Adams

LET IT B-MINUS: Pax-Am 7" Series (2015)

I Lost My Fucking Mind ["Blue Light" 7-inch]
Blue Light
No Shadow
It's in My Head ["No Shadow" 7-inch]
In the Dark ["I Do Not Feel Like Being Good" 7-inch]
Look in the Mirror [1984 digital bonus track]
By the Way ["Do You Laugh When You Lie?" 7-inch]
Petal in a Rainstorm* (previously rec. for Heartbreaker and JCN) [A & F bonus flexi-disc]
Yes or Run ["Willow Lane" 7-inch]
Suburbia [Vampires 7-inch E.P.]
Cop City ["No Shadow" 7-inch]
Vampires

Sometimes that LA sun burns right into your soul and deadens it in the most fantastic way. The night is hot and dehydrating. It doesn’t ever last long enough and everything is so over-illuminated that you forget what the fog is. Until once or a twice or year. Round midnight. Then you remember where you are. A summertime land where just around the corner things like weather and madness ride the seasons like seeds on the wind.

Sometimes we crawl into PaxAm and there really is nothing left to do. Nobody is stuck. Electricity and instruments. Low light. Orange Light. There are no notes waiting to be transcribed into songs- there are not half-written jams to try and figure out what is what… there is just riff optimism and whatever a person couldn’t shake when they went to take out the trash that morning. Maybe something you overheard a couple arguing about across the wooden aisles of the Soul records section at Amoeba… you find the guitar in your hand faster than you would care to if it was how you explained all that to yourself. I am that guy. My pals seem to be that too. If we were into sports we would be the kind of person who wears a “newly laundered” jersey to a nice dinner. That sort of thing.

This session is a bit of that up there but also some songs that were and still are part of this tear -- this, like, “I am living in the 80’s but not in a collective way” tear I am on, musically maybe… like in a way where musically and emotionally I let myself go into some soundspace…an imagined reality of not trying to be good at anything with an 80’s feel… but just a free place… a place to be loose in a way where you aren’t trying to change the world. I don’t want to change the world. I just want to tell you a story. Usually about how I feel.

That 80’s sound.. what is that with me... it never realizes itself in a full record- well maybe Love Is Hell but really not even Love is Hell could handle a whole record of that- it steers into other things plenty, stylistically -- but that sound is REAL with me and I am ALWAYS able to tell a better story that way. Or usually. Or never. It depends who you ask. But that STYLE, man… as musicians, we can all act a hell of a lot more like a cowboy if someone puts us on the ranch and gives us some horse to ride into some sunset… Juno synths and my electric guitar pushed with delay just sort of creates the cowboy. The cowboy that just got out of seeing Back to the Future. Again. You see.. it’s best to strip it away like that- back to an acoustic guitar and a Linn Drum beat- there’s a safety to how open and raw it is. I forget where I am and I tell a new story. As a songwriter that is a requirement from time to time. So there’s that here. On My Life, by the way, is a survivor from the bizarre, necessary and life-changing-in-the-best-way Alien USA sessions.

Blue Light…This tune was a guitar bass idea I had and I could NOT stop this. It all went down in an hour- band playing live to tape. Musically, this is such a cousin to “The Door” from Blackhole ( One day you will understand what that means- think Love is Hell/ More Mats ) Lyrically -- that bleakness...I had this vision of New York city this guy in a busted pair of glasses walking between subway cars…people texting each other glued to their information machines. I fucking know I get lost in that shit. Our faces "are like ghosts”, my friend Paul Cutler said “ when they are underlit by their phones”. Like we all become Bela Legosi lit -- but uncool. No cape. No Dracula. Pretty sure I borrowed Jeremy Stacey from the Benmont Tench session when we recorded this. Like he literally was on that session but I think he was next door with Glyn Johns while they were doing some overdubs. Lucky lucky. This was before PaxAm had the weird cat-print baffles. We had to work the ribbon mics extra hard and there was a lot of bleed but it worked.

On My Life… well -- that’s a portrait of me maybe back in the early 2000’s on 2nd Avenue and A, having lived in a hotel that was once a children’s hospital for basically children with polio (ugh). I am CERTAIN it was haunted but by a sadness really that I cannot explain. Chris Farley died in that building. It has a heaviness that could swallow you. Windows too big to every fully close. Just the worst. Had some fun there though, those were the days that weren’t New York was alive and crazy with that buzz of the Stokes and the easy village in general was basically frozen in time from godknowswhat every single day … It’s fun while you break it. But then you break it.

I Lost My Mind is me on everything I think- a riff from a batch of good ones… the basic guitar part had been a riff for a long time that I was carving out on my Stratocaster, the old one, every time I picked up the guitar and I just decided to unleash some Cure vibes in the studio one night… Well it turns out CREED ain’t the only band me and Charlie have in common from back in the day… we also have The Cure ( esp Disintegration )… Guess that was both out real high school shit I (among other actual record store snob respected bands… don't get me started, people ) also that’s the one and only Daniel Clarke of Richmond fucking Virginia playing me out, like the cosmic Keyboard cat that he is on this tune. I think he had to literally mail the part to us. Remember the fucking mail? Woah! Mike is on here- Charlie is on here… There’s nothing but 7-11 grease on this one, ladies and gentlemen. Shined up with the funk. Maybe a little dash of the creeps on the side too. We over-season to taste and then paint-strip the thing. That’s why you build a studio. To go deep.

ALL Studer 24-Track, ALL 2 inch tape- ALL pretty much on robots they made that only used to do ONE THING AT A TIME…. get that low harmonic sonic blast of actual bass frequencies on you. Bound to make ya smile a real one : )"

Peace and Love…
Beast-mode
DRA March 5 2015- From the Emerald Isle

Originally a self-titled (?) 2xLP with 23-songs. 25 songs recorded for beginning of Prisoner sessions in 2015. Outtakes include "Stay", "You Don't Love Me", "I'll Wait", etc. 'It's as Heartbreaker as it gets' - DRA, 2016 interview. In March 2022, many tracks leftover from the sessions were released as part of the double album, Chris.

Ryan Adams

PRISONER (2016)

Prisoner
Do You Still Love Me?
Doomsday
Haunted House
Shiver and Shake
To Be Without You
Anything I Say to You Now
Breakdown
Outbound Train
Broken Anyway
Tightrope
We Disappear
I'll Wait+ [Sword and Stone]
Spinning Wheel
Dive
Moving Target
Still A Cage
Stay Alive+ [Star Sign]
About Time
Replaced
I Got Lost
Say What You Said

"Stay Alive" and "I'll Wait" were streamed on RA's IG in early 2023.
They were mentioned to be part of a new album of outtakes titled Star Sign.

Recorded on through to the summer of 2016. Around 80 songs in total recorded. Outtakes include "So Helpless", "Take It Back", etc. "I don't think I've ever worked on anything harder than i have on this. I'm still working on it... in fact when I leave here i go straight over to work on it more. I think its probably the most songs I've ever written for a record and its the most emotional... All the different emotions a person can have i think went into making it, and its been really amazing... whatever this process was was so cathartic, and cathartic in a way where i actually made songs that I listened back to and would go 'that is really messed up' or listen to something and go 'there's actual hope in there, what does that mean?'. I really let the process become part of me this time...I feel like whatever I'm making bookends so much of what I've gone through and experienced in the last couple of years, and trying to find a way to serve myself and serve people and serve the record in a way where its not some sort of cautionary tale or some kind of thing made of darkness. I found a way to become optimistic and to find ways of writing that can be helpful to myself. That's been a huge challenge...."

Ryan Adams

PRISONER 2/3 (2017)

Where Will You Run
Juli
Are You Home?
No Words
Halo
It Will Never Be the Same
What If We're Wrong
Broken Things
Stop You
Hanging on To Hope
Let it Burn
Crazy Now
You Said
Please Help Me
Too Tired to Cry
Stop Talking
The Empty Bed
Lookout [Chris]
The Cold
Take It Back+ [Chris]
So Helpless+ [Chris]
Was I Wrong?+ [Chris]
I Am Alone+ [Devolver]

All songs taken from Prisoner B-Sides except where indicated.

Taken from an Instagram post Ryan posted; he has been recording this time round with guitarist Tod Wisenbaker, drummer Aaron Ficca, bassist/engineer Charlie Stavish and keyboardist T’Ben “Mahoney” Alleman in March 2018---the 11 or 17 songs we refer to as L.A. RAIN).
On the songs below from BC & Wednesdays-- Tod and Stavish are playing with Aaron. In the summer of 2022, several tracks were released as part of the double album, Romeo & Juliet and its follow-up, FM. "Mercy" and "Sword and Stone" were released on an album in 2024.

Ryan Adams

L.A. RAIN MUSIC (2018)

Birmingham* (featuring Jason Isbell ?)
Sword and Stone [Sword and Stone]
Manchester+
I Surrender+
Middle of the Line+
So Quiet, It's Loud* (recorded for Big Colors)
When You Cross Over* (recorded for Wednesdays)
Fairweather [FM]
Red and Orange Special [Wednesdays extended LP]
Like a Heatwave* [2021 IG post]
Mercy (previously recorded for Cardinology 2/3) [Sword and Stone]
Running Out of Time* [2018 online post]
I Want You [FM]
L.A. Rain [Romeo & Juliet]
Hall of Shame [FM]
Wild & Hopeless [FM]
Someday [FM]

------------------------------ + = released on BIG COLORS in 2021

"Are We Running Out of Time" was an untitled demo streamed on Instagram in early 2018. A sampler with early mixes of songs that later appeared on FM and Sword and Stone were leaked around the same time (click link below).

L.A. Rain Music (2018) scrapped LP sampler

'The Summer of 69 Demos' (48 songs recorded in July; includes 2021-23 album tracks) 43 tracks with songs from BC and Wednesdays plus non-circulating outtakes: "Things Are Losing Meaning"; "Kick Me"; "So Shattered"; "Pray For My Soul"; "Closer"; "In Your Arms"; "Star Maps" (f.k.a. "Maps"); "Stolen Books"; others ?)

Includes the 2019 digital single, "Fuck the Rain"--as well as two songs RA sent to radio stations in Manchester, London and Doylestown, PA--respectively. The original 15-track LP was shelved ahead of its intended release date (19.04.2019).
In July 2021, the album was belatedly released through Music Empire with new artwork (and minus 3 songs).
Extended LP version includes the bonus 7-inch, "Anybody Evil" b/w "Opposite of Love"

RYAN ADAMS

Big Colors (2019)

Big Colors
Do Not Disturb
It's So Quiet, It's Loud
Fuck The Rain
Doylestown Girl* [Romeo & Juliet]
Dreaming You Backwards* [Wednesdays]
I Surrender
What Am I
Power
Showtime
In It For The Pleasure
Middle Of The Line
I'm Sorry And I Love You* [Wednesdays]
Manchester
Summer Rain

The cover of the June 11, 2021
CD / extended LP release

Originally intended as the follow-up to PRISONER (after scrapping 'L.A. RAIN MUSIC').
Twenty-one new songs were considered from a list shared on DRA's social media; including "Big Colors"; "The Howling"; "What Am I"; "Liar Machine" (a.k.a. '4th of July'); "Power"; "Mamma" (a.k.a. 'Woman'); "Things Are Losing Meaning"; "Do Not Disturb"; "Math Maze", etc. By 2019; the album now had 17 tracks (and a 'theme', now I guess--though "I Love You and I'm Sorry" as well as "Dreaming You Backwards" were 'dropped').To paraphrase a quote from DRA in early 2021(?)--'they thought I should put the most commercial songs on the first release of the trilogy'--(which was to be BIG COLORS on 19 April 2019). The album was belatedly released in Dec. 2020 with eleven tracks (including the two prior mentioned songs); along with different cover art. The CD version and the extended LP variants were released on 19.03.2021 (each with an exclusive bonus 7-inch). In late Jan. 2023, "Take Me Home" was streamed on Ryan's IG. "Magic Trick" has since been identified as "Crooked Shake". "Keep Me Tonight (Valentine)" was leaked on IG in Feb. 2023.

RYAN ADAMS

WEDNESDAYS (2020)

Walk in the Dark
Who Is Gonna Love Me Now, If Not You
So Anyways
Wednesdays
Lost in Time
It’s Not That Kind of Night+ [Wednesdays bonus 7"]
Somewhere It Is Spring+ [Wednesdays bonus 7"]
Poison & the Pain
Nobody Wins+ (n.k.a. "Anything") [Romeo & Juliet]
Mamma (f.k.a. "Woman")
When You Cross Over
Birmingham
Like a Heatwave* [2021 IG post]
Red & Orange Special+ [Wednesdays bonus 7"]
Crooked Shake+ (f.k.a. "Magic Trick") [CHRIS]
Pennsylvania Moon+ (n.k.a. "My Heaven") [Romeo & Juliet]
Take Me Home* [2023 IG post]
Sunflowers+ [Wednesdays bonus 7"]
Run+ (f.k.a. "As a Light") [Romeo & Juliet]
Make It Stop+ (f.k.a. "Question Mark") [Sword and Stone]
Thunderstorm Tears+ (f.k.a. "Who is Gonna Save Me Now") [Self Portrait]

ALSO SEE 'WEDNEDAYS' entry for Part II

Ryan Adams

Dreaming You Backwards E.P. (2021)

Dreaming You Backwards (alt. gtr solo mix) [Wednesdays *UK digital LP]
Pacific Line*
Sunflowers [Wednesdays extended LP bonus 7-inch]
Doylestown Girl [Romeo & Juliet]
My Way* (Fall 2018 sessions with Don Was)
The Worst* [Exile on Meryl Streep* - rehearsal for Exile on Bourbon St. concert in 2018]

-------------------------------------

All songs officially unreleased except "Sunflowers" and the alternate LP mix of "Dreaming You Backwards" (RA plays the solo on domestic releases; John Mayer plays the solo on the imports). "Doylestown Girl" was released in early 2019 exclusively to a Doylestown, PA radio station--it is conspicuously absent from the recent June 2021 release of Big Colors (it has since been released in 2022 as part of the Romeo & Juliet 2xLP)."Sunflowers" is a non-LP track taken from a bonus 7-inch single (the flipside of "It's Not That Kind of Night" included with versions of the Wednesdays 2021 extended LP).

Other songs include: a Big Colors 'outtake'--a 'Tom Waits-meets-Fozzy Bear' reading-- with his own lyrics--of the Frank Sinatra standard "My Way" (using 'the same Capitol mic'--complete with orchestra) was streamed on DRA's Instagram, circa June 2021; "Pacific Line"--taken from an April 2019 session with The Wolf Bros. 'unearthed from the Pax-AM vaults'--a 17-minute 'Cold Roses style' jam (featuring Don Was on upright bass; Bob Weir and RA on guitars; Jay Lane on drums).

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Gold's release--and the passing of the great Charlie Watts--a couple of Stones covers were released to IG; a demo of "Play With Fire" from the Gold demos (2001) and "The Worst" (rehearsal from the Exile on Bourbon Street tribute concert he fronted a full band with Don Was, horns and all--in 2018).

New and previously unheard songs were debuted in RA's solo acoustic IG performances over the summer of 2021; "Do You Even Like Me Now?"; "Speeding Car" (written about the Cards breaking up--intended for A&F); "Tomorrow Never Comes" (a recorded version can be found on the cassette version of FM ); "Fool's Game" (written for Wednesdays; but rejected for "being too fatalistic"); as well as songs that would subsequently appear in studio form on the delayed final release of the Big Colors / Wednesdays / Chris trilogy in March 2022.

Teased for possible release in 2021-22. Ryan shared the gatefold and three songs, "Catherine", "The Door" and "Likening Love To War"; reportedly recorded 2012-14 with Ryan recalling the writing of the album as 'the one I knew I would eventually end up getting divorced'; according to recent posts regarding the ever-evolving project that began with Johnny. T over the 2005 holiday season; rejected by Lost Highway along with two other albums for a 2006 trilogy including War and Peace and songs recorded for The Cardinals' planned 3rd album, Star Wars. Several tracks demoed for Blackhole were partially released on a pair of digital albums (for free) under the moniker, Sad Dracula, in late 2006.
In 2010, RA announced he and producer Jamie Candiloro along with Johnny T. had 'opened up the tracks' and produced a new version of the album which included the singles "Tomorrowland" and "Disco Queen"; the album was shelved after Orion (possibly due to complaints about PaxAm's poor distribution---delays; bad mastering or damaged vinyl, etc.).
In 2015, RA teased the album for a RSD release; 'a composite of the raw unhinged original demos and 2006 tracks with new overdubs--but we got the 15th anniversary Heartbreaker seven-inch release with "Come Pick Me Up (outtake)" b/w "Rope Gets Tied" instead.
Now, a third version with recordings from 2012-14 at Pax-AM was offered up in 2018 along with Prisoner 2/3; Live at The Capitol Theatre with The String Dusters; and Exile on Meryl Streep (the Exile on Main Street full album performance with band in New Orleans on Bourbon Street that year).

Ryan Adams

BLACKHOLE (2021)

FOR THE SUN (previously recorded for Fasterpiece)
CATHERINE
TOMORROWLAND+ [Pax-Am digital single 003]
RUNAWAY
WHEN I SMILE
THE DOOR
CALL ME BACK (f.k.a. "Truth or Dare")
HELP US
LIKENING LOVE TO WAR
STARFIRE (previously recorded for Fasterpiece)
JUST YOU WAIT
LOST AND FOUND+ (f.k.a. "People Make Mistakes") [Pax-Am digital single 001]
DISCO QUEEN+ [Pax-Am digital single 003]
WHY+ [Heatwave]
TOO LATE+ [Heatwave]

Ryan Adams

EXILE ON MERYL STREEP

Ryan Adams

I WAS HERE (2022)

---Side 1

Rollercoaster

In the Blue of the Night

Nightmare* (f.k.a. "The Howling" / previously recorded for JCN) [DRA 2023 IG post]

Poor Connection

Throw It Away+ [Self Portrait]

I Lost My Place+ (f.k.a. "I Forgot to Be What I Was") [Star Sign]

---Side 2

I Was Here

Manhattan in the Rain

Letting the Light In (f.k.a. "Too Much Morning") [CHRIS]

Nuclear War

Blizzard in the Room

---Side 3

Don't Follow* [CHRIS bonus track]

Earthquake (possibly "Missing Pieces" ?)

Hold Me Together (f.k.a. "Father")

Losers

They Will Know Our Love

---Side 4

Pacific Line* [DRA 2021 IG post]

Songs mostly taken from Romeo & Juliet and Sword and Stone; "Nightmare", and "Pacific Line" have been streamed on RA's IG stream 2021-23. Both are easily found on YouTube.

The long awaited final installment of the projected 2019 trilogy with the original Big Colors and Wednesdays albums. As we know, history did not unfold as it originally was intended to be by the music's author. Both aforementioned albums were belatedly release in opposite order (December 2020 and July 2021, respectively) with different artwork and tracklists. The original CHRIS album has been described by RA as 'Cold Roses style tunes his late brother, Chris loved'---also as 'inauthentic' or something similar to paraphrase--as justification for scrapping the planned 18-song double LP and 're-doing it'. The end result is suspiciously sounding like the previously 'aborted' Prisoner 2/3 double LP that RA teased in 2018 (in the same paragraph promising the finished version of Blackhole; as well as a couple live albums-- Live at The Capitol Theatre with The Stringdusters and Exile on Meryl Streep).

Most of the songs indeed can be traced back to the eighty or so songs reportedly recorded from the 2014-16 sessions for Prisoner. However, we have enough songs from the July 2018 session to make an album that clocks in around 67 minutes---plus, the 17-minute "Pacific Line" (from the April 2019 session with The Wolf Bros.) taking up a whole side on the second LP, like Dylan's Blonde on Blonde.

I've also created an album for L.A. Rain Music using tracks from FM and Romeo & Juliet; the remaining tracks on the former (recorded for The Shining's 2nd sessions) at Pax-Am in 2016---and later scrapped--- can be put aside to go on their own album with the ALIEN USA tracks on CHRIS ("Aching For More", "Flicker and Fade", "Schizophrenic Babylon"; "Lookout"; "Chris").

Several more tracks from the The Shining's scrapped 2013 ALIEN USA 2xLP sessions would appear on RA's Devolver digital LP release in late Sept. 2022 (released for FREE to celebrate one year of his sobriety). Congratulations to him!

Fan-made cover for early leaked version of the album. "When She Smiles" (Chris demo--Johnny T. on drums) was leaked shortly after the album's release (the finished version ended up on FM later that year) via YouTube. Possibly this and other songs from the 'Summer of 69 Demos' rec. in July 2018 like "Manhattan in the Rain"--and the two sessions with The Wolf. Bros. in April 2019 (that includes "Trouble on Wheels" and "Pacific Line") may have been intended for the original Chris 2xLP Ryan said he 'scrapped because it wasn't real enough'. The title track (originally written for RA's late Cardinals bandmate, Chris Feinstein) dates back to sessions for Ashes & Fire (it was re-written to be less personal specific as "Lucky Now"). The song was recorded in 2013 following sessions for the self-titled album. Ryan has leaked more songs from various sessions on his IG since 2021. "Like a Heatwave", "The Howling" , and "Take Me Home" are leftovers from the 2018 sessions at Electric Lady Studios in NYC (48 songs---according to RA's IG posts at the time).

Ryan Adams

ROMEO & JULIET (2022)

I Can't Remember
Something's Missing
Romeo & Juliet
Desperate Times* [digital LP bonus track]
Down the Drain+ [1985]
This Is Your House
At Home with the Animals
Theo is Dreaming
Bye Bye Balloons+ [Self Portrait]
What is Left+ (n.k.a. "Theo") [Self Portrait]
Lovers Under the Moon+ [Self Portrait]
Try Again Tomorrow+ [Self Portrait]

-----------------

RA recorded several new tracks following his stepping back from old habits and beginning work on a proposed double album (' with a "Thank You Louise" similar production style') for 2022. New tracks on here include "At Home with the Animals", "Desperate Times", "Something's Missing", "Theo is Dreaming", "This Is Your House", "I Can't Remember", and the title track (source from RA's IG postings from the time). Other songs were recorded as well with a darker humorous tone including "Saturday Night Forever", "What is Left" and "My Life Before the War"--the latter which has recently been fleshed out as the Jan 2023 demo, "Brighter Than Heaven" (a.k.a. "Shut the Fuck Up"); streaming on RA's Instagram.

I originally included three songs he recorded last year as part of a 'side-writing' experiment to respond to songs from his album, Heartbreaker (two of those songs were released in 2025 on Self Portrait). RA also attempted re-recording songs from Gold in Sept. 2021 with a drummer friend (Matt Tecu) in a more raw stripped-down style (before taking a 'break' from streaming on 23 September).

30 song 2xLP concept recorded with The Shining in 2013 around S/T era;
additional recording in 2016 (including "Do You Still Love Me").
Scrapped before final Prisoner sessions.

Ryan Adams

DEVOLVER (2022)

Don't Give It Away
Stare at the TV
Alien USA
Banging on My Head
Marquee
Eyes on the Door
Too Bored to Run (previously recorded for Haywire)
Get Away
I'm in Love with You (electric version)
Why Do You Hate Me
Love Me Don't+ [FM]
Flicker in the Fade [CHRIS]
Schizophrenic Babylon [CHRIS]
Burn in the Night ["Burn in the Night" 7-inch]
Do You Feel+ [FM]
Fantasy File+ [FM]
Revelations
On My Life+ ["Burn in the Night" 7-inch]

---------------

Demos for a double album concept that never came to be. The band at this point consisted of RA, original drummer, Brad Pemberton, singer-guitarist Chris Stills, bassist and producer Don Was, and keyboardist Daniel Clarke (from The Shining). Ryan posted on social media about "having written the next Cardinals double in Paris"---as well as titles like 'Summer in America'. Ryan began sharing unreleased songs on his IG like "Mercy" and "I Can See the Light" and speaking on releasing more Cardinals albums from the vault (getting the hype up only to not deliver). There was also talk of the ALIVE trilogy---capturing performances from the band's 2023 tour that would have included new songs along with some covers-- and new arrangements of the older Cardinals songs. After RA 'took ill' on the tour, the rest of it was cancelled along with ALIVE, vol. 2 and 3--and any more talk of the band, period.

Ryan Adams and The Cardinals

MkIII DEMOS (2023)

Mirror Man*
Miracle*
Starcrossed*
Lover, I'll Try*
Love Sick* (Bob Dylan cover)
Virginia in the Rain+ [Self Portrait] ?
Clown** ?
?

Most songs were streamed on IG in 2023

RYAN ADAMS

Born in the H.O.S.P.I.T.A.L. (2024)

Blown Away [Sword and Stone]
Virginia in the Rain [Self Portrait]
Never Run [Sword and Stone]
Lies [Heatwave]
Mercy (previously recorded for Cardinology 2/3) [Heatwave]
Not Trash Anymore [Self Portrait]
Clown* [2024 IG demo]
I Don't Want to Know [1985]
Between the Bars [1985]
Waste of Time [1985]
No Flags [1985]
I Can See the Light [Sword and Stone]
At Dawn [Self Portrait]

Compilation of 2024-25 albums

see *BORN IN THE H.O.S.P.I.T.A.L.* entry

Released on 31 Nov. 2025
2xLP compilation of unreleased demos and a few covers

RYAN ADAMS

Self Portrait (2024)

01. Too Old to Die Young

02. I Am a Rollercoaster

03. Valentine* (possibly "Keep Me Tonight" / Wednesdays outtake) [2023 IG demo]

04. Counting to Zero* [2021 IG demo]

05. Saturday Night Forever

06. Look What You Did

07. Fool's Game (Wednesdays demo)

08. Please, Shut the Fuck Up (previously recorded as "The Crystal Skull")

09. Free Yourself+ [Devolver]

11. I Am Dracula

12. Someone on My Mind (demo version of "Born Into a Light")

13. Amethyst* [2024 IG demo] (previously recorded as "Go Easy")

14. Trash Man* [2024 IG demo]

15. Memory Lane+ (different song than from Cardinology) [Sword and Stone]

Ryan's latest 'dump' of songs left sitting in a folder on his computer. Twenty-four tracks that are basically leftovers from Romeo and Juliet and the 'side-writing experiment / writing answer songs' to Heartbreaker---along with "Not Trash Anymore" (Alien USA demo); "Someone on My Mind" (Cardinology demo); "Take the Money", "Thunderstorm Tears" (2018 ELS session); "Fool's Game" (Wednesdays demo);"Throw It Away", "At Dawn", and "Virginia in the Rain" (Big Colors demos) and more cover songs ("The One I Love" and "Shiny Happy People" by R.E.M. / "Castles in the Air" by Don Mclean / "Honky Tonk Girl" by Loretta Lynn / "Blue Monday" by New Order).

Other songs initially teased for the compilation include, "Trash Man"; "Clown", "Amethyst", "Take Me Home"; "I Keep Running"; and "Lonely is As Lonely Does"---where is the rest of the 2018 ELS sessions??

2024 Album Tetralogy (original info copied from HonestDenver---updated with new info*):

1985:

Most of these tracks are likely from sessions for "1984," "1985" and any of the other '80s hardcore EPs he's worked on.
“Down the Drain” was one of twelve “Diary Songs” Ryan posted to Instagram back in 2021; short songs (most of them less than a minute) that delved into some of the issues that he was dealing with mentally at the time.
“Stoned Alone” was originally issued as a b-side to the 2015 Pax-Am 7” No Shadow. However, this version is much more fleshed out and fully-realized, and feels like it was recorded during another session.
The same can be said for "On a Side"---which is believed to date back to the same recording session as "Oblivion" (at Mercy Sound in Dec. 2005) for the Blackhole demos.
"What Do You Want" dates all the way back to the NYC Stratosphere Sessions (RNR demos) in 2003.
"Between the Bars" may be the song "Bars" from the 2018 ELS sessions ('The Summer of 69 Demos').

Heatwave:

“Mercy” was originally a Cardinology-era demo (a snippet of which Ryan posted to his website) that was then re-recorded during the L.A. Rain Music sessions in 2018 (and is the version found here).
“The Blue Canoe” was recorded during the Tom Schick “Cold Roses’ evil twin” sessions and originally released as a digital bonus track for III/IV back in 2010.
The other songs here come from the “Cold Roses’ evil twin” sessions; sessions for 1984, 1985, and any of the other '80s hardcore EPs he's worked on ("Lies" comes to mind here); and even as early as the Dec. 2005 Blackhole demo sessions at Mercy Sound ("Why" / "Too Late" ---later overdubbed and mixed at ELS in 2010---and again at Pax-Am sometime 2012-13). DRA has a (seemingly) well guarded reputation as being 'over-prolific' and 'always creating'---but in reality---he always cycles through many of the same song ideas and melodies, etc. many times over in his career (from Patty Duke Syndrome to Whiskeytown to The Cardinals and back).

Star Sign:

“Self-Defense” was previously thought to be “Nobody Wins,” the outtake that was originally set to appear on Wednesdays and was posted to Ryan’s Instagram back in 2023. Taken from the Tom Schick 2010 sessions.
“So Lost” is a song that was originally given away in December 2010 to Pax-Am subscribers in two versions; a version recorded during the Tom Schick “Cold Roses’ evil twin” sessions, and a version labeled as a “Dirty Power demo” version. This is a slightly re-worked version of the Dirty Power demo version.
“Darkness” was also recorded during the Tom Schick “Cold Roses’ evil twin” sessions and originally released as a digital bonus track for III/IV back in 2010. This song is also slightly reworked, mostly adding strings that Ryan says were recorded in London in April of 2023.
This version of “Shining Through the Dark” is the first full-band version recorded with Jamie Candiloro --- a second version was recorded during sessions for Ashes & Fire---based on the arrangement (it was likely used for Haywire). A 'live' version was used in the film, This Is 40. There was also a solo demo version released on a 2011 various artists compilation, Live From Nowhere Near You, Vol. II.
“Be Wrong” was likely recorded during the Jamie Candiloro sessions.
"I Lost My Place" is believed to be "I Forgot to Be What I Was" from the 2018 ELS sessions ("Summer of 69 Demos").
“Tomorrow Never Comes” was also likely recorded during the Tom Schick sessions, and it made its debut during one of RA's solo acoustic IG performances from the summer of 2021 (where it was called “Elm Street”). A different mix with a different vocal track (perhaps even a different version altogether?) was released on the cassette release of FM as a bonus track.
“Speeding Car” also made its debut during one of RA's solo acoustic IG performances from the summer of 2021, where he says this was an Ashes & Fire-era demo. It was likely also recorded during the Jamie Candiloro sessions, with strings also potentially recorded during the April 2023 session in London.
This is the third version of "Star Sign" Ryan has released, and likely comes from either the Tom Schick '"Cold Roses’ evil twin” sessions or the “Dirty Power” demo session. This song was also released as an iTunes bonus track for Ashes & Fire (in a version from that album’s session) and as a Pax-Am 7” release (in a version from the Jamie Candiloro sessions).
“Stay Alive” was written for the film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and was recorded by Jose Gonzalez for its soundtrack. This version has some similarities to the soundtrack version in its arrangement (Theodore Shapiro---a friend and collaborator of Jose Gonzalez---was producer), and therefore could be the same basic track that was used for the soundtrack version.

Sword and Stone:

“I Was Here,” “Manhattan in the Rain,” "Make It Stop", and “Blizzard in the Room” were all recorded during the Summer of ‘69 sessions. "Make It Stop" was originally titled "Question Mark".
“Sword and Stone” was originally recorded during the L.A. Rain Music sessions.
“Nuclear War” and “I Can See the Light” were recorded during the Alien USA sessions. “I Can See the Light” was also used in a video to promote the Cardinals 2023 reunion tour.
“I’ll Wait” was originally recorded during the Prisoner sessions.

Ryan Adams recorded a trilogy of cover albums starting with Nebraska and Blood on The Tracks (by Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan, respectively). He released a re-make of the 1995 Oasis classic album, (What's the Story) Morning Glory. Covers of the Sex Pistols' one and done classic, Never Mind the Bollocks were also streaming on his IG that spring.

He did a 'comeback' solo tour performing three-hour shows in North America and Europe (recorded by producer Don Was for the live album release, Return to Carnegie Hall). Following that, RA and drummer Brad Pemberton reformed The Cardinals *(with the noted absence of the late Neal Casal and Chris Feinsten, R.I.P.---plus Graboff's pedal steel can't be replaced) for a tour and live album. A 'new' Cardinals single, "Dreams of the Working Class" was released to streaming services.

In 2024, he released six more studio albums from the vaults (including Blackhole) with others teased for later release including Darkbreaker; Haywire (2013 Glyn Johns sessions); Cardinology 2/3; 4-Track Mind Sessions; JCN Demos (featuring the original Cardinals line-up); and Exile on Mainstream (2018 Rolling Stones live tribute). As of 2025, still nothing.

Outside of a couple songs I liked better now--the Heartbreaker '25 version was a misfire for my ears. Along with Heatwave, Sword and Stone, 1985, Prisoners Live, Another Wednesday, Blackhole, and Changes (the 'live covers with strings' double album).

The 2025 release of Self Portrait gives us at least "Fool's Game", "Take the Money" and "Virginia in the Rain" from the 'Big Colors / Wednesdays / original CHRIS' trilogy album sessions from 2018-19. Where the other album or two of songs from that project still remains missing. He's definitely scraping the bottom of the ol' barrel with this one. It was supposedly going to be a triple album, itself. I feel at this point, someone else will be taking care of his back catalogue in the near future---but who knows, really.

Better luck, next time?

Cheers!

-Smash Addams.

This page is only possible to be as informative as possible because of good folks who are willing to contribute (off the record---though credit will always be given upon request). We don't want a repeat of 2005...Rob from tobeyoung.org (one of the O.G. Ryan sites along with AnsweringBell.org--to name another off the top of me head) went through some bullshit legal snafu trying to share some sweet tracks that were about to be released (Jacksonville City Nights). I'm not going out like that! Just a music lover who also makes music and find Ryan's prolific songwriting ability great inspiration and a high watermark for what an artist could aspire to be. That being said; feel free to reach out to me at the posted email for any questions. Always interested in discussing trading; info; various ramblings and speculations; etc.

* PLEASE DO NOT ASK FOR ANYTHING ON THIS PAGE RE: ILLEGAL FILE SHARING*

I'm not selling anything or wishing to harm the artist's musical plans / vision. Ryan's continued health, well-being and of course, the success he has achieved is not a thing we wish to undermine. We just want to hear the music...and there's a LOT of it collecting digital dust, yeah?

Here's to the future.

Thank you: the YouTube sites by graciousfew; Future; TomorrowlandSt.; anonymous contributors and (the Internet Wayback Machine) websites like megasuperiorgold; answeringbell.com; Discog; ComePickMeUp and the ryanadams reddit and FB RyanAdamsSuperFans page and any other fans and YouTube sites I can't possibly remember for much needed info, etc.

Monday, December 22, 2025

RYAN ADAMS, Alternate Solo Discography *UPDATE DEC. 2025*

RYAN ADAMS

Heartbreaker (2000)

RYAN ADAMS

Four Track Mind (2000)

RYAN ADAMS

Suicide Handbook (2001)

Ryan Adams

GOLD (2001)

Ryan Adams

PINKHEARTS (2002)

Ryan Adams

48 HOURS (2002)

RYAN ADAMS

Saturday Night Fever Blister (2002)

RYAN ADAMS

Demolition / Career Ender [5xLP Box Set] (2002-04)

Ryan Adams

Llor И' Kcor (2003)

Ryan Adams

DIAMONDZ [NYC Stratosphere Sessions]

Ryan Adams

Untitled LP sessions?

Ryan Adams

LOVE IS HELL (2004)

Ryan Adams

DEMOLITIOUS (2005)

Ryan Adams and The Cardinals

SEPTEMBER [JCN Sessions]

Ryan Adams and The Cardinals

SEAR SOUND / JCN B-Sides and Outtakes

Ryan Adams and The Cardinals

DARKBREAKER (Elizabethtown soundtrack) - Tom Schick Sessions (2005)

Ryan Adams

RNR 'Part Two' (Mercy Sound demos) / BLACKHOLE

Ryan Adams / Phil Lesh

April 2006 session

Ryan Adams

WAR AND PEACE (2006)

Ryan Adams and The Cardinals

CANDY ['Star Wars' - III/IV demos]

RYAN ADAMS

Easy Tiger (2007)

Ryan Adams

20:20 [proposed 2007 Box-Set]

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

Cardinology 2/3 (2008)

Ryan Adams and The Cardinals

III / IV (2010)

Ryan Adams

BLACKHOLE (2010)

Ryan Adams

DEAR IMPOSSIBLE (2011)

Ryan Adams

HAYWIRE [Glyn Johns sessions / 2010 sessions / PAX-AM demos]

Ryan Adams

RYAN ADAMS (2014)

Ryan Adams

LET IT B-MINUS: Pax-Am 7" Series (2015)

Ryan Adams

PRISONER (2016)

Ryan Adams

PRISONER 2/3 (2017)

Ryan Adams

L.A. RAIN MUSIC (2018)

RYAN ADAMS

Big Colors (2019)

RYAN ADAMS

WEDNESDAYS (2020)

Ryan Adams

Dreaming You Backwards E.P. (2021)

Ryan Adams

BLACKHOLE (2021)

Ryan Adams

EXILE ON MERYL STREEP

Ryan Adams

I WAS HERE (2022)

Ryan Adams

ROMEO & JULIET (2022)

RYAN ADAMS, Alternate Solo Discography UPDATE DEC. 2025

RYAN ADAMS, Alternate Solo Discography UPDATE DEC. 2025