Under the Table and Dreaming

Under the Table and Dreaming
Studio album by Dave Matthews Band
Released	September 27, 1994
Recorded	Bearsville Studios, Woodstock, New York
Genre	Rock
Length	63:00
Label	RCA
Producer	Steve Lillywhite
Professional reviews
Allmusic link
Dave Matthews Band chronology
Under the Table and Dreaming (1994) Crash (1996)
Singles from Under the Table and Dreaming
"What Would You Say" Released: 1994 "Jimi Thing" Released: 1994 "Typical Situation" Released: 1994 "Ants Marching" Released: 1995 "Satellite" Released: 1995

Under the Table and Dreaming is the first studio album from the Dave Matthews Band, released on September 27, 1994.

The album's first single was "What Would You Say," featuring John Popper of Blues Traveler on harmonica. Two other singles from the album followed, "Ants Marching" and "Satellite".

The album's title comes from a line in the song "Ants Marching": "He remembers being small / playing under the table and dreaming."

The album was dedicated "In memory of Anne" for Matthews' older sister Anne, who was killed by her husband in 1994 in a murder-suicide. Included in the jewel case packet is a picture of Dave Matthews and one of Anne's children.^[1]

Recording

The acoustic guitar tracks on the album were played by Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds. During the recording sessions, Matthews and Reynolds would sit face-to-face with a piece of glass between them, playing the same guitar part. This was done twice for each song, resulting in four acoustic guitar tracks (two from Matthews, two from Reynolds) all playing the same part on each song. Producer Steve Lillywhite frequently turned down the volume on Matthews' parts and turned up the volume on Reynolds' parts, resulting in Reynolds' guitar playing being more prominent on the final album. Reynolds then overdubbed additional acoustic and electric guitar parts.^[2]

Matthews has stated during performances that the harmonica solo performed by John Popper on "What Would You Say" was done in only five to ten minutes, while Matthews was in the bathroom.

One of Dave Matthews Band's most popular live songs, "Granny", was recorded in the studio sessions for this album and was originally intended to be the first single before being cut from the album.^{[citation needed]} It is still played live today.

"#34" is the only instrumental track on the album although it was played with lyrics on 9 occasions in 1993, prior to the band taking it to the studio. The band originally recorded the song with lyrics, but they were removed from the final album cut. On some pressings of the album there are 22 blank tracks between "Pay for What You Get" and "#34", so that the latter appears as track number 34. Other pressings simply have the 12th track pre-pended by a period of silence.

Track listing

All songs written by David J. Matthews, except where noted:

1. "The Best of What's Around" – 4:17
2. "What Would You Say" – 3:43
3. "Satellite" – 4:52
4. "Rhyme & Reason" – 5:16
5. "Typical Situation" – 5:59
6. "Dancing Nancies" – 6:08
7. "Ants Marching" – 4:31
8. "Lover Lay Down" – 5:38
9. "Jimi Thing" – 5:57
10. "Warehouse" – 7:06
11. "Pay for What You Get" – 4:35
12. "#34" (David J. Matthews, LeRoi Moore, Haines Fullerton) – 4:58

Songs cut from the album

Songs that were recorded during the sessions, but weren't included on the final cut:

• "Granny" – Dave wanted this to be the band's first single.
• "Say Goodbye" – More than likely not recorded during a full-band session.
• "Get in Line"
• "Let You Down" - Was probably the only original song written in studio, although it may have not even made a demo.
• "Kind Intentions (also called #32)"

Personnel

• Dave Matthews – vocals, acoustic guitar
• Carter Beauford – drums, percussion, vocals
• Stefan Lessard – bass
• LeRoi Moore – alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, vocals, flute
• Boyd Tinsley – acoustic violin, vocals

Additional personnel

• Tim Reynolds – acoustic guitar
• John Popper – harmonica on "What Would You Say"
• John Alagia – additional vocals on "Dancing Nancies" and "What Would You Say"
• Michael McDonald – additional vocals on "Dancing Nancies" and "What Would You Say"
• Andrew Page – additional vocals on "Dancing Nancies" and "What Would You Say"
• Jeff Thomas – additional vocals on "Dancing Nancies" and "What Would You Say"
• Steve Forman – additional percussion on "Typical Situation"

References