Weezer "1192" (2026 Record Store Day LP)
For Record Store Day 2026, a limited edition Weezer LP was issued. 1192 contains remixed recordings of Weezer's first studio sessions from mid-November of 1992 (hence the title), discovered on a reel of 1" Ampex tape by original bassist Matt Sharp. The LP was pressed in grey vinyl, to match the color of the tape reel, and was limited to 3,000 copies. The LP was classified as an "RSD First" release, and has still not been given a wider release as of one month later. But it is certainly only a matter of time before it does become available, due to both its quality and its historical significance.
Produced by Sharp and mixed by Joe Chicarrelli, this LP features early versions of songs from Weezer's classic self-titled 1994 debut album (known as the "Blue Album") by the nerdy alternative band's original lineup, which featured Sharp on bass, as well as rhythm guitarist Jason Cropper (who was ousted from the band before the release of the Blue Album). The other two founding members, Rivers Cuomo (lead vocals and lead guitar) and Patrick Wilson (drums) remain in Weezer to the present day.
1192 has definite historical value as an unearthed blueprint for the Blue Album, especially now that the iconic Blue Album has been inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry for being "an enduring, essential classic of the alternative rock age". If all of this sounds too cerebral for some, then 1192 can simply be heard and enjoyed as a set of apparently live-in-the-studio alternate versions of some of the Blue Album's songs, including the radio hits "Say It Ain't So" (three versions) and "Undone - The Sweater Song" (two versions).
The five tracks on the first side of the 1192 LP were previously distributed on a self-released cassette tape referred to as "The Real Demo", or "The Third Demo". (In 2024, a promo cassette tape version was sent randomly to fans to promote the Voyage to the Blue Planet tour of that year, although that cassette excluded "Surf Wax America"). For 1192, these tracks were made more presentable by Sharp and Chicarrelli, but they still sound rawer than the finished versions on The Blue Album. In fact, this rawer sound is reminiscent of Weezer's 1996 sophomore album Pinkerton, which was poorly received at the time of its release, but is now regarded as a classic virtually equal to its predecessor. The vocals by Cuomo and his bandmates sound even less polished here, sometimes even chaotic. This version of "Say It Ain't So" has remarkably different guitar sounds; this version of "Undone" was played acoustically, but is wilder than the Blue Album version, with even more irreverent chatter and clowning by the band members.
The second side of 1192 begins with a more stripped-down version of "Say It Ain't So", using only vocals and guitar for a fairly potent effect. That same stripped-down approach was used for a second version of "The World Has Turned and Left Me Here", which turns out to be more effective than the Blue Album's version. The full-band version of "Undone" on this side is even noisier and rowdier than the acoustic version on the first side, loaded with studio effects and vocal chaos. The 1192 album ends with instrumental takes of "No One Else" and "Say It Ain't So" -- the latter of which is possibly the most polished presentation of the song I've ever heard!
Lovers of the Blue Album will enjoy the energetic versions of the songs on 1192, especially the types of fans who've always had a slight preference for Pinkerton.
Weezer "1192" (Ernest Jenning Record Co. EJRC236) 2026
Track Listing:
1. No One Else (Take 1)
2. Say It Ain't So (Take 2)
3. Undone - The Sweater Song (Acoustic)
4. World Has Turned
5. Surf Wax America
6. Say It Ain't So (Vox/Guitar)
7. World Has Turned (Vox/Guitar)
8. Undone - The Sweater Song (Band)
9. No One Else (Take 2)
10. Say It Ain't So (Take 1)
Hidden Track:
Ode To Joy -- a short snippet based on Beethoven's "Ode to Joy", played along with the chords to "Undone"
Produced by Sharp and mixed by Joe Chicarrelli, this LP features early versions of songs from Weezer's classic self-titled 1994 debut album (known as the "Blue Album") by the nerdy alternative band's original lineup, which featured Sharp on bass, as well as rhythm guitarist Jason Cropper (who was ousted from the band before the release of the Blue Album). The other two founding members, Rivers Cuomo (lead vocals and lead guitar) and Patrick Wilson (drums) remain in Weezer to the present day.
1192 has definite historical value as an unearthed blueprint for the Blue Album, especially now that the iconic Blue Album has been inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry for being "an enduring, essential classic of the alternative rock age". If all of this sounds too cerebral for some, then 1192 can simply be heard and enjoyed as a set of apparently live-in-the-studio alternate versions of some of the Blue Album's songs, including the radio hits "Say It Ain't So" (three versions) and "Undone - The Sweater Song" (two versions).
The five tracks on the first side of the 1192 LP were previously distributed on a self-released cassette tape referred to as "The Real Demo", or "The Third Demo". (In 2024, a promo cassette tape version was sent randomly to fans to promote the Voyage to the Blue Planet tour of that year, although that cassette excluded "Surf Wax America"). For 1192, these tracks were made more presentable by Sharp and Chicarrelli, but they still sound rawer than the finished versions on The Blue Album. In fact, this rawer sound is reminiscent of Weezer's 1996 sophomore album Pinkerton, which was poorly received at the time of its release, but is now regarded as a classic virtually equal to its predecessor. The vocals by Cuomo and his bandmates sound even less polished here, sometimes even chaotic. This version of "Say It Ain't So" has remarkably different guitar sounds; this version of "Undone" was played acoustically, but is wilder than the Blue Album version, with even more irreverent chatter and clowning by the band members.
The second side of 1192 begins with a more stripped-down version of "Say It Ain't So", using only vocals and guitar for a fairly potent effect. That same stripped-down approach was used for a second version of "The World Has Turned and Left Me Here", which turns out to be more effective than the Blue Album's version. The full-band version of "Undone" on this side is even noisier and rowdier than the acoustic version on the first side, loaded with studio effects and vocal chaos. The 1192 album ends with instrumental takes of "No One Else" and "Say It Ain't So" -- the latter of which is possibly the most polished presentation of the song I've ever heard!
Lovers of the Blue Album will enjoy the energetic versions of the songs on 1192, especially the types of fans who've always had a slight preference for Pinkerton.
Weezer "1192" (Ernest Jenning Record Co. EJRC236) 2026
Track Listing:
1. No One Else (Take 1)
2. Say It Ain't So (Take 2)
3. Undone - The Sweater Song (Acoustic)
4. World Has Turned
5. Surf Wax America
6. Say It Ain't So (Vox/Guitar)
7. World Has Turned (Vox/Guitar)
8. Undone - The Sweater Song (Band)
9. No One Else (Take 2)
10. Say It Ain't So (Take 1)
Hidden Track:
Ode To Joy -- a short snippet based on Beethoven's "Ode to Joy", played along with the chords to "Undone"
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