There was much rejoicing around these parts this week with the announcement of the long-awaited return of Scotland’s Teenage Fanclub. Merge will be releasing the bands’ eighth proper album, entitled Shadows, their first since 2005′s stellar Man-Made. Check the details here and while you’re at it grab an mp3 of a new track, “Baby Lee”. A tour of the States is expected to follow this autumn. In the wake of last week’s sadness, this comes as an especially apropos pick-me-up.

If you’re a fan of Teenage Fanclub, you’re in luck, as STACKS is proud to present a whole bevy of fab TFC rarities. Collected here for your enjoyment are some fantastic b-sides from my two favorite TFC albums, 1995′s Grand Prix and 1997 Songs From Northern Britain. Culled from five different singles, we have offerings from all three of the bands songwriters, Gerard Love, Norman Blake and Raymond McGinley, as well as a cover of a Bevis Frond track.

Been listening to this all afternoon and I must admit: it plays like some long-lost Fanclub album. Enjoy!

Getting Real (Mellow Doubt, 1995)
That’s All I Need To Know (Sparky’s Dream, 1995)
Headstand (Sparky’s Dream, 1995)
My Life (Neil Jung, 1995)
Every Step Is A Way Through (Neil Jung, 1995)
The Shadows (Neil Jung, 1995)
Traffic Jam (Neil Jung, 1995)
Hi-Fi (Neil Jung, 1995)
Broken (Ain’t That Enough, 1997)
The Count (I Don’t Want Control Of You, 1997)
Middle Of The Road (I Don’t Want Control Of You, 1997)
He’d Be A Diamond (I Don’t Want Control Of You, 1997)