THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: ” Van Duren’s sophomore album, finally released as Van intended.
After the release of 1977’s Are You Serious?, Van Duren immediately returned to the studio — recording 14 tracks (one being a medley of two songs) that rivaled his tremendous debut. But, the album was shelved and didn’t see the light of day for two decades, when inexplicably, it was released in Japan without any input from the artist.
The story is chronicled in the acclaimed documentary Waiting: The Van Duren Story. Now, at long last, Idiot Optimism returns on CD as Van originally intended it to look and sound. Plus, it makes its first-ever appearance on (double) LP and digital.
With full creative control from Duren, this reissue of Idiot Optimism is packaged with new art, liners from Van outlining the story of the album, and many previously unseen photos. Featuring 14 originals and a cover of the Chris Bell (Big Star) track Make A Scene, this new edition is remastered from the original analog tapes. Idiot Optimism has never looked nor sounded better.”
