MTV Unplugged (10,000 Maniacs album)

Untitled

MTV Unplugged is a 1993 live album by 10,000 Maniacs, recorded for the MTV Unplugged series. It was the last album by the band with 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 Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith's "Because the Night" and "Gold Rush Brides", a brief take of "Puff the Magic Dragon" and three other songs with David Byrne as a guest singer: "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), Dolly Parton's "Jolene" and "Dallas".

The album was the last to feature Merchant, who would depart the band to pursue a solo career the following year.

Reception

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Entertainment Weekly	B− link
Q	link
Rolling Stone	link

Sales charts

In 1994, it reached 13 on the Billboard 200.

Track listing

Cassette and Compact Disc

1. "These Are Days" (Rob Buck and Natalie Merchant) – 4:22
2. "Eat for Two" (Merchant) – 4:12
3. "Candy Everybody Wants" (Dennis Drew and Merchant) – 3:19
4. "I'm Not the Man" (Merchant) – 3:46
5. "Don't Talk" (Drew and Merchant) – 5:22
6. "Hey Jack Kerouac" (Buck and Merchant) – 3:29
7. "What's the Matter Here?" (Buck and Merchant) – 4:50
8. "Gold Rush Brides" (Buck and Merchant) – 4:12
9. "Like the Weather" (Merchant) – 4:15
10. "Trouble Me" (Drew and Merchant) – 3:40
11. "Jezebel" (Merchant) – 4:20
12. "Because the Night" (Patti Smith and Bruce Springsteen) – 3:44
13. "Stockton Gala Days" (Jerome Augustyniak, Buck, Drew, Steve Gustafson, and Merchant) – 5:25
14. "Noah's Dove" (Merchant) – 5:07

Laser Disc and VHS

1. "Noah's Dove" (Merchant) – 5:07
2. "These Are Days" (Buck and Merchant) – 4:22
3. "Eat for Two" (Merchant) – 4:12
4. "Candy Everybody Wants" (Drew and Merchant) – 3:19
5. "I'm Not the Man" (Merchant) – 3:46
6. "Don't Talk" (Drew and Merchant) – 5:22
7. "Hey Jack Kerouac" (Buck and Merchant) – 3:29
8. "What's the Matter Here?" (Buck and Merchant) – 4:50
9. "Gold Rush Brides" (Buck and Merchant) – 4:12
10. "Like the Weather" (Merchant) – 4:15
11. "Trouble Me" (Drew and Merchant) – 3:40
12. "Jezebel" (Merchant) – 4:20
13. "Stockton Gala Days" (Jerome Augustyniak, Buck, Drew, Steve Gustafson, and Merchant) – 5:25
14. "Because the Night" (Smith and Springsteen) – 3:44
15. "Let the Mystery Be" (Iris DeMent)
16. "Jolene" (Dolly Parton)
17. "Dallas" (Jimmie Dale Gilmore)

Personnel

10,000 Maniacs

• Jerome Augustyniak – percussion, drums
• Rob Buck – acoustic guitar
• Dennis Drew – organ, piano, pump organ, Hammond organ
• Steve Gustafson – acoustic bass guitar
• Natalie Merchant – vocals, piano

Additional musicians

• Bill Dillon – acoustic guitar, mandolin, slide guitar
• Morgan Fichter – violin, backing vocals
• Amanda Kramer – organ, pump organ, piano
• Kim Laskowski – bassoon
• Jerry Marotta – percussion
• Mary Ramsey – viola, backing vocals
• Atsuko Sato – bassoon
• Jane Scarpantoni – cello
• Rich Stearns – banjo

Technical staff

• Paul Fox – production
• Stephen Marcussen – mastering
• Ebet Roberts – photography
• Mike Scott – engineering
• Ed Thacker – engineer, mixing
• Jay Vicari – engineering

Special guest

• David Byrne on track 15, 16 and 17 – vocals and acoustic guitar

Notes

During the Introduction to "Hey Jack Kerouac" Natalie reads a passage from "On the road" by Jack Kerouac"

During the Introduction to "Gold Rush Brides" Natalie reads a passage from "Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey" by Lillian Schlissel.

External links

• Lyrics