Uncertain (EP)

Uncertain
EP by The Cranberries
Released	28 October 1991
Studio	Xeric Studios, Limerick, Ireland
Genre	Indie rock indie pop alternative rock
Length	14:16
Label	Xeric Records (XER-014)
Producer	Pearse Gilmore[1]
The Cranberries chronology
Nothing Left at All (1990) Uncertain (1991) Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (1993)

Uncertain is the first EP by the Irish band the Cranberries.[1] The EP was released in the autumn of 1991,[1] with the band having previously released cassette EPs under the name The Cranberry Saw Us.[1][2] Uncertain was released by Island under the Xeric Records name on both CD and 12" vinyl formats.[3][4] Approximately 5,000 total copies of Uncertain were produced.[5] Guitarist Noel Hogan said of the album that Gilmore "cluttered the mixes with dance beats and industrial-style guitar", which resulted from a conflictual relationship between the group and Gilmore.[2] The EP peaked at number 118 on the UK Singles Chart[6]

An unreleased music video was made for the main theme "Uncertain";[7] a brief part of the clip was included on their DVD compilation, Stars: The Best of 1992–2002. The unedited complete video clip appeared for the first time on YouTube on 14 April 2020, and shows a young Dolores O'Riordan, with her brother Brendan and his daughter Cora, recalling her days as a child in an Irish forest.[7]

Television performance

After the release of 'Uncertain', The Cranberries appeared on the Irish television show "On The Waterfront" which was hosted by Robert Arkins and Felim Gormley from The Commitments.[8] They performed "Linger", which was recorded and was broadcast in 1992.[8]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Dolores O'Riordan; all music is composed by The Cranberries

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Uncertain"	3:07
2.	"Nothing Left at All"	3:55
3.	"Pathetic Senses"	3:37
4.	"Them"	3:42
Total length:		14:16

Personnel

Personnel taken from Uncertain liner notes.[9]

The Cranberries

• Fergal Lawler – drums, percussion
• Mike Hogan – bass
• Noel Hogan – guitar, backing vocals
• Dolores O'Riordan – vocals

Additional personnel

• Mike Mahoney – sounds ("Them")
• Brendan O'Riordan – backing vocals ("Uncertain")
• Pearse Gilmore – production, recording, mixing
• Shane Mc'Carthy – sleeve photograph
• Cally – art direction

References

1. Larkin, Colin (27 May 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. UK: Omnibus Press. p. 386. ISBN 978-0-857-12595-8. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020 – via Google Books.
2. Foege, Alec (23 March 1995). "Dolores O'Riordan and the Cranberries: Strange Fruit". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
3. "The Cranberries 'Uncertain' − Format: CD, EP". Discogs. n.d. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
4. "The Cranberries 'Uncertain' − Format: Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM, EP". Discogs. n.d. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
5. Mikesn (26 May 2008). "The Cranberries ‎− Uncertain". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
6. https://www.ukmix.org/forum/chart-discussion/chart-analysis/11450067-uk-singles-charts-1991-including-chart-panel-sales?q=cranberries
7. Julianne Hennelly (14 April 2020) [Filmed 1991]. The Cranberries Uncertain Music Video Uncut. Ireland: Julianne Hennelly. Retrieved 21 June 2020 – via YouTube.
8. dogbender1 (4 February 2010) [First published 1992]. The Cranberries performing live on Irish TV show "On The Waterfront", presented by Robert Arkins and Felim Gormley in 1992. Dublin: RTÉ. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 20 June 2020 – via YouTube.
9. Uncertain (EP liner notes). The Cranberries. 1991.