In My Tribe


In My Tribe is an album by the American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. Released on July 27, 1987, it was their second major-label album and their first to achieve large-scale success. John Lombardo, Natalie Merchant's songwriting partner on previous albums, left the band in 1986. Merchant began collaborating with the other members of the band, most notably with Rob Buck.
In 1989, the recording of Cat Stevens' "Peace Train" was removed from the U.S. CD version after comments made by Stevens that were perceived to be supportive of the fatwa on Salman Rushdie. The song remains on LP record copies and CDs released outside the United States. The song was later included in a 2-CD compilation, , released on January 24, 2004, by Elektra/Asylum/Rhino Records.

Artwork

The front cover of the CD edition is a black-and-white photograph of children with bows and arrows in an archery class, a theme used by record and cassette editions with different covers.

Reception

In a contemporary review, Rolling Stones J. D. Considine wrote that "with In My Tribe, the group has finally come into maturity. It isn't simply that the songs are richer and more resonant this time around; the band itself seems to have grown." Rolling Stone later ranked the album number sixty-five on their list of the 100 greatest albums of the 1980s, summing it up as "a poetic, heartfelt message about social concerns such as alcoholism, child abuse and illiteracy." AllMusic reviewer Chris Woodstra wrote that "the album proves powerful not for the ideas but rather for the graceful execution and pure listenability."

Track listing

All songs written by Natalie Merchant, except where noted.
  1. "What's the Matter Here?" – 4:51
  2. "Hey Jack Kerouac" – 3:26
  3. "Like the Weather" – 3:56
  4. "Cherry Tree" – 3:13
  5. "The Painted Desert" – 3:39
  6. "Don't Talk" – 5:04
  7. "Peace Train" – 3:26
  8. : Omitted from later U.S. releases
  9. "Gun Shy" – 4:11
  10. "My Sister Rose" – 3:12
  11. "A Campfire Song" – 3:15
  12. "City of Angels" – 4:17
  13. "Verdi Cries" – 4:27

    Personnel

;10,000 Maniacs
;Additional musicians
;Other Personnel
;Album
Chart Peak
position
The Billboard 20037

;Singles
YearSingleChartPosition
1988"Like the Weather"Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks37
1988"Like the Weather"Billboard Hot 10068
1988"What's the Matter Here?"Billboard Hot 10080
1988"What's the Matter Here?"Billboard Modern Rock Tracks9

Certifications