Love Among the Ruins (album)

Love Among the Ruins
Studio album by 10,000 Maniacs
Released 17 June 1997
7 July 1997 (UK)
Genre Rock
Length 49:19
Label Geffen Records
Producer Fred Maher, John Keane
10,000 Maniacs chronology

MTV Unplugged
(1993)		 Love Among the Ruins
(1997)		 The Earth Pressed Flat
(1999)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic link
The A.V. Club (average) link
Entertainment Weekly B− link
The Rolling Stone Album Guide [1]

Love Among the Ruins (1997) was the first album released by 10,000 Maniacs with their new lead singer, Mary Ramsey, after Natalie Merchant left in 1993. The two singles from the album, "More Than This" and "Rainy Day", were not originally intended to be included on the album at all. John Lombardo had just written "Rainy Day", which was deemed more radio friendly than the other songs, and the record company insisted that the band record a cover song for inclusion. The band chose to credit the songs as group collaborations so that all members would receive equal royalties. Ramsey and Lombardo shared the lyric writing. Ramsey wrote the music to "All That Never Happens". Lombardo wrote "Rainy Day", "Even with My Eyes Closed", "Big Star", "Shining Light" and "Across the Fields". Lombardo shared a writing credit with Jerry Augustyniak on "Girl on a Train". Rob Buck wrote "Love Among the Ruins", and Dennis Drew wrote "A Room For Everything".

The album title is adapted from Robert Browning's poem of the same name.

Track listing

All songs written by 10,000 Maniacs, except where noted.

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Rainy Day"    4:46
2. "Love Among the Ruins"  10,000 Maniacs, Jules Shear 4:01
3. "Even with My Eyes Closed"    3:56
4. "Girl on a Train"    4:11
5. "Green Children"    4:14
6. "A Room for Everything"    3:56
7. "More Than This"  Bryan Ferry 4:06
8. "Big Star"    3:07
9. "You Won't Find Me There"  10,000 Maniacs, Jules Shear 4:09
10. "All That Never Happens"    4:59
11. "Shining Light"  10,000 Maniacs, Jules Shear 4:06
12. "Across the Fields"    3:53

On an earlier acetate version of this album, "Smallest Step", "Beyond The Blue" and "Time Turns" were also included. "Beyond The Blue" and "Time Turns" were made available on US and European versions of the "More Than This" single. All three were re-recorded, "Smallest Step" for inclusion on The Earth Pressed Flat album. When all three were omitted, the following tracks were added: "More Than This", "Rainy Day" and "All That Never Happens".

Personnel

10,000 Maniacs
Additional Musicians
Technical Staff

Singles

More Than This (U.S.)
  1. "More Than This"
  2. "More Than This" (Tee's Radio Edit)
  3. "Beyond the Blue"
More Than This (Australia)
  1. "More Than This"
  2. "More Than This" (Tee's Radio Edit)
  3. "Time Turns"
Rainy Day (Radio Promo Only)
  1. "Rainy Day (Radio Edit)"
  2. "Rainy Day (Album Version)"

References

Liner notes from 10,000 Maniacs album: Love Among the Ruins.

  1. ↑ Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 807. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.