Today’s song of the day is a song that most of you should already have, as it comes off of Magnetic Field’s 69 Love Songs. It is being offered as a free download to promote the new vinyl version of the record.

Right click to download “Book of Love.”

I could do a write-up but in my snowy laziness, I’ll let the press release do the talking:

“As an early Valentine’s Day treat, we are announcing the long-awaited release of The Magnetic Fields’ 69 Love Songs box set on limited-edition 10” vinyl (with MP3 download coupon) to be released in stores on April 20! We are accepting pre-orders now in the Merge store at a special price and all orders before Valentine’s Day will receive a printable e-valentine for their special friend or loved one in time for the holiday. Orders will ship to arrive on or around the April 20 release date.

The story has it that Stephin Merritt came up with the idea for 69 Love Songs while sitting in an elegant midtown Manhattan gay piano bar. He originally planned for it to be a live musical revue, performed with a rotating cast of singers in the plush hotel bars and cabarets of New York City.

69 Love Songs was released in September of 1999. Fans and critics were ecstatic, and 69 Love Songs became one of the most talked-about records of 1999. It remains one of the most beloved albums in our catalog. As Spin magazine said, “Like the best cabaret, Stephin Merritt’s triple-CD monsterpiece charms on contact, and like the best indie-pop, you’ll want to unravel it endlessly.”

The limited-edition box set includes all 69 love songs re-mastered for vinyl on six 10” records and housed in a super-sized 69 Love Songs box, along with a 10” version of the original booklet featuring liner notes written by Lemony Snicket author Daniel Handler.”