10,000 Maniacs: Natalie Merchant (vocals, piano); Robert Buck (guitar, banjo, mandolin, synthesizer); John Lombardo (guitar, bass, background vocals); Steven Gustafson (guitar, bass); Dennis Drew (accordion, piano, organ); Jerome Augustyniak (drums, percussion).

Additional personnel: Michael Stipe, David Byrne (vocals); Don Grolnick (piano); Paulinho DaCosta (percussion).

Producers include: 10,000 Maniacs, Bill Waldman, Albert Garzon, Joe Boyd, Peter Asher.

Compilation producers: 10,000 Maniacs, Natalie Merchant.

Recorded between 1982 & 1993. Includes liner notes by Anthony DeCurtis.

Personnel: John Lombardo (vocals, guitar); Natalie Merchant (vocals, piano); Robert Buck (guitar, banjo, mandolin, synthesizer); Steve Gustafson (guitar); Bill Dillon (acoustic guitar, slide guitar, mandolin); Richie Stearns (banjo); Mary Ramsey (violin, viola, background vocals); Morgan Fichter (violin, background vocals); Bruce Dukov, Ralph Morrison (violin); Pamela Goldsmith, Novi (viola); Dennis Karmazyn, Jane Scarpantoni, Larry Corbett (cello); Dennis Drew (accordion, piano, organ); Kim Laskowski, Atsuko Sato (bassoon); Maceo Parker (alto saxophone); Pee Wee Ellis (tenor saxophone); Fred Wesley (trombone); Amanda Kramer (piano, pump organ); Don Grolnick (piano); Jerome Augustyniak (drums, percussion); Jim Foti (drums); Paulinho DaCostam, Jerry Marotta (percussion).

Audio Mixers: Ed Thacker; Frank Filipetti; Frank Wolf; George Massenburg.

Audio Remasterers: Dan Hersch; Bill Inglot.

Audio Remixer: Joe Barbaria.

Liner Note Authors: Dennis Drew; Jerome Augustyniak; John Lombardo; Natalie Merchant; Steve Gustafson; Anthony DeCurtis; Steve Woolard.

Photographers: Pam Taylor; Laura Lavine; Rob Marinissen; Ebet Roberts; Joélle Depónt; Andrew Catlin; Natalie Merchant.

Arranger: Paul Buckmaster.

Spanning 31 songs and two discs, one covering "The Most Popular Recordings" (aka "The Hits") and one covering "The Obscure & Unknown Recordings" (aka "The B-Sides and Cover Versions"), Rhino/Elektra's 2004 compilation Campfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure & Unknown Recordings of 10,000 Maniacs is as good a career overview as could be assembled. The hits disc may miss a minor charting single like "Few and Far Between," but it has all the songs of note, from the hits to album tracks. Meanwhile, the rarities are devoted pretty much to B-side covers in addition to four previously unreleased demos, the early outtake "Poppy Selling Man," plus their cover of Cat Stevens' "Peace Train," which was removed from latter-day editions of In My Tribe. There's enjoyable stuff on both discs -- the singles "Like the Weather," "What's the Matter Here?," "Trouble Me," "Candy Everybody Wants," and "These Are Days" are very good indeed, laying the groundwork for adult alternative pop/rock, while the early demos on the second disc are livelier than most Maniacs material and the Michael Stipe duet on "To Sir With Love" is a priceless artifact from the height of Clinton optimism (which faded quite quickly). But even these moments have the Achilles' heel of a production that is far too big for the group's gentle simple songs. Overall this expertly assembled collection -- which is as good as a 10,000 Maniacs anthology could be -- is best as a time capsule, capturing the earnest, precious optimism and PC nature of American college rock before grunge came along and dirtied everything up. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine