Don’t Know Why It Is At All: Universal Releases New Aerosmith Compilation

Aerosmith hasn’t released an album of new material since 2004 (and that was a covers record, so the last album of original material was in 2001). Recent affairs between Steven Tyler and Joe Perry have veered toward acrimony, after Tyler injured himself on tour and began insisting his desire to work on “Brand Tyler” (i.e.: a solo album); this ultimately manifested itself into a gig replacing Simon Cowell as a judge on American Idol, a gig that has been bizarre but not disastrous.

It would not be a surprise to see Aerosmith appear toward the season finale of Idol, given the sheer amount of viewers it’d give them. But Geffen, the band’s home from 1984 to 1995 (and a label owned by Universal Music Group, which starting this season will provide the contract for Idol winners), is jumping on Tyler’s newfound wave of popularity by issuing Tough Love: Best of the Ballads, a new compilation of entirely old material.

This set has already been roundly criticized by others for not even bothering to live up to its title; hit singles “Love in an Elevator,” “Rag Doll,” “Janie’s Got a Gun” and “Livin’ on the Edge” are not particularly well-defined as “ballads,” but they are included anyway. Of course, the band’s most notable ballad, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” from the soundtrack to Armageddon (1998), was released during their second run with Columbia and is not included (something tells me Geffen wanted to spend as little on licensing as possible). However, early hit “Dream On” closes the set. It wouldn’t be surprising to find this is a live version, which is how Geffen padded out Young Lust: The Aerosmith Anthology.

If you’ve got to have it, Tough Love is out May 10 and can be pre-ordered here. The track list is after the jump. (Thanks to VVN Music for the tip.)

Aerosmith, Tough Love: Best of the Ballads (Geffen B0015499-02, 2011)

1. Angel
2. Amazing
3. Love in an Elevator
4. Cryin’
5. What It Takes
6. Rag Doll
7. Crazy
8. Deuces Are Wild
9. Livin’ on the Edge
10. Blind Man
11. Janie’s Got a Gun
12. Dream On

Tracks 1 and 6 from Permanent Vacation (Geffen, 1987)
Tracks 2, 4, 7 and 9 from Get a Grip (Geffen, 1993)
Tracks 3, 5 and 11 from Pump (Geffen, 1989)
Track 8 from The Beavis and Butt-head Experience (Geffen, 1993)
Track 10 from Big Ones (Geffen, 1994)
Track 12 either from Aerosmith (Columbia, 1973) or A Little South of Sanity (Geffen, 1998)