The Shaggs’ Philosophy of the World Reissue Announced

The Shaggs were three sisters from Fremont, New Hampshire—Dot, Betty, and Helen Wiggin—who formed a band at the insistence of their father. Their sole, cult-classic 1968 album Philosophy of the World has now been remastered and, on September 9, it’ll be reissued by Light in the Attic. The deluxe LP comes on “Shag Carpet” swirl color vinyl and is packaged with a poster and enamel pin. There are liner notes by Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group, Nuggets curator) and a book featuring unreleased photos.

The reissue will be celebrated with two events. On September 9, a Shaggs tribute show will take place at Le Poisson Rouge in New York. Members of the B-52’s, the Monks, Bush Tetras, Dresden Dolls, and more will perform. On September 17, Dot Wiggin will meet fans and sign CDs and albums at Newbury Comics’ Harvard Square location in Boston.

Light in the Attic are also releasing a new Shaggs shirt by Seth Bogart (aka Hunx). Below, check out packaging shots, a mock-up of the T-shirt, and a new animated video by Joanna Neborsky. Bogart wrote of the Shaggs:

I’m so honored to be a part of this, as I’ve been listening to the Shaggs since I was in high school—literally. It’s insane that almost 50 years after this music was released that it still sounds so fresh and exciting. Good ideas can easily beat technical skill—the Shaggs are living proof.

Kurt Cobain named Philosophy of the World one of his favorite albums of all time. Frank Zappa once quipped that the Shaggs were “better than the Beatles.”

Read “The Philosophy of the Shaggs” in the Pitch.

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