You're right, it is a gem. I've always liked it, but this version puts it in a higher category.

I saw the first solo show Bob did supporting Workbook at First Ave. It was just him and an acoustic guitar. For some reason I was not very familiar with the album yet. From the first few notes of Wishing Well it was like my chest seized and I couldn't breathe but it was good, it was amazing. Through the entire show except for Bob and applause, you could have heard a pin drop. None of the usual bar din. We, the sold out crowd, just stood transfixed, astounded at what we were seeing and hearing. It was Magic. I promised myself after that show that I would never miss a Bob Mould show. Since then I've missed 3. Of the hundreds of shows I have seen in my lifetime I remember this one like it was last night and it was 25 years ago. Easily the best show I have ever seen

Egxectly the same experience, I have to be alone to listen Workbook album, and was introduced from my friend who passed away at very young age,

Yeah, I bought it new. Listened to it by myself the first time. And every time since. Sweet sweet Catharsis.

@@darrenhuxter2061 Yes. :)

@@aidheajo Exactly the same - again. The part with my best friend introducing me to it and from then on, this album being the soundtrack to our Year of Amazing Adventures together, involving everything from high-speed pursuits, jumping in rivers, changing the city with amazing graffiti, making art, soaking in life, balancing on very tight n high ropes, swimming in a lake after midnight during mega-thunderstorm, learning what true love actually is, experiencing all the things that grow bigger when you share them, spending that whole summer in our eternally speeding little car - going everywhere and doing everything together, helping each other mend shattered hearts, making true magic out of thin air, speaking our own language, not speaking for long time and feeling so perfectly content n relaxed in that silence, making sure the other one is always ok, making the best imaginable memories for the other one, especially on shrooms or on acid - when we saw each song clearly, when Bob played the album live, just for us... feeling so completely invincible, just because we're young and we're together... the whole time "Workbook" was playing...and we sang over Bob and then shouted together certain parts, always, like on command...and it sounded fantastic. It truly did. Our rendition of daily summer speed-driving, loud harmonizing over "Sinners and Their Repentances" got us stopped by cops many times but not one ticket was ever issued. We had no idea that anything else, any other kind of life is even possible, for us... We had no concept of distant future, we were so hungry for all of it, rushing into all of it - full fuckin' force, loving every nanosecond of it and always, always having each other's back, trusting each other with our lives - many times a day on some days. We didn't plan much ahead but we always, both of us, we did feel this warm feeling inside... like a blessing. Like we have been blessed with each other. Even though we were so young, we somehow completely felt it and intuitively understood the importance of this blessing, we understood how rare this thing was, between people in general...and we treated it, intuitively, just like that - like we had the most precious something, to care for and keep safe and free of any type of human bullshit, any type of dirt and absolutely never ever - take that precious something for granted. And that might be the very thing, the only thing, that saved me from dying, when he suddenly died. Many Poison Years have gone by since. I truly do not know how but I managed to not die then, against all odds and against my wishes back then. Many years have passed since I was able to touch that album with my fingers, take it in my hand, look at it. And many more before I was able to play it the first time, alone. And to this day, actually, for ever, for me, hearing one tone from this album is too much to bear. It is just too much, too deep, too raw, too beautiful, too vivid... too good of a Time-Machine, instantaneously landing me in our little speeding car, smiling-shouting-singing the whole "Workbook". And it burns so much, it hurts so fucking much, like it all just happened. This is the first time I am telling this to anyone. Someone smart told me once to never ever be ashamed or embarrassed by a tear shed for anyone you love. I am now soaking my keyboard in tears that were perhaps waiting patiently for this very moment in time and this very place, who knows why exactly... Maybe for someone to read it and then hug their favorite person, their best friend, and to make a promise - never to take each other for granted. And then go create some magical memories together, while "Workbook" is playing on repeat.

Workbook is definitely one of the best albums ever made. I'm in my 50s now, first heard it in my 20s. Brilliant then and still now.

Superb version!I also saw him in 1991.When he played this in 2006, he added some absolutely crazy soloing in the end of it.I mean, i knew he is a vituosic player, but he played some Malmsteen-like fast stuff on the acoustic with every note super clearly played.Never seen anything like it. He is a guitar-god!

A couple of years ago, I put together an "unplugged" compilation of Bob and Grant songs, collected from recordings of live solo performances... it was meant to be a Christmas present for a relative, and given how much I love the power and intensity of Bob's solo LPs in particular, I didn't expect to begin appreciating the acoustic versions even more than the full-band takes I knew and loved... but that's exactly what happened. There is a magic in those songs when it's just Bob (or Grant) with a guitar that doesn't come across when other instruments accompany them. There's a bunch of 'em - "Sinners", "Heartbreak a Stranger", "Hoover Dam", "Needle Hits E", "Lonely Afternoon", "Panama City Motel", and a handful of others - where I don't even listen to the originals anymore. Perhaps I should upload the compilation to KZfaq, if people are interested.

@@cftvdata I'd be very interested

@@cftvdata I agree with what you're saying. I've seen Bob full band or acoustic maybe 10 times total and the acoustic shows have turned out to be the most gripping.Bob's acoustic versions of "Wishingwell" with his desperate yelping in the intro was goosebump inducing.He feels the songs to the core. It'd be great if you made the compilation!

dumbass comment.

@@thomasmartin2663 Well the voice does sound sorta similar