Rarities is a compilation assembled by Natalie of rare recordings selected from a variety of sources, some previously released original songs, (“Saint Judas” and “Build A Levee”), one new original, (“Sonnet 73” with text by William Shakespeare), cover songs (“The Village Green Preservation Society” by the Kinks, “Too Long at the Fair” by Joel Zoss, “Political Science” by Randy Newman, “Learning the Game” by Buddy Holly, and “Gulf of Araby” by Katell Keineg), and collaborations with David Byrne, Billy Bragg, The Chieftains, Cowboy Junkies and Amy Helm. Released in conjunction with, The Natalie Merchant Collection these 15 tracks offer fans of Natalie’s music a peek into the vault.

“This collection tweaks Merchant’s position in the pantheon. In the late Eighties she had a touch of the schoolmistress to her. She seemed to be wagging her finger at the frivolity of the age, if she wasn’t too busy knitting her own yoghurt. Now, listening to her calm, authoritative voice as she interprets old folk tunes, sings uplifting pop songs or offers her considered take on current affairs, it seems that she was right all along. Schoolmistresses often are.”  — The Times