Fumbling Towards Ecstasy

Infobox Album |
Name = Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
Type = Album
Artist = Sarah McLachlan


Released = October 22, 1993 = February 15, 1994
Recorded = Le Studio, Morin Heights, Quebec
Genre = Pop
Length =
Label = Nettwerk/Arista
Producer = Pierre Marchand
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:7hddyl28xpsb link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/sarahmclachlan/albums/album/237209/review/5942759/fumbling_towards_ecstasy link]
*Slant Magazine Rating|5|5 [http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=365 link]
Last album = "Live EP"
(1992)
This album = "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy"
(1993)
Next album = "The Freedom Sessions"
(1994)

"Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" is an album by Sarah McLachlan. It was produced by Pierre Marchand in Montreal, and released in 1993.

The album was an immediate hit in Canada, where McLachlan was already an established star. Over the next two years, it became her breakthrough album internationally as well. However, in some countries, most notably the United States, the album was a steady seller that stayed in the middle ranges of the pop charts for almost two years, rather than the #1 smash that McLachlan would achieve with 1997's "Surfacing".

"Possession", the album's first single, is written from the point of view of an obsessed fan. Following the album's release, a fan named Uwe Vandrei sued McLachlan for songwriting credit, claiming that his letters were used as the basis of the song. The case never made it to trial as Vandrei was found dead of apparent suicide in November 1994.

Some editions contain an album version of McLachlan's 1995 single used for "The Brothers McMullen" soundtrack, "I Will Remember You". The track's lyrics do not appear in the booklet, nor strangely does the track's crediting information.

August 5, 2008 saw the release of the 15th anniversary 3-disc edition the album. The set includes the original remastered album, The Freedom Sessions and a DVD that includes live performances, music videos and more. The album was released by Legacy Recordings.

Track listing

All songs written by Sarah McLachlan, except "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" written by McLachlan and Marchand.

#"Possession" – 4:39
#"Wait" – 4:09
#"Plenty" – 4:05
#"Good Enough" – 5:03
#"Mary" – 3:55
#"Elsewhere" – 4:44
#"Circle" – 3:43
#"Ice" – 3:54
#"Hold On" – 4:09
#"Ice Cream" – 2:44
#"Fear" – 3:59
#"Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" – 9:49 (including several minutes of silence followed by a hidden track, a solo piano version of "Possession")
#"Blue" (Japan and UK bonus track, a Joni Mitchell cover)

Legacy Edition

Disc 1: "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy"
#"Possession" – 4:39
#"Wait" – 4:09
#"Plenty" – 4:05
#"Good Enough" – 5:03
#"Mary" – 3:55
#"Elsewhere" – 4:44
#"Circle" – 3:43
#"Ice" – 3:54
#"Hold On" – 4:09
#"Ice Cream" – 2:44
#"Fear" – 3:59
#"Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" – 4:56
#"Possession" [Piano Version] – 4:30

Disc 2: "The Freedom Sessions"
# "Elsewhere" – 4:33
# "Plenty" – 3:20
# "Mary" – 3:55
# "Good Enough" – 3:20
# "Hold On" – 6:43
# "Ice Cream" – 2:30
# "Ice" – 3:58
# "Ol' 55" (Tom Waits) – 4:12
# "Hold On" [Alternate Version] – 6:43

Disc 3: "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy Live" DVD
# "Plenty"
# "Good Enough"
# "Wait"
# "Home"
# "Ice" (live studio)
# "Ben's Song"
# "Out of The Shadows"
# "I Will Not Forget You"
# "Path of Thorns" (live studio)
# "Hold On"
# "Possession"
# "Mary" (live studio)
# "Ice Cream"
# "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy"
# "Ol' 55"

Personnel

*Sarah McLachlan: Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Piano
*Bill Dillon: Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Guitorgan, Bass, Piano
*Pierre Marchand: Bass, Piano, Keyboards, Fake B-3 Organ, Drum Machine, Percussion Machine, 808, Shaker, Found Sound
*Brian Minato: Bass
*David Kershaw: Hammond Organ
*Jane Scarpantoni: Cello
*Michel Dubeau: Saxophone
*Ashwin Sood: Drums, Percussion
*Jerry Marotta: Drums, Percussion
*Lou Shefano: Drums
*Guy Nadon: Drums