Grave Dancers Union is the official sixth album by Soul Asylum. It was released in 1992 (see 1992 in music). The cover illustration is by erotic art photographer Jan Saudek. The album's title comes from the line "I tried to dance at a funeral, New Orleans style, I joined the Grave Dancers Union, I had to file," from the song "Without A Trace." The album spent 76 weeks on the Billboard music charts and was certified double-platinum in 1993.

Lead singer Dave Pirner now often dedicates "Without A Trace" to the memory of late bassist Karl Mueller.

In the middle of the sessions, producer Michael Beinhorn grew dissatisfied with drummer Grant Young's performance and brought in Sterling Campbell. It was the beginning of the end of Young's tenure in the band. He and Campbell would each wind up playing on about half the record. Campbell eventually was named the band's official drummer.

Track listing

All songs written by Dave Pirner.

1. "Somebody to Shove" – 3:15
2. "Black Gold" – 3:57
3. "Runaway Train" – 4:26
4. "Keep It Up" – 3:48
5. "Homesick" – 3:34
6. "Get on Out" – 3:30
7. "New World" – 4:04
8. "April Fool" – 3:45
9. "Without a Trace" – 3:33
10. "Growing into You" – 3:13
11. "99%" – 3:59
12. "The Sun Maid" – 3:51

Personnel

• Eric Anderson – engineer
• Michael Beinhorn – arranger, celeste, glockenspiel, producer, horn arrangements
• Sterling Campbell – percussion
• David Michael Dill – assistant engineer
• Dan Gellert – assistant engineer
• Kraig Johnson – background vocals
• Booker T. Jones III – organ, Hammond organ
• Sonny Kompanek – arranger, conductor
• David Leonard – mixing
• Gary Louris – background vocals
• Meridian String Quartet – strings
• Karl Mueller – bass
• Dan Murphy – guitar, vocals
• Dave Pirner – guitar, arranger, vocals, horn arrangements
• Francesca Restrepo – art direction, design
• Bruce Ross – engineer
• Jan Saudek – photography
• Christopher Shaw – engineer
• Steve Sisco – mixing assistant
• Bill Smith – assistant engineer
• Wally Traugott – mastering
• Andy Wallace – mixing
• Grant Young – drums

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1992	Billboard Heatseekers	1
1992	The Billboard 200	11

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1992	"Somebody to Shove"	Modern Rock Tracks	1
1993	"Black Gold"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	4
1993	"Black Gold"	Modern Rock Tracks	6
1993	"Runaway Train"	Adult Contemporary	15
1993	"Runaway Train"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	3
1993	"Runaway Train"	Modern Rock Tracks	13
1993	"Runaway Train"	The Billboard Hot 100	5
1993	"Runaway Train"	Top 40 Mainstream	2
1993	"Somebody to Shove"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	9
1993	"Without a Trace"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	6
1993	"Without a Trace"	Modern Rock Tracks	27

Awards

Grammy Awards

Year	Winner	Category
1993	"Runaway Train"	Best Rock Song

References

• Soul Asylum Biography and notes

1. "The beginning of the end for Young's Soul Asylum career actually started during the recording sessions for Grave Dancers Union." http://sjmc.cla.umn.edu/stupro/resonance/article-1.htm