Friday, March 16, 2012

10,000 MANIACS' OUR TIME IN EDEN CELEBRATED IN 20th ANNIVERSARY REISSUE

10,000 MANIACS' OUR TIME IN EDEN CELEBRATED IN 20th ANNIVERSARY REISSUE ON AUDIO FIDELITY'S 180+ Vinyl

Natalie Merchant's Acclaimed Final Album with the Band

Gets Special Vinyl Treatment on March 13th

Marshall Blonstein, president of Audio Fidelity, has set March 13 for the release of 10,000 Maniacs' 1992 album Our Time in Eden as a deluxe vinyl LP reissue. The fifth album by the pioneering American alternative band, Our Time in Eden , was the last to feature the captivating vocals and perceptive lyrics of Natalie Merchant, described by Mojo magazine as the reigning "queen of college rock."  The record will be issued as part of Audio Fidelity's recently-launched Target Series, a line of nicely-priced classic albums that are receiving the same meticulous remastering as the company's 24K Gold CD and 180+ Vinyl releases.

Our Time in Eden was a much anticipated-and well received-recording, following

af 10000 Maniacs coverthe group's 1989 commercial breakthrough, BLIND MAN'S ZOO. Though that record climbed higher on Billboard's albums chart, Our Time in Eden (which reached No. 28) remained there almost twice as long, for a total of 56 weeks.

On Our Time in Eden , Merchant and bandmates Robert Buck, Dennis Drew, Steven Gustafson and Jerome Augustyniak essayed their signature folk-rock sound, but toughened it up by including R&B elements; James Brown brass and reed players Maceo Parker, Pee Wee Ellis and Fred Wesley contribute, with Wesley especially prominent behind Merchant on the single "Candy Everybody Wants."  "These Are the Days" was the highest-charting of the LP's three singles, topping Billboard's Modern Rock chart and reaching No. 66 on the Hot 100, though the upbeat "Few and Far Between" also fared well on the publication's dance-singles survey.  Among OUR TIME IN EDEN's many highlights are the album-opening piano ballad "Noah's Dove," one of seven cuts that are sole Merchant compositions (she co-wrote the record's other six tracks), the sprightly "Stockton Gala Days" and the alternately reflective and rocking "Jezebel."

Other notable participants on the album are Brazilian percussionist Paulhino DaCosta and strings arranger Paul Buckmaster, best known for his work with Elton John, David Bowie, the Rolling Stones and Leonard Cohen.  Producer Paul Fox's credits include projects with Bjork, Phish and XTC.  Mary Ramsey, who would replace Merchant as lead singer on the subsequent Maniacs albums LOVE AMONG THE RUINSandEARTH PRESSED FLAT, contributes violin and viola on OUR TIME IN EDEN. Merchant announced her departure from the band in August of 1993 to embark on a solo career.

The Target Series was launched by Audio Fidelity last fall as a means of broadening the company's audience beyond its loyal audiophile base. Target titles sell at a lower price point but maintain the same commitment to superior audio quality that has earned the parent company its distinctive reputation.  OUR TIME IN EDEN was remastered by respected Audio Fidelity engineer Kevin Gray.

Founded in 2001, Audio Fidelity specializes in deluxe reissues of classic popular-music recordings for the audiophile and collector markets. The Camarillo, California-based label is best known for its 24-Karat Gold CDs and its 180-gram virgin-vinyl album editions, as well as a line of popular DVD titles.

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Visit:  www.audiofidelity.net

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