Hootie & The Blowfish – Cracked Rear View (2xLP, 180g, 45RPM, Analogue Productions Atlantic 75 Series)

Released in July 1994 by Atlantic Records, Cracked Rear View is Hootie & the Blowfish's most successful album, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 five times during the course of 1995. It was also the best-selling album of 1995 in the United States, selling 7 million copies, and since then has gone on to sell more than 10.2 million copies, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.

AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine says Hootie & the Blowfish, on Cracked Rear View, "...deliver the goods, turning out an album of solid, rootsy folk-rock songs that have simple, powerful hooks."

The album played a pivotal role in shaping the career of its lead vocalist, Darius Rucker, who transitioned to country music in the mid-2000s as a solo artist. Cracked Rear View was an instant sensation, with chart-topping hits such as "Hold My Hand," "Let Her Cry," and "Only Wanna Be with You." The album has a distinctive sound, blending rock, pop, and a hint of folk, using Rucker's soulful, raspy baritone as its emotional core, and his heartfelt delivery to win over audiences.

Cracked Rear View's emotional depth and Rucker's distinctive voice left an indelible mark on the music industry, making Hootie & the Blowfish's debut album a timeless piece of musical history.

• Analogue Productions (Atlantic 75 Series)
• Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Atlantic Records!
• One of the best-selling albums of all time!
• 180-gram 45 RPM double LP release
• Mastered by Ryan K. Smith from the original analog master tape
• Pressed at Quality Record Pressings
• Tip-on old style gatefold double pocket jackets with film lamination by Stoughton Printing

Reviews

“A rootsy, heartfelt debut that captured the mood of the mid-'90s with surprising sincerity… one of the decade’s most unlikely mega-hits.” — AllMusic

“Darius Rucker’s raspy vocals and the band’s no-frills instrumentation made Cracked Rear View an anthem for ordinary folks. It’s music that didn’t try to be cool—just honest.” — Rolling Stone

“An album that felt like a warm handshake in an era of angst… its mass appeal was in its plainness, its emotional clarity.” — Pitchfork

“They weren’t trying to reinvent the wheel—they were just trying to write good songs. And they did.” — The Washington Post

“A slow-burn classic. You might have rolled your eyes back then, but try playing ‘Let Her Cry’ now and not feel something.” — Spin