Cranberries Debut Gets 25th Anniv. Edition: Listen

Share This:

Cranberries’ debut album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Cant We?

Last year, the four members of the Cranberries—Dolores O’Riordan, Noel Hogan, Mike Hogan and Fergal Lawler—came together to plan a 25th anniversary boxed set release for their debut album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? Following O’Riordan’s death in January this year, the remaining band members decided to go ahead with the project, which was released October 19 by Island/UMe in 4-CD and digital audio formats. A 2-CD deluxe package pairing the remastered album with session outtakes, B-sides, the band’s debut EP and early demos has also been released, as well as digital and vinyl editions of the remastered album, including a 180-gram black LP and a limited edition color LP.

Originally issued March 12, 1993, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? hit the #1 spot in both the U.K. and Ireland and has sold more than six million copies worldwide. In 2016, the Cranberries received a Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) Award for three million radio plays of their debut Island Records single, “Dreams.” Two 1991 demos for the song, taken from an original cassette, are included in the extras collected for the album’s 25th anniversary edition.

Listen to a 1991 live version of “Dreams,” included in the release

According to an August 30 press release announcing the box, “The phenomenal success and continued popularity of Everybody Else… should not only be judged by its total sales—six million copies sold worldwide to date, including five million in the U.S. alone—but also by the quality of the repertoire. Although influenced by indie bands such as the Smiths, the Cure and New Order, the distinctive sound of the Cranberries’ first album is an example of how the best popular music often comes from cross-pollination and hybridization. Just as a young Johnny Marr was influenced by the music of Rory Gallagher and Thin Lizzy, the Cranberries were, in turn, influenced by the sound of the Smiths and made their own from what they heard.”

Listen to a live version of “Ode to My Family” from 1994

The announcement continues: “The alchemy of Noel and Dolores as co-songwriters, combined with Noel’s shimmering guitar playing, rock-solid backing from Mike and Fergal, and Stephen Street’s aptitude for space all contributed to the album’s distinct sound. Dolores’ unique mix of Gaelic, Catholic, and indie vocal influences, joined with her ability to write lyrics perfectly capturing the frustrations of late adolescence, gave these songs universal appeal. In the 25 years since its release, this carefully crafted debut has stood the test of time as a landmark album.”

Watch “Dreams” from the Cranberries’ debut