Murder, Misery and Then Goodnight

Last updated
Murder, Misery and Then Goodnight
Murder Misery and Then Goodnight.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 26, 1998
RecordedMarch–July 1998
Genre Folk
Length31:19
Label 4AD
Producer Kristin Hersh, Billy O'Connell, Steve Rizzo
Kristin Hersh chronology
Strange Angels
(1998)
Murder, Misery and Then Goodnight
(1998)
Sky Motel
(1999)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]

Murder, Misery and Then Goodnight is Kristin Hersh's third solo album and quite a departure from her other solo recordings, in that it contains solely Appalachian folk songs about murder and death arranged by Kristin Hersh, rather than songs written by Hersh herself. Hersh's son, Ryder James O'Connell, plays piano and sings backing vocals.

Contents

The album was produced by Kristin Hersh, co-produced by Steve Rizzo and Billy O'Connell, and engineered by Steve Rizzo.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Down in the Willow Garden" Charlie Monroe 4:53
2."I Never Will Marry" A. P. Carter 2:30
3."Sweet Roseanne" 3:02
4."Poor Ellen Smith"
  • Molly Davis
  • Lynn Davis
2:10
5."Pretty Polly" 2:05
6."Little Birdy" 2:13
7."Mama’s Gonna Buy" 2:19
8."Fly Around My Blue Eyed Girl" 1:21
9."Banks of the Ohio" 3:36
10."Three Nights Drunk" 2:00
11."What’ll We Do With The Baby-o" 2:19
12."Whole Heap Of Little Horses" 2:48

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Throwing Muses</span> American alternative rock band

Throwing Muses are an American alternative rock band formed in 1981 in Newport, Rhode Island, United States, that toured and recorded extensively until 1997, when its members began concentrating more on other projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristin Hersh</span> American musician

Martha Kristin Hersh is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter known for her solo work and with her rock bands Throwing Muses and 50FootWave. She has released eleven solo albums. Her guitar work and composition style ranges from jaggedly dissonant to traditional folk. Hersh's lyrics have a stream-of-consciousness style, reflecting her personal experiences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pooka (band)</span>

Pooka was the former songwriting duo of UK guitarists/vocalists Sharon Lewis and Natasha Jones. They took their name from Púca, a mythical Irish goblin with an uneven temper.

<i>The Real Ramona</i> 1991 studio album by Throwing Muses

The Real Ramona is the fourth studio album by Throwing Muses, released in 1991. It peaked at number 26 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Hips and Makers</i> 1994 studio album by Kristin Hersh

Hips and Makers is the debut solo album by Kristin Hersh, best known as the primary singer and songwriter of the band Throwing Muses. The album was released by 4AD in the UK on January 24, 1994, and by Sire Records in the US on February 1, 1994. In contrast to Hersh's rock-oriented work with Throwing Muses, the album is primarily acoustic, with Hersh usually playing unaccompanied. Other credited musicians include Jane Scarpantoni on cello and Michael Stipe of R.E.M., who sings backing vocals on the opening track, "Your Ghost." In addition to Hersh's own material, the album features a cover of the traditional song "The Cuckoo".

<i>Hunkpapa</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Throwing Muses

Hunkpapa is the third studio album by Throwing Muses, released in 1989. It peaked at number 59 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Learn to Sing Like a Star</i> 2007 studio album by Kristin Hersh

Learn to Sing Like a Star is Kristin Hersh's seventh solo album and was released in the US on Yep Roc Records on the 23 January 2007 and on 4AD for the rest of the world on the 29 January. The album was produced by Kristin herself and mixed in Nashville by two-time Grammy winner Trina Shoemaker. It features her Throwing Muses bandmate David Narcizo on drums and with strings by the McCarricks. The album peaked at #27 on the US's Billboard Top Heatseekers Album Chart.

<i>The Grotto</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Kristin Hersh

The Grotto is the sixth solo album released by Kristin Hersh. It was released on 17 March 2003 on 4AD records, simultaneously with the Throwing Muses (2003) record. It features Howe Gelb on piano and Andrew Bird on violin. Kristin Hersh produced the album as well as playing all other instruments. The album peaked at #39 on the US's Billboard Top Independent Albums Chart.

<i>Throwing Muses</i> (2003 album) 2003 studio album by Throwing Muses

Throwing Muses is the eighth studio album by the alternative rock band Throwing Muses. It was recorded over three weekends and released simultaneously with Kristin Hersh's solo record The Grotto on 17 March 2003. The album features Bernard Georges on bass and David Narcizo on drums as well as original bandmate Tanya Donelly on backing vocals.

<i>Sky Motel</i> 1999 studio album by Kristin Hersh

Sky Motel is the fourth studio album by the American musician Kristin Hersh, released in 1999.

<i>Strange Angels</i> (Kristin Hersh album) 1998 studio album by Kristin Hersh

Strange Angels is Kristin Hersh's second studio album, produced by Kristin Hersh and co-produced by Joe Henry. The album peaked at #64 on the Official UK Albums Chart. It also peaked at #40 on the US's Billboard Heatseekers Album Chart. The album carried the dedication: "for Billy, Dylan, Ryder, Wyatt and TM (1984-1997)".

<i>University</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Throwing Muses

University is the sixth studio album by the American alternative rock band Throwing Muses, released in 1995. It contains the single "Bright Yellow Gun", the band's first national hit.

<i>Red Heaven</i> 1992 studio album by Throwing Muses

Red Heaven is a studio album by the American band Throwing Muses, released in 1992. It peaked at number 13 on the UK Albums Chart. Throwing Muses promoted the album by touring with the Flaming Lips. "Firepile" was released as a single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Laundromat Records</span>

American Laundromat Records is an independent record label founded in 2004 by Joe Spadaro.

<i>Strings</i> (EP) 1994 EP by Kristin Hersh

Strings is an extended play (EP) by American singer-songwriter Kristin Hersh, released in April 1994. It peaked at number 60 on the UK Singles Chart.

"Down in the Willow Garden", also known as "Rose Connelly" is a traditional Appalachian murder ballad about a man facing the gallows for the murder of his lover: he gave her wine, stabbed her, and threw her in a river. It originated in the 19th century, probably in Ireland, before becoming established in the United States. The lyrics greatly vary among earlier versions, but professional recordings have stabilized the song in a cut-down form. First professionally recorded in 1927, it was made popular by Charlie Monroe's 1947 version, and it has been recorded dozens of times since then.

<i>Crooked</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Kristin Hersh

Crooked is Kristin Hersh's eighth studio album, produced by Hersh. The album was released in the form of a book containing song lyrics, artwork and a code to download the music digitally.

<i>Purgatory/Paradise</i> 2013 studio album by Throwing Muses

Purgatory/Paradise is the ninth studio album by Throwing Muses. The album was released in the form of a book containing song lyrics, artwork and a code to download additional music. The album was named after Purgatory Road and Paradise Avenue, two roads that intersect in Middletown, Rhode Island.

<i>Sun Racket</i> 2020 studio album by Throwing Muses

Sun Racket is the tenth studio album by American alternative rock band Throwing Muses. The album was released on Fire Records on September 4, 2020, and has received positive reviews from critics.

<i>Clear Pond Road</i> 2023 studio album by Kristin Hersh

Clear Pond Road is the eleventh studio album by American musician Kristin Hersh, released through Fire Records on September 8, 2023.

References

  1. Kellman, Andy. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  2. "NME Review". NME . September 12, 2005. Retrieved September 8, 2020.