10,000 Maniacs - Campfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure & Unknown Recordings

Spanning 31 songs and two discs, one covering "The Most Popular Recordings" (aka "The Hits") and one covering "The Obscure & Unknown Recordings" (aka "The B-Sides and Cover Versions"), Rhino/Elektra's 2004 compilation Campfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure & Unknown Recordings of 10,000 Maniacs is as good a career overview as could be assembled. The hits disc may miss a minor charting single like "Few and Far Between," but it has all the songs of note, from the hits to album tracks. Meanwhile, the rarities are devoted pretty much to B-side covers in addition to four previously unreleased demos, the early outtake "Poppy Selling Man," plus their cover of Cat Stevens' "Peace Train," which was removed from latter-day editions of In My Tribe. There's enjoyable stuff on both discs -- the singles "Like the Weather," "What's the Matter Here?," "Trouble Me," "Candy Everybody Wants," and "These Are Days" are very good indeed, laying the groundwork for adult alternative pop/rock, while the early demos on the second disc are livelier than most Maniacs material and the Michael Stipe duet on "To Sir With Love" is a priceless artifact from the height of Clinton optimism (which faded quite quickly). But even these moments have the Achilles' heel of a production that is far too big for the group's gentle simple songs. Overall this expertly assembled collection -- which is as good as a 10,000 Maniacs anthology could be -- is best as a time capsule, capturing the earnest, precious optimism and PC nature of American college rock before grunge came along and dirtied everything up. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits 10,000 Maniacs Compilation, Producer Albert Garzon Producer, Engineer Alex Mock Project Assistant Amanda Kramer Organ (Pump), Piano Andrew Catlin Photography Andy Zax Project Assistant Anthony DeCurtis Liner Notes April Milek Project Assistant Atsuko Sato Bassoon Bill Dillon Mandolin, Slide Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic) Bill Inglot Remastering Bill Waldman Producer, Engineer Bob Magnusson Bass Bruce Dukov Violin Dan Hersch Remastering David Campbell String Arrangements Dennis Drew Organ, Group Member, Piano, Accordion, Liner Notes Dennis Karmazyn Cello Don Grolnick Piano Ebet Roberts Photography Ed Thacker Mixing, Engineer Emily Cagan Project Assistant Frank Filipetti Engineer, Mixing Frank Wolf Mixing Fred Wesley Trombone Gary Smith Producer George Massenburg Mixing, Engineer Gina Tampio Engineer Ginger Dettman Project Assistant Jane Scarpantoni Cello Jay Vicari Engineer Jerome Augustyniak Percussion, Drums, Liner Notes, Group Member Jerry Boys Engineer Jerry Marotta Percussion Jevetta Steele Voices Jim Foti Drums Joe Barbaria Remixing Joe Boyd Producer Joélle Depónt Photography John Lombardo Bass, Guitar, Group Member, Liner Notes, Vocals Karen Ahmed A&R Kim Laskowski Bassoon Larry Corbett Cello Laura Lavine Photography Lenny Kaye Producer Maceo Parker Sax (Alto) Marc Salata Project Assistant Mary Lynch Design Assistant Mary Ramsey Violin, Viola, Vocals (Background) Mary Van Houten Engineer Matt Abels Project Assistant Mike Scott Engineer Morgan Fichter Violin, Vocals (Background) Natalie Merchant Group Member, Photography, Art Direction, Liner Notes, Compilation, Piano, Vocals Novi Viola Pam Taylor Photography Pamela Goldsmith Viola Paul Buckmaster Arranger, Conductor Paul Fox Producer Paulinho DaCostam Percussion Pee Wee Ellis Sax (Tenor) Peter Asher Producer Ralph Morrison Violin Randy Perry Project Assistant Richie Stearns Banjo Rob Marinissen Photography Robert Buck Synthesizer, Group Member, Mandolin, Devices, Guitar, Banjo, Pedal Steel Robin Hurley A&R Steve Gustafson Guitar, Liner Notes, Bass, Group Member Steve Woolard Liner Notes Steven Chean Project Assistant Tim Scanlin Project Assistant Tony Harris Engineer