Grave Dancers Union is the official seventh 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. [1] Campbell eventually was named the band's official drummer.

Four years later, on "Weird Al" Yankovic's album, Bad Hair Day, some fans considered his song, "The Night Santa Went Crazy," as a parody of "Black Gold." Interestingly, this is on the same album as another Soul Asylum spoof: "Syndicated, Inc.", Al's take on their 1995 song "Misery."

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, organ (hammond)
* 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