Under The Table & Dreaming holds a very special place in my heart.
It’s the album that introduced me (and most of the rest of the world) to Dave Matthews Band. I fell in love with them almost immediately, and that love affair has continued through countless albums and 11 shows? 12 shows? Um…let’s just say that I’ve seen DMB a number of times.
Although I can’t say DMB’s ever released a bad¹ album, Under The Table is one of the best. Even if Dave was still writing lyrics in pidgin English, the album ranks as a winner. “The Best Of What’s Around” never fails to put a smile on my face, “Rhyme & Reason” and “Typical Situation” address my more thoughtful side, and “What Would You Say” and “Ants Marching” still hold up after thousands of listens on tape, CD, digital file, radio station and concert². Plus, “Lover Lay Down” is a solid dry run for what would end up being the band’s most famous/infamous single, “Crash Into Me.”
On the 20th anniversary of Under The Table’s release, the Dave Matthews Band is releasing a remastered version of the classic album on CD and vinyl-for the first time ever (as well as digitally.) The album will contain an additional 3 tracks, including a studio version of “Granny,” which has been a live favorite for eons.
You can preorder the CD and vinyl versions here. The Under The Table… reissue will be released November 24th.
¹-There have been a couple of mediocre ones, though.
²-In addition to the loop video we had to play every day at the Tower Records store that employed me. I saw the “Ants Marching” video 5 times a day for maybe three months straight. And I still like the song!!
2 comments
HeavySoulBrutha DaveB. says:
Oct 10, 2014
Back in the day, they would play, and I would attend, a weekly Tuesday night gig here in Richmond, VA at a legendary local club called, The Flood Zone. It was sparsely attended for quite a while. Then suddenly the word began to spread about this adventurous band that really, REALLY could play. The weekly crowd began to grow and grow until the venue was turning folks away – ON A TUEDAY NIGHT – and it was then that we realized our band was gonna make it big, and it was truly a joy to see. Those “mediocre” records sent me out of touch with DMB, but I’ll certainly be revisiting “Under The Table” as they were honing those songs week after week that would encompass their big label debut on those Tuesday nights. No doubt it will bring all those great memories back. Peace and SOUL… HSB
MJ says:
Oct 11, 2014
Dave, I would’ve loved to have seen these guys in their infancy. Jealous that you got the chance. Thanks for the comment!