Where You Been is the fifth studio album by Dinosaur Jr., released on February 9, 1993. Dinosaur Jr. released 3 singles in support of their album: Get Me, released on November 14, 1992, Start Choppin, released on January 30, 1993, and Out There, released on June 12,1993. The song Start Choppin was their biggest hit, reaching number 3 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart in the U.S., and the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart. This was drummer Murph‘s last recording with J Mascis until 2007’s Beyond. This was the only Dinosaur Jr. album between 1988’s Bug and 2007’s Beyond to be recorded entirely with a full band. During Dinosaur Jr.‘s major label years, Mascis performed most of the instruments himself on record.
Where You Been was the first album recorded by Dinosaur Jr.‘s new line-up, after the largely J Mascis recorded Green Mind. This line-up consisted of Mascis, long time drummer Murph, and new bassist Mike Johnson.Mascis explained on an interview with 120 Minutes, “It’s the first time we’ve felt like a band for maybe six years, or something. (Johnson) adds a lot, just having someone that I can get along with musically and personally. It just makes the record better having all the people there contributing something, rather than the last one.” Where You Been was Dinosaur Jr.’s greatest commercial success up to that point, reaching number 50 in the US and number 10 in the UK.
Tracklist:
- Out There
- Start Choppin
- What Else Is New
- On the Way
- Not the Same
- Get Me
- Drawerings
- Hide
- Goin Home
- I Ain’t Sayin
Bonus tracks - Hide (Live – November 24, 1992 – John Peel Show, BBC Radio 1, Maida Vale 5) (Bonus track on 2006 re-release)
- Keeblin’ (Bonus track on 2006 re-release)
- What Else Is New (Live – October 8, 1994 – BBC Radio, Brixton Academy) (Bonus track on 2006 re-release)
Dinosaur Jr.
J Mascis: organ, guitar, piano, chimes, composer, drums on track 3, lead vocals, producer, timpani
Mike Johnson: bass, guitar, piano, backing vocals, first guitar solo on “Get Me”
Murph: drums
Additional personnel
Tiffany Anders: vocals on “Get Me”
George Berz: tambourine
Kurt Fedora: rhythm guitar
Dave Mason: viola
Abie Newton: cello
Larry Packer: violin
Rob Turner: cello
