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. The album earned Hanson three Grammy Award nominations, including Best New Artist and Record of the Year.
Reception
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."
Track listing
Notes "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 and the digital download pressings omitted the tracks of silence and make "Man from Milwaukee" a true track 13.
Personnel Hanson Isaac Hanson – guitar, background vocals; co-lead vocals (10, 11) Taylor Hanson – keyboards, piano, lead vocals Zac Hanson – drums, background vocals; lead vocals (8, 13)
Additional musicians Stephen Lironi – bass, guitar, keyboards, percussion, production, programming 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 – harmonica Murray Adler – violin
Technical The Dust Brothers – production, programming Steve Greenberg – executive producer Ted Jensen – mastering Mark Hudson – vocal director Roger Love – vocal director Margery Greenspan – art direction Barry Mann – vocal director Marina Chavez – photography
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1997)Peakposition Canadian Albums (RPM)4Czech Albums (IFPI CR)6 Danish Albums (Tracklisten) 5Estonian Albums (Eesti Top 10)8European Albums Chart3Greek Albums (IFPI Greece)7 Irish Albums (IRMA) 6Italian Albums (FIMI)23Italian Albums (Musica e dischi) Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Hanson".25 Japanese Albums (Oricon) 10 Malaysian Albums (IFPI) 4 Portuguese Albums (AFP) 8 Scottish Albums (OCC) 6Singapore Albums (SPVA)1 Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) 10 Taiwanese Albums (IFPI) 1Zimbabwean Albums (ZIMA)* Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: albums chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 20004
Year-end charts Chart (1997)Position Australian Albums (ARIA)3Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)22Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)13Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)43Canadian Albums (Nielsen Soundscan)18Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)78European Top 100 Albums (Music & Media)28French Albums (SNEP)36German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)37New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)16Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)16Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)14UK Albums (OCC)61US Billboard 20013 Chart (1998)PositionBelgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)81Canadian Albums (RPM)96US Billboard 20041
Decade-end charts Chart (1990–1999)PositionUS Billboard 20089
Certifications
References