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Grave Dancers Union

 
Album Review: Grave Dancer's Union

  • Artist: Soul Asylum
  • Rating: StarStarStarStar
  • Release Date: 1992 05
  • Total Time: 44:42
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Rock

Review

Soul Asylum's breakthrough, million-selling Grave Dancer's Union yielded the mega-hit "Runaway Train" and put the band in a whole new league; longtime fans were predictably disappointed with the slick results. This is a solid alternative rock record with singer/songwriter/vocalist Dave Pirner upfront, a role he was built for but always seemed to resist until this clear do-or-die moment for the band. Soul Asylum did; however, they never matched the success or consistency of this album. Tracks like "Home Sick" and "New World" bear the roots of the country-rock revival later forged by Son Volt and Wilco, while the angst-ridden "Somebody to Shove" is pure joy Soul Asylum-style. ~ Denise Sullivan, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Somebody to Shove (Lyrics) Dave Pirner Soul Asylum (3:15)
Black Gold (Lyrics) Dave Pirner Soul Asylum (3:57)
Runaway Train (Lyrics) Dave Pirner Soul Asylum (4:26)
Keep It Up (Lyrics) Dave Pirner Soul Asylum (3:48)
Homesick (Lyrics) Dave Pirner Soul Asylum (3:34)
Get on Out (Lyrics) Dave Pirner Soul Asylum (3:30)
New World Dave Pirner Soul Asylum (4:04)
April Fool (Lyrics) Dave Pirner Soul Asylum (3:45)
Without a Trace (Lyrics) Dave Pirner Soul Asylum (3:33)
Growing into You (Lyrics) Dave Pirner Soul Asylum (3:13)
99% (Lyrics) Dave Pirner Soul Asylum (3:59)
The Sun Maid Dave Pirner Soul Asylum (3:51)

Credits

Soul Asylum (Main Performer), Eric Anderson (Engineer), Michael Beinhorn (Arranger), Michael Beinhorn (Celeste), Michael Beinhorn (Glockenspiel), Michael Beinhorn (Producer), Michael Beinhorn (Horn Arrangements), Michael Beinhorn (String Arrangements), Michael Beinhorn (Guest Appearance), Sterling Campbell (Percussion), Sterling Campbell (Guest Appearance), David Michael Dill (Assistant Engineer), Kraig Johnson (Vocals), Kraig Johnson (Vocals (Background)), Kraig Johnson (Guest Appearance), Booker T. Jones (Organ (Hammond)), Booker T. Jones (Guest Appearance), Sonny Kompanek (Arranger), Sonny Kompanek (Conductor), Sonny Kompanek (String Arrangements), Sonny Kompanek (String Conductor), David Leonard (Mixing), Gary Louris (Vocals), Gary Louris (Vocals (Background)), Gary Louris (Guest Appearance), Meridian String Quartet (Strings), Meridian String Quartet (?), Karl Mueller (Bass), Dave Pirner (Guitar), Dave Pirner (Arranger), Dave Pirner (Vocals), Dave Pirner (Horn Arrangements), Bruce Robb (Engineer), Steve Sisco (Mixing Assistant), Wally Traugott (Mastering), Andy Wallace (Mixing), Grant Young (Drums), Grant Young (Group Member), Bruce Ross (Engineer), Bill Smith (Assistant Engineer), Francesca Restrepo (Art Direction), Francesca Restrepo (Design), Dan Murphy (Guitar), Dan Murphy (Vocals), Craig Doubet (Mixing Assistant), Dan Gellert (Assistant Engineer), Jan Saudek (Photography), Jan Saudek (Cover Photo), Christopher Shaw (Engineer), Booker T. Jones III (Organ), Booker T. Jones III (Organ (Hammond)), Bill Airey Smith (Assistant Engineer), Daniel Murphy (Guitar), Daniel Murphy (Vocals), Daniel Murphy (Group Member)
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Wikipedia: Grave Dancers Union
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Grave Dancers Union
Studio album by Soul Asylum
Released October 6, 1992
Recorded May 1992
Genre Alternative rock
Length 44:42
Label Columbia
Producer Michael Beinhorn
Professional reviews
Soul Asylum chronology
And the Horse They Rode In On
(1990)
Grave Dancers Union
(1992)
Let Your Dim Light Shine
(1995)

Grave Dancers Union is the official sixth album by Soul Asylum. It was released in 1992 (see 1992 in music). The cover illustration is by erotic art photographer Jan Saudek. The album's title comes from the line "I tried to dance at a funeral, New Orleans style, I joined the Grave Dancers Union, I had to file," from the song "Without A Trace." The album spent 76 weeks on the Billboard music charts and was certified double-platinum in 1993.

Lead singer Dave Pirner now often dedicates "Without A Trace" to the memory of late bassist Karl Mueller.

In the middle of the sessions, producer Michael Beinhorn grew dissatisfied with drummer Grant Young's performance and brought in Sterling Campbell. It was the beginning of the end of Young's tenure in the band. He and Campbell would each wind up playing on about half the record. [1] Campbell eventually was named the band's official drummer.

Contents

Track listing

All songs written by Dave Pirner.

  1. "Somebody to Shove" – 3:15
  2. "Black Gold" – 3:57
  3. "Runaway Train" – 4:26
  4. "Keep It Up" – 3:48
  5. "Homesick" – 3:34
  6. "Get on Out" – 3:30
  7. "New World" – 4:04
  8. "April Fool" – 3:45
  9. "Without a Trace" – 3:33
  10. "Growing into You" – 3:13
  11. "99%" – 3:59
  12. "The Sun Maid" – 3:51

Personnel

  • Eric Anderson – engineer
  • Michael Beinhorn – arranger, celeste, glockenspiel, producer, horn arrangements
  • Sterling Campbell – percussion
  • David Michael Dill – assistant engineer
  • Dan Gellert – assistant engineer
  • Kraig Johnson – background vocals
  • Booker T. Jones III – organ, Hammond organ
  • Sonny Kompanek – arranger, conductor
  • David Leonard – mixing
  • Gary Louris – background vocals
  • Meridian String Quartet – strings
  • Karl Mueller – bass
  • Dan Murphy – guitar, vocals
  • Dave Pirner – guitar, arranger, vocals, horn arrangements
  • Francesca Restrepo – art direction, design
  • Bruce Ross – engineer
  • Jan Saudek – photography
  • Christopher Shaw – engineer
  • Steve Sisco – mixing assistant
  • Bill Smith – assistant engineer
  • Wally Traugott – mastering
  • Andy Wallace – mixing
  • Grant Young – drums

Charts

Album

Year Chart Position
1992 Billboard Heatseekers 1
1992 The Billboard 200 11

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
1992 "Somebody to Shove" Modern Rock Tracks 1
1993 "Black Gold" Mainstream Rock Tracks 4
1993 "Black Gold" Modern Rock Tracks 6
1993 "Runaway Train" Adult Contemporary 15
1993 "Runaway Train" Mainstream Rock Tracks 3
1993 "Runaway Train" Modern Rock Tracks 13
1993 "Runaway Train" The Billboard Hot 100 5
1993 "Runaway Train" Top 40 Mainstream 2
1993 "Somebody to Shove" Mainstream Rock Tracks 9
1993 "Without a Trace" Mainstream Rock Tracks 6
1993 "Without a Trace" Modern Rock Tracks 27

Awards

Grammy Awards

Year Winner Category
1993 "Runaway Train" Best Rock Song

References

  1. ^ "The beginning of the end for Young's Soul Asylum career actually started during the recording sessions for Grave Dancers Union." http://sjmc.cla.umn.edu/stupro/resonance/article-1.htm

 
 

 

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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Grave Dancers Union" Read more