9270 - ORCHESTRA MORPHINE LIVE ON TOUR (2000)

ORCHESTRA MORPHINE
''LIVE ON TOUR''
FEBRUARY 1 2000
69:23

1 The Night 07:08
2 So Many Ways 05:27
3 Souvenir 05:04
4 A Good Woman 04:22
5 Way We Met 05:33
6 Not Like That 06:54
7 I Know You Pt. III 04:34
8 Rope 07:40
9 Top Floor 05:18
10 Cook 07:14
11 Take Me With You 05:34
12 You Look Like Rain 04:28
All Tracks By Mark Sandman

Mike Rivard - Bass Guitar
Jerome Deupree - Drums, Percussion
Billy Conway - Drums, Percussion
Evan Harriman - Keyboards
Laurie Sargent - Lead Vocals
Christion McNeill - Lead Vocal,
Dana Colley - Saxophone [Baritone], Saxophone [Bass], Saxophone [Tenor], Lead Vocals
Russ Gershon - Saxophone [Baritone], Saxophone [Tenor], Saxophone [Soprano], Vocals
Tom Halter - Trumpet, Trombone

ABOUT THE BAND
Surviving Morphine Members Form Orchestra For Memorial Tour
by David Basham, January 11 2000

The surviving members of Morphine — drummer Billy Conway and saxophonist Dana Colley — have tapped some of their musician friends from Boston to form Orchestra Morphine.
Orchestra Morphine plans to hit the road next month to support Morphine’s final album, “The Night,” as well as pay tribute to the band’s fallen leader, Mark Sandman, who died while the group was on tour in Italy last year (see “Morphine Frontman Suffers Fatal Heart Attack” ).

Among those enlisted into Orchestra Morphine include original Morphine drummer Jerome Dupree, tenor saxophonist Russ Gershon, trumpeter Tom Halter, keyboardist Evan Harriman, and bassist Mike Rivard.

Former Face To Face singer Laurie Sargent and Christian McNeill will share vocal duties on the tour, currently slated to begin on February 4 at Pearl Street in Northampton, Massachusetts.

A portion of the tour and merchandise profits will be donated to the Mark Sandman
Music Education Fund, which helps provide music education to children in the Boston area via grants, lectures, and workshops.

“The Night” is due out on DreamWorks Records on February 1 2000.

TO THE TOP

9269 - MORPHINE AT YOUR SERVICE, DISC TWO (2009)

MORPHINE
''MORPHINE AT YOUR SERVICE, DISC TWO''
OCTOBER 6 2009
124:40

DISC ONE (53:42)
1 Introduction (At Your Service) 00:48
2 Come Over 02:21
3 Come Along 04:44
4 It's Not Like That Anymore 04:25
5 Patience (Alternate Take) 03:42
6 Call Back 04:41
7 Bye Bye Johnny 03:22
8 Hello Baby 02:19
9 Women R Dogs 03:22
10 You're An Artist (Alternate Take) (Chris Ballew, Mark Sandman) 03:13
11 5:09 03:10
12 Lilah II 04:43
13 Moons Of Jupiter 02:55
14 Lunch In Hell 02:46
15 Imaginary Song 02:45
16 Shadow (I Know You (Part V)) 04:19
Tracks By Mark Sandman, Except 10

DISC TWO (70:58)
1 Good (Live) 02:36
2 Only One (Live) 02:57
3 Shoot 'Em Down (Live) 04:21
4 Saddest Song (Live) 02:53
5 Claire (Live) 03:32
6 I Had My Chance (Alternate Take) 02:42
7 Buena (Alternate Take) 04:16
8 Empty Box (Alternate Take) 03:55
9 All Wrong (Alternate Take) 03:33
10 Put It Down (Wo-Oh) (Live) 02:59
11 Free Love (Live) 05:00
12 Sexy Christmas Baby Mine (Live) 02:34
13 Scratch (Live) 03:31
14 Super Sex (Live) 03:30
15 Radar (Live) 03:57
16 I'd Catch You 05:14
17 The Night (Alternate Take) 04:42
18 Take Me With You (Alternate Ta 04:16
19 Shade (I Know You (Part IV)) 04:20
All Tracks By Mark Sandman

Chris Ballew/Guest Artist, Strings
Billy Beard/Drums, Guest Artist, Percussion
Dana Colley/Saxophone, Vocals
Billy Conway/Drums, Percussion
Larry Dersch/Drums, Guest Artist, Percussion
Jerry Deupree/Drums, Percussion
Ted Drozdowski Liner Notes
Jim Fitting/Guest Artist, Harmonica
Joe Kessler/Guest Artist, Strings
Rick Barry/Drums, Guest Artist, Percussion
Mike Rivard/Bass, Guest Artist
Jimmy Ryan/Guest Artist, Mandolin
Mark Sandman/Guitar, Organ, Piano, Strings, Vocals
Jane Scarpantoni/Guest Artist, Strings
Ken Winokur/Drums, Guest Artist, Percussion

REVIEW/AMG
by Jason Lymangrover
***1/2 / *****
Morphine's discography was cut tragically short, but with Rykodisc holding the keys to the vaults, and with a heck of a lot of unissued material (at least 60 tracks), the label released a second compilation of Morphine B-sides to mark the ten-year anniversary of the unexpected death of singer/slide bassist Mark Sandman. Like 1997's B-Sides & Otherwise, At Your Service is more abstract and challenging than the other studio releases available. Many of the songs here take a more free-form approach, potentially because they were never completely finished. Even so, the songs sound great, and with 35 previously unreleased songs, there's a lot to sort through and a lot to like. Morphine were a unique force as a live trio, and the second disc showcases the group's on-stage chemistry, with nine songs taken from performances at MIT radio station WMBR during 1992 and 1993. As expected, these are solid takes, with Sandman, Colley, and Deupree taking staples from Good, Cure for Pain, and Yes in exciting new directions (including a relentless, double-time version of "Super Sex"). Similarly, alternate versions of fan favorites "Buena," "All Wrong," and later works "The Night" and "Take Me with You" should be of interest. The guitar-oriented reworking of "Patience" (not the Guns N' Roses song) is phenomenal as well, but the most exciting moments come in the 15 unreleased tracks. It's a double-disc comp to complete the true fan's collection. Disc one (subtitled Shadows) ends on "Shadow (I Know You Part V)" and disc two (Shade) closes with "Shade (I Know You Part IV)" -- leaving listeners with two of the most soothing Morphine tracks ever recorded.

BIOGRAPHY/AMG
by Greg Prato
Multi-instrumentalist/singer Mark Sandman was best known as the frontman for self-described "low-rockers" Morphine. An intensely private person, not much is known about Sandman's early days, just that he was born in 1952 (growing up in Newton, MA), and after graduating from UMass Boston, did some traveling before working on a fishing boat in Washington. By the mid-'80s, Sandman had moved back to the Boston area where he formed and played guitar/sang in the blues roots rock quartet Treat Her Right (along with guitarist/singer David Champagne, drummer Billy Conway, and harmonica player Jim Fitting). The group enjoyed minor success with the college rock crowd, issuing a total of three albums: 1986's self-titled debut, 1989's Tied to the Tracks, and 1991's What's Good for You, before splitting up.
During the latter years of Treat Her Right, Sandman could be seen playing in any of several side projects, including Supergroup (with future Presidents of the United States member Chris Ballew), Treat Her Orange (a collaboration with Blood Oranges frontman/mandolin player Jimmy Ryan), and the horn-driven funk outfit Hypnosonics. But of all the Sandman-related bands at the time, it was Morphine that caused the biggest stir. Comprised of drummer Jerome Dupree, tenor/baritone saxophonist Dana Colley, and Sandman on vocals and a homemade, detuned two-string bass that he built himself, the trio specialized in stripped-down jazz-lounge rock complete with Kerouac-like lyrics, which would have provided the perfect soundtrack to a dimly lit, late night bar.
In the midst of their debut album's recording sessions, Dupree was replaced with former Treat Her Right skinsman Billy Conway, resulting in 1992's Good on the Accurate/Distortion label. The band's regional buzz grew worldwide with incessant touring and such further releases as 1993's Cure for Pain and 1995's Yes, both issued for Rykodisc Records (who in turn reissued their debut). Morphine's buzz had grown too loud for the major labels to ignore any longer, as Dreamworks signed the trio and issued the slightly disappointing Like Swimming in 1997. The album failed to catapult Sandman and the group to the big time, but their large and devoted cult following remained intact. With Morphine working long and hard on what would be their fourth studio album overall (Sandman in particular wanted the album to take the group to the next level musically, he was weary of the group repeating the same formula over and over), the trio toured Europe in the summer of 1999. Sadly, on July 3 at a festival performance in Rome, Sandman collapsed on stage, dying shortly thereafter from an apparent heart attack.
The studio album that Morphine had just completed, The Night, was issued posthumously a year later, as was a live album chronicling a 1994 show, which Sandman was overseeing at the time of his death. After Sandman's death, the remaining members of Morphine toured as the Morphine Orchestra (which was supplemented by added players), while the Mark Sandman Music Education Fund was founded, which benefits music education in the Cambridge public school system. In addition to his recording output with Morphine, Sandman guested on other artist's recordings over the years, including a pair of albums by the Either/Orchestra (Across the Omniverse and Half Life of Desire), Duke Levine's Lava, and Wooden Leg's self-titled debut.

TO THE TOP

9268 - MORPHINE AT YOUR SERVICE, DISC ONE (2009)

MORPHINE
''MORPHINE AT YOUR SERVICE, DISC ONE''
OCTOBER 6 2009
124:40

DISC ONE (53:42)
1 Introduction (At Your Service) 00:48
2 Come Over 02:21
3 Come Along 04:44
4 It's Not Like That Anymore 04:25
5 Patience (Alternate Take) 03:42
6 Call Back 04:41
7 Bye Bye Johnny 03:22
8 Hello Baby 02:19
9 Women R Dogs 03:22
10 You're An Artist (Alternate Take) (Chris Ballew, Mark Sandman) 03:13
11 5:09 03:10
12 Lilah II 04:43
13 Moons Of Jupiter 02:55
14 Lunch In Hell 02:46
15 Imaginary Song 02:45
16 Shadow (I Know You (Part V)) 04:19
Tracks By Mark Sandman, Except 10

DISC TWO (70:58)
1 Good (Live) 02:36
2 Only One (Live) 02:57
3 Shoot 'Em Down (Live) 04:21
4 Saddest Song (Live) 02:53
5 Claire (Live) 03:32
6 I Had My Chance (Alternate Take) 02:42
7 Buena (Alternate Take) 04:16
8 Empty Box (Alternate Take) 03:55
9 All Wrong (Alternate Take) 03:33
10 Put It Down (Wo-Oh) (Live) 02:59
11 Free Love (Live) 05:00
12 Sexy Christmas Baby Mine (Live) 02:34
13 Scratch (Live) 03:31
14 Super Sex (Live) 03:30
15 Radar (Live) 03:57
16 I'd Catch You 05:14
17 The Night (Alternate Take) 04:42
18 Take Me With You (Alternate Ta 04:16
19 Shade (I Know You (Part IV)) 04:20
All Tracks By Mark Sandman

Chris Ballew/Guest Artist, Strings
Billy Beard/Drums, Guest Artist, Percussion
Dana Colley/Saxophone, Vocals
Billy Conway/Drums, Percussion
Larry Dersch/Drums, Guest Artist, Percussion
Jerry Deupree/Drums, Percussion
Ted Drozdowski Liner Notes
Jim Fitting/Guest Artist, Harmonica
Joe Kessler/Guest Artist, Strings
Rick Barry/Drums, Guest Artist, Percussion
Mike Rivard/Bass, Guest Artist
Jimmy Ryan/Guest Artist, Mandolin
Mark Sandman/Guitar, Organ, Piano, Strings, Vocals
Jane Scarpantoni/Guest Artist, Strings
Ken Winokur/Drums, Guest Artist, Percussion

REVIEW/AMG
by Jason Lymangrover
***1/2 / *****
Morphine's discography was cut tragically short, but with Rykodisc holding the keys to the vaults, and with a heck of a lot of unissued material (at least 60 tracks), the label released a second compilation of Morphine B-sides to mark the ten-year anniversary of the unexpected death of singer/slide bassist Mark Sandman. Like 1997's B-Sides & Otherwise, At Your Service is more abstract and challenging than the other studio releases available. Many of the songs here take a more free-form approach, potentially because they were never completely finished. Even so, the songs sound great, and with 35 previously unreleased songs, there's a lot to sort through and a lot to like. Morphine were a unique force as a live trio, and the second disc showcases the group's on-stage chemistry, with nine songs taken from performances at MIT radio station WMBR during 1992 and 1993. As expected, these are solid takes, with Sandman, Colley, and Deupree taking staples from Good, Cure for Pain, and Yes in exciting new directions (including a relentless, double-time version of "Super Sex"). Similarly, alternate versions of fan favorites "Buena," "All Wrong," and later works "The Night" and "Take Me with You" should be of interest. The guitar-oriented reworking of "Patience" (not the Guns N' Roses song) is phenomenal as well, but the most exciting moments come in the 15 unreleased tracks. It's a double-disc comp to complete the true fan's collection. Disc one (subtitled Shadows) ends on "Shadow (I Know You Part V)" and disc two (Shade) closes with "Shade (I Know You Part IV)" -- leaving listeners with two of the most soothing Morphine tracks ever recorded.

BIOGRAPHY/AMG
by Greg Prato
Multi-instrumentalist/singer Mark Sandman was best known as the frontman for self-described "low-rockers" Morphine. An intensely private person, not much is known about Sandman's early days, just that he was born in 1952 (growing up in Newton, MA), and after graduating from UMass Boston, did some traveling before working on a fishing boat in Washington. By the mid-'80s, Sandman had moved back to the Boston area where he formed and played guitar/sang in the blues roots rock quartet Treat Her Right (along with guitarist/singer David Champagne, drummer Billy Conway, and harmonica player Jim Fitting). The group enjoyed minor success with the college rock crowd, issuing a total of three albums: 1986's self-titled debut, 1989's Tied to the Tracks, and 1991's What's Good for You, before splitting up.
During the latter years of Treat Her Right, Sandman could be seen playing in any of several side projects, including Supergroup (with future Presidents of the United States member Chris Ballew), Treat Her Orange (a collaboration with Blood Oranges frontman/mandolin player Jimmy Ryan), and the horn-driven funk outfit Hypnosonics. But of all the Sandman-related bands at the time, it was Morphine that caused the biggest stir. Comprised of drummer Jerome Dupree, tenor/baritone saxophonist Dana Colley, and Sandman on vocals and a homemade, detuned two-string bass that he built himself, the trio specialized in stripped-down jazz-lounge rock complete with Kerouac-like lyrics, which would have provided the perfect soundtrack to a dimly lit, late night bar.
In the midst of their debut album's recording sessions, Dupree was replaced with former Treat Her Right skinsman Billy Conway, resulting in 1992's Good on the Accurate/Distortion label. The band's regional buzz grew worldwide with incessant touring and such further releases as 1993's Cure for Pain and 1995's Yes, both issued for Rykodisc Records (who in turn reissued their debut). Morphine's buzz had grown too loud for the major labels to ignore any longer, as Dreamworks signed the trio and issued the slightly disappointing Like Swimming in 1997. The album failed to catapult Sandman and the group to the big time, but their large and devoted cult following remained intact. With Morphine working long and hard on what would be their fourth studio album overall (Sandman in particular wanted the album to take the group to the next level musically, he was weary of the group repeating the same formula over and over), the trio toured Europe in the summer of 1999. Sadly, on July 3 at a festival performance in Rome, Sandman collapsed on stage, dying shortly thereafter from an apparent heart attack.
The studio album that Morphine had just completed, The Night, was issued posthumously a year later, as was a live album chronicling a 1994 show, which Sandman was overseeing at the time of his death. After Sandman's death, the remaining members of Morphine toured as the Morphine Orchestra (which was supplemented by added players), while the Mark Sandman Music Education Fund was founded, which benefits music education in the Cambridge public school system. In addition to his recording output with Morphine, Sandman guested on other artist's recordings over the years, including a pair of albums by the Either/Orchestra (Across the Omniverse and Half Life of Desire), Duke Levine's Lava, and Wooden Leg's self-titled debut.

TO THE TOP

9267 - SANDBOX: MARK SANDMAN ORIGINAL MUSIC, DISC TWO (2004) (REPOST)

MARK SANDMAN
''SANDBOX, DISC TWO''
NOVEMBER 16 2004
110:39

DISC ONE
1/Double Stripper Double Sax/1:05
2/I Can Do That/1:53
3/Tomorrow/3:28
4/Patience/3:27
5/Cocoon/4:11
6/Imaginary Song/2:53
7/Goddess/3:57
8/Jealous Dream/2:56
9/Justine/4:27
10/The Phone/2:24
11/Devils Boots/4:50
12/Born Again/3:10
13/Wig/3:27
14/51%/2:32
15/Good Time Last Night1:35
All Tracks By Mark Sandman

DISC TWO
1/Riley the Dog/3:24
2/Some Other Dog/3:28
3/Snow/3:48
4/Doreen/4:39
5/Get Along/3:13
6/Monas Sister/3:23
7/Hombre/4:11
8/Hotel Room/3:52
9/Lets Not Talk/2:42
10/Bathtub/3:21
11/I Wanna Go Home/5:08
12/Deep Six/2:48
13/Livin With U/3:49
14/They Bent Me/5:45
15/Middle East/5:44
16/Early Man/5:09
All Tracks By Mark Sandman

Chris Ballew /Bass
Rick Barry /Drums
Billy Beard /Drums
Jabe "Charlie The Bubble Palantino"
Mickey Bones /Drums
David Champagne /Guitar (Electric)
Jim Clements /Drums
Dana Colley /Horn
Billy Conway /Drums, Producer
Rich Cortez /Bass
Larry Dersch /Drums
Jerry Deupree /Drums
Toni Elka /Vocals (Background)
Colin Fisher /Horn
Russ Gershon /Horn
Tom Halter /Horn
Jay Hilt /Drums
Jim Janota /Drums
Charlie Kohlhase /Horn
Rick McLaughlin /Bass
John Medeski /Keyboards
Mike Moss /Horn
Riley /Vocals (Background)
Michael Rivard /Bass
Jimmy Ryan /Mandolin
Mark Sandman /2-String Bass, Banjo, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Organ, Piano, String Bass, Synthesizer, Tritar, Vocals
Laurie Sargent Vocals (Background)
Jane Scarpantoni Strings
Frank Swart Bass
Ron Ward Drums
Connie White Vocals (Background)
Harvey Wright Drums
Joel Yennior Horn
Dominique Zar Drums

REVIEW/AMG
by Rovi
A singer, songwriter, poet, artist, inventor, and player of numerous instruments, as well as an all-around mysterious, charismatic rock & roll figure, Mark Sandman was the stuff cult legends are built on, a status hastened by his premature death in 1999. Best known as the leader of "low rock" band Morphine, Sandman forged an idiosyncratic sound out of swamp-blues rumble, smoky jazz noir, and beat-inspired lyrics. SANDBOX, a two-CD set that also includes a DVD and photo-packed booklet, offers a definitive look at Sandman's achievements, including his recordings with Morphine and early bands Treat Her Right and the Hipnosonics.
The best moments on SANDBOX map the terrain of Sandman's shadowy interior, from the bluesy isolation anthem "Cocoon" through the dreamy "Imaginary Song" to the minor-key soul-jazz of "Justine." While Disc One focuses on the familiar sax/bass/drums sound of Morphine, Disc Two collects some of Sandman's experimental outings (the percussion/voice duet "Riley the Dog"), early roots-rock tunes ("Doreen"), and genre curveballs (the call-and-response funk-rap jam "Deep Six"). All told, the set works marvelously as an introduction to and an overview of Sandman's unique achievements, and comes highly recommended for Morphine fans and lovers of offbeat rock.

BIOGRAPHY/AMG
by Greg Prato
Multi-instrumentalist/singer Mark Sandman was best known as the frontman for self-described "low-rockers" Morphine. An intensely private person, not much is known about Sandman's early days, just that he was born in 1952 (growing up in Newton, MA), and after graduating from UMass Boston, did some traveling before working on a fishing boat in Washington. By the mid-'80s, Sandman had moved back to the Boston area where he formed and played guitar/sang in the blues roots rock quartet Treat Her Right (along with guitarist/singer David Champagne, drummer Billy Conway, and harmonica player Jim Fitting). The group enjoyed minor success with the college rock crowd, issuing a total of three albums: 1986's self-titled debut, 1989's Tied to the Tracks, and 1991's What's Good for You, before splitting up.
During the latter years of Treat Her Right, Sandman could be seen playing in any of several side projects, including Supergroup (with future Presidents of the United States member Chris Ballew), Treat Her Orange (a collaboration with Blood Oranges frontman/mandolin player Jimmy Ryan), and the horn-driven funk outfit Hypnosonics. But of all the Sandman-related bands at the time, it was Morphine that caused the biggest stir. Comprised of drummer Jerome Dupree, tenor/baritone saxophonist Dana Colley, and Sandman on vocals and a homemade, detuned two-string bass that he built himself, the trio specialized in stripped-down jazz-lounge rock complete with Kerouac-like lyrics, which would have provided the perfect soundtrack to a dimly lit, late night bar.
In the midst of their debut album's recording sessions, Dupree was replaced with former Treat Her Right skinsman Billy Conway, resulting in 1992's Good on the Accurate/Distortion label. The band's regional buzz grew worldwide with incessant touring and such further releases as 1993's Cure for Pain and 1995's Yes, both issued for Rykodisc Records (who in turn reissued their debut). Morphine's buzz had grown too loud for the major labels to ignore any longer, as Dreamworks signed the trio and issued the slightly disappointing Like Swimming in 1997. The album failed to catapult Sandman and the group to the big time, but their large and devoted cult following remained intact. With Morphine working long and hard on what would be their fourth studio album overall (Sandman in particular wanted the album to take the group to the next level musically, he was weary of the group repeating the same formula over and over), the trio toured Europe in the summer of 1999. Sadly, on July 3 at a festival performance in Rome, Sandman collapsed on stage, dying shortly thereafter from an apparent heart attack.
The studio album that Morphine had just completed, The Night, was issued posthumously a year later, as was a live album chronicling a 1994 show, which Sandman was overseeing at the time of his death. After Sandman's death, the remaining members of Morphine toured as the Morphine Orchestra (which was supplemented by added players), while the Mark Sandman Music Education Fund was founded, which benefits music education in the Cambridge public school system. In addition to his recording output with Morphine, Sandman guested on other artist's recordings over the years, including a pair of albums by the Either/Orchestra (Across the Omniverse and Half Life of Desire), Duke Levine's Lava, and Wooden Leg's self-titled debut.

TO THE TOP

9266 - SANDBOX: MARK SANDMAN ORIGINAL MUSIC, DISC ONE (2004) (REPOST)

MORPHINE
''MORPHINE AT YOUR SERVICE, DISC ONE''
OCTOBER 6 2009
124:40

DISC ONE (53:42)
1 Introduction (At Your Service) 00:48
2 Come Over 02:21
3 Come Along 04:44
4 It's Not Like That Anymore 04:25
5 Patience (Alternate Take) 03:42
6 Call Back 04:41
7 Bye Bye Johnny 03:22
8 Hello Baby 02:19
9 Women R Dogs 03:22
10 You're An Artist (Alternate Take) (Chris Ballew, Mark Sandman) 03:13
11 5:09 03:10
12 Lilah II 04:43
13 Moons Of Jupiter 02:55
14 Lunch In Hell 02:46
15 Imaginary Song 02:45
16 Shadow (I Know You (Part V)) 04:19
Tracks By Mark Sandman, Except 10

DISC TWO (70:58)
1 Good (Live) 02:36
2 Only One (Live) 02:57
3 Shoot 'Em Down (Live) 04:21
4 Saddest Song (Live) 02:53
5 Claire (Live) 03:32
6 I Had My Chance (Alternate Take) 02:42
7 Buena (Alternate Take) 04:16
8 Empty Box (Alternate Take) 03:55
9 All Wrong (Alternate Take) 03:33
10 Put It Down (Wo-Oh) (Live) 02:59
11 Free Love (Live) 05:00
12 Sexy Christmas Baby Mine (Live) 02:34
13 Scratch (Live) 03:31
14 Super Sex (Live) 03:30
15 Radar (Live) 03:57
16 I'd Catch You 05:14
17 The Night (Alternate Take) 04:42
18 Take Me With You (Alternate Ta 04:16
19 Shade (I Know You (Part IV)) 04:20
All Tracks By Mark Sandman

REVIEW/AMG
by Jason Lymangrover
***1/2 / *****
Morphine's discography was cut tragically short, but with Rykodisc holding the keys to the vaults, and with a heck of a lot of unissued material (at least 60 tracks), the label released a second compilation of Morphine B-sides to mark the ten-year anniversary of the unexpected death of singer/slide bassist Mark Sandman. Like 1997's B-Sides & Otherwise, At Your Service is more abstract and challenging than the other studio releases available. Many of the songs here take a more free-form approach, potentially because they were never completely finished. Even so, the songs sound great, and with 35 previously unreleased songs, there's a lot to sort through and a lot to like. Morphine were a unique force as a live trio, and the second disc showcases the group's on-stage chemistry, with nine songs taken from performances at MIT radio station WMBR during 1992 and 1993. As expected, these are solid takes, with Sandman, Colley, and Deupree taking staples from Good, Cure for Pain, and Yes in exciting new directions (including a relentless, double-time version of "Super Sex"). Similarly, alternate versions of fan favorites "Buena," "All Wrong," and later works "The Night" and "Take Me with You" should be of interest. The guitar-oriented reworking of "Patience" (not the Guns N' Roses song) is phenomenal as well, but the most exciting moments come in the 15 unreleased tracks. It's a double-disc comp to complete the true fan's collection. Disc one (subtitled Shadows) ends on "Shadow (I Know You Part V)" and disc two (Shade) closes with "Shade (I Know You Part IV)" -- leaving listeners with two of the most soothing Morphine tracks ever recorded.

BIOGRAPHY/AMG
by Greg Prato
Multi-instrumentalist/singer Mark Sandman was best known as the frontman for self-described "low-rockers" Morphine. An intensely private person, not much is known about Sandman's early days, just that he was born in 1952 (growing up in Newton, MA), and after graduating from UMass Boston, did some traveling before working on a fishing boat in Washington. By the mid-'80s, Sandman had moved back to the Boston area where he formed and played guitar/sang in the blues roots rock quartet Treat Her Right (along with guitarist/singer David Champagne, drummer Billy Conway, and harmonica player Jim Fitting). The group enjoyed minor success with the college rock crowd, issuing a total of three albums: 1986's self-titled debut, 1989's Tied to the Tracks, and 1991's What's Good for You, before splitting up.
During the latter years of Treat Her Right, Sandman could be seen playing in any of several side projects, including Supergroup (with future Presidents of the United States member Chris Ballew), Treat Her Orange (a collaboration with Blood Oranges frontman/mandolin player Jimmy Ryan), and the horn-driven funk outfit Hypnosonics. But of all the Sandman-related bands at the time, it was Morphine that caused the biggest stir. Comprised of drummer Jerome Dupree, tenor/baritone saxophonist Dana Colley, and Sandman on vocals and a homemade, detuned two-string bass that he built himself, the trio specialized in stripped-down jazz-lounge rock complete with Kerouac-like lyrics, which would have provided the perfect soundtrack to a dimly lit, late night bar.
In the midst of their debut album's recording sessions, Dupree was replaced with former Treat Her Right skinsman Billy Conway, resulting in 1992's Good on the Accurate/Distortion label. The band's regional buzz grew worldwide with incessant touring and such further releases as 1993's Cure for Pain and 1995's Yes, both issued for Rykodisc Records (who in turn reissued their debut). Morphine's buzz had grown too loud for the major labels to ignore any longer, as Dreamworks signed the trio and issued the slightly disappointing Like Swimming in 1997. The album failed to catapult Sandman and the group to the big time, but their large and devoted cult following remained intact. With Morphine working long and hard on what would be their fourth studio album overall (Sandman in particular wanted the album to take the group to the next level musically, he was weary of the group repeating the same formula over and over), the trio toured Europe in the summer of 1999. Sadly, on July 3 at a festival performance in Rome, Sandman collapsed on stage, dying shortly thereafter from an apparent heart attack.
The studio album that Morphine had just completed, The Night, was issued posthumously a year later, as was a live album chronicling a 1994 show, which Sandman was overseeing at the time of his death. After Sandman's death, the remaining members of Morphine toured as the Morphine Orchestra (which was supplemented by added players), while the Mark Sandman Music Education Fund was founded, which benefits music education in the Cambridge public school system. In addition to his recording output with Morphine, Sandman guested on other artist's recordings over the years, including a pair of albums by the Either/Orchestra (Across the Omniverse and Half Life of Desire), Duke Levine's Lava, and Wooden Leg's self-titled debut.

TO THE TOP

9265 - MORPHINE - THE BEST OF MORPHINE (2003) (REPOST)

MORPHINE
''THE BEST OF MORPHINE''
2002
59:16

1 Buena/Sandman 3:21
2 Honey White/Sandman 3:07
3 You Speak My Language/Sandman 3:26
4 Cure for Pain/Sandman 3:14
5 Candy/Sandman 3:15
6 Have a Lucky Day/Sandman 3:27
7 I'm Free Now/Sandman 3:26
8 Thursday/Sandman 3:28
9 Super Sex/Sandman 3:52
10 Whisper/Sandman 3:30
11 Radar/Sandman 3:28
12 You Look Like Rain/Sandman 3:39
13 Jack and Tina/Sandman 8:31
14 Pretty Face/Sandman 4:49
15 Shame/Sandman 2:46
16 Sexy Christmas Baby Mine/Sandman 4:37

Dana Colley/Double Sax, Baritone Sax, Tenor Sax
Billy Conway/Drums, Percussion
Jerome Dupree/Drums On Tracks 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14
Charlie Kohlhase/Baritone Sax On Track 13
Mark Sandman/Lead Vocal, 2-String Slide Bass, Tritar, Guitar, Piano, Chamberlin, Organ

BIOGRAPHY
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Morphine is a rarity -- bluesy, bare-bones rock & roll without any guitars. Instead of guitar riffs, the trio relies on sliding two-string basslines, raucous saxophones, and wry, ironically detached vocals. During the mid-'90s, Morphine gained a sizable cult following in America, primarily due to good word of mouth, heavy college airplay, and positive reviews.
Morphine was formed in 1990 by bassist/vocalist Mark Sandman, who had previously played with the bluesy alternative rock band Treat Her Right, and Dana Colley (tenor and baritone saxophone), a former member of the local Boston group Three Colors. Sandman and Colley added drummer Jerome Dupree to complete the lineup. The group released its debut album, Good, on the independent Accurate/Distortion label in 1991; it was reissued on Rykodisc Records in 1992. Good received substantial airplay on American college radio stations, as well as favorable reviews in alternative publications across the country. After the release of Good, Dupree left the band and was replaced by Billy Conway, who had previously played with Sandman in Treat Her Right.
The positive reception to Good set the stage for 1993's Cure for Pain, which received good reviews from a variety of music and mainstream publications upon its spring release. Morphine supported Cure for Pain with an extensive American and European tour that lasted throughout 1994, which helped the album sell over 300,000 copies -- an impressive feat for an independent release. In 1995, Morphine released their third album, Yes, which also received favorable reviews and helped the band sustain its large cult following.
The success of Cure for Pain and Yes also attracted the attention of major record labels, and in late 1996, Dreamworks bought out the majority share of Morphine's contract from Rykodisc. Like Swimming, the group's debut for Dreamworks, was released in the spring of 1997 to generally favorable reviews, yet it failed to break Morphine out of cult status. On July 3, 1999, Sandman collapsed on-stage during a performance in Rome, dying of a heart attack at the age of 46. The Night was posthumously issued early the following year and the live disc Bootleg Detroit appeared in fall 2000.

TO THE TOP

9264 - MORPHINE - MORPHINE: BOOTLEG DETROIT (2000)

MORPHINE
''MORPHINE: BOOTLEG DETROIT''
SEPTEMBER 26 2000
40:23

1 Intro 00:19
2 Come Along 04:20
3 Dana Intro 00:14
4 Mary 03:04
5 Banter #1 00:21
6 Candy 03:20
7 Sheila 02:52
8 Billy Intro 00:06
9 Claire 03:11
10 My Brain 01:42
11 Banter #2 00:12
12 Head With Wings 03:33
13 Cure For Pain 03:11
14 You Speak My Language 03:35
15 Thursday 03:02
16 Banter #3 00:14
17 You Look Like Rain 03:31
18 Buena 03:27
All Tracks By Mark Sandman

REVIEW/AMG
by Stacia Proefrock
***/*****
The odd title of this final sanctioned release by Morphine before Mark Sandman's untimely death comes from its origin -- a tape made by an audience member at a Detroit show during Morphine's Cure for Pain tour. While the tapes were mastered by Sandman shortly before his demise, the original quality of the recording cannot be overcome. Still, this is a good document of Morphine's excellent live show and displays the energy and passion that they played with during the tour that supported their breakthrough album. Some short tracks featuring banter probably could have been sacrificed in favor of more songs, but on the whole the album stands as a loving tribute to an innovative band.

BIOGRAPHY/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Morphine is a rarity -- bluesy, bare-bones rock & roll without any guitars. Instead of guitar riffs, the trio relies on sliding two-string basslines, raucous saxophones, and wry, ironically detached vocals. During the mid-'90s, Morphine gained a sizable cult following in America, primarily due to good word of mouth, heavy college airplay, and positive reviews.

Morphine was formed in 1990 by bassist/vocalist Mark Sandman, who had previously played with the bluesy alternative rock band Treat Her Right, and Dana Colley (tenor and baritone saxophone), a former member of the local Boston group Three Colors. Sandman and Colley added drummer Jerome Dupree to complete the lineup. The group released its debut album, Good, on the independent Accurate/Distortion label in 1991; it was reissued on Rykodisc Records in 1992. Good received substantial airplay on American college radio stations, as well as favorable reviews in alternative publications across the country. After the release of Good, Dupree left the band and was replaced by Billy Conway, who had previously played with Sandman in Treat Her Right.

The positive reception to Good set the stage for 1993's Cure for Pain, which received good reviews from a variety of music and mainstream publications upon its spring release. Morphine supported Cure for Pain with an extensive American and European tour that lasted throughout 1994, which helped the album sell over 300,000 copies -- an impressive feat for an independent release. In 1995, Morphine released their third album, Yes, which also received favorable reviews and helped the band sustain its large cult following.

The success of Cure for Pain and Yes also attracted the attention of major record labels, and in late 1996, Dreamworks bought out the majority share of Morphine's contract from Rykodisc. Like Swimming, the group's debut for Dreamworks, was released in the spring of 1997 to generally favorable reviews, yet it failed to break Morphine out of cult status. On July 3, 1999, Sandman collapsed on-stage during a performance in Rome, dying of a heart attack at the age of 46. The Night was posthumously issued early the following year and the live disc Bootleg Detroit appeared in fall 2000.

TO THE TOP

9263 - MORPHINE - THE NIGHT (2000)

MORPHINE
''THE NIGHT''
FEBRUARY 1 2000
49:41

1 The Night 04:47
2 So Many Ways 03:58
3 Souvenir 04:38
4 Top Floor, Bottom Buzzer 05:40
5 Like A Mirror 05:23
6 A Good Woman Is Hard To Find 04:10
7 Rope On Fire 05:33
8 I'm Yours, You're Mine 03:44
9 The Way We Met 02:57
10 Slow Numbers 03:55
11 Take Me With You 04:52
All Tracks By Mark Sandman

Billy Beard/Drums (Snare)
Ramona Clifton/Vocals
Dana Colley/Piano, Sax (Baritone), Sax (Bass), Sax (Tenor), Vocals
Billy Conway/Drums (Snare), Percussion, Vocals
Jerry Deupree/Drums (Snare)
Brahim Fribgane/Drums (Snare)
Margaret Garrett/Vocals
Carolyn Kaylor/Vocals
Joseph Kessler/Viola
Tara McManus/Vocals
John Medeski/Guest Artist, Organ
Michael Rivard/Bass (Upright)
Mark Sandman/Bass, Guitar (Bass), Organ, Piano, Trombone
Jane Scarpantoni/Cello
Linda Veins/Vocals

REVIEW/AMG
by Greg Prato
***/*****
Morphine's fourth studio release, 1997's Like Swimming, was a bit of a disappointment when compared to such stellar earlier releases as Cure for Pain and Yes. After singer/two-string bassist Mark Sandman died of a heart attack on-stage in 1999, many Morphine fans assumed that Like Swimming would be the band's swansong -- thankfully, it wasn't. The Boston trio completed their fifth album just prior to Sandman's untimely passing, entitled The Night, and it's definitely an improvement over its predecessor. Whereas many of the songs on their previous album sounded unfinished and rushed, The Night sounds like a fully realized work. In fact, the band took time to focus on expanding their minimalist sound to include other instruments (cello, violin, upright bass, oud, organ) and new approaches (female backup singers, string arrangements), while Sandman produced the album himself. Highlights include the ghostly "Souvenir," the Middle Eastern sounds of "Rope on Fire," the sultry album-opening title track, and the up-tempo (by Morphine standards, anyway) "Top Floor, Bottom Buzzer." The Night shows that Morphine was just entering a new phase of their career, and it's a shame that Mark Sandman is no longer with us to follow through on this promising new direction.

BIOGRAPHY/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Morphine is a rarity -- bluesy, bare-bones rock & roll without any guitars. Instead of guitar riffs, the trio relies on sliding two-string basslines, raucous saxophones, and wry, ironically detached vocals. During the mid-'90s, Morphine gained a sizable cult following in America, primarily due to good word of mouth, heavy college airplay, and positive reviews.

Morphine was formed in 1990 by bassist/vocalist Mark Sandman, who had previously played with the bluesy alternative rock band Treat Her Right, and Dana Colley (tenor and baritone saxophone), a former member of the local Boston group Three Colors. Sandman and Colley added drummer Jerome Dupree to complete the lineup. The group released its debut album, Good, on the independent Accurate/Distortion label in 1991; it was reissued on Rykodisc Records in 1992. Good received substantial airplay on American college radio stations, as well as favorable reviews in alternative publications across the country. After the release of Good, Dupree left the band and was replaced by Billy Conway, who had previously played with Sandman in Treat Her Right.

The positive reception to Good set the stage for 1993's Cure for Pain, which received good reviews from a variety of music and mainstream publications upon its spring release. Morphine supported Cure for Pain with an extensive American and European tour that lasted throughout 1994, which helped the album sell over 300,000 copies -- an impressive feat for an independent release. In 1995, Morphine released their third album, Yes, which also received favorable reviews and helped the band sustain its large cult following.

The success of Cure for Pain and Yes also attracted the attention of major record labels, and in late 1996, Dreamworks bought out the majority share of Morphine's contract from Rykodisc. Like Swimming, the group's debut for Dreamworks, was released in the spring of 1997 to generally favorable reviews, yet it failed to break Morphine out of cult status. On July 3, 1999, Sandman collapsed on-stage during a performance in Rome, dying of a heart attack at the age of 46. The Night was posthumously issued early the following year and the live disc Bootleg Detroit appeared in fall 2000.

TO THE TOP

9262 - MORPHINE - B-SIDES AND OTHERWISE (1997)

MORPHINE
''B-SIDES AND OTHERWISE''
SEPTEMBER 23 1997
43:21

1 Have a Lucky Day (live radio broadcast 1994 - from the "Super Sex" CD single)
2 All Wrong (live radio broadcast 1994 - from the "Honey White" CD single)
3 I Know You - Part Two (live radio broadcast 1994 - from the "Honey White" CD single)
4 Bo's Veranda (from the soundtrack of "Get Shorty")
5 Mile High (from the soundtrack of "Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead)
6 Shame (from the "Cure For Pain" CD single)
7 Down Love's Tributaries (from the "Cure For Pain" CD single)
8 Kerouac (from the tribute CD "Kerouac-Kicks Joy Darkness")
9 Pulled Over the Car (from the Japanese CD release of "Yes")
10 Sundayafternoonweightlessness (from the "Super Sex" CD single)
11 Virgin Bride (Ernest Noyes Brookings, Mark Sandman) (from an Australian - only bonus CD included with "Like Swimming")
12 Mail (from the various artists compilation "Outstandingly Ignited-Lyrics by Ernest Noyes Brookings, Vol. 4")
13 My Brain (from the "Cure For Pain" CD single)
Tracks By Mark Sandman, Except 11

Mark Sandman - 2-string slide bass, lead vocs, organ, guitar, knobs
Dana Colley - baritone sax, tenor sax, soprano sax, autoharp, dobro feedback
Billy Conway - drums
Special Guests:
Mike Rivard - Bass on #4
Russ Gershon - Tenor sax on #4,5
Tom Halter - Trumpet on #5
Larry Dersch - Drums on #5
Jerome Deupree - Drums on #6
Sabine - Vocals on #7
Frank Swart - Bass tag of #12
Dominique Zar - Drums tag of #12
Rick Barry - Percussion on #13

REVIEW/AMG
by Greg Prato
***/*****
Perhaps as a contractual obligation, only a few months after Like Swimming appeared in record stores, a collection of B-sides and soundtrack-only material titled B-Sides and Otherwise was issued by Morphine's original label, Rykodisc. While the trio always used unconventionality to their advantage, their acute pop sensibilities appealed to a wider audience; however, the material here is more challenging and abstract than your average Morphine release. Some songs, such as the eight-minute soundscape "Down Love's Tributaries," test the listener's patience, while others, such as live radio broadcasts of two tracks ("Have a Lucky Day" and "All Wrong"), are thoroughly enjoyable. Other highlights include a beautiful acoustic guitar instrumental from the movie Get Shorty entitled "Bo's Veranda," plus "Shame," "Kerouac," "Pulled Over the Car," "Mail," the charged-up "Mile High," and the humorous "My Brain." An interesting collection of oddities that will appeal to the dedicated fan, B-Sides and Otherwise captures the band at their most experimental.

BIOGRAPHY/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Morphine is a rarity -- bluesy, bare-bones rock & roll without any guitars. Instead of guitar riffs, the trio relies on sliding two-string basslines, raucous saxophones, and wry, ironically detached vocals. During the mid-'90s, Morphine gained a sizable cult following in America, primarily due to good word of mouth, heavy college airplay, and positive reviews.

Morphine was formed in 1990 by bassist/vocalist Mark Sandman, who had previously played with the bluesy alternative rock band Treat Her Right, and Dana Colley (tenor and baritone saxophone), a former member of the local Boston group Three Colors. Sandman and Colley added drummer Jerome Dupree to complete the lineup. The group released its debut album, Good, on the independent Accurate/Distortion label in 1991; it was reissued on Rykodisc Records in 1992. Good received substantial airplay on American college radio stations, as well as favorable reviews in alternative publications across the country. After the release of Good, Dupree left the band and was replaced by Billy Conway, who had previously played with Sandman in Treat Her Right.

The positive reception to Good set the stage for 1993's Cure for Pain, which received good reviews from a variety of music and mainstream publications upon its spring release. Morphine supported Cure for Pain with an extensive American and European tour that lasted throughout 1994, which helped the album sell over 300,000 copies -- an impressive feat for an independent release. In 1995, Morphine released their third album, Yes, which also received favorable reviews and helped the band sustain its large cult following.

The success of Cure for Pain and Yes also attracted the attention of major record labels, and in late 1996, Dreamworks bought out the majority share of Morphine's contract from Rykodisc. Like Swimming, the group's debut for Dreamworks, was released in the spring of 1997 to generally favorable reviews, yet it failed to break Morphine out of cult status. On July 3, 1999, Sandman collapsed on-stage during a performance in Rome, dying of a heart attack at the age of 46. The Night was posthumously issued early the following year and the live disc Bootleg Detroit appeared in fall 2000.

TO THE TOP

9261 - MORPHINE - LIKE SWIMMING (1997)

MORPHINE
''LIKE SWIMMING''
MARCH 11 1997
37:14

1 Lilah (Instrumental) 00:59
2 Potion 01:59
3 I Know You (Pt. III) 03:29
4 Early To Bed 02:54
5 Wishing Well 03:29
6 Like Swimming 03:57
7 Murder For The Money 03:33
8 French Fries W/ Pepper 02:51
9 Empty Box 03:50
10 Eleven O' Clock 03:17
11 Hanging On A Curtain 03:45
12 Swing It Low 03:07
All Tracks By Mark Sandman

Dana Colley/Sax (Baritone)
Billy Conway/Drums
Matthew Ellard Mixing
Mark Sandman/Bass, Vocals

REVIEW/AMG
by Greg Prato
***/*****
After three highly acclaimed releases on Rykodisc, 1997's Like Swimming was Morphine's first recording for Dreamworks, for whom the trio nail down their unmistakable sound on such great tracks as "Early to Bed," "Eleven O'Clock," "Swing It Low," and the title track. Other selections, such as "Potion," "I Know You, Pt. III," "Wishing Well," "French Fries w/ Pepper," and "Hanging on a Curtain," are also notable.

BIOGRAPHY/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Morphine is a rarity -- bluesy, bare-bones rock & roll without any guitars. Instead of guitar riffs, the trio relies on sliding two-string basslines, raucous saxophones, and wry, ironically detached vocals. During the mid-'90s, Morphine gained a sizable cult following in America, primarily due to good word of mouth, heavy college airplay, and positive reviews.

Morphine was formed in 1990 by bassist/vocalist Mark Sandman, who had previously played with the bluesy alternative rock band Treat Her Right, and Dana Colley (tenor and baritone saxophone), a former member of the local Boston group Three Colors. Sandman and Colley added drummer Jerome Dupree to complete the lineup. The group released its debut album, Good, on the independent Accurate/Distortion label in 1991; it was reissued on Rykodisc Records in 1992. Good received substantial airplay on American college radio stations, as well as favorable reviews in alternative publications across the country. After the release of Good, Dupree left the band and was replaced by Billy Conway, who had previously played with Sandman in Treat Her Right.

The positive reception to Good set the stage for 1993's Cure for Pain, which received good reviews from a variety of music and mainstream publications upon its spring release. Morphine supported Cure for Pain with an extensive American and European tour that lasted throughout 1994, which helped the album sell over 300,000 copies -- an impressive feat for an independent release. In 1995, Morphine released their third album, Yes, which also received favorable reviews and helped the band sustain its large cult following.

The success of Cure for Pain and Yes also attracted the attention of major record labels, and in late 1996, Dreamworks bought out the majority share of Morphine's contract from Rykodisc. Like Swimming, the group's debut for Dreamworks, was released in the spring of 1997 to generally favorable reviews, yet it failed to break Morphine out of cult status. On July 3, 1999, Sandman collapsed on-stage during a performance in Rome, dying of a heart attack at the age of 46. The Night was posthumously issued early the following year and the live disc Bootleg Detroit appeared in fall 2000.

TO THE TOP

9225 - MORPHINE - YES (1995)

MORPHINE
''YES''
MARCH 21 1995
36:30

1 Honey White 03:04
2 Scratch 03:13
3 Radar 03:27
4 Whisper 03:28
5 Yes 01:56
6 All Your Way 03:00
7 Super Sex 03:49
8 I Had My Chance 03:01
9 The Jury (Mark Sandman, Frank Swart) 02:05
10 Sharks 02:22
11 Free Love 04:10
12 Gone For Good 02:50
Tracks By Mark Sandman, Except 9

Baritone Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone On 4, 9, 10 – Dana Colley
Bass (2-string Slide), Vocals, Guitar On 12, Keyboards (Chamberlin), Tritar On 7 – Mark Sandman
Drums – Billy Conway
Bass (Wah) On 9 - Frank Swart

REVIEW/AMG
by Greg Prato
****1/2 / *****
On their third release, 1995's Yes, Morphine shied away from the more accessible direction they laid down on 1994's superb Cure for Pain, going for a more challenging (but just as rewarding) direction. While the singles/videos "Honey White" and "Super Sex" did contain a pop edge (and were the album's best), other tracks, such as "The Jury" and "Sharks" pushed the envelope by containing lyrics that sound as if they're stream of consciousness. Like its predecessor, it's a highly consistent album -- even the lesser-known tracks are integral to the album's overall makeup. "Scratch," "All Your Way," "I Had My Chance," "Free Love," and "Gone for Good" all sound like the observations of a broken-down man, steeped in despair. But the mood lightens up on such selections as "Radar" and the title track, plus the aforementioned singles. With nearly all alt-rock bands sounding identical and bashing angrily away at their instruments in 1995, Morphine proved to be in a league all by themselves. Yes is perhaps just a shade less spectacular than Cure for Pain, but certainly not by much.

BIOGRAPHY/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Morphine is a rarity -- bluesy, bare-bones rock & roll without any guitars. Instead of guitar riffs, the trio relies on sliding two-string basslines, raucous saxophones, and wry, ironically detached vocals. During the mid-'90s, Morphine gained a sizable cult following in America, primarily due to good word of mouth, heavy college airplay, and positive reviews.

Morphine was formed in 1990 by bassist/vocalist Mark Sandman, who had previously played with the bluesy alternative rock band Treat Her Right, and Dana Colley (tenor and baritone saxophone), a former member of the local Boston group Three Colors. Sandman and Colley added drummer Jerome Dupree to complete the lineup. The group released its debut album, Good, on the independent Accurate/Distortion label in 1991; it was reissued on Rykodisc Records in 1992. Good received substantial airplay on American college radio stations, as well as favorable reviews in alternative publications across the country. After the release of Good, Dupree left the band and was replaced by Billy Conway, who had previously played with Sandman in Treat Her Right.

The positive reception to Good set the stage for 1993's Cure for Pain, which received good reviews from a variety of music and mainstream publications upon its spring release. Morphine supported Cure for Pain with an extensive American and European tour that lasted throughout 1994, which helped the album sell over 300,000 copies -- an impressive feat for an independent release. In 1995, Morphine released their third album, Yes, which also received favorable reviews and helped the band sustain its large cult following.

The success of Cure for Pain and Yes also attracted the attention of major record labels, and in late 1996, Dreamworks bought out the majority share of Morphine's contract from Rykodisc. Like Swimming, the group's debut for Dreamworks, was released in the spring of 1997 to generally favorable reviews, yet it failed to break Morphine out of cult status. On July 3, 1999, Sandman collapsed on-stage during a performance in Rome, dying of a heart attack at the age of 46. The Night was posthumously issued early the following year and the live disc Bootleg Detroit appeared in fall 2000.

TO THE TOP

9224 - MORPHINE - CURE FOR PAIN (1993)

MORPHINE
''CURE FOR PAIN''
SEPTEMBER 14 1993
36:54

1 Dawna 00:43
2 Buena 03:18
3 I'm Free Now 03:23
4 All Wrong 03:37
5 Candy 03:11
6 A Head With Wings 03:36
7 In Spite Of Me 02:32
8 Thursday 03:24
9 Cure For Pain 03:11
10 Mary Won't You Call My Name 02:27
11 Let's Take A Trip Together 02:57
12 Sheila 02:48
13 Miles Davis' Funeral 01:40
All Tracks By Mark Sandman

Mark Sandman - 2-string slide bass; tritar; guitar; organ; lead vocals.
Dana Colley - baritone saxophone; tenor saxophone; backing vocals.
Jerome Deupree - drums.
Billy Conway - drums on tracks 9 & 11; cocktail drum overdub on track 8.
Jimmy Ryan - Mandolin on track 7
Ken Winokur - Percussion on track 13

BIOGRAPHY/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Morphine is a rarity -- bluesy, bare-bones rock & roll without any guitars. Instead of guitar riffs, the trio relies on sliding two-string basslines, raucous saxophones, and wry, ironically detached vocals. During the mid-'90s, Morphine gained a sizable cult following in America, primarily due to good word of mouth, heavy college airplay, and positive reviews.

Morphine was formed in 1990 by bassist/vocalist Mark Sandman, who had previously played with the bluesy alternative rock band Treat Her Right, and Dana Colley (tenor and baritone saxophone), a former member of the local Boston group Three Colors. Sandman and Colley added drummer Jerome Dupree to complete the lineup. The group released its debut album, Good, on the independent Accurate/Distortion label in 1991; it was reissued on Rykodisc Records in 1992. Good received substantial airplay on American college radio stations, as well as favorable reviews in alternative publications across the country. After the release of Good, Dupree left the band and was replaced by Billy Conway, who had previously played with Sandman in Treat Her Right.

The positive reception to Good set the stage for 1993's Cure for Pain, which received good reviews from a variety of music and mainstream publications upon its spring release. Morphine supported Cure for Pain with an extensive American and European tour that lasted throughout 1994, which helped the album sell over 300,000 copies -- an impressive feat for an independent release. In 1995, Morphine released their third album, Yes, which also received favorable reviews and helped the band sustain its large cult following.

The success of Cure for Pain and Yes also attracted the attention of major record labels, and in late 1996, Dreamworks bought out the majority share of Morphine's contract from Rykodisc. Like Swimming, the group's debut for Dreamworks, was released in the spring of 1997 to generally favorable reviews, yet it failed to break Morphine out of cult status. On July 3, 1999, Sandman collapsed on-stage during a performance in Rome, dying of a heart attack at the age of 46. The Night was posthumously issued early the following year and the live disc Bootleg Detroit appeared in fall 2000.

TO THE TOP

9222 - MORPHINE - GOOD (1992)

MORPHINE
''GOOD''
SEPTEMBER 8 1992
37:34

1 Good 02:31
2 The Saddest Song 02:51
3 Claire 03:04
4 Have A Lucky Day 03:26
5 You Speak My Language 03:22
6 You Look Like Rain 03:36
7 Do Not Go Quietly Unto Your Grave 03:16
8 Lisa (Dana Colley) 00:46
9 The Only One 02:40
10 Test Tube Baby;Shoot 'Em Down 03:06
11 The Other Side (Mark Sandman, Dana Colley) 03:50
12 I Know You Part I 02:16
13 I Know You Part II 02:45
Tracks By Mark Sandman, Except 8, 11

Mark Sandman/2-String Slide Bass, Vocals, Some Guitar, Tritar, Organ
Dana Colley/Baritone Sax, Triangle, Other Saxes, Backing Vocals On 6
Jerome Deupree/Drums
Billy Conway/Drums On 5, 6

BIOGRAPHY/AMG
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Morphine is a rarity -- bluesy, bare-bones rock & roll without any guitars. Instead of guitar riffs, the trio relies on sliding two-string basslines, raucous saxophones, and wry, ironically detached vocals. During the mid-'90s, Morphine gained a sizable cult following in America, primarily due to good word of mouth, heavy college airplay, and positive reviews.

Morphine was formed in 1990 by bassist/vocalist Mark Sandman, who had previously played with the bluesy alternative rock band Treat Her Right, and Dana Colley (tenor and baritone saxophone), a former member of the local Boston group Three Colors. Sandman and Colley added drummer Jerome Dupree to complete the lineup. The group released its debut album, Good, on the independent Accurate/Distortion label in 1991; it was reissued on Rykodisc Records in 1992. Good received substantial airplay on American college radio stations, as well as favorable reviews in alternative publications across the country. After the release of Good, Dupree left the band and was replaced by Billy Conway, who had previously played with Sandman in Treat Her Right.

The positive reception to Good set the stage for 1993's Cure for Pain, which received good reviews from a variety of music and mainstream publications upon its spring release. Morphine supported Cure for Pain with an extensive American and European tour that lasted throughout 1994, which helped the album sell over 300,000 copies -- an impressive feat for an independent release. In 1995, Morphine released their third album, Yes, which also received favorable reviews and helped the band sustain its large cult following.

The success of Cure for Pain and Yes also attracted the attention of major record labels, and in late 1996, Dreamworks bought out the majority share of Morphine's contract from Rykodisc. Like Swimming, the group's debut for Dreamworks, was released in the spring of 1997 to generally favorable reviews, yet it failed to break Morphine out of cult status. On July 3, 1999, Sandman collapsed on-stage during a performance in Rome, dying of a heart attack at the age of 46. The Night was posthumously issued early the following year and the live disc Bootleg Detroit appeared in fall 2000.

TO THE TOP

5312

5312 - Sandbox: The Music Of MARK SANDMAN, Disc Two (2004)

MARK SANDMAN
''SANDBOX, DISC TWO''
NOVEMBER 16 2004
110:39

DISC ONE
1/Double Stripper Double Sax/1:05
2/I Can Do That/1:53
3/Tomorrow/3:28
4/Patience/3:27
5/Cocoon/4:11
6/Imaginary Song/2:53
7/Goddess/3:57
8/Jealous Dream/2:56
9/Justine/4:27
10/The Phone/2:24
11/Devils Boots/4:50
12/Born Again/3:10
13/Wig/3:27
14/51%/2:32
15/Good Time Last Night1:35
All Tracks By Mark Sandman

DISC TWO
1/Riley the Dog/3:24
2/Some Other Dog/3:28
3/Snow/3:48
4/Doreen/4:39
5/Get Along/3:13
6/Monas Sister/3:23
7/Hombre/4:11
8/Hotel Room/3:52
9/Lets Not Talk/2:42
10/Bathtub/3:21
11/I Wanna Go Home/5:08
12/Deep Six/2:48
13/Livin With U/3:49
14/They Bent Me/5:45
15/Middle East/5:44
16/Early Man/5:09
All Tracks By Mark Sandman

Chris Ballew /Bass
Rick Barry /Drums
Billy Beard /Drums
Jabe "Charlie The Bubble Palantino"
Mickey Bones /Drums
David Champagne /Guitar (Electric)
Jim Clements /Drums
Dana Colley /Horn
Billy Conway /Drums, Producer
Rich Cortez /Bass
Larry Dersch /Drums
Jerry Deupree /Drums
Toni Elka /Vocals (Background)
Colin Fisher /Horn
Russ Gershon /Horn
Tom Halter /Horn
Jay Hilt /Drums
Jim Janota /Drums
Charlie Kohlhase /Horn
Rick McLaughlin /Bass
John Medeski /Keyboards
Mike Moss /Horn
Riley /Vocals (Background)
Michael Rivard /Bass
Jimmy Ryan /Mandolin
Mark Sandman /2-String Bass, Banjo, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Organ, Piano, String Bass, Synthesizer, Tritar, Vocals
Laurie Sargent Vocals (Background)
Jane Scarpantoni Strings
Frank Swart Bass
Ron Ward Drums
Connie White Vocals (Background)
Harvey Wright Drums
Joel Yennior Horn
Dominique Zar Drums

REVIEW
by Rovi
A singer, songwriter, poet, artist, inventor, and player of numerous instruments, as well as an all-around mysterious, charismatic rock & roll figure, Mark Sandman was the stuff cult legends are built on, a status hastened by his premature death in 1999. Best known as the leader of "low rock" band Morphine, Sandman forged an idiosyncratic sound out of swamp-blues rumble, smoky jazz noir, and beat-inspired lyrics. SANDBOX, a two-CD set that also includes a DVD and photo-packed booklet, offers a definitive look at Sandman's achievements, including his recordings with Morphine and early bands Treat Her Right and the Hipnosonics.
The best moments on SANDBOX map the terrain of Sandman's shadowy interior, from the bluesy isolation anthem "Cocoon" through the dreamy "Imaginary Song" to the minor-key soul-jazz of "Justine." While Disc One focuses on the familiar sax/bass/drums sound of Morphine, Disc Two collects some of Sandman's experimental outings (the percussion/voice duet "Riley the Dog"), early roots-rock tunes ("Doreen"), and genre curveballs (the call-and-response funk-rap jam "Deep Six"). All told, the set works marvelously as an introduction to and an overview of Sandman's unique achievements, and comes highly recommended for Morphine fans and lovers of offbeat rock.

BIOGRAPHY
by Greg Prato
Multi-instrumentalist/singer Mark Sandman was best known as the frontman for self-described "low-rockers" Morphine. An intensely private person, not much is known about Sandman's early days, just that he was born in 1952 (growing up in Newton, MA), and after graduating from UMass Boston, did some traveling before working on a fishing boat in Washington. By the mid-'80s, Sandman had moved back to the Boston area where he formed and played guitar/sang in the blues roots rock quartet Treat Her Right (along with guitarist/singer David Champagne, drummer Billy Conway, and harmonica player Jim Fitting). The group enjoyed minor success with the college rock crowd, issuing a total of three albums: 1986's self-titled debut, 1989's Tied to the Tracks, and 1991's What's Good for You, before splitting up.
During the latter years of Treat Her Right, Sandman could be seen playing in any of several side projects, including Supergroup (with future Presidents of the United States member Chris Ballew), Treat Her Orange (a collaboration with Blood Oranges frontman/mandolin player Jimmy Ryan), and the horn-driven funk outfit Hypnosonics. But of all the Sandman-related bands at the time, it was Morphine that caused the biggest stir. Comprised of drummer Jerome Dupree, tenor/baritone saxophonist Dana Colley, and Sandman on vocals and a homemade, detuned two-string bass that he built himself, the trio specialized in stripped-down jazz-lounge rock complete with Kerouac-like lyrics, which would have provided the perfect soundtrack to a dimly lit, late night bar.
In the midst of their debut album's recording sessions, Dupree was replaced with former Treat Her Right skinsman Billy Conway, resulting in 1992's Good on the Accurate/Distortion label. The band's regional buzz grew worldwide with incessant touring and such further releases as 1993's Cure for Pain and 1995's Yes, both issued for Rykodisc Records (who in turn reissued their debut). Morphine's buzz had grown too loud for the major labels to ignore any longer, as Dreamworks signed the trio and issued the slightly disappointing Like Swimming in 1997. The album failed to catapult Sandman and the group to the big time, but their large and devoted cult following remained intact. With Morphine working long and hard on what would be their fourth studio album overall (Sandman in particular wanted the album to take the group to the next level musically, he was weary of the group repeating the same formula over and over), the trio toured Europe in the summer of 1999. Sadly, on July 3 at a festival performance in Rome, Sandman collapsed on stage, dying shortly thereafter from an apparent heart attack.
The studio album that Morphine had just completed, The Night, was issued posthumously a year later, as was a live album chronicling a 1994 show, which Sandman was overseeing at the time of his death. After Sandman's death, the remaining members of Morphine toured as the Morphine Orchestra (which was supplemented by added players), while the Mark Sandman Music Education Fund was founded, which benefits music education in the Cambridge public school system. In addition to his recording output with Morphine, Sandman guested on other artist's recordings over the years, including a pair of albums by the Either/Orchestra (Across the Omniverse and Half Life of Desire), Duke Levine's Lava, and Wooden Leg's self-titled debut.
DoWnLoAd

5311

5311 - Sandbox: The Music Of MARK SANDMAN, Disc One (2004)

MARK SANDMAN
''SANDBOX, DISC ONE''
NOVEMBER 16 2004
110:39

DISC ONE
1/Double Stripper Double Sax/1:05
2/I Can Do That/1:53
3/Tomorrow/3:28
4/Patience/3:27
5/Cocoon/4:11
6/Imaginary Song/2:53
7/Goddess/3:57
8/Jealous Dream/2:56
9/Justine/4:27
10/The Phone/2:24
11/Devils Boots/4:50
12/Born Again/3:10
13/Wig/3:27
14/51%/2:32
15/Good Time Last Night1:35
All Tracks By Mark Sandman

DISC TWO
1/Riley the Dog/3:24
2/Some Other Dog/3:28
3/Snow/3:48
4/Doreen/4:39
5/Get Along/3:13
6/Monas Sister/3:23
7/Hombre/4:11
8/Hotel Room/3:52
9/Lets Not Talk/2:42
10/Bathtub/3:21
11/I Wanna Go Home/5:08
12/Deep Six/2:48
13/Livin With U/3:49
14/They Bent Me/5:45
15/Middle East/5:44
16/Early Man/5:09
All Tracks By Mark Sandman

Chris Ballew /Bass
Rick Barry /Drums
Billy Beard /Drums
Jabe "Charlie The Bubble Palantino"
Mickey Bones /Drums
David Champagne /Guitar (Electric)
Jim Clements /Drums
Dana Colley /Horn
Billy Conway /Drums, Producer
Rich Cortez /Bass
Larry Dersch /Drums
Jerry Deupree /Drums
Toni Elka /Vocals (Background)
Colin Fisher /Horn
Russ Gershon /Horn
Tom Halter /Horn
Jay Hilt /Drums
Jim Janota /Drums
Charlie Kohlhase /Horn
Rick McLaughlin /Bass
John Medeski /Keyboards
Mike Moss /Horn
Riley /Vocals (Background)
Michael Rivard /Bass
Jimmy Ryan /Mandolin
Mark Sandman /2-String Bass, Banjo, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Organ, Piano, String Bass, Synthesizer, Tritar, Vocals
Laurie Sargent Vocals (Background)
Jane Scarpantoni Strings
Frank Swart Bass
Ron Ward Drums
Connie White Vocals (Background)
Harvey Wright Drums
Joel Yennior Horn
Dominique Zar Drums

REVIEW
by Rovi
A singer, songwriter, poet, artist, inventor, and player of numerous instruments, as well as an all-around mysterious, charismatic rock & roll figure, Mark Sandman was the stuff cult legends are built on, a status hastened by his premature death in 1999. Best known as the leader of "low rock" band Morphine, Sandman forged an idiosyncratic sound out of swamp-blues rumble, smoky jazz noir, and beat-inspired lyrics. SANDBOX, a two-CD set that also includes a DVD and photo-packed booklet, offers a definitive look at Sandman's achievements, including his recordings with Morphine and early bands Treat Her Right and the Hipnosonics.
The best moments on SANDBOX map the terrain of Sandman's shadowy interior, from the bluesy isolation anthem "Cocoon" through the dreamy "Imaginary Song" to the minor-key soul-jazz of "Justine." While Disc One focuses on the familiar sax/bass/drums sound of Morphine, Disc Two collects some of Sandman's experimental outings (the percussion/voice duet "Riley the Dog"), early roots-rock tunes ("Doreen"), and genre curveballs (the call-and-response funk-rap jam "Deep Six"). All told, the set works marvelously as an introduction to and an overview of Sandman's unique achievements, and comes highly recommended for Morphine fans and lovers of offbeat rock.

BIOGRAPHY
by Greg Prato
Multi-instrumentalist/singer Mark Sandman was best known as the frontman for self-described "low-rockers" Morphine. An intensely private person, not much is known about Sandman's early days, just that he was born in 1952 (growing up in Newton, MA), and after graduating from UMass Boston, did some traveling before working on a fishing boat in Washington. By the mid-'80s, Sandman had moved back to the Boston area where he formed and played guitar/sang in the blues roots rock quartet Treat Her Right (along with guitarist/singer David Champagne, drummer Billy Conway, and harmonica player Jim Fitting). The group enjoyed minor success with the college rock crowd, issuing a total of three albums: 1986's self-titled debut, 1989's Tied to the Tracks, and 1991's What's Good for You, before splitting up.
During the latter years of Treat Her Right, Sandman could be seen playing in any of several side projects, including Supergroup (with future Presidents of the United States member Chris Ballew), Treat Her Orange (a collaboration with Blood Oranges frontman/mandolin player Jimmy Ryan), and the horn-driven funk outfit Hypnosonics. But of all the Sandman-related bands at the time, it was Morphine that caused the biggest stir. Comprised of drummer Jerome Dupree, tenor/baritone saxophonist Dana Colley, and Sandman on vocals and a homemade, detuned two-string bass that he built himself, the trio specialized in stripped-down jazz-lounge rock complete with Kerouac-like lyrics, which would have provided the perfect soundtrack to a dimly lit, late night bar.
In the midst of their debut album's recording sessions, Dupree was replaced with former Treat Her Right skinsman Billy Conway, resulting in 1992's Good on the Accurate/Distortion label. The band's regional buzz grew worldwide with incessant touring and such further releases as 1993's Cure for Pain and 1995's Yes, both issued for Rykodisc Records (who in turn reissued their debut). Morphine's buzz had grown too loud for the major labels to ignore any longer, as Dreamworks signed the trio and issued the slightly disappointing Like Swimming in 1997. The album failed to catapult Sandman and the group to the big time, but their large and devoted cult following remained intact. With Morphine working long and hard on what would be their fourth studio album overall (Sandman in particular wanted the album to take the group to the next level musically, he was weary of the group repeating the same formula over and over), the trio toured Europe in the summer of 1999. Sadly, on July 3 at a festival performance in Rome, Sandman collapsed on stage, dying shortly thereafter from an apparent heart attack.
The studio album that Morphine had just completed, The Night, was issued posthumously a year later, as was a live album chronicling a 1994 show, which Sandman was overseeing at the time of his death. After Sandman's death, the remaining members of Morphine toured as the Morphine Orchestra (which was supplemented by added players), while the Mark Sandman Music Education Fund was founded, which benefits music education in the Cambridge public school system. In addition to his recording output with Morphine, Sandman guested on other artist's recordings over the years, including a pair of albums by the Either/Orchestra (Across the Omniverse and Half Life of Desire), Duke Levine's Lava, and Wooden Leg's self-titled debut.
DoWnLoAd