Portland, We're Sorry

The coolest thing from the Replacements "greatest hits" package All for Nothing was the song Portland, an outtake based on a show that was apparently a disaster even by Replacements standards:

Though it’s difficult to nail down the exact story behind the fabled night, the following anecdotes show up repeatedly: the ‘Mats pelting the Young Fresh Fellows with various objects during their set; the band breaking into a room (the show was held at the now-defunct Pine Street Theatre) purloining costumes (of which they then wore ontstage); the band being far too drunk to play effectively; clothes being taken off and thrown into the audience — and the audience, in some cases, returning the favor. This last part is my personal favorite as apparently Tommy Stinson remembered, after throwing his clothes into the crowd, that he had left ten dollars in his pocket. After raging at the crowd to throw his pants back, he instead rifled through the clothes thrown on stage, located twenty dollars in a pocket, and danced around the stage in victory. Another account just reported that they stumbled through a set of less than 45 minutes, played a cover of Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ’69″ and then split. Either way, a typical ‘Mats show.

Unfortunately Portland didn't make an album, even though it's better than anything on their last two records. Even after all these years, I did not however realize this bit:

The second bit of evidence of the ‘Mats’ contrition? In the runout groove of original vinyl edition of Don’t Tell a Soul is scratched three words: “We’re sorry, Portland.”