Shivaree (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Defunct | 2007 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Key people | Ambrosia Parsley (lead vocals), Danny McGough (keyboards), Duke McVinnie (guitar) |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
Shivaree was a US-based band blending Americana and alternative country styles, established in 1997. The group featured Ambrosia Parsley as lead vocalist, Danny McGough on keyboards, and Duke McVinnie handling guitar duties. They are primarily recognized for their 1999 single "Goodnight Moon", which gained prominence through its inclusion in television shows such as Dawson's Creek and films including Kill Bill: Volume 2 and Silver Linings Playbook. The band ceased activities in 2007 after a short tour promoting their fourth release, Tainted Love: Mating Calls and Fight Songs, an album consisting entirely of cover songs.
History
Shivaree was created in 1997, taking its name from the Cajun tradition "shivaree," a raucous serenade performed for newlyweds. This choice reflected the group’s Southern American roots and literary inspirations drawn from authors like William Faulkner. Live shows frequently featured collaborations with additional musicians beyond the core trio.
Their hallmark track, "Goodnight Moon", was notably used in the third and sixth seasons of Dawson's Creek, the 2012 motion picture Silver Linings Playbook, Quentin Tarantino’s 2004 film Kill Bill: Volume 2, the French movie Ni reprise ni échangée (also known as Monique), as well as a Norwegian apparel advertisement. Another song, "Little Black Mess," was included in an episode titled "Only Judy Can Judge" from the television series Weeds.
The band’s sophomore album, Rough Dreams, which was slated for release in 2002, did not reach the North American audience due to disagreements with their record label, nearly leading to the group's dissolution. Despite these challenges, Shivaree went on to issue an EP along with two additional albums before disbanding in 2007. Throughout their ten-year span, they produced four full-length albums, two EPs, and eight singles, selling close to half a million copies worldwide.
Band members
The lineup of Shivaree included vocalist Ambrosia Parsley, keyboard player Danny McGough, and guitarist Duke McVinnie. Parsley had plans to launch her solo career with an album expected in spring 2011. Meanwhile, McGough and McVinnie have continued working as session musicians and producers for various other artists.
Albums
- I Oughtta Give You a Shot in the Head for Making Me Live in This Dump (October 19, 1999)
- Rough Dreams (June 17, 2002) – withheld from US release due to label conflicts
- Who's Got Trouble? (January 11, 2005)
- Tainted Love: Mating Calls and Fight Songs (July 31, 2007) – collection of cover tracks
EPs
- Corrupt and Immoral Transmissions (2000)
- Breach (2004)
Singles
- "Goodnight Moon" (1999 & 2000) MV
- "Bossa Nova" (2001) MV
- "John 2/14" (2002) MV
- "After The Prince And The Showgirl" (2002)
- "Rough Dreams (promo)" (2002) – French two-track promo CD including live and bonus material
- "I Close My Eyes" (2005) MV
- "New Casablanca" (2005) – radio promo only
- "2 Far" (2005) – reworked version of "Gone too Far" from Rough Dreams
- "Cold Blooded" (2007)
(MV denotes singles accompanied by music videos.)
Non-album studio recordings and alternate versions
- The tracks "Scrub" and "My Boy Lollipop" appeared on both the "Goodnight Moon" maxi single released in 1999 and the EP titled Corrupt and Immoral Transmissions from 2000.
- "Funeral Song for a Dog" was exclusive to the "Bossa Nova" maxi single issued in 2001.
- The song "You Don't Know What Love Is," recorded during sessions for their debut album, remains officially unreleased except for a brief excerpt shared by Ambrosia Parsley in 2010.
- "The Snake" was available solely on the maxi single for "John 2/14" released in 2002.
- A rendition of "Great Balls of Fire" appeared on a rare French promotional CD tied to the album Rough Dreams in 2002.
- Two distinct versions of "Bossa Nova" exist: the "Allskate Mix," featured in its music video and only available on that single; and an alternative "Album Edit," which includes a different ending segment.
- Multiple edits of "I Close My Eyes" were released, including the Breach Edit found on the EP and a scarce radio mix distributed exclusively through promotional channels.
Officially Released Live Recordings
- Live renditions of "Goodnight Moon" and "I Don't Care" were made available on the Corrupt and Immoral Transmissions EP (2000). Additionally, the live version of "I Don't Care" was featured on the "Bossa Nova" single released in 2001.
Live Covers and Unreleased Material
- "Stroll" (Live) – this track has never been issued on CD; it was captured live at Le Ciel in Grenoble, France, on April 25, 2005. Ambrosia Parsley later re-released it under the title "Skin and Bones" on her 2013 solo album Weeping Cherry.
- "Great Balls of Fire" (Live) – an unofficial promotional recording from The Black Sessions 2002, limited to 2,500 copies distributed across radio stations and retail outlets in North America and Europe. These sessions were broadcast live by the French radio station France Inter.
- "Tonight You Belong To Me" (Live) – similarly an unofficial promo from The Black Sessions 2002, sharing the same limited distribution.
- "Get Out And Get Under The Moon" (Live) – recorded live at Le Ciel, Grenoble, on April 25, 2005, but never released on CD.
- "Heaven" (Live) – a duet with Nada Surf performed during Arte's Musicplanet2nite broadcast on October 3, 2002; this performance has not been commercially issued.
- "Dedicated Follower Of Fashion" (Live) – a cover of The Kinks delivered in an acoustic session accompanied by an interview for OuiFm radio in Paris on March 25, 2005; remains unreleased.
- "Hold Me Right" (Live) – exclusively performed during live tours and has never been officially released.