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Soul Asylum was formed in 1981 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The band was originally called Loud Fast Rules and was formed by Dan Murphy, Dave Pirner, and Karl Mueller. The band’s lineup has changed over the years, but Pirner has remained the lead vocalist and main songwriter. Soul Asylum has released thirteen studio albums, including the multi-platinum Grave Dancers Union (1992), which featured the Grammy Award-winning hit single “Runaway Train.”
The band has also released several live and compilation albums, along with numerous singles and music videos. They achieved significant commercial success in the early 1990s, with Grave Dancers Union peaking at number eleven on the US Billboard 200 and Let Your Dim Light Shine reaching number six. Soul Asylum has been praised for their energetic live performances and their ability to blend punk rock energy with melodic hooks and socially conscious lyrics. The band’s current lineup includes Dave Pirner on vocals and guitar, Ryan Smith on guitar, Jeremy Tappero on bass, and Michael Bland on drums.
SOUL ASYLUM STUDIO ALBUMS
Say What You Will… Everything Can Happen (1984)
Label: Twin/Tone
Released: 1984
Say What You Will… Everything Can Happen is Soul Asylum’s debut album, showcasing their raw punk rock energy and melodic sensibilities. The album featured Dave Pirner on vocals and guitar, Dan Murphy on guitar and vocals, Karl Mueller on bass, and Pat Morley on drums. It was produced by Bob Mould and recorded at Blackberry Way Studios in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
CD Track Listings:
- “Long Day” – 2:46
- “Voodoo Doll” – 3:42
- “Money Talks” – 2:31
- “Stranger” – 3:44
- “Sick of That Song” – 0:52
- “Walking” – 2:19
- “Happy” – 2:45
- “Black and Blue” – 3:26
- “Religiavision” – 5:09
Made to Be Broken (1986)
Label: Twin/Tone
Released: 1986
Made to Be Broken is Soul Asylum’s second studio album, continuing their exploration of punk and alternative rock. The album featured Dave Pirner on vocals and guitar, Dan Murphy on guitar and vocals, Karl Mueller on bass, and Grant Young on drums. It was produced by Bob Mould and recorded at Blackberry Way Studios in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
CD Track Listings:
- “Tied to the Tracks” – 2:45
- “Ship of Fools” – 2:48
- “Can’t Go Back” – 3:05
- “Another World, Another Day” – 1:59
- “Made to Be Broken” – 2:35
- “Never Really Been” – 2:52
- “Whoa!” – 2:32
- “New Feelings” – 1:46
- “Growing Pain” – 2:17
- “Long Way Home” – 2:27
- “Lone Rider” – 1:50
- “Ain’t That Tough” – 3:34
- “Don’t It (Make Your Troubles Seem Small)” – 2:48
While You Were Out (1986)
Label: Twin/Tone
Released: 1986
While You Were Out is Soul Asylum’s third studio album, featuring a more polished sound while retaining their punk roots. The album featured Dave Pirner on vocals and guitar, Dan Murphy on guitar and vocals, Karl Mueller on bass, and Grant Young on drums. It was produced by Chris Osgood and recorded at Nicollet Studios in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
CD Track Listings:
- “Freaks” – 3:26
- “Carry On” – 2:22
- “No Man’s Land” – 2:56
- “Crashing Down” – 2:16
- “The Judge” – 3:09
- “Sun Don’t Shine” – 2:45
- “Closer to the Stars” – 2:51
- “Never Too Soon” – 2:59
- “Miracle Mile” – 2:17
- “Lap of Luxury” – 1:53
- “Passing Sad Daydream” – 6:13
Hang Time (1988)
Label: A & M
Released: 1988
Hang Time is Soul Asylum’s fourth studio album and their first on a major label. The album showcased a blend of punk energy and melodic rock. It featured Dave Pirner on vocals and guitar, Dan Murphy on guitar and vocals, Karl Mueller on bass, and Grant Young on drums. The album was produced by Lenny Kaye and Ed Stasium, recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales and Studio D in Sausalito, California.
CD Track Listings:
- “Down on Up to Me” – 2:46
- “Little Too Clean” – 3:15
- “Sometime to Return” – 3:28
- “Cartoon” – 3:52
- “Beggars and Choosers” – 2:57
- “Endless Farewell” – 4:21
- “Standing in the Doorway” – 3:05
- “Marionette” – 3:24
- “Ode” – 2:18
- “Jack of All Trades” – 2:53
- “Twiddly Dee” – 3:00
- “Heavy Rotation” – 3:54
And the Horse They Rode In On (1990)
Label: A & M
Released: 1990
And the Horse They Rode In On is Soul Asylum’s fifth studio album, continuing their blend of punk and alternative rock. The album featured Dave Pirner on vocals and guitar, Dan Murphy on guitar and vocals, Karl Mueller on bass, and Grant Young on drums. It was produced by Steve Jordan, with Joe Blaney serving as associate producer and engineer. The majority of the album was recorded live on an A&M sound stage in Los Angeles and finished in Cannon Falls, Minnesota.
CD Track Listings:
- “Spinnin'” – 2:37
- “Bitter Pill” – 2:49
- “Veil of Tears” – 4:06
- “Nice Guys (Don’t Get Paid)” – 4:45
- “Something Out of Nothing” – 3:15
- “Gullible’s Travels” – 4:18
- “Brand New Shine” – 3:15
- “Easy Street” – 3:34
- “Grounded” – 3:17
- “Be on Your Way” – 3:01
- “We 3” – 4:08
- “All the King’s Friends” – 3:09
Grave Dancers Union (1992)
Label: Columbia
Released: 1992
Grave Dancers Union is Soul Asylum’s breakthrough album, achieving multi-platinum status and featuring the hit single “Runaway Train.” The album featured Dave Pirner on vocals and guitar, Dan Murphy on guitar and vocals, Karl Mueller on bass, and Grant Young on drums, with Sterling Campbell also contributing drums and percussion. It was produced by Michael Beinhorn, recorded at The Power Station and River Sound in New York City, and released on Columbia Records. The album peaked at number eleven on the US Billboard 200.
CD Track Listings:
- “Somebody to Shove” – 3:15
- “Black Gold” – 3:57
- “Runaway Train” – 4:26
- “Keep It Up” – 3:48
- “Homesick” – 3:35
- “Get on Out” – 3:30
- “New World” – 4:04
- “April Fool” – 3:46
- “Without a Trace” – 3:33
- “Growing into You” – 3:14
- “99%” – 3:59
- “The Sun Maid” – 3:54
Let Your Dim Light Shine (1995)
Label: Columbia
Released: 1995
Let Your Dim Light Shine continued Soul Asylum’s commercial success, featuring the hit single “Misery.” The album featured Dave Pirner on vocals and guitar, Dan Murphy on guitar and vocals, Karl Mueller on bass, and Sterling Campbell on drums. It was produced by Butch Vig and Soul Asylum and recorded at A&M Studios and Ocean Way Studios in Hollywood, Mad Hatter Studios in Silverlake, and Sony Studios and Soundtrack Studios in New York City. The album peaked at number six on the US Billboard 200.
CD Track Listings:
- “Misery” – 4:24
- “Shut Down” – 2:51
- “To My Own Devices” – 2:59
- “Hopes Up” – 3:45
- “Promises Broken” – 3:14
- “Bittersweetheart” – 3:34
- “String of Pearls” – 4:56
- “Crawl” – 4:00
- “Caged Rat” – 3:03
- “Eyes of a Child” – 3:35
- “Just Like Anyone” – 2:47
- “Tell Me When” – 3:42
- “Nothing to Write Home About” – 3:14
- “I Did My Best” – 3:46
Candy from a Stranger (1998)
Label: Columbia
Released: 1998
Candy from a Stranger is Soul Asylum’s eighth studio album, featuring a blend of alternative rock and pop influences. The album featured Dave Pirner on vocals and guitar, Dan Murphy on guitar and vocals, Karl Mueller on bass, and Sterling Campbell on drums. It was produced by Chris Kimsey and recorded at Seedy Underbelly Studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The album peaked at number one hundred and twenty-one on the US Billboard 200.
CD Track Listings:
- “Creatures of Habit” – 3:23
- “I Will Still Be Laughing” – 3:45
- “Close” – 4:32
- “See You Later” – 4:43
- “No Time for Waiting” – 3:14
- “Blood into Wine” – 4:03
- “Lies of Hate” – 4:39
- “Draggin’ the Lake” – 3:37
- “New York Blackout” – 4:05
- “The Game” – 4:26
- “Cradle Chain” – 4:45
The Silver Lining (2006)
Label: Legacy
Released: 2006
The Silver Lining is Soul Asylum’s ninth studio album and the band’s last studio album to feature original bassist Karl Mueller, who played on most of the album before his death in 2005. The album featured Dave Pirner on vocals and guitar, Dan Murphy on guitar and vocals, Karl Mueller on bass, and Michael Bland on drums, with Tommy Stinson and John Fields also contributing bass. It was produced by John Fields and recorded at Flyte Tyme Studios in Edina, Minnesota. The album peaked at number one hundred and fifty-five on the US Billboard 200.
CD Track Listings:
- “Stand Up and Be Strong” – 4:22
- “Lately” – 3:27
- “Crazy Mixed Up World” – 3:55
- “All Is Well” – 3:13
- “Bus Named Desire” – 3:04
- “Whatcha Need” – 3:50
- “Standing Water” – 4:38
- “Success Is Not So Sweet” – 4:56
- “The Great Exaggerator” – 4:06
- “Oxygen” – 4:01
- “Good for You” – 3:52
- “Slowly Rising” – 3:55
- “Fearless Leader” (hidden track) – 3:32
Delayed Reaction (2012)
Label: 429
Released: 2012
Delayed Reaction is Soul Asylum’s tenth studio album, featuring a blend of alternative rock and pop punk. The album featured Dave Pirner on vocals and guitar, Dan Murphy on guitar and vocals, Tommy Stinson on bass, and Michael Bland on drums. It was produced by Soul Asylum and John Fields and recorded at Flowers Studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
CD Track Listings:
- “Gravity” – 4:32
- “Into the Light (Breaking Horses)” – 3:58
- “The Streets” – 2:49
- “By the Way” – 3:21
- “Pipe Dream” – 2:45
- “Let’s All Kill Each Other” – 2:40
- “Cruel Intentions” – 3:53
- “The Juice” – 3:38
- “Take Manhattan” – 2:55
- “I Should’ve Stayed in Bed” – 5:10
Change of Fortune (2016)
Label: Entertainment One
Released: 2016
Change of Fortune is Soul Asylum’s eleventh studio album, featuring a mix of rock, punk, and alternative sounds. The album featured Dave Pirner on vocals and guitar, Justin Sharbono on guitar, Winston Roye on bass, and Michael Bland on drums. It was produced by John Fields and Soul Asylum and recorded at various studios, including The Terrarium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
CD Track Listings:
- “Supersonic” – 3:00
- “Can’t Help It” – 3:00
- “Doomsday” – 2:58
- “Ladies Man” – 3:22
- “Moonshine” – 4:03
- “Make It Real” – 2:18
- “When I See You” – 3:47
- “Dealing” – 4:04
- “Don’t Bother Me” – 3:28
- “Morgan’s Dog” – 3:35
- “Change of Fortune” – 2:55
- “Cool” – 2:55
Hurry Up and Wait (2020)
Label: Blue Élan
Released: 2020
Hurry Up and Wait is Soul Asylum’s twelfth studio album, featuring a return to their alternative rock roots. The album featured Dave Pirner on vocals and guitar, Ryan Smith on guitar, Winston Roye and Jeremy Tappero on bass, and Michael Bland on drums. It was co-produced with John Fields and recorded at Nicollet Studios in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
CD Track Listings:
- “The Beginning” – 3:55
- “If I Told You” – 3:51
- “Got It Pretty Good” – 3:16
- “Make Her Laugh” – 4:03
- “Busy Signals” – 2:54
- “Social Butterfly” – 3:52
- “Dead Letter” – 3:05
- “Landmines” – 3:14
- “Here We Go” – 3:05
- “Freezer Burn” – 3:26
- “Silent Treatment” – 4:02
- “Hopped Up Feelin'” – 3:22
- “Silly Things” – 3:51
Slowly But Shirley (2024)
Label: Blue Élan
Released: 2024
Slowly But Shirley is Soul Asylum’s thirteenth studio album. The album featured Dave Pirner on vocals and guitar, Ryan Smith on guitar, Jeremy Tappero on bass, and Michael Bland on drums. It was produced by Steve Jordan and recorded live at The Terrarium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with vocal overdubs recorded at Electric Lady Studios and The Hit Factory in New York City.
CD Track Listings:
- “The Only Thing I’m Missing” – 2:31
- “High Road” – 3:08
- “You Don’t Know Me” – 4:54
- “Freeloader” – 2:38
- “Tryin’ Man” – 3:38
- “Freak Accident” – 4:15
- “If You Want It Back” – 3:03
- “Waiting on the Lord” – 2:47
- “Trial By Fire” – 3:08
- “Makin’ Plans” – 2:42
- “Sucker Maker” – 2:33
- “High & Dry” – 4:12
Read More: Top 10 Soul Asylum Songs
Updated August 20, 2026.
Complete List Of Soul Asylum Albums And Discography article published on ClassicRockHistory.com © 2026
