HEAR TODAY DON'T YOU KNOW THEY'RE IRREPLACEABLE?

Byline: Fred Shuster Music Writer

Of the countless bands to emerge in the '80s, few remain as beloved or influential as the Replacements, who embodied the do-it-yourself spirit of the U.S. alt-rock underground.

From their 1981 debut, ``Sorry, Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash,'' to 1990's ``All Shook Down,'' the ragged, Stones-inspired outfit, led by charismatic singer-guitarist-songwriter Paul Westerberg, churned out much of the best garage-rock of the time -- and some of the most famously well-lubricated shows of the era.

Rockers like ``Kids Don't Follow,'' ``I Will Dare,'' ``Can't Hardly Wait'' sound as fresh today as they did when first released, and soul-baring tunes such as ``Here Comes a Regular'' and ``Unsatisfied'' pack the same emotional punch.

Out today is the 20-song ``Don't You Know Who I Think I Was?: The Best of the Replacements'' (Rhino/WEA; $18.98), the first compilation of the now-defunct Minneapolis band to take in tracks from all of the band's seven albums, along with two newly recorded, vintage-sounding songs.

We reached compilation co-producer Mason Williams, director of A&R at Rhino Records, for the lowdown.

Q: The Replacements still have notoriously fanatical fans. How did you narrow the record down to these particular tracks?

A: It was very, very difficult. Some songs, like ``Alex Chilton,'' ``Color Me Impressed'' and ``Merry Go Round,'' had to be included. I asked a lot of people who work here at the label who are lifelong fans. As I quickly learned, they felt very strongly what songs should be there. The biggest problem was making it a single disc.

Q: Why are Westerberg's songs timeless?

A: He keyed in to this poignant, aching quality a lot of times. There's genuine sadness there, real emotion in the melodies and lyrics and in his voice. Then, there are the songs that are just really well-crafted, raucous rock songs. And gorgeous country-rock melodies like ``Achin' to Be.'' The Replacements was a band people could believe in.

Q: How did the two new songs come about? And did Westerberg have anything to do with this package?

A: Paul and (original bassist) Tommy Stinson got together last Christmas to record the two tunes (``Message to the Boys'' and ``Pool & Dive'') Paul wrote for this comp. And, no, he didn't have anything else to do with the record, except for working with the art department on the cover.

Here is a sample of other new releases in the stores this week:

Taken from Billy Joel's recent string of sold-out Madison Square Garden dates, the double-disc ``12 Gardens Live'' (Sony; $22.98) offers two hours of the Piano Man's hits and fan picks.

Married to Steve Earle, who produced her new ``Getting Somewhere,'' the country-ish Allison Moorer cooks up an eclectic set of introspective ballads and Crazy Horse-tinged rockers.

For their second album, the U.K.'s Futureheads, seen a a few years ago opening for Franz Ferdinand, deliver bold, brash alt-rock originals on ``News and Tributes.''

ALSO IN STORES

``Do I Make You Proud''/``Takin' It to the Streets,'' Taylor Hicks

(RCA CD single; $3.49)

``The Phat Pack,'' Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band (Immergent; $18.98)

``One-X,'' Three Days Grace

(Jive; $18.98)

``The Big Bang,'' Busta Rhymes

(Aftermath; $13.98)

``Suitcase,'' Keb' Mo' (Epic; $15.98)

``Laps in Seven,'' Sam Bush

(Sugarhill: $18.98)

``Rather Ripped,'' Sonic Youth

(Geffen; $13.98)

``Boston (Remastered),'' Boston

(Sony; $11.98)

``Earth to America,'' Widespread Panic (Sanctuary; $18.98)

``A Half Century of Hits,'' Jerry Lee Lewis (Time-Life box set; $39.98)

``We Were Here,'' Joshua Radin

(Sony; $12.98)

``Begin to Hope,'' Regina Spektor (Sire; $15.98)

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1) no caption (Replacements)

(2 -- 3) no caption (CD covers)