February 21, 2024

Top 10 Songs by the Dave Matthews Band

Dave Matthews, Dave Matthews Band, Leroi Moore, Matthews

If you’re in your car cruising with the radio on chances are you won’t miss the unmistakable sound of a Dave Matthews Band hit. Their combination of jazz, rock, fusion, soul, and bluegrass gives this group a unique, esoteric blend. Formed by South African front man and guitarist Dave Matthews, he successfully assembled a mix of stand-out musicians from the Charlottesville, Virginia area in 1991. After laying down a few tracks with local musicians, he invited drummer Carter Beauford, Sax man LeRoi Moore, violinist Boyd Tinsley, and 16-year-old bassist and music prodigy Stefan Lessard, to join him as they made their musical debut that April.

The word quickly got out, as Dave and the guys began playing gigs locally, then branched out as local residents and college students attended their concerts, even recording them for personal use. “For the people and by the people,” DMB’s meteoric rise came about by word of mouth from the grassroots level, lots of touring, and plenty of hard work. Their first album, “Remember Two Things,” was released in November of 1993 and went certified gold, a phenomena for an album recorded on an independent label. In 1994, they signed with their first major label, RCA, released hit album, “Under The Table Dreaming,” and embarked on a year-long tour. The album was certified four times platinum by the RIAA, (Recording Industry Association of America). In August 2008, they lost band member LeRoi Moore to complications from an ATV accident. Grammy Award-winner Jeff Coffin of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones took over at sax. Rashawn Ross and Tim Reynolds have also joined the band as full time touring members.

In addition to being their vocalist, Matthews is a prolific songwriter, so selecting ten singles was tough. His catalog of songs is extensive and many of them are hits, but here are my top 10 favorite:

The Dave Matthews Band Top 10 Hit List

1. “What Would You Say” (1994)
From the album “Under the Table and Dreaming,” this song reached number 9 on the Billboard Top 40 Mainstream chart. It has a really nice, funky groove, and the “Dave Matthews Band Live In Chicago At The United Center 12.19.98” album features a solo by guest performer, Maceo Parker, best known as the sax man for James Brown, and Victor Wooten, who has played with jazz greats Alex Bugnon, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, and currently is with SMV, (Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller). Check it out: John Popper from the band Blues Traveler is on harmonica, iLike.com/s/DLY.

2.“Rapunzel” (1998)
Also known as “Funk In Five,” and written by Matthews, Lessard, and Beauford, this tune was released on their third studio album, “Before These Crowded Streets,” and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. I really like the live version they cut in Chicago, which appears on their album “Dave Matthews Band Live in Chicago at the United Center 12.19.98.” (www.youtube.com/watch)

3. “Stay (“Wasting Time”) (1998)
This is another release from disc “Before These Crowded Streets,” and the video, one of my favorites, features the late sax man, LeRoi Moore. In the video you can see a blend of Matthew’s South African roots come together with his newly adopted country’s African-American musical influences. This one makes me want to get up and dance. (www.youtube.com/watch)

4. “Warehouse” (1994)
DMB’s first official gig was a private party back in 1991, held on the rooftop of a warehouse on South Street in Charlottesville. I imagine this song was written with that warehouse in mind, a place of beginnings. (iLike.com/s/BcG)

5. “Everyday” (2000)
Matthews participated in the televised salute to the 911 heroes and sang this tune, “Everyday,” accompanied only by his guitar. Sweet performance! This number appears on the CD with the same name, “Everyday,” and Carlos Santana makes a guest appearance on the album playing his electric guitar. (www.youtube.com/watch)

6. “So Much To Say” (1996)
With a nice, funky R&B; beat, this groove rocks with LeRoi’s baritone sax, Stefan’s bad bass line, and Dave’s scat vocals. It’s on the “Crash” album, but my favorite version is again, on the live in Chicago album.(iLike.com/s/3Ct)

7. “Too Much” (1996)
Listen to the lyrics of this song and you realize Matthews is singing about excess in pop/rock number “Too Much”. Matthews is an insightful writer, and his lyrics reflect his concern and awareness of the ups and downs of life in our society. Have a listen to this one on that live in Chicago album–the acoustics are great. (iLike.com/s/3Cw)

8. “Jimi Thing” (1994)
Jimi Thing” is included on the play list from the CD “Under the Table and Dreaming,” but get the really jamming version on that live in Chicago album. You’ll enjoy a quality, full length recording, featuring Boyd Tinsley playing bluegrass violin with a touch of soul, Tim Reynolds, who makes his guitar talk, Stefan Lessard, rocking that bass line, and Dave’s beautiful falsetto. My favorite arrangement of this song, by far. (Here is Dave playing with Tim Reynolds: www.youtube.com/watch).

9. “The Space Between” (2000)
The third cut on the “Everyday” CD, this song is strong on melody and feeling, with great lyrics of love and romance that really move me every time I hear it. Very nice. (iLike.com/s/3D3)

10.”Ants Marching” (1994)
I think this is one of DMB’s signature tunes and concert-goers sing the catchy words of the chorus along with Dave. (iLike.com/s/DLa)