Victory Gardens is the debut album by the American musical duo John & Mary, released in 1991 by Rykodisc. John Lombardo, former member of 10,000 Maniacs and responsible for much of their early music, brought elements of the early Maniacs sound; Mary Ramsey added a blend of folk and classical influences. Victory Gardens was produced by Lombardo and recorded at Mitch Easter's Chapel Hill Drive-In Studio in Winston-Salem, NC. The album features 10,000 Maniacs members Robert Buck and Jerome Augustyniak as well as special guests Ronnie Lane (Small Faces), Joey Molland (Badfinger) and Augie Meyers (Sir Douglas Quintet, Texas Tornados). The song "Red Wooden Beads" was included on Steal This Disc Vol. 3, part of a series of compact discs released by Rykodisc in 1991. "Rags of Flowers" was included on Troubadours of Folk Vol. 5: Singer-Songwriters of the '80s, part of a five volume series of compact discs released by Rhino Records in 1992.

Critical reception

Trouser Press called the album "a seductive, low-key delight". The Vancouver Sun opined that "Ramsey's voice is a little thin to be carrying the weight that these songs demand."

Track listing

All tracks composed by John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey except where indicated

Personnel

Singles

In 1991 Rykodisc released a 7-inch vinyl promotional-only single