Before he made his breakthrough with 69 Love Songs, Stephin Merritt was a little-known songwriter signed to Merge Records. The label reaches into its own archives for this rarities compilation, which features 14 songs recorded between 1994 and 1999. Full Description1999. Some of the tracks were originally released as 7 inch vinyl singles by the Magnetic Fields, others are unreleased rarities, including three cuts from Merritts unfinished science fiction musical and one outtake from the 69 Love Songs sessions.