MTV Unplugged

Performer: 10,000 Maniacs
Artist: David Byrne
Producer: Paul Fox
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: 10,000 Maniacs: Natalie Merchant (vocals, piano); Rob Buck (acoustic guitar); Dennis Drew (piano, Hammond organ, pump organ); Steven Gustafson (acoustic bass); Jerome Augustyniak (drums, percussion). Additional personnel: Bill Dillon (acoustic & slide guitars, mandolin); Richie Stearns (banjo); Morgan Fichter (violin, background vocals); Mary Ramsey (viola, background vocals); Jane Scarpantoni (cello); Atsuko Sato, Kim Laskowski (bassoon); Amanda Kramer (piano, pump organ); Jerry Marotta (percussion). Engineers: Ed Thacker, Jay Vicari, Mike Scott. Recorded at Sony Music Studios, New York. 10,000 Maniacs include: Natalie Merchant (vocals). Includes liner notes by Natalie Merchant. Sales of this limited edition CD go towards the Body Shop's Trade-Not-Aid program which promotes commercial trade with native manufacturers in undeveloped countries. This special package is constructed of handmade paper from Nepal and is limited to 25,000 copies. Personnel: Natalie Merchant (vocals, piano); Bill Dillon (acoustic guitar, slide guitar, mandolin); Robert Buck (acoustic guitar); Richie Stearns (banjo); Morgan Fichter (violin, background vocals); Mary Ramsey (viola, background vocals); Jane Scarpantoni (cello); Kim Laskowski, Atsuko Sato (bassoon); Dennis Drew, Amanda Kramer (piano, organ, pump organ); Steve Gustafson (acoustic bass); Jerome Augustyniak (drums, percussion); Jerry Marotta (percussion). Audio Mixer: Ed Thacker. Recording information: Sony Music Studios, New York, NY. Photographer: Ebet Roberts. Unknown Contributor Role: Dennis Drew. Recorded during the 1993 tour supporting the OUR TIME IN EDEN album, MTV UNPLUGGED was the last 10,000 Maniacs album to feature co-founder and primary vocalist Natalie Merchant. Robert Buck's sterling guitar playing still forms the center of the band's sound--especially on the stripped down version of "Don't Talk," from the band's watershed album, IN MY TRIBE. Another standout track is "Eat for Two" (from BLIND MAN'S ZOO), which is much slower than the studio version and pairs a full string section with Merchant's lyrics about unplanned pregnancy. The album focuses heavily on material from OUR TIME, an album that featured Dennis Drew's keyboards prominently. Drew's playing shines here as well and both "Gold Rush Brides" and "Jezebel" are highlights. Along with an excellent take on "Stockton Gala Days," these three songs are proof that the Maniacs gave their live set some serious thought, in many cases improving on their studio versions. A cover version of "Because the Night," a song made famous by Patti Smith, gave the band an unlikely hit single. For those interested, the cellist and backup vocalist on this album, Mary Ramsey, became Merchant's permanent replacement.

Entertainment Weekly (10/29/93, p.61) - "...[10,000 Maniacs'] pleasant guitar jangle...doesn't deviate that much from what we've already been sold..." - Rating: B- Q (12/93, p.125) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...10,000 Maniacs play up a storm. Never has the voice of Natalie Merchant sounded so heart- stoppingly beautiful--warm enough to defrost the hardiest ice-warrior..." Stereo Review (1/94, p.128) - Performance: Cozy / Recording: Clean - "...this is a gorgeous set from a band that plays best when it plays least--and they underplay to perfection here...."

Led by vocalist Natalie Merchant, 10,000 Maniacs combined danceable rhythms, jangly guitars, catchy melodies, and liberal politics to create a super-accessible version of 1980s college rock. The band broke into the mainstream with a cover of Cat Stevens's classic "Peace Train," and followed up with a string of successful, well-crafted albums. In 1993 the act scored a massive pop hit with a live cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Because the Night," off their MTV UNPLUGGED album. After Merchant left the band for a successful solo career, 10,000 Maniacs soldiered on with former member Mary Ramsey at the helm, never quite achieving the same level of success, but scoring a top 40 hit in 1997 with another cover (Roxy Music's "More Than This").

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.25