MTV Unplugged (10,000 Maniacs album)
Encyclopedia
MTV Unplugged is a 1993 live album
by 10,000 Maniacs
. The music was recorded for the MTV Unplugged
series and it was also the last album by the band featuring Natalie Merchant
as vocalist. In addition to the songs released on this album, four takes of "How You've Grown" were recorded, second takes of "Because the Night" and "Gold Rush Brides", a brief take of "Puff the Magic Dragon" and three other songs which featured singer David Byrne
as a guest: "Let the Mystery Be" (two takes, one of which was released as a B-Side to "Few and Far Between" and on Campfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure and Unknown Recordings
), "Jolene
", and "Dallas". In 1994, it reached 13 on the Billboard
200.
VHS
Additional musicians
Technical staff
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
by 10,000 Maniacs
10,000 Maniacs
10,000 Maniacs is a United States-based alternative rock band, which formed in 1981 and continues to be active with various line-ups.-1981–1993:...
. The music was recorded for the MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged is a TV series showcasing many popular musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show has received the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Primetime Emmy nominations among many accolades.-Unplugged:...
series and it was also the last album by the band featuring Natalie Merchant
Natalie Merchant
Natalie Anne Merchant is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She joined the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 and left it to begin her solo career in 1993.-Early life:...
as vocalist. In addition to the songs released on this album, four takes of "How You've Grown" were recorded, second takes of "Because the Night" and "Gold Rush Brides", a brief take of "Puff the Magic Dragon" and three other songs which featured singer David Byrne
David Byrne
David Byrne may refer to:*David Byrne , musician and former Talking Heads frontman**David Byrne , his eponymous album*David Byrne , Irish footballer*David Byrne , English footballer...
as a guest: "Let the Mystery Be" (two takes, one of which was released as a B-Side to "Few and Far Between" and on Campfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure and Unknown Recordings
Campfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure and Unknown Recordings
Campfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure and Unknown Recordings is a 2004 compilation album by 10,000 Maniacs featuring their biggest hits, b-sides and unknown recordings from the Natalie Merchant era.-Track listing:Disc One - The Most Popular Recordings...
), "Jolene
Jolene (song)
"Jolene" is a song written and performed by Dolly Parton from her album Jolene , produced by Bob Ferguson. It is ranked #217 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".-History:...
", and "Dallas". In 1994, it reached 13 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
200.
Track listing
Compact Disc and cassette- "These Are DaysThese Are Days"These Are Days" is a song by alternative rock group 10,000 Maniacs from their 1992 album Our Time in Eden. Its lyrics are essentially ruminations on the present. They also performed the song for their 1993 album MTV Unplugged. The song hit number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in...
" (Rob Buck and Natalie MerchantNatalie MerchantNatalie Anne Merchant is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She joined the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 and left it to begin her solo career in 1993.-Early life:...
) – 4:22 - "Eat for Two" (Merchant) – 4:12
- "Candy Everybody Wants" (Dennis DrewDennis DrewDennis Drew is the keyboardist for the band 10,000 Maniacs. He has been with the band since its inception in 1981 and is one of only two remaining founding members of the band...
and Merchant) – 3:19 - "I'm Not the Man" (Merchant) – 3:46
- "Don't Talk" (Drew and Merchant) – 5:22
- "Hey Jack Kerouac" (Buck and Merchant) – 3:29
- "What's the Matter Here?" (Buck and Merchant) – 4:50
- "Gold Rush Brides" (Buck and Merchant) – 4:12
- "Like the Weather" (Merchant) – 4:15
- "Trouble Me" (Drew and Merchant) – 3:40
- "Jezebel" (Merchant) – 4:20
- "Because the NightBecause the Night"Because the Night" is a song by the Patti Smith Group, written by Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith which was released as a single in 1978, taken from Smith's album Easter. The song was a hit, rising to #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and helping propel sales of Easter to mainstream success –...
" (Patti SmithPatti SmithPatricia Lee "Patti" Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses....
and Bruce SpringsteenBruce SpringsteenBruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
) – 3:44 - "Stockton Gala Days" (Jerome Augustyniak, Buck, Drew, Steve GustafsonSteve GustafsonSteve Gustafson is the bass guitarist for the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. He and Dennis Drew are the only remaining founding members of the group....
, and Merchant) – 5:25 - "Noah's Dove" (Merchant) – 5:07
VHS
- "Noah's Dove" (Merchant) – 5:07
- "These Are Days" (Buck and Merchant) – 4:22
- "Eat for Two" (Merchant) – 4:12
- "Candy Everybody Wants" (Drew and Merchant) – 3:19
- "I'm Not the Man" (Merchant) – 3:46
- "Don't Talk" (Drew and Merchant) – 5:22
- "Hey Jack Kerouac" (Buck and Merchant) – 3:29
- "What's the Matter Here?" (Buck and Merchant) – 4:50
- "Gold Rush Brides" (Buck and Merchant) – 4:12
- "Like the Weather" (Merchant) – 4:15
- "Trouble Me" (Drew and Merchant) – 3:40
- "Jezebel" (Merchant) – 4:20
- "Stockton Gala Days" (Jerome Augustyniak, Buck, Drew, Steve GustafsonSteve GustafsonSteve Gustafson is the bass guitarist for the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. He and Dennis Drew are the only remaining founding members of the group....
, and Merchant) – 5:25 - "Because the Night" (Smith and Springsteen) – 3:44
- "Let the Mystery Be" (Iris DeMentIris DeMentIris DeMent is an American singer and songwriter. DeMent's musical style encompasses the genres country and folk music.-Early life:...
) - "JoleneJolene (song)"Jolene" is a song written and performed by Dolly Parton from her album Jolene , produced by Bob Ferguson. It is ranked #217 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".-History:...
" (Dolly PartonDolly PartonDolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
) - "Dallas" (Jimmie Dale GilmoreJimmie Dale GilmoreJimmie Dale Gilmore is a country singer, songwriter, actor, recording artist and producer, currently living in Austin, Texas.-Biography:...
)
Personnel
10,000 Maniacs- Jerome Augustyniak – percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Rob Buck – acousticAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Dennis DrewDennis DrewDennis Drew is the keyboardist for the band 10,000 Maniacs. He has been with the band since its inception in 1981 and is one of only two remaining founding members of the band...
– organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, pump organ, Hammond organHammond organThe Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard... - Steve GustafsonSteve GustafsonSteve Gustafson is the bass guitarist for the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. He and Dennis Drew are the only remaining founding members of the group....
– acousticAcoustic bass guitarThe acoustic bass guitar is a bass instrument with a hollow wooden body similar to, though usually somewhat larger than a steel-string acoustic guitar...
bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Natalie MerchantNatalie MerchantNatalie Anne Merchant is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She joined the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 and left it to begin her solo career in 1993.-Early life:...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
Additional musicians
- Bill Dillon – acoustic guitar, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, slide guitarSlide guitarSlide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles... - Morgan Fichter – violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Amanda KramerAmanda KramerAmanda Kramer is an American musician, best known as a former keyboard player of the 1980s electronic band Information Society. She soon left the band due to "personal issues", later established as an addiction to heroin. She then joined the musical collective the Golden Palominos, beginning with...
– organ, pump organ, piano - Kim Laskowski – bassoonBassoonThe bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
- Jerry MarottaJerry MarottaJerry Marotta is a drummer currently residing in Woodstock, New York. He is the brother of Rick Marotta, who is also a well-known drummer and composer....
– percussion - Mary RamseyMary RamseyMary Ramsey , currently a resident of Buffalo, NY is a member of folk duo John & Mary and lead singer for alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs.- Biography :...
– violaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
, backing vocals - Atsuko Sato – bassoon
- Jane ScarpantoniJane ScarpantoniJane Scarpantoni is a classically trained cello player who has played on a number of alternative rock albums.She was a member of Hoboken, New Jersey's Tiny Lights in the mid-'80s, then went on to play with other musicians especially those associated with the Hoboken underground rock scene of the...
– celloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is... - Rich Stearns – banjoBanjoIn the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
Technical staff
- Paul FoxPaul Fox (producer)Paul Fox is an American record producer, who is best known for producing such bands as Faker; The Green Children; Björk; Gene Loves Jezebel; 10,000 Maniacs; XTC; Phish; Sunfall Festival; Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians; The Sugarcubes; Too Much Joy; They Might Be Giants; Edwin McCain; Semisonic...
– productionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Stephen MarcussenStephen MarcussenStephen Marcussen is the founder and chief mastering engineer of Marcussen Mastering in Hollywood, California. Marcussen is one of the most sought-after mastering engineers in the music industry and his expertise has been coveted by a wide range of artists over the years...
– masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced... - Mike ScottMike Scott (musician)Michael 'Mike' Scott is the founding member, lead singer and chief songwriter of rock band The Waterboys. He has also produced two solo albums, Bring 'em All In and Still Burning...
– engineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including... - Ed Thacker – engineer, mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
- Jay Vicari – engineering