News

So what’cha, what’cha, what’cha want? If your first instinct upon reading that phraseology is to think “Beastie Boys,” then you’ve come to the right place. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Beasties’ multiplatinum April 1992 album Check Your Head, UMe will release a limited-edition reissue of the 4LP deluxe version of it on August 12.

This long-out-of-print box set — which was originally released as an artist store exclusive in 2009 — features the 2009 remaster of the original double album plus two extra LPs of bonus content including remixes, live versions, and B-sides. All four LPs are pressed on 180-gram vinyl and housed in a fabric-wrapped, stamped, hardcover case. We are looking to confirm that this set is being pressed in the Czech Republic as many UMe vinyl box sets are these days, and will update this post accordingly either way.

In the meantime, the Check Your Head 4LP box set can be purchased at participating independent retail outlets and will also be available to pre-order exclusively through the Beastie Boys’ official online store.

Check Your Head was considered to be a milestone for Beastie Boys on multiple levels upon its released in April 1992. It was their first of their albums to a) be produced in its entirety by Beastie Boys with Mario Caldato Jr., b) feature keyboard player Keyboard Money Mark, and c) be recorded at the band’s own G-Son studios in Atwater Village, California. Now-classic Head tracks you'll likely recall include “So What’ Cha Want,” “Pass The Mic,” “Gratitude,” and “Jimmy James.”

Not only all that, but Check Your Head also marked the return of live instrumentation to the forefront and backbone of the Beastie Boys sound, with the bulk of the Head album featuring Mike D on drums, Adrock on guitar, and MCA (RIP) on bass for the first time since the band’s early-1980s hardcore punk recordings.

Me, I happen to love hearing the Beasties’ collective performing acumen in action -- and was literally, physically bowled over by the crowd when I saw them play live at Roseland in NYC way back on May 23, 1992 (a story for another time) — but I must admit I’m still quite partial to all the sampling brilliance they achieved with July 1989’s Paul's Boutique, especially it its most enjoyable 180g 2LP wax form. That said, I’ve never owned a copy of Check Your Head on vinyl, so I’m very much looking forward to spinning this one — as I hope you are too. Pass the mic in the Comments section below, if so. . .

BEASTIE BOYS: CHECK YOUR HEAD
180g 4LP Limited Edition Box Set (UMe)

LP 1
Side A
Jimmy James
Funky Boss
Pass The Mic
Gratitude
Lighten Up

Side B
Finger Lickin' Good
So What' Cha Want
The Biz Vs The Nuge
Time For Livin'
Something's Got To Give

LP 2
Side C
The Blue Nun
Stand Together
Pow
The Maestro
Groove Holmes

Side D
Live At P. J.'s
Mark On The Bus
Professor Booty
In 3's
Namaste

LP 3
Side E
Dub The Mic (Instrumental)
Pass The Mic (Pt. 2, Skills To Pay The Bills)
Drunken Praying Mantis Style
Netty's Girl

Side F
The Skills To Pay The Bills (Original Version)
So What' Cha Want (Soul Assassin Remix Version)
So What' Cha Want (Butt Naked Version)
Groove Holmes (Live Vs. The Biz)

LP 4
Side G
Stand Together (Live At French's Tavern, Sydney Australia)
Finger Lickin' Good (Government Cheese Remix)
Gratitude (Live At Budokan)
Honky Rink

Side H
Jimmy James (Original Original Version)
Boomin' Granny
Drinkin' Wine
So What' Cha Want (All The Way Live Freestyle Version)