Middle of Nowhere (album)

Last updated
Middle of Nowhere
HansonMON.jpg
Studio album by
Hanson
ReleasedMay 6, 1997 (1997-05-06)
RecordedJuly – November 1996
StudioLos Angeles, California
Genre
Length53:41
Label Mercury, Polygram
Producer The Dust Brothers, Stephen Lironi
Hanson chronology
MMMBop
(1996)		Middle of Nowhere
(1997)		 Snowed In
(1997)
Singles from Middle of Nowhere
  1. "MMMBop"
    Released: April 15, 1997
  2. "Where's the Love"
    Released: September 1, 1997
  3. "I Will Come to You"
    Released: November 10, 1997
  4. "Weird"
    Released: March 16, 1998
  5. "Thinking of You"
    Released: May 4, 1998

Middle of Nowhere is the debut studio album by American pop rock group Hanson, and the first to be released on a major label, which was Polygram Records and Mercury Records. Released in 1997, it features slicker studio production compared to their previous indie efforts Boomerang and MMMBop . The band members were between the ages of 11 and 16 when it was released. "Yearbook", one of the album's more dramatic songs, was not performed live until the recording of Middle of Nowhere Acoustic on May 5, 2007.

Contents

Middle of Nowhere yielded five singles: "MMMBop", "Where's the Love", "I Will Come to You", "Weird", and "Thinking of You". "MMMBop" became a major hit, reaching number one in the United States and at least eleven other countries.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Christgau's Consumer Guide Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg [4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Entertainment Weekly A− [6]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Music Week Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [8]
NME 8/10 [9]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Spin 8/10 [12]

Middle of Nowhere reached number two on the Billboard 200, being kept out of the top spot by the Spice Girls' Spice . The album also reached number one in the UK, Australia, Germany, and Taiwan.

Total sales worldwide are 10 million copies. The album sold just under 4 million in the US (4 times platinum) and over 400,000 copies in UK.

The album was well received by critics. David Browne of Entertainment Weekly said of the trio: "... lack of guile is Hanson's most endearing quality." [6]

Track listing

All songs written by Isaac Hanson, Taylor Hanson and Zachary Hanson, with additional writers noted in parentheses.

  1. "Thinking of You" – 3:13
  2. "MMMBop" – 4:28
  3. "Weird" – 4:02 (Desmond Child)
  4. "Speechless" – 4:20 (Stephen Lironi)
  5. "Where's the Love" – 4:13 (Mark Hudson, Sander Selover)
  6. "Yearbook" – 5:29 (Ellen Shipley)
  7. "Look at You" – 4:28 (Stephen Lironi)
  8. "Lucy" – 3:35 (Mark Hudson)
  9. "I Will Come to You" – 4:11 (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil)
  10. "A Minute Without You" – 3:55 (Mark Hudson)
  11. "Madeline" – 4:13 (Clif Magness)
  12. "With You in Your Dreams" – 3:56
  13. "Man from Milwaukee" [CD-only hidden track] – 3:38

Note

Personnel

Hanson

Session musicians

Other

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [55] 5× Platinum350,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria) [56] Gold25,000*
Belgium (BEA) [57] Platinum50,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [58] Platinum250,000*
Canada (Music Canada) [59] 5× Platinum500,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat) [60] Gold31,809 [60]
France (SNEP) [61] 2× Gold200,000*
Germany (BVMI) [62] Gold250,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong) [63] Gold10,000*
Japan (RIAJ) [64] Platinum200,000^
Mexico (AMPROFON) [65] Gold100,000^
Netherlands (NVPI) [66] Gold50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [67] 3× Platinum45,000^
Poland (ZPAV) [68] Gold50,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [69] Gold50,000^
Sweden (GLF) [70] Platinum100,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [71] Platinum50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [72] Gold100,000^
United States (RIAA) [73] 4× Platinum4,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI) [74] Platinum1,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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