Hootie & The Blowfish are undeniably an essential part of the 90s musical landscape. Stretching across rock, pop, and adult contemporary radio, their unpretentious, feel-good songs were as ubiquitous as conversations about the newest episode of Friends or Seinfeld. Whether they love, hate, or feel indifferent, one would be hard-pressed to find someone born between 1970 – 1990 in the US that has never heard one of their songs. For fans of Hootie & The Blowfish, Rhino Records has released The Atlantic Years 1994-2003, a 6-LP box set containing all five of their albums released on Atlantic before their decade-long hiatus. Housed in a textured box set outer sleeve, the set contains each album in a separate record sleeve with original sleeve art.
At the heart of this release is Cracked Rear View, a landmark debut that still holds the record as the highest-certified debut album of all time, with over 22 million copies sold worldwide. Released in 1994, it struck the perfect balance between heartland rock, pop, and Southern charm, delivering a sound that was both radio-friendly and deeply emotive. The album’s massive success was driven by anthemic singles like “Hold My Hand,” “Let Her Cry,” “Only Wanna Be With You,” and “Time,” as well as the racially charged single “Drowning.”
The real jewels of this box set, however, are the remaining four albums. Fairweather Johnson, released in 1996, had the unenviable task of living up to its predecessor’s massive success. Though it didn’t reach the same stratospheric heights, it still debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and offered gems like “Old Man & Me (When I Get to Heaven)” and “Tucker’s Town.” The album had a more dour alt-rock sound that, when contrasted with the jangly tunes of Cracked Rear View, served to divide fans. Musical Chairs followed in 1998 with a rootsier, more reflective sound, marking a shift in the band’s approach and rounding out their impressive three-album run in the ’90s. The first single, “I Will Wait,” marked a return to their more radio-friendly sound and featured as the intro song to the short-lived Mark-Paul Gosselaar-fronted drama Hyperion Bay. Both Fairweather Johnson and Musical Chairs are pressed on vinyl in this box set for the first time in over 25 years.
Two albums that are being released on vinyl for the first time ever are the group’s last two before their extended hiatus. Scattered, Smothered and Covered showcases the band’s love for reinterpretation, with covers ranging from “I Hope That I Don’t Fall in Love with You” by Tom Waits and “Hey Hey What Can I Do” by Led Zeppelin to “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want” by The Smiths, and R.E.M.’s “Driver 8,” proving Hootie’s influences were as varied as their sound was accessible. Their excellent 54-40 cover of “I Go Blind” that appeared on the Friends soundtrack also makes an appearance on this collection. Meanwhile, their self-titled 2003 release closed out their Atlantic Records tenure with a mix of rousing singalongs like “Deeper Side” and “Space,” and introspective ballads like “The Rain Song,” featuring guest vocals from The Bangles’ Vicki Peterson and Susan Cowsill.
As a package, The Atlantic Years 1994-2003 is both a nostalgic journey and a testament to Hootie & The Blowfish’s enduring appeal. The vinyl pressing on each album is clean and crisp and all vinyl comes in a poly vinyl sleeve. In addition, each album (besides Cracked Rear View) contains an insert with additional photos and either lyrics or liner notes. Limited to 2,000 copies, this box set is a must-own for both Hootie & The Blowfish fans and vinyl enthusiasts. Whether you’re revisiting these records or discovering them for the first time, this box set stands as an essential piece of ’90s rock history, capturing the rise, evolution, and lasting charm of one of the era’s most beloved bands.
