Middle of Nowhere (album)

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Middle of Nowhere
HansonMON.jpg
Studio album by
Hanson
ReleasedMay 6, 1997 (1997-05-06)
RecordedJuly – November 1996, Los Angeles, California
GenrePop rock, teen pop
Length53:41
LabelMercury, Polygram
ProducerThe 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 1997
  3. "I Will Come to You"
    Released: November 10, 1997
  4. "Weird"
    Released: March 1998
  5. "Thinking of You"
    Released: July 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.

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
Allmusic4/5 stars[1]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[2]
Rolling Stone3/5 stars[3]
Robert Christgau(2-star Honorable Mention)(2-star Honorable Mention)[4]

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."[2]

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

  • "Man from Milwaukee" is actually track #21, as there are eight tracks of silence after "With You in Your Dreams". In Japan the song is track 14 because a remix of "MMMBop" serves as song 13. "Man from Milwaukee" was omitted from all cassettes and vinyl pressings of Middle of Nowhere. Some later reissues of the album in some locales including the remastered version omitted the tracks of silence and make "Man from Milwaukee" a true track 13.

Personnel[]

Hanson

  • Zachary Hanson – drums, vocals
  • Taylor Hanson – keyboards, piano, vocals
  • Isaac Hanson – guitar, vocals

Session musicians

  • Stephen Lironi – bass, guitar, percussion, programming, producer, keyboards
  • Peter Kent – violin
  • Michael Fischer – percussion
  • Carole Mukogawa – viola
  • John Wittenberg – violin
  • Mike Shawcross – percussion
  • Michito Sanchez – percussion
  • Larry Corbett – cello
  • Steve Richards – cello
  • Ged Lynch – drums, percussion
  • Nick Vincent – drums
  • Endre Granat – violin
  • Abe Laboriel Jr. – drums
  • David Campbell – conductor, string arrangements
  • Abraham Laboriel – bass
  • Neil Stubenhaus – bass
  • B.J. Cole – pedal steel
  • Sandy Stein – keyboards
  • Mark Hudson[5] – harmonica
  • Murray Adler – violin

Other

  • Roger Love – vocal director
  • Margery Greenspan – art direction
  • Steve Greenberg – executive producer
  • Barry Mann – vocal director
  • Marina Chavez – photography
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • The Dust Brothers – programming, producer
  • Mark Hudson – vocal director

Charts[]

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[46] 5× Platinum 350,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[47] Gold 25,000*
Belgium (BEA)[48] 2× Platinum 100,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[49] Platinum 250,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[50] 5× Platinum 500,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[51] Gold 31,809[51]
France (SNEP)[52] 2× Gold 200,000*
Germany (BVMI)[53] Gold 250,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[54] Gold 10,000*
Mexico (AMPROFON)[55] Gold 100,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[56] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[57] 3× Platinum 45,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[58] Gold 50,000*
Sweden (GLF)[59] Platinum 100,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[60] Platinum 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[61] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[62] 4× Platinum 4,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[63] Platinum 1,000,000*

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

References[]

  1. ^ "Allmusic review".
  2. ^ a b David Browne (1997-05-09). "Middle of Nowhere Review | Music Reviews and News". EW.com. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
  3. ^ "Rolling Stone review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 16, 2009.
  4. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Hanson".
  5. ^ "Middle of Nowhere - Hanson | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  6. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Hanson – Middle Of Nowhere". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  7. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Hanson – Middle Of Nowhere" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  8. ^ "Ultratop.be – Hanson – Middle Of Nowhere" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  9. ^ "Ultratop.be – Hanson – Middle Of Nowhere" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  10. ^ Billboard - Google Books. 1997-05-31. Retrieved 2014-01-23 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ Billboard - Google Books. 1997-07-05. Retrieved 2014-01-23 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Hanson – Middle Of Nowhere" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  13. ^ a b Billboard - Google Books. 1997-07-19. Retrieved 2014-01-23 – via Google Books.
  14. ^ "Hanson: Middle Of Nowhere" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
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  16. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Hanson – Middle Of Nowhere" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  17. ^ lightmedia.hu. "Kereső - előadó/cím szerint - Archívum - Hivatalos magyar slágerlisták". Archived from the original on 2012-12-27.
  18. ^ Billboard - Google Books. 1997-06-28. Retrieved 2014-01-23 – via Google Books.
  19. ^ "Charts.nz – Hanson – Middle Of Nowhere". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  20. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Hanson – Middle Of Nowhere". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  21. ^ a b Billboard - Google Books. 1997-08-30. Retrieved 2014-01-23 – via Google Books.
  22. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 - Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com.
  23. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Hanson – Middle Of Nowhere". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  24. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Hanson – Middle Of Nowhere". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  25. ^ "IFPI Taiwan - International Top 10 (1997/26)". 18 February 1999. Archived from the original on 18 February 1999.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  26. ^ "Hanson | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  27. ^ "Hanson Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  28. ^ * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: albums chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  29. ^ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 1997". ARIA. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  30. ^ "Jahreshitparade Alben 1997". Austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  31. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1997". Ultratop (in Dutch). Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  32. ^ "Rapports Annuels 1997". Ultratop (in French). Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  33. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1997". DutchCharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  34. ^ "Eurochart Top 100 Albums 1997" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  35. ^ "Tops De L'annee: Top Albums 1997". SNEP (in French). Retrieved January 1, 2021.
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  39. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1997: Alben". Hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  40. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1997". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  41. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  42. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1998". Ultratop (in Dutch). Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  43. ^ "RPM's Top 100 CDs of '98". RPM. December 14, 1998. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  44. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1998". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  45. ^ Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade - The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  46. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  47. ^ "Austrian album certifications – Hanson – Middle of Nowhere" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  48. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 1998". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  49. ^ "Brazilian album certifications – Hanson – Middle of Nowhere" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  50. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Hanson – Middle of Nowhere". Music Canada. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  51. ^ a b "Hanson" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  52. ^ "French album certifications – Hanson – Middle of Nowhere" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  53. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Hanson; 'Middle of Nowhere')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  54. ^ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1997". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  55. ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 25 July 2012. Type Hanson in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Midde of Nowhere in the box under TÍTULO
  56. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Hanson – Midde of Nowhere" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Midde of Nowhere in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  57. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Hanson – Middle of Nowhere". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  58. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 1997 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  59. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  60. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Hanson; 'Middle of Nowhere')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  61. ^ "British album certifications – Hanson – Middle of Nowhere". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  62. ^ "American album certifications – Hanson – Middle of Nowhere". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  63. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1997". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
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