July 26, 2021

1994 - November: Dave Matthews Band “Under the Table and Dreaming”

43 minutes

While Under the Table and Dreaming may have been released in September 1994 as the debut studio album by the Dave Matthews Band, songwriter and guitarist David John Matthews was working as a bartender in 1990 when a friend encouraged him to get together with drummer Carter Beauford and record a demo of a few songs he had written. Matthews also brought in saxophonist LeRoi Moore, and the trio began working on songs in 1991. Beauford recalled the three piece band was, according to Wikipedia “Awful. Not just kind of bad, I mean heinously bad...Sometimes it amazes me that we ever had a second rehearsal.” Fortunately, they did have more rehearsals, as Matthews brought in Stefan Lessard on bass, Peter Griesar as keyboardist (he would leave the band just before the big breakout), and violinist Boyd Tinsley (in 1992).

The Dave Matthews Band built a following similar to the Grateful Dead through constant touring in the 1990's. They were famous for constantly changing their setlist and song arrangement so that no two concerts were the same, they also encouraged fans to record their performances, another similarity to the Grateful Dead. Armed with a solid following in Virginia and a live EP called “Recently” recorded earier in 1994, the DMB would enter the studio with famed producer Steve Lillywhite to produce this certified 6x Platinum album.

There has never really been a time when the Dave Matthews Band hasn't been popular since this debut. When they released their album “Come Tomorrow” in 2018, it debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200, making DMB the first band to have seven consecutive studio albums debut at the peak.

This is a great album, and we know you will enjoy downloading it for your collection

Ants Marching

This is the second single released, and it reached #18 on the Billboard Alternative chart. It was written back in 1991 about people who live very settled lives, doing the same thing over and over - like ants marching. The album title comes from this song, “He remembers being small - playing under the table and dreaming.”

The Best of What's Around

This is the opening track from the album. It is about a guy cheering up a friend who is down. “See you and me have a better time than most can dream, have it better than the best. So we can pull on through whatever tears at us, whatever holds us down. And if nothing can be done we'll make the best of what's around.”

Lover Lay Down

This is a deep cut off the album, and it is a pretty straightforward love song. “Oh please lover lay down, spend some time with me. Together share this smile.”

What Would You Say

We don't recommend that you look for a deeper meaning in the lyrics from the lead single from the album. While the lyrics are mostly nonsense, we do appreciate the line, “I was there when the bear ate his head - thought it was a candy.” The harmonica will sound familiar to Blues Traveler fans, as John Popper contributes those notes.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Sympathy for the Devil by Guns 'N' Roses (from the motion picture Interview with the Vampire)

Axl Rose and company provide their take in this cover of the Rolling Stones song for the horror hit based on Anne Rice's novel.

STAFF PICKS:

Plowed by Sponge

Wayne start's this week's staff picks on a rocking track from the Sponge album “Rotting Piñata.” The song lyrics are about trying to achieve a goal and failing. “In a world of human wreckage where I'm lost and I'm found and I can't touch the ground, I'm plowed into the sound.”

I'll Stand By You by the Pretenders

An unusual ballad, Brian brings us a big hit from Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders. This was the first time Hynde wrote in collaboration with others, songwriters Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg. Hynde was embarrassed about writing the pop song at first, but warmed up to it over time. The song reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Need Your Lovin' by Tesla

Rob’s staff pick is off Tesla’s album “Bust A Nut.” Vocalist Jeff Keith fronts this band made famous in the hair metal era. This track is a love song, but with a stronger beat than would be the case if it were a ballad. Tesla continues to tour today.

6:00 by Dream Theater

Bruce rounds out the staff picks with the opening track from Dream Theater's album Awake. Keyboardist Kevin Moore penned these lyrics, supposedly about a man stuck in a situation looking for a way out, but in reality about Moore's increasing distance from the band and desire to leave. The opening samples are from the 1987 movie “The Dead,” a film adaptation of a James Joyce short story.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

#34 by the Dave Matthews Band

It's a little double dipping on the DMB with this instrumental, which would appear on the CD as the 34th track. A number of bands would “hide” music on distant tracks on their CD releases.

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**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

4.9

4747 ratings