Ophelia (album)


Ophelia is the second studio album by the American singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant, released on May 19, 1998, by Elektra Records. The album was supported by the singles "Kind & Generous" and "Break Your Heart", with the former being the most successful single of the album, reaching the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay Chart. "Break Your Heart" also received single and video treatment. These and the other videos from the album, plus three from Tigerlily, were gathered on a Warner Music Vision home video, also entitled Ophelia. "I love the opportunity to flex my thespian muscle," Merchant quips on it. The album became Merchant's only top ten hit on the Billboard 200, where it peaked at number eight.
Merchant built Talking Dwarf Studio in her home and this was the sole recording made in her home studio; she sold the audio equipment in 2022.

Track listing

All songs were written by Natalie Merchant.
  1. "Ophelia" – 5:10
  2. "Life is Sweet" – 5:12
  3. "Kind & Generous" – 4:07
  4. "Frozen Charlotte" – 5:23
  5. "My Skin" – 5:30
  6. "Break Your Heart" – 4:47
  7. "King of May" – 4:09
  8. "Thick as Thieves" – 6:57
  9. "Effigy" – 2:30
  10. "The Living" – 3:18
  11. "When They Ring the Golden Bells" / "Ophelia " – 9:33

    Personnel

Credits for "Ophelia" and "Ophelia "
  • Camille Labro – French voice
  • Susanna Schmitz – German voice
  • Carmen Consoli – Italian voice
  • Bella Urina – Russian voice
  • Rocio Paez – Spanish voice
  • Christopher Wilson – theorbo
  • Pamela Thorby – recorder
  • William Hunt – string bass
  • Susanna Pell – bass viol
  • Richard Campbell – tenor viol
  • Julia Hodgson – tenor viol
  • Wendy Gillespie – treble viol
Technical personnel

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications