Music Metrics Vault

Blues Traveler

Data updated on 2024-11-11 18:31:24 UTC
With their rollicking mix of blues, rock, and soul, Blues Traveler combine the stretched out and rambling approach of jam bands with the razor sharp melodic sense of a classic pop band; it made them a hugely popular band from the start and a relable concert draw ever since. The group were on the vanguard of the jam band scene of the 1990s, the first of their generation to sign to a major label, and one of a handful to experience genuine commercial success when "Run-Around" went into the Billboard Top Ten in 1995. By that point, Blues Traveler had already carved themselves a place within the firmament of modern rock, earning a loyal audience through their sweaty improvs of blues-based rock and coalescing their peers by launching the H.O.R.D.E. Festival in 1992. One of several Lollapalooza-inspired touring fests, it illustrated the large audience for jam bands and helped push Blues Traveler toward the top of the charts with their 1994 album Four going platinum six times. They continued to work steadily throughout the 2000s and beyond, sometimes experimenting -- 2015's Blow Up the Moon was filled with unexpected cameos -- but always returning to the blues as their foundation, a debt underscored by the 2021 covers album Traveler's Blues.

Blues Traveler was formed in 1987 by singer/harmonica player John Popper, guitarist Chan Kinchla, bassist Bobby Sheehan, and drummer Brendan Hill; the band was part of a revival of the extended jamming style of '60s and '70s groups like the Grateful Dead and Led Zeppelin. Signed to A&M, they released their first album, Blues Traveler, in May 1990 and followed it with Travelers & Thieves in September 1991. Popper was in a serious car accident in 1992, leaving him unable to perform for a number of months. Fortunately, he recovered, but he had to perform in a wheelchair for a while. In April 1993, Blues Traveler released their third album, Save His Soul, which became the band's first to make the Top 100.

The band's aptly named fourth album, Four, released in September 1994, first looked like a sales disappointment, but it rebounded in 1995 when "Run-Around," a single taken from it, became the group's first chart hit. The song became one of the biggest singles of 1995, spending nearly a full year on the charts and sending Four into quintuple-platinum status. As the group prepared the follow-up to Four, they released the live double album Live from the Fall in the summer of 1996. The group returned in the summer of 1997 with its fifth studio album, Straight on Till Morning. After completing his 1999 debut solo effort, Zygote, Popper -- who'd been experiencing chest pains for months -- was forced to undergo an angioplasty; weeks later, tragedy struck on August 20, 1999, when Sheehan was found dead in his New Orleans home. He was just 31 years old.

The new millennium saw a newly charged Blues Traveler with the addition of keyboardist Ben Wilson, and their sixth record, Bridge, appeared in May 2001. The next winter, Blues Traveler released the live What You and I Have Been Through. The studio record Truth Be Told followed in 2003, and another concert album, Live on the Rocks, appeared in 2004. The group returned to the studio in 2004, releasing the Jay Bennett-produced Bastardos! in September of the following year. In 2007, Blues Traveler released Cover Yourself, a collection of previous hits reworked with acoustic arrangements. The David Bianco-produced North Hollywood Shootout appeared from Verve Forecast in 2008. In March 2012, the band released 25, a two-disc set (one disc of hits and key tracks and a second disc of B-sides, demos, and rarities) celebrating the group's 25th anniversary. It was followed in June by Suzie Cracks the Whip, the group's 11th studio album, which was produced by S*A*M & Sluggo, and featured guest spots from Ron Sexsmith, Chris Barron (Spin Doctors), and Crystal Bowersox. Three years later, Blues Traveler returned with Blow Up the Moon, an album filled with collaborations from pop stars including Jewel, Hanson, Plain White T's, and JC Chasez. Joining forces with producer Matt Rollings, Blues Traveler returned to their rootsy beginnings on 2018's Hurry Up & Hang Around.

They continued their back-to-basics move with the Grammy-nominated covers album, Traveler's Blues, a 2021 record that featured guest appearances by Keb Mo, Crystal Bowersox, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Warren Haynes, and Rita Wilson. Another covers album, Traveler's Soul--a collection of soul and R&B chestnuts featuring guest appearances by Pat Monahan, Alisan Porter, and Valerie June--arrived in October 2023. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine & William Ruhlmann, Rovi

Total plays

416.2 million
Updated on 2024-11-11

Country

United States

Monthly listeners

1,562,494

Followers

685,629

Top Cities

  1. United States
    29,525 listeners
  2. United States
    21,423 listeners
  3. United States
    25,368 listeners
  4. United States
    23,469 listeners
  5. United States
    20,986 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Run-Around
Run-Around
149,328,563 4:41 1994-01-01
Hook
Hook
116,187,564 4:49 1994-01-01
But Anyway
But Anyway
36,975,654 4:10 1990-01-01
The Mountains Win Again
The Mountains Win Again
14,690,947 5:09 1994-01-01
Vagabond Blues (feat. Dirty Heads & Rome)
Vagabond Blues (feat. Dirty Heads & Rome)
8,250,269 3:05 2015-04-04
Carolina Blues
Carolina Blues
7,641,074 4:46 1997-01-01
Castaway (feat. Rome & Dirty Heads)
Castaway (feat. Rome & Dirty Heads)
6,488,297 3:11 2015-04-04
Alone
Alone
4,934,478 7:33 1990-01-01
Just Wait
Just Wait
3,752,496 5:34 1994-01-01
What I Got
What I Got
3,413,067 3:14 2011-01-01
100 Years
100 Years
2,699,855 3:44 1990-01-01
Maybe I'm Wrong
Maybe I'm Wrong
2,474,887 5:46 1998-01-01
Christmas
Christmas
2,241,754 5:44 1997-09-23
Look Around
Look Around
1,930,497 5:42 1994-01-01
Canadian Rose
Canadian Rose
1,829,818 4:36 1997-01-01
Stand
Stand
1,658,250 5:19 1994-01-01
Most Precarious
Most Precarious
1,655,046 3:27 1997-01-01
The Darkness We All Need (feat. Secondhand Serenade)
The Darkness We All Need (feat. Secondhand Serenade)
1,440,094 3:54 2015-04-04
Hurricane (feat. 3OH!3)
Hurricane (feat. 3OH!3)
1,357,641 3:44 2015-04-04
I Can Still Feel You (feat. Thompson Square)
I Can Still Feel You (feat. Thompson Square)
1,256,744 4:12 2015-04-04
Ball and Chain
Ball and Chain
1,230,205 5:47 2021-07-30
Back In The Day
Back In The Day
1,135,085 4:04 2001-05-08
Gina
Gina
1,125,803 4:06 1990-01-01
Crash Burn
Crash Burn
1,122,124 2:58 1994-01-01
Crazy
Crazy
1,055,227 4:30 2021-07-30
Sweet Pain
Sweet Pain
1,053,010 7:41 1991-01-01
Optimistic Thought
Optimistic Thought
1,001,153 3:29 1991-01-01
Conquer Me
Conquer Me
968,068 5:09 1993-01-01
Crystal Flame
Crystal Flame
954,760 9:39 1990-01-01
Regarding Steven
Regarding Steven
919,825 4:46 1995-01-01
Fallible
Fallible
905,278 4:47 1994-01-01
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
866,403 1:55 1994-01-01
Roadhouse Blues
Roadhouse Blues
845,619 4:25 2021-07-30
Funky Bitch
Funky Bitch
805,739 4:33 2021-07-30
Nikkia's Prom (feat. Plain White T's)
Nikkia's Prom (feat. Plain White T's)
778,092 3:32 2015-04-04
Price To Pay
Price To Pay
726,997 5:17 1994-01-01
Girl Inside My Head
Girl Inside My Head
716,554 3:39 2001-05-08
Blow Up the Moon (feat. 3OH!3 & JC Chasez)
Blow Up the Moon (feat. 3OH!3 & JC Chasez)
712,663 4:30 2015-04-04
Matador (feat. Thompson Square)
Matador (feat. Thompson Square)
689,863 4:01 2015-04-04
Mulling It Over
Mulling It Over
685,474 3:43 1990-01-01
Brother John
Brother John
662,691 6:38 1994-01-01
All In The Groove
All In The Groove
654,829 4:16 1991-01-01
Freedom
Freedom
622,016 4:01 1994-01-01
Right Here Waiting For You (feat. Bowling for Soup)
Right Here Waiting For You (feat. Bowling for Soup)
610,108 3:15 2015-04-04
Run-Around
Run-Around
562,020 4:14 1995-01-01
I Know Right (feat. Bowling for Soup)
I Know Right (feat. Bowling for Soup)
541,999 3:30 2015-04-04
Sweet Talking Hippie
Sweet Talking Hippie
523,504 6:22 1990-01-01
Just For Me
Just For Me
521,106 3:05 2001-05-08
Amber Awaits
Amber Awaits
504,688 3:50 2005-01-01
Mountain Cry
Mountain Cry
497,195 9:08 1991-01-01
Yours
Yours
442,032 6:35 1997-01-01
You, Me And Everything
You, Me And Everything
425,066 4:22 2008-01-01
Keep Your Light on Mama
Keep Your Light on Mama
415,589 3:23 2021-10-22
All Things Are Possible
All Things Are Possible
409,509 3:34 2012-06-19
Top Of the World (feat. Hanson)
Top Of the World (feat. Hanson)
407,292 4:21 2015-04-04
You Don't Have To Love Me
You Don't Have To Love Me
405,487 3:43 2012-05-15
Dropping Some NYC
Dropping Some NYC
387,929 3:20 1990-01-01
Accelerated Nation
Accelerated Nation
386,114 3:03 2018-07-06
Let Her and Let Go
Let Her and Let Go
382,131 3:39 2003-08-05
The Gunfighter
The Gunfighter
380,990 4:57 1997-01-01
Gotta Get Mean
Gotta Get Mean
380,116 3:51 1990-01-01
The Best Part
The Best Part
376,525 4:52 1991-01-01
Felicia
Felicia
362,098 4:43 1997-01-01
I Have My Moments
I Have My Moments
354,653 4:13 1991-01-01
Things Are Looking Up
Things Are Looking Up
335,636 4:24 2012-06-19
Trouble in Mind
Trouble in Mind
331,109 3:28 2021-07-30
When You Fall Down
When You Fall Down
314,993 3:32 2018-10-12
The Touch She Has
The Touch She Has
308,521 4:22 2018-10-12
Love And Greed
Love And Greed
307,186 4:13 1993-01-01
Trina Magna
Trina Magna
289,914 5:51 1993-01-01
But Anyway (2.0)
But Anyway (2.0)
285,800 3:08 2021-04-23
Letter From A Friend
Letter From A Friend
273,850 4:41 1993-01-01
What's For Breakfast
What's For Breakfast
266,507 3:48 1991-01-01
Run-Around (2.0)
Run-Around (2.0)
255,791 4:56 2021-04-02
Onslaught
Onslaught
241,999 6:08 1991-01-01
After What
After What
240,507 3:38 2005-01-01
Mulling It Over
Mulling It Over
239,890 8:05 1996-01-01
Slow Change
Slow Change
239,869 4:55 1990-01-01
Recognize My Friend
Recognize My Friend
238,251 3:48 2012-06-19
Waterfalls
Waterfalls
236,471 5:05 2023-10-20
Support Your Local Emperor
Support Your Local Emperor
235,467 6:56 1991-01-01
Warmer Days
Warmer Days
225,188 4:56 1990-01-01
Hearts Are Still Awake (feat. Jewel)
Hearts Are Still Awake (feat. Jewel)
222,435 3:45 2015-04-04
I Don't Wanna Go
I Don't Wanna Go
214,090 3:51 2012-06-19
Jackie's Baby (feat. New Hollow)
Jackie's Baby (feat. New Hollow)
204,467 4:18 2015-04-04
Forever Owed
Forever Owed
202,502 4:43 2008-01-01
She Becomes My Way
She Becomes My Way
198,205 3:51 2018-10-12
But Anyway
But Anyway
192,745 5:55 1996-01-01
You Got Me Runnin'
You Got Me Runnin'
183,709 3:23 2021-07-30
Pretty Angry
Pretty Angry
181,896 7:00 2001-05-08
Devil In The Details
Devil In The Details
178,518 3:35 2012-06-19
Dog Train
Dog Train
174,029 4:35 2005-11-10
Go Tell It on the Mountain
Go Tell It on the Mountain
171,062 3:09 2016-12-07
NY Prophesie
NY Prophesie
169,331 4:37 1993-01-01
All the Way (feat. Thomas Ian Nicholas)
All the Way (feat. Thomas Ian Nicholas)
167,595 3:37 2015-04-04
Hook (2.0)
Hook (2.0)
159,313 4:28 2021-04-02
Daddy Went a Giggin
Daddy Went a Giggin
155,617 3:42 2018-10-12
Miss Olympus
Miss Olympus
149,535 4:02 2018-10-12
How You Remember It
How You Remember It
149,430 4:09 2008-01-01
Call Me the Breeze
Call Me the Breeze
149,390 3:41 2021-07-30
Love Is Everything (That I Describe)
Love Is Everything (That I Describe)
148,556 2:21 2012-06-19
Sittin' on the Top of the World
Sittin' on the Top of the World
145,260 5:21 2021-07-30
Didn’t Mean To Wake Up
Didn’t Mean To Wake Up
144,584 4:29 2011-01-01
Nobody Fall In Love With Me
Nobody Fall In Love With Me
142,653 3:10 2012-06-19
But Anyway '88
But Anyway '88
140,572 5:07 2011-01-01
I Can't Stand the Rain
I Can't Stand the Rain
138,387 4:08 2023-10-20
The Poignant & Epic Saga Of Featherhead & Lucky Lack
The Poignant & Epic Saga Of Featherhead & Lucky Lack
137,608 5:11 1995-01-01
Fool For You
Fool For You
136,716 3:18 2023-10-20
The Mountains Win Again - Live
The Mountains Win Again - Live
135,877 5:43 1996-01-01
Big City Girls
Big City Girls
135,614 3:27 2012-06-19
Alone
Alone
135,495 15:43 1996-01-01
Need Your Love so Bad
Need Your Love so Bad
135,448 4:10 2021-07-30
The Wolf Is Bumpin
The Wolf Is Bumpin
134,866 3:48 2018-10-12
Unable to Get Free
Unable to Get Free
132,508 4:24 2003-08-05
Cover Me
Cover Me
128,120 3:27 2012-06-19
Saving Grace
Saving Grace
125,283 3:42 2012-06-19
Tore Down
Tore Down
125,243 4:44 2021-07-30
Ode From The Aspect
Ode From The Aspect
125,137 4:55 2018-10-12
Cara Let The Moon
Cara Let The Moon
123,498 3:26 2012-06-19
Tangle Of Our Dreaming
Tangle Of Our Dreaming
120,380 3:36 2018-10-12
Ivory Tusk
Ivory Tusk
113,908 5:16 1991-01-01
Business As Usual
Business As Usual
112,444 5:18 1997-01-01
Bagheera
Bagheera
109,260 4:24 1991-01-01
Make My Way
Make My Way
107,855 7:24 1997-01-01
The Tiding
The Tiding
107,652 1:31 1991-01-01
Justify The Thrill
Justify The Thrill
105,624 4:06 1997-01-01
Great Big World
Great Big World
105,474 5:37 1997-01-01
Manhattan Bridge
Manhattan Bridge
103,533 2:50 1993-01-01
The Demon
The Demon
102,507 4:07 2011-01-01
Crash Burn
Crash Burn
102,288 3:24 1996-01-01
Trust In Trust
Trust In Trust
98,139 3:04 1995-01-01
Psycho Joe
Psycho Joe
94,566 3:55 1997-01-01
Blue Hour
Blue Hour
94,196 6:13 2011-01-01
Groove Me
Groove Me
92,581 4:45 2023-10-20
Go Outside & Drive
Go Outside & Drive
91,269 4:50 1993-01-01
Save His Soul
Save His Soul
89,353 3:13 1993-01-01
Whoops
Whoops
87,563 8:18 1993-01-01
Love Of My Life
Love Of My Life
86,214 5:40 1993-01-01
Dirty Old Sidewalk
Dirty Old Sidewalk
85,057 4:22 2012-06-19
Twelve Swords
Twelve Swords
84,434 3:19 2011-01-01
Battle Of Someone
Battle Of Someone
84,264 6:03 1997-01-01
Random Amounts
Random Amounts
83,433 5:11 2011-01-01
Mountains Win Again
Mountains Win Again
82,661 6:05 2010-06-08
100 Years
100 Years
82,265 4:59 1996-01-01
Believe Me
Believe Me
81,299 3:33 1993-01-01
Run-Around - Gunslinger Remix
Run-Around - Gunslinger Remix
80,956 4:42 2011-01-01
Last Night I Dreamed
Last Night I Dreamed
80,605 4:10 1997-01-01
Dreadfully Sorry
Dreadfully Sorry
79,280 2:57 2012-06-19
Defense & Desire
Defense & Desire
76,188 3:58 1993-01-01
Fledgling
Fledgling
76,014 7:25 1993-01-01
Love And Greed
Love And Greed
74,262 5:15 1996-01-01
Borrowed Time
Borrowed Time
74,021 3:37 2008-01-01
Qualified
Qualified
72,807 5:47 2023-10-20
Rag Mama Rag
Rag Mama Rag
72,485 6:19 2003-01-30
The Sun and The Storm
The Sun and The Storm
72,458 7:57 2011-01-01
Run
Run
72,333 4:35 1996-01-01
Traveler’s Suite
Traveler’s Suite
72,300 20:21 2011-01-01
Mountain Cry
Mountain Cry
69,913 15:18 1996-01-01
What Remains
What Remains
68,888 4:47 2008-01-01
Orange In The Sun
Orange In The Sun
65,817 3:53 2008-01-01
More Than Truth
More Than Truth
65,693 3:02 2018-10-12
Hippie / Imagine
Hippie / Imagine
64,312 19:46 1996-01-01
Prayer Upon The Wind
Prayer Upon The Wind
63,111 2:20 2018-10-12
Phone Call From Leavenworth
Phone Call From Leavenworth
62,612 4:35 2018-10-12
Bullshitter's Lament
Bullshitter's Lament
59,435 3:28 1993-01-01
Love Does
Love Does
55,497 3:31 2008-01-01
Closing Down The Park
Closing Down The Park
54,600 12:55 1996-01-01
You're Burning Me
You're Burning Me
53,922 2:46 2001-05-08
Gina
Gina
53,089 6:45 1996-01-01
Rage
Rage
48,244 6:09 2001-05-08
NY Prophesie
NY Prophesie
47,455 5:14 1996-01-01
Low / Go
Low / Go
47,313 10:48 1996-01-01
The Beacons
The Beacons
46,621 3:14 2008-01-01
Tired of Being Alone
Tired of Being Alone
44,966 3:21 2023-10-20
All Hands
All Hands
44,180 5:07 2001-05-08
The Way
The Way
43,945 4:39 2001-05-08
You Reach Me
You Reach Me
43,617 4:29 2001-05-08
Go
Go
43,316 9:06 1996-01-01
The Queen Of Sarajevo
The Queen Of Sarajevo
43,254 3:60 2008-01-01
Free Willis (Ruminations From Behind Uncle Bob's Machine Shop)
Free Willis (Ruminations From Behind Uncle Bob's Machine Shop)
42,186 5:52 2008-01-01
Freedom
Freedom
41,284 4:16 1996-01-01
Hook
Hook
39,472 5:06 1995-09-26
Breakfast
Breakfast
38,414 4:02 1996-01-01
You Can't Stop Thinking About Me
You Can't Stop Thinking About Me
38,380 4:24 2005-01-01
You Lost Me There
You Lost Me There
37,345 4:10 2001-05-08
Carolina Blues
Carolina Blues
34,738 6:10 2010-06-08
Sadly A Fiction
Sadly A Fiction
34,319 4:18 2001-05-08
Decision Of The Skies
Decision Of The Skies
33,444 4:26 2001-05-08
Groove is in the Heart
Groove is in the Heart
32,315 3:57 2023-10-20
Can't Win True Love
Can't Win True Love
31,749 4:57 2005-01-01
Sweet and Broken
Sweet and Broken
31,505 3:49 2003-08-05
The Children Of The Night
The Children Of The Night
31,229 6:32 2005-01-01
Nail
Nail
30,844 3:06 2005-01-01
Thinnest of Air
Thinnest of Air
30,431 3:36 2003-08-05
Money Back Guarantee
Money Back Guarantee
30,114 3:48 2005-01-01
What Could Possibly Go Wrong
What Could Possibly Go Wrong
29,918 2:48 2005-01-01
She Isn't Mine
She Isn't Mine
29,157 3:18 2005-01-01
Rubberneck
Rubberneck
28,103 3:12 2005-01-01
We Can Work It Out
We Can Work It Out
27,854 3:16 2023-10-20
That Which Doesn't Kill You
That Which Doesn't Kill You
27,571 4:12 2005-01-01
Canadian Rose - Edit
Canadian Rose - Edit
27,224 4:08 1998-01-01
She And I
She And I
27,179 4:52 2005-01-01
Eventually (I'll Come Around)
Eventually (I'll Come Around)
26,832 3:51 2003-08-05
Leaning In
Leaning In
26,227 3:49 2005-01-01
Nefertiti
Nefertiti
24,655 4:16 2005-01-01
Free Bird
Free Bird
24,518 5:38 2004-01-01
Escaping
Escaping
24,455 4:59 1995-01-01
My Blessed Pain
My Blessed Pain
24,273 4:35 2003-08-05
Mount Normal
Mount Normal
23,479 4:04 2003-08-05
Slow Change
Slow Change
21,897 7:25 2010-06-08
Stumble and Fall
Stumble and Fall
21,071 4:60 2003-08-05
Can't See Why
Can't See Why
20,733 3:14 2003-08-05
This Ache
This Ache
20,007 4:07 2003-08-05
Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)
Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)
18,978 5:27 2023-10-20
The One
The One
18,175 3:42 2003-08-05
Partner In Crime
Partner In Crime
18,014 3:37 2003-08-05
Optimistic Thought - Live
Optimistic Thought - Live
17,752 4:06 1995-01-01
NY Prophesie
NY Prophesie
16,774 6:38 2010-06-08
When a Man Loves a Woman
When a Man Loves a Woman
16,623 3:60 2023-10-20
Last Train
Last Train
16,096 4:03 2023-10-20
Just Kissed My Baby
Just Kissed My Baby
15,377 4:48 2023-10-20
Carolina Blues - Live
Carolina Blues - Live
13,262 5:37 1998-01-01
Hook - Live
Hook - Live
9,734 5:15 2020-11-25
Diner
Diner
8,384 3:59 1998-01-01
Business As Usual - Live
Business As Usual - Live
6,848 7:15 1998-01-01
You Don't Have to Love Me (Live)
You Don't Have to Love Me (Live)
4,707 4:22 2012-09-26
Mulling It Over (Live) - Remastered
Mulling It Over (Live) - Remastered
4,663 8:50 2020-08-18
Low Rider - Live
Low Rider - Live
4,564 1:24 2020-11-25
Interview #1 - Live
Interview #1 - Live
4,380 2:21 2020-11-25
Warmer Days (Live) - Remastered
Warmer Days (Live) - Remastered
4,105 8:23 2020-08-18
Hook - Live
Hook - Live
4,003 4:59 2022-02-11
Manhattan Bridge - Live
Manhattan Bridge - Live
3,942 3:21 2020-11-25
The Mountains Win Again - Live
The Mountains Win Again - Live
3,835 5:14 2020-11-25
Dropping Some NYC (Live) - Remastered
Dropping Some NYC (Live) - Remastered
3,558 4:02 2020-08-18
But Anyway (Live) - Remastered
But Anyway (Live) - Remastered
3,252 8:17 2020-08-18
Interview #2 - Live
Interview #2 - Live
3,206 5:27 2020-11-25
Regarding Steven - Live
Regarding Steven - Live
2,808 4:52 2020-11-25
As We Wonder (Live) - Remastered
As We Wonder (Live) - Remastered
2,762 5:44 2020-08-18
What's For Breakfast (Live) - Remastered
What's For Breakfast (Live) - Remastered
2,639 4:59 2020-08-18
Crystal Flame (Live) - Remastered
Crystal Flame (Live) - Remastered
2,448 14:45 2020-08-18
Gina (Live) - Remastered
Gina (Live) - Remastered