The Wishing Chair

I first heard this album shortly after it originally came out and was delighted to play it 30-plus later for my kids and discover it to be as fabulous as I had recalled. Between the buoyant, infectiously singable melodies; the gorgeous harmonies; and the bittersweet lyrics musing on private rebellions and yearnings, this is a masterpiece of 1980s early "alternative" music.

Extremely satisfied! Great packaging. High quality CD! The CD is also 34 years old. Thank you!

Wow - I haven't heard this album in 20 years and it still stands up beautifully. My Mother the War, Maddox Table, and Scorpio Rising are among the best works of 10,000 Maniacs ever. You can hear more experimentation here than in their next - In My Tribe (another great album). Definitely worth having.

Lots of good songs, Natalie Merchant has never sounded better.

Natalie Merchant and the 10,000 Maniacs are unique musicians, each having their own niche, their own quality performance. This is a highly recommended cd, an enjoyable adventure each time I listen to it.

there best album imo

Fantastic.

This is the album that introduced most of us to this UNDERRATED, AMAZING rock and roll band. No duds here - every song a catchy, jangle-ly winner. But this was released in 1985 and so much has been done since then to improve the sound of CDs. Just listen to "Can't Ignore the Train" on the remastered "Campfire Songs" which blows away the version on The Wishing Chair. C'mon record execs or someone -- TIME FOR A REMASTERED VERSION (with bonus tracks, demos, etc). 35 years is enough of a wait.

Das 10.000 Maniacs Album "The Wishing Chair" von 1985 ist ihr zweites volles Album und ihr erstes für das Major Label Elektra. Der Folk-Pop der Maniacs war noch in der Entwicklung, trotzdem ist hier eine gut funktionierende Band zu hören. Getragen wird die Musik von Natalie Merchants federnden Gesangslinien und dem metallisch klingenden, aber einfallsreichen Gitarrenspiel von Robert Buck. Mal abgesehen von der immer wieder durchklingenen Orgel, sind die Beiträge der restlichen Musiker zwar präzise, fallen dagegen aber nicht so auf. Das Hauptaugenmerk liegt auf Merchant's Erzählsträngen und sie zieht alle Register, sie fordert, bittet und sie ist streng, je nachdem was sie uns zu sagen hat und das ist eine Menge. Und um ihre Stimme herum legt Buck seine Figuren aus. Schön zu hören bei "Everyone a Puzzle Lover" oder bei "Cotton Alley", aber auch überall sonst. Ganz stark ist "My Mother the War".Die CD enthält mit "The Colonial Wing" und "Daktari" noch zusätzlich zwei Singletitel.Es ist interessant eine Band am Beginn ihrer Karriere zu hören, wie sie noch ein wenig an ihrem Sound feilt und schon begeistern kann. Ihr Aushängeschild ist aber die unvergleichliche Natalie Merchant.

I saw the maniacs perform in 1985 - sadly they destroyed the Clarendon to replace it with awful office blocks - the maniacs were a fabulous band that totally made up for the rubbish coming out of the US at that time - I thought Natalie must have been european because her voice was so different to the tacky madonna - it is truly beautiful. I loved the band and i wiah i could go back to that wonderful night with my mates Isaac and Esias who were there with me thinking i was crazy as i danced to the maniacs....and afterwards we took the tube back to ealing. Life.

Really loving this c.f. I had the album of wishing chair and the e.p. can't ignore the train maNY years ago, and this CD covers that material, the service was swift, and the packging sufficient for it to arrive undamaged, so go to the top of the class a very efficient vendor..

I think I was originally put off by the name of the band - 10,000 Maniacs suggested a punk influence which I didn't want. However, I have now discovered Natalie Merchant, quickly recognised how wrong I'd been and I love the soft melodic material. If you haven't already discovered Natalie and her band for yourself, but love folk and soft rock, then have a listen.

I just think that record was the best they ever done