Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
| Fumbling Towards Ecstasy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Sarah McLachlan | ||||
| Released |
October 22, 1993 (Canada) February 5, 1994 (US) May 24, 1994 (Japan) August 14, 1994 (Australia) (see release history) | |||
| Recorded | 1993 at Le Studio, Morin Heights, Quebec | |||
| Genre | Pop rock | |||
| Length | 57:50 | |||
| Label |
Nettwerk (Canada) Arista (Australia/US) BMG Japan (Japan) | |||
| Producer | Pierre Marchand | |||
| Sarah McLachlan chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Fumbling Towards Ecstasy | ||||
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| Music sample | ||||
| "Possession"  | ||||
Fumbling Towards Ecstasy is the third studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, released on October 22, 1993, in Canada, February 5, 1994, in the United States, May 24, 1994, in Japan and August 14, 1994, in Australia. It was produced by Pierre Marchand in Montreal
The album was an immediate hit in Canada, where McLachlan was already an established star. Over the next two years, it became her breakthrough album internationally as well. However, in some countries, most notably the United States, the album was a steady seller that stayed in the middle ranges of the pop charts for almost two years. As of November 2003, the album had sold 2.8 million copies in the United States.[1]
Some editions contain an album version of McLachlan's 1995 single used for The Brothers McMullen soundtrack, "I Will Remember You". The track's lyrics do not appear in the booklet, nor does the track's crediting information.
August 5, 2008, saw the release of the 15th anniversary 3-disc edition the album. The set includes the original remastered album, The Freedom Sessions and a DVD that includes live performances, music videos and more. The album was released by Legacy Recordings.
The line, "If I choose to, would you try to understand?" from Elsewhere is similar to the chorus of the 1988 Prince song I Wish U Heaven.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Possession" | Sarah McLachlan | 4:39 |
| 2. | "Wait" | McLachlan | 4:09 |
| 3. | "Plenty" | McLachlan | 4:05 |
| 4. | "Good Enough" | McLachlan | 5:03 |
| 5. | "Mary" | McLachlan | 3:55 |
| 6. | "Elsewhere" | McLachlan | 4:44 |
| 7. | "Circle" | McLachlan | 3:43 |
| 8. | "Ice" | McLachlan | 3:54 |
| 9. | "Hold On" | McLachlan | 4:09 |
| 10. | "Ice Cream" | McLachlan | 2:44 |
| 11. | "Fear" | McLachlan | 3:59 |
| 12. | "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" (1) | McLachlan, Pierre Marchand | 9:49 |
| UK and Japan Bonus Track | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "Blue" | Joni Mitchell | 2:50 |
1 A hidden track can be found after "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy," consisting of a brief outtake snippet from "Ice" and a solo piano rendition of "Possession."
Legacy edition
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Rolling Stone |  [3] |
| Slant Magazine | [4] |
| Disc 1: Fumbling Towards Ecstasy | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Possession" | 4:39 |
| 2. | "Wait" | 4:09 |
| 3. | "Plenty" | 4:05 |
| 4. | "Good Enough" | 5:03 |
| 5. | "Mary" | 3:55 |
| 6. | "Elsewhere" | 4:44 |
| 7. | "Circle" | 3:43 |
| 8. | "Ice" | 3:54 |
| 9. | "Hold On" | 4:09 |
| 10. | "Ice Cream" | 2:44 |
| 11. | "Fear" | 3:59 |
| 12. | "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" | 4:56 |
| 13. | "Possession (Piano Version)" | 4:30 |
| The Freedom Sessions | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Elsewhere" | 4:33 |
| 2. | "Plenty" | 3:20 |
| 3. | "Mary" | 3:55 |
| 4. | "Good Enough" | 3:20 |
| 5. | "Hold On" | 6:43 |
| 6. | "Ice Cream" | 2:30 |
| 7. | "Ice" | 3:58 |
| 8. | "Ol' 55" (Written by Tom Waits) | 4:12 |
| 9. | "Hold On (Alternate Version)" | 4:42 |
| Fumbling Towards Ecstasy Live DVD | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Plenty" | |
| 2. | "Good Enough" | |
| 3. | "Wait" | |
| 4. | "Home" | |
| 5. | "Ice" (Live studio) | |
| 6. | "Ben's Song" | |
| 7. | "Out of the Shadows" | |
| 8. | "I Will Not Forget You" | |
| 9. | "Path of Thorns" (Live studio) | |
| 10. | "Hold On" | |
| 11. | "Possession" | |
| 12. | "Mary" (Live studio) | |
| 13. | "Ice Cream" | |
| 14. | "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" | |
| 15. | "Ol' 55" | |
Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
Certification | Sales/shipments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart[5] | 76 | ||
| Canadian Albums Chart[6] | 5 | 5x platinum | 500,000[7] |
| U.S. Billboard 200[8] | 50 | 3x platinum | 3,000,000[9] |
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalogue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 22 October 1993 | Nettwerk | CD | W2-30081 |
| United States | 5 February 1994 | Arista Records | CD | 07822-18725-2 |
| Japan | 24 May 1994 | BMG Japan | CD | BVCA-638 |
| Australia | 14 August 1994 | Arista Records | CD | 07822-18725-2 |
Personnel
- Sarah McLachlan: Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Piano
- Bill Dillon: Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Guitorgan, Bass, Piano
- Pierre Marchand: Bass, Piano, Keyboards, Fake B-3 Organ, Drum Machine, Percussion Machine, 808, Shaker, Found Sound
- Brian Minato: Bass
- David Kershaw: Hammond Organ
- Jane Scarpantoni: Cello
- Michel Dubeau: Saxophone
- Ashwin Sood: Drums, Percussion
- Jerry Marotta: Drums, Percussion
- Lou Shefano: Drums
- Guy Nadon: Drums
References
External links
- The Sarah McLachlan Fumbling: The Podcast Features Darryl DMC McDaniels, Bill Leeb, and Alan Light
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