Popular Songs features 18 tracks, 5 of which have been re-recorded specifically for this release. Explains Camper Van Beethoven band spokesperson, Col. Jack 'Cheese' Sandwich (ret.) of Limone sul Garda, Italy : 'We endeavored to present an enticing set of popular songs from the much-acclaimed, secondary and tertiary recording periods of the band, 1985-1990. We were, however, thwarted in this effort by a certain recording company which had released the later (tertiary) output of these original recordings. We made offers to buy back our own catalog, but they were rebuffed. Hence, still owning the publishing rights, we decided to re-record a few of these later songs.'