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Grave Dancers Union

by Soul Asylum

Released: October 06, 1992

Alternative rock, grunge

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Chart Success.

The Album

Both drummers ended up contributing to the album, but Campbell was credited only as "percussionist" due to the band's reluctance to acknowledge the use of a session musician. Young continued as the band's drummer for touring until he was officially replaced by Campbell before the recording of their next album, Let Your Dim Light Shine. The title of the album is derived from a line in the song "Without a Trace," which reads, "I tried to dance at a funeral, New Orleans style, I joined the Grave Dancers Union, I had to file.".

Inside the Recording

During the recording of Grave Dancers Union, producer Michael Beinhorn became dissatisfied with drummer Grant Young's performance and brought in Sterling Campbell.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

"Grave Dancers Union" is the sixth studio album…

"Grave Dancers Union" is the sixth studio album by American alternative rock band Soul Asylum, released in 1992.

The album cover features a photograph by Czech…

The album cover features a photograph by Czech photographer Jan Saudek, titled "Fate Descends Towards the River Leading Two Innocent Children," taken in 1970.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Soul Asylum - Grave Dancers Union

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Then

Reception

The album spent 76 weeks on the US Billboard charts and was certified triple-platinum in 1993, establishing Soul Asylum as one of the most successful rock bands of the early 1990s. The single "Runaway Train," released in June 1993, reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1994. This single significantly boosted the album's sales, contributing to its multi-platinum success.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Grave Dancers Union" is the sixth studio album by American alternative rock band Soul Asylum, released in 1992. The album spent 76 weeks on the US Billboard charts and was certified triple-platinum in 1993, establishing Soul Asylum as one of the most successful rock bands of the early 1990s.

During the recording of Grave Dancers Union, producer Michael Beinhorn became dissatisfied with drummer Grant Young's performance and brought in Sterling Campbell. Both drummers ended up contributing to the album, but Campbell was credited only as "percussionist" due to the band's reluctance to acknowledge the use of a session musician. Young continued as the band's drummer for touring until he was officially replaced by Campbell before the recording of their next album, Let Your Dim Light Shine.

The single "Runaway Train," released in June 1993, reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1994. This single significantly boosted the album's sales, contributing to its multi-platinum success.

The album cover features a photograph by Czech photographer Jan Saudek, titled "Fate Descends Towards the River Leading Two Innocent Children," taken in 1970. The title of the album is derived from a line in the song "Without a Trace," which reads, "I tried to dance at a funeral, New Orleans style, I joined the Grave Dancers Union, I had to file."