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Sarah McLachlan
appears on:
A Life Of Music DVD
Mirrorball DVD
Video Collection 1989-1998 DVD
VH1 Storytellers DVD
Fumbling Towards Ecstasy: Live DVD
The Bridge School Concerts 25th
Anniversary Edition compilation
Live 8 DVD
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ROCK
ON THE NET:
Sarah McLachlan
|
 
 Sarah McLachlan was born in
Nova Scotia Canada on January 28, 1968. Sarah has
become one of the most popular alternative
singer/songwriters in the 90s. Often overshadowed
by fellow alternative females, Sinéad
O'Connor and Tori
Amos, Sarah has now found her own
following by offering material that is often
honest and intimate. Throughout her childhood,
Sarah studied music including classical guitar,
piano, and voice lessons. Before being big enough
to play a guitar, Sarah learned to play the
ukulele. She was "discovered" at age 17
while playing with her band, October Game by
Nettwerk Productions and offered a record deal.
Sarah had to wait 2 years before signing with
Nettwerk to appease her parents who reluctant for
her to start in the business too young. Sarah
signed with Nettwerk in October, 1987 and later
with Arista in December, 1988.
 April 4: Sarah introduced herself
into the musical mainstream with her debut LP, Touch. The LP grew in popularity
on college and alternative radio with the force
of the tracks, "Vox" and
"Steaming." Sarah's sound was different
than other singers with elements of folk, rock,
and even opera. Sarah's intimate lyrics and
musical arrangements were often elaborate and
unique. The LP went gold in her native Canada and
found respectable success in the U.S. Q
magazine review of the LP commented on McLachlan:
"...for all her wispy, pseudo-Gaelic
tendencies, she has steel in her soul and a canny
ear for contemporary rhythms..."
 January 28: Sarah's second LP, Solace, was released after
touring in support of her first LP. The sophomore
effort found even more critical success and
international commercial success. Tracks such as
"Into The Fire" and "Drawn To The
Rhythm" further clarified Sarah's style and
unique vocals.
- With the success of Solace, Sarah began a 16-month
tour to support the LP. Tracks from the tour were
later released as a limited edition live LP.
 February 15: Sarah released Fumbling
Towards Ecstasy. The LP further increased Sarah's
popularity and critical success and became her
biggest seller at that time with consistent sales
throughout '94, '95, and into '96, selling over 3
million copies in the U.S. The LP included such
tracks as "Possession" and "Good
Enough" as well as Sarah's song about AIDS,
"Hold On." The track was later in
included on the No
Alternative compilation LP and performed by
Sarah at a Lifebeat concert. Rolling Stone
said of the LP: "...there are moments of
quiet radiance... and even the more elusive songs
reveal a passionate dignity..."
     
 March 28: Sarah was one of the
first artists to embrace the multimedia
opportunities of the personal computer. Sarah
released The
Freedom Sessions which included unreleased material,
alternate versions of songs, and computer
interactive videos and information.
- February 7: It was announced that
Sarah had married on a beach in Jamaica to
long-time musical partner, Ashwin Sood.
- July: Sarah organized the Lilith
Fair
summer tour which became known as a female
Lollapalooza. Sarah headlined the tour with
numerous, interchanging female artists joining
her at different venues. The Lilith
Fair was
one of the most successful summer tours of the
year. Sarah stated that the tour "doesn't
exclude men...it simply celebrates women."
- The Lilith
Fair not
only created a strong statement about the
abundance of talented women in the music
industry, but is also helping women outside the
industry. The summer tour is donating $1 from
every ticket sold to a charity in each tour city.
The charities include domestic violence and
sexual assault organization and shelters. On the Lilith
Fair tour
concept itself, Sarah told MTV: "Women have
been very marginalized for a very long time, in
the industry and far beyond that, and it's nice
to see such a quick turnaround within the
industry. I don't think all those old school
minds are being changed, but they're being forced
to realize we're a viable commodity. We make
money, and that's of course how the industry
works, how any big business works."
 July 15: When Surfacing was released and
it debuted at #2, becoming her highest charting
LP to date. Sarah got her first Top 10 pop hit
with the LP's first release, "Building A Mystery." Entertainment
Weekly said of the LP, "...never have
McLachlan's recordings sounded so dense and
alive."
 October: Sarah reflected on the
impact of the Lilith
Fair.
"I knew (the tour) would be successful, but
I didn't think the press would jump on it like it
was the best thing since sliced bread. Nor did I
think about a big success from a financial
standpoint - so much so that we're already
planning the next one. For me that process was
selfish, to try and create a community for women
in the industry that never really existed
before."
 July: Sarah came down with food
poisoning and had to step aside from
participating in the Lilith
Fair
concert in Ohio. It ended a 12-year streak of not
missing a performance. - McLachlan spoke to CNN
about Lilith
Fair's
second year: "...we're just here to put on a
great musical show and I think any social or
political issues are secondary, although very
important, because it is a music festival first
and foremost... yet, we have a great opportunity
and great platform to talk about a lot of issues
that are important to me and a lot of us as women
and human beings."
 November: Sarah appeared in a
Canadian court because of a lawsuit claiming
Sarah wasn't the only songwriter on 4 of the
songs from her 1988 LP, Touch ("Vox,"
"Steaming," "Strange World,"
and "Sad Clown"). - November 6: Surfacing was certified 4x platinum.
- November 14: Sarah hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "Angel."
    
- March 6: Sarah topped the
Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for 12 weeks
with "Angel,
- December: Sarah was vindicated in
court in Canada when a lawsuit brought on by a
producer claiming more credit for involvement
with McLachlan's LP, Touch, was thrown out by the
judge.
- December 31: Sarah topped the Billboard Year-End
Chart-Toppers with the Top Hot Adult Contemporary
Track ("Angel").
- April: Sarah's "I Will Remember You" was used without
permission in a controversial videotape of last
year's Columbine school shootings currently being
sold to the public. Sarah and her record company
demanded that the song be removed from what they
called an "...exploitative video tape."
- April 4: Mirrorball was certified 3x platinum.
    
- June: Sarah released a remix
LP, Remixed in Canada.
 January 8: Sarah could be heard on
the soundtrack for I
Am Sam
with her cover of "Blackbird."
- April 6: Sarah gave birth to a
baby girl - India Ann Sushil Sood.
- January 15: Sarah performed as part
of the benefit show Tsunami Aid: A Concert Of
Hope on NBC.
- January 29: Sarah topped the
Billboard Dance Music Club Play chart for 1 week
with Delerium with the remixes
of "Silence 2004."
- July 2: Sarah performed in
Philadelphia as part of the worldwide Live 8 concerts. The mission of
the concerts was to raise awareness of the
on-going poverty in Africa and to pressure the G8
leaders to take action by doubling aid, canceling
debt, and delivering trade justice for Africa.
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Touch
Released: April 4, 1989
US: Gold
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 132
Tracks: "Out Of The
Shadows" - "Vox" -
"Strange World" - "Trust"
- "Tough" - "Steaming" -
"Sad Clown" - "Uphill
Battle" - "Ben's Song" -
"Vox" (Extended Version)
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Solace
Released: January 28, 1992
US: Gold
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 167
Tracks: "Drawn To The
Rhythm" - "Into The Fire" -
"Path Of Thorns (Terms)" - "I
Will Not Forget You" - "Lost"
- "Back Door Man" -
"Shelter" - "Black" -
"Home" - "Mercy" -
"Wear Your Love Like Heaven"
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|
Fumbling
Towards Ecstasy
Released: February 15, 1995
US: 3x Platinum
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 50
Grammy Nominee: Best Alternative Music
Performance
Rolling Stone:  - Entertainment
Weekly: A
Tracks:
"Possession" - "Wait" -
"Plenty" - "Good Enough"
- "Mary" - "Elsewhere" -
"Circle" - "Ice" -
"Hold On" - "Ice
Cream"
- "Fear" - "Fumbling Toward
Ecstasy"
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The
Freedom Sessions
Released: March 28, 1996
US: Gold
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 78
Rolling Stone: 
Tracks: "Elsewhere"
- "Plenty" - "Mary" -
"Good Enough" - "Hold On"
- "Ice
Cream"
- "Ice" - "Ol' 55"
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Surfacing
Released: July 15, 1997
US: 8x Platinum
Billboard
peak: # 2
Grammy Nominee: Best Pop Album
Rolling Stone:  - Entertainment
Weekly: B
Tracks: "Building A Mystery" - "I Love
You" - "Sweet
Surrender" - "Adia" - "Do What
You Have To Do" - "Witness" -
"Angel" - "Black
& White" - "Full Of Grace"
- "Last Dance"
|
 |
Mirrorball
Released: June 15, 1999
US: 3x Platinum
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 3
Billboard # 1: Internet Albums
Grammy Nominee: Best Pop Album
Rolling Stone: - Entertainment
Weekly: C+
Live Tracks: "Building A Mystery" - "Hold
On" - "Good Enough" - "I
Will Remember You" - "Adia" - "I Love
You" - "Do What You Have To
Do" - "Path Of Thorns" -
"Fear" - "Possession" -
"Sweet
Surrender" - "Ice
Cream"
- "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" -
"Angel"
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 |
Afterglow
Released: November 4, 2003
US: 2x Platinum
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 2
Billboard # 1: Internet Albums
Grammy Nominee: Best Pop Album
Rolling Stone: - Entertainment
Weekly: B-
Tracks: "Fallen" - "World On
Fire" - "Stupid" -
"Drifting" - "Train
Wreck" - "Push" -
"Answer" - "Time" -
"Perfect Girl" - "Dirty Little
Secret"
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Remixed
Released: December 16, 2003
(US)
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 200
Billboard # 1: Dance/Electronic
Albums
Tracks: "Fear"
(Hybrid Mix) - "Sweet
Surrender" (DJ Tiesto Mix) - "Angel" (Rollo Mix) -
"I Love You" (BT Mix) -
"Silence" (Michael Woods Mix) -
"Possession" (Rabbit In The Moon
Mix) - "Black" (William Orbit Mix)
- "Hold On" (BT Mix - Edit) -
"Plenty" (Fade Mix)
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 |
Afterglow
Live
Released: November 7, 2004
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 107
Entertainment
Weekly: B-
Live Tracks: "Fallen" - "World On
Fire" - "Adia" - "Hold
On" - "Perfect Girl" -
"Drifting" - "Push" -
"Witness" - "Answer" -
"Angel" -
"Trainwreck" - "Building A Mystery" - "Sweet
Surrender" - "Stupid" -
"Dirty Little Secret"
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 |
Bloom
Remix Album
Released: September 6, 2005
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 76
Rolling Stone:
Tracks: "World On
Fire" (Junkie XL Club/GM Edit) -
"Ice" (Dusted Mix) - "Dirty
Little Secret" (Thievery Corporation
Mix) - "Stupid" (DJ Hyper Mix) -
"Train Wreck" (Sly & Robbie
Mix) - "Just Like Me" (Will-I-Am
Remix) - "Answer" (Talvin Singh
Mix) - "Fallen" (Gabriel &
Dresden Mix/GM Edit) - "Fumbling Toward
Ecstasy" (Junior Boys Mix)
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 |
Wintersong
Released: October 17, 2006
US: Platinum
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 7
Billboard # 1: Digital Albums
Entertainment
Weekly: B+
Tracks: "Happy Xmas (War
Is Over)" - "What Child Is This?
(Greensleeves)" - "River" -
"Wintersong" - "I'll Be Home
For Christmas" - "O Little Town Of
Bethlehem" - "The First Noel / Mary
Mary" - "Silent Night" -
"Song For A Winter's Night" -
"Have Yourself A Merry Little
Christmas" - "In A Bleak
Mid-Winter" - "Christmas Time Is
Here"
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Rarities,
B-Sides And Other Stuff, Vol. 2
Released: April 29, 2008
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 44
Tracks: "Ordinary
Miracle" - "Blackbird" -
"Time After Time" (with Cyndi
Lauper) - "River" - "When She
Loved Me" - "Don't Let Go"
(with Bryan Adams) - "Just Like Me"
(with D.M.C.) - "Angel" (live with
Emmylou Harris) - "Pills" (live
with The Perishers) - "Homeless"
(with Ladysmith Black Mambazo) - "The
Rainbow Connection" - "Prayer Of
St. Francis" - "Unchained
Melody" - "Silence" (DJ
Tiesto's In Search Of Sunrise Remix)
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 |
Closer
- The Best Of Sarah McLachlan
Released: October 7, 2008
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 11
Tracks: "Vox" -
"The Path Of Thorns" - "Into
The Fire" - "Possession" -
"Hold On" - "Good Enough"
- "Building A Mystery" - "Sweet
Surrender" - "Adia" - "Angel" - "I
Will Remember You" - "Fallen" -
"Stupid" - "World On
Fire" - "Don't Give Up On Us"
- "U Want Me 2"
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 |
Laws
Of Illusion
Released: June 15, 2010
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 3
Billboard # 1: Internet Albums
Rolling Stone:
Tracks:
"Awakenings" - "Illusions Of
Bliss" - "Loving You Is Easy"
- "Changes" -
"Forgiveness" - "Rivers Of
Love" - "Love Crome" -
"Out Of Tune" -
"Heartbreak" - "Don't Give Up
On Us" - "U Want Me 2" -
"Bring On The Wonder" - "Love
Come" (Piano Version)
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Shine
On
Released: May 6, 2014
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 4
Tracks: "In Your
Shoes" - "Flesh And Blood" -
"Monsters" - "Broken
Heart" - "Surrender And
Certainty" - "Song For My
Father" - "Turn The Lights Down
Low" - "Love Beside Me" -
"Brink Of Destruction" -
"Beautiful Girl" - "The Sound
That Love Makes"
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Classic
Christmas Album
Released: October 2, 2015
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 199
Tracks:
"Wintersong" - "Have Yourself
A Merry Little Christmas" - "What
Child Is This? (Greensleeves)" -
"I'll Be Home For Christmas" -
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / We Three
Kings" (live with Barenaked Ladies) -
"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" -
"Prayer Of St. Francis" - "I
Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" -
"Space On The Cough For Two" -
"Find Your Voice" -
"River" - "Silent Night"
- "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" -
"The First Noel / Mary Mary" -
"Song For A Winter's Night" -
"In A Bleak Mid Winter" -
"Christmas Time Is Here"
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Wonderland
Released: October 21, 2016
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 56
Grammy Nominee: Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Tracks: "The Christmas
Song" - "Angels We Have Heard On
High" - "Let It Snow" -
"White Christmas" - "O Come
All Ye Faithful" - "Go Tell It On
The Mountain" - "Away In A
Manger" - "Winter Wonderland"
- "Huron Carol" - "Silver
Bells" - "O Holy Night"
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Better
Broken
Released: September 19, 2025
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 96
Tracks: "Better
Broken" - "Gravity" -
"The Last To Go" - "Only Way
Out Is Through" - "Reminds Me"
- "One In A Long Line" - "Only
Human" - "Long Road Home" -
"Rise" - "Wilderness" -
"If This Is The End"
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