Our top 10 Tracy Bonham songs list digs deep into the music of a two-time Grammy Awards nominee who rose to fame in the mid-‘90s with the hit “Mother Mother.” Tracy Bonham established her career at the height of the flourishing alternative rock scene. While alternative rock was her mainstay, Tracy Bonham still managed to feature heavily post-grunge and classical music influences. At the beginning of her music career, Tracy Bonham was compared to the leading-edge female artists in the alternative rock scene Liz Phair, Aimee Mann, and Alanis Morissette.
However, the singer maintained her angst-influenced singing taking on contemplative lyrical content with almost every hit she released. Her urbane eccentricity to the female alternative rock scene catapulted her to stardom in the mid-‘90s. While her star would soon fade, alternative rock enthusiasts can never seem to get enough of Tracy Bonham’s unique vocal versatility and songwriting.
Tracy Bonham’s Career Beginnings and Breakthrough
Inspired by Jen Trynin and Sam Phillips, Tracy Bonham took up rock and roll in the early ‘90s. Tracy Bonham released her debut EP, The Liverpool Sessions which featured the hits “Dandelion” and “The One.” The two hits received massive airplay locally, catapulting Tracy Bonham to popularity. Thanks to her good start with The Liverpool Sessions, Tracy Bonham won the Boston Music Awards’ Best Female Vocalist and Best New Artist accolades. However, this was just the start of her breakthrough with more success coming her way, especially with her debut album release.
Tracy Bonham’s Album Releases over the Years
Tracy Bonham rose to become an influential singer-songwriter in the alternative rock scene following the release of The Burdens of Being Upright, her 1996 debut album. “Mother Mother,” the album’s first single brought critical acclaim to Tracy Bonham’s musical pursuits. “Sharks Can’t Sleep,” “Navy Bean,” “The Real,” and “30 Seconds” are other best Tracy Bonham songs from the album that just proved her seasoned songwriting skills of Tracy Bonham. Her hard-rocking debut album also featured her successful single “The One,” a song initially featured on her debut EP, The Liverpool Sessions.
The Burdens of Being Upright saw several of its hits receive massive airplay on VH1 and MTV. As a result, the album’s reputation in the mainstream grew, helping it rise to the fifty-fourth spot on the Billboard 200. The album was also a mainstream success in Australia where it made it to position thirty-eight on the Albums Chart. Tracy Bonham saw the album nominated for the Best Alternative Music Album in the 1997 Grammy Awards ceremony. However, she lost the award to Odelay, the fifth studio album by Beck. Other albums that were nominated for the same award that year include Boys for Pele by Tori Amos, New Adventures in Hi-Fi by R.E.M., and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins.
In 2000, Tracy Bonham released her sophomore studio album, Down Here. Down Here blended the singer’s alternative rock sound with a bit of post-grunge. Unfortunately, the album failed to match the commercial and mainstream success of The Burdens of Being Upright. However, it still manages to feature some of the best Tracy Bonham songs including “Behind Every Good Woman,” Fake It,” and “Cold Day in Hell.”
The singer returned in 2005 with her third studio album, Blink the Brightest. Blink the Brightest was co-produced by Tracy Bonham, former Beck and R.E.M. drummer Joey Waronker, and record producer Greg Collins. Greg Collins is best known for his successful production work with Gwen Stefani, Kiss, U2, Matchbox Twenty, and No Doubt. Blink the Brightest managed to feature musical gems including “Something Beautiful,” “Shine,” and “Eyes.”
Tracy Bonham’s 2010 album Masts of Manhatta and 2015 album Wax & Gold barely earned her acclaim. However, the two albums add to her music catalog songs evocative of her alternative rock influences. That said, Tracy Bonham’s major moves in the alternative rock scene remain her hugely acclaimed debut studio album, The Burdens of Being Upright. Here we usher in the ten best Tracy Bonham songs of all time.
#10 – Luck
Opening our top 10 Tracy Bonham songs list is the stunning hit “Luck.” Of course, this might feel far-fetched for fans of Tracy Bonham’s earliest work. However, “Luck” paints the singer’s 2015 album, Wax & Gold with glamour. The song fits the definition of a masterpiece thanks to its charming lyrical content, splendid vocal delivery, and incredible melody. Tracy Bonham released a music video for this song, her first in nineteen years.
#9 – Dandelion
Very few women in the mid-‘90s alternative rock scene were as hard rocking as Tracy Bonham. “Dandelion” is enough proof of this claim, having the song feature some heavy guitar riffs with a slightly aggressive yet alluring delivery. The song is among the top musical gems by the artist from her debut EP, The Liverpool Sessions.
Drew Parsons of the rock band American Hi-Fi played the bass guitars on this hit. Together with “The One,” “Dandelion” received some local airplay. The song was voted the Boston Music Awards Outstanding Rock Single in 1995.
#8 – Devil’s Got Your Boyfriend
Coming in at number eight on our top 10 Tracy Bonham songs list is the stunning hit “Devil’s Got Your Boyfriend.” The song is featured on the singer’s 2010 fourth studio album, Masts of Manhatta. “Devil’s Got Your Girlfriend” alludes to a cheating boyfriend whose girlfriend is unaware of his infidelity moves. The song features some mellow vocals by Tracy Bonham which complements the song’s moody texture.
#7 – Navy Bean
“Navy Bean” is among the songs by Tracy Bonham that ooze raw musical energy. The song is among the best cuts off the singer’s critically acclaimed debut studio album, The Burdens of Being Upright. Tracy Bonham and her fellow bandmates tear through this hit unleashing strong musicianship on this hard-rocking ballad. The song features a slamming hot bass rhythm with transcendent drumming which sets its tune on fire! Be sure to experience the vocal versatility of Tracy Bonham on this hit.
#6 – Fake It
Number six on our top 10 Tracy Bonham songs list is the terrific hit “Fake It.” The song is featured on the singer’s sophomore studio album, Down Here. While the song might not have made quite an impact like most of the cuts off her debut album, it still brought Tracy Bonham’s rich and more distinctive talent. “Fake It” introduces us to richer songwriting skills by Tracy Bonham seeing her go even deeper into her angst-ridden lyrical content. The song’s hook might not be as strong as that of hits like “Navy Bean” but it still manages to rise above the competition settling for a solid sixth spot on our ten best Tracy Bonham songs.
#5 – Something Beautiful
Long waits can be hard to take but sometimes worthwhile, just like the case of Tracy Bonham’s third studio album, Blink the Brightest. The album feels more adventurous and her singing sounds even more confident, especially in the song “Something Beautiful.” Amazing vocals and distinct lyrics make up the greatness of this wonderfully tuned hit. “Something Beautiful” is still evocative of the singer’s ‘90s alternative rock sound influences, only that her artistic inspirations seem to have grown from the basic PJ Harvey and Pixies influences. Unfortunately, her star started dwindling owing to her delayed releases having her lose touch with her fanbase.
#4 – Sharks Can’t Sleep
“Sharks Can’t Sleep” is among the musical gems by Tracy Bonham that get a little personal. The song came at a time the singer was facing a thorough period of personal development. Tracy Bonham reveals that the song takes a look at how our animal instincts can drive us towards noticing that things might be taking a wrong trajectory.
The singer revealed that she wrote the song while contemplating what it meant to fall in love/ be in companionship with another soul. “Sharks Can’t Sleep” was among her favorite tracks on the Lilith Fair. Tracy Bonham released a new version of this hit on her 2017 album Modern Burdens featuring Tanya Donelly, a former member of Throwing Muses and The Breeders.
#3 – The One
At the third spot on our top 10 Tracy Bonham songs list is the jaunty hit “The One.” The song was among the few successful hits featured on the singer’s debut EP, The Liverpool Sessions. Eventually, the song was featured on Tracy Bonham’s debut album, The Burdens of Being Upright. This catchy hit alludes to Tracy Bonham’s one-time ex-boyfriend and her life in the relationship. The singer revealed the inner details of the relationship terming it to have been destructive and abusive.
#2- Behind Every Good Woman
“Behind Every Good Woman” is a powerful gem that finds Tracy Bonham bringing to us her contemplative pieces of lyrical art. The song is built upon the typical saying, “Behind every man, there’s a great woman.” Tracy Bonham rises above the bias in this empowering phrase reminding the world that behind every good woman lies a trail of men. Probably, this was a great move towards reminding the world to respect the roles played by both genders in the success of their respective opposites. “Behind Every Good Woman” is featured on the singer’s sophomore album, Down Here.
#1 – Mother Mother
Number one on our top 10 Tracy Bonham songs list is the striking hit “Mother Mother.” The song is her best cut off The Burdens of Being Upright. “Mother Mother” is an angst-ridden ballad that has its lyrics alluding to the singer making a call to her mother. The song brings out the frustrations of her daily life.
Tracy Bonham revealed that the song was inspired by her personal experiences, specifically her bad choices that she would never communicate to her mother pretending that all is well. “Mother Mother” topped the Billboard Alternative Airplay, rising to number eighteen on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart. The song has been covered by The Veronicas and Off the Beat.
Feature Photo: Tammy Lo, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Top 10 Tracy Bonham Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2022
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![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
