THINKING ABOUT MUSIC

Let's see if I got this right. Forgive me if I screw it up. It can be complicated at times. The rock band 10,000 Maniacs recorded the albums Human Conflict Number Five, Secrets of the I Ching, The Wishing Chair, In My Tribe, Blind Man's Zoo, MTV Unplugged and Campfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure and Unknown Recordings with Natalie Merchant as the lead singer. After which, Natalie Merchant left the band to record the solo albums Tigerlily, Ophelia, Motherland, the House Carpenter's Daughter and Leave Your Sleep. Needless to say, Natalie Merchant continues to be the most successful of the three female lead singers of 10,000 Maniacs.
Meanwhile, the 10,000 Maniacs hired Mary Ramsey to take over as the lead singer of their band. With Mary Ramsey as the lead singer, the 10,000 Maniacs recorded the albums Love Among the Ruins, the Earth Pressed Flat and Triangles. With 10,000 Maniacs member John Lombardo (and calling themselves John and Mary), she recorded the albums Victory Garden, the Weedkiller's Daughter and the Pinwheel Galaxy. Under the name John, Mary and the Valkyries, she recorded the album Peace Bridge. The 10,000 Manaics album Live Twenty-Five and Extended Versions was recorded when Oskar Saville was the female lead singer. Oskar Saville's solo album was entitled A Girl Named Oskar. When Oskar Saville was lead singer of the rock band Rubygrass, she recorded the album Fireflies. Did you get that? I told you it was complicated.