The Boatman's Call

Infobox Album | Name = The Boatman's Call
Type = Album
Artist = Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds


Released = March 4, 1997
Recorded = February 1996
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 52:07
Label = Mute / Reprise
Producer = —
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:qguf6jo871u0 link]
*Pitchfork Media (6.6/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/16083/Nick_Cave_The_Boatmans_Call_with_The_Bad_Seeds link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/nickcave/albums/album/118438/review/5946949/the_boatmans_call link]
Last album = "Murder Ballads"
(1996)
This album = "The Boatman's Call"
(1997)
Next album = "The Best of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds"
(1998)

"The Boatman's Call" is the tenth studio album released by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. It was released in 1997 and remains one of the most critically acclaimed releases of Nick Cave's long career.

The album's tone is sombre and minimalist. Stylistically and lyrically it marks a major departure for Cave, away from full-band arrangements and character-based narratives towards the more intimate sound of Cave's solo voice accompanied by piano or a few other instruments. The tempo is also generally slow. Many of the lyrics seem to reflect on Cave's personal relationships and spiritual yearnings. Some songs are thought to be directed at either the mother of Cave's son Luke, Viviane Carneiro ("Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere?") or PJ Harvey, with whom he had a brief relationship around that time ("West Country Girl", "Black Hair" and "Green Eyes").

All tracks composed by Nick Cave.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Nick Cave.

# "Into My Arms" – 4:15
#* Nick Cave – vocals, piano
#* Martyn P. Casey – bass
# "Lime Tree Arbour" – 2:56
#* Nick Cave – vocals, piano, Hammond
#* Mick Harvey – bass
#* Thomas Wydler – drums
# "People Ain't No Good" – 5:42
#* Nick Cave – vocals, piano, vibes
#* Mick Harvey – vibes
#* Martyn P. Casey – bass
#* Thomas Wydler – drums
#* Warren Ellis – violins
# "Brompton Oratory" – 4:06
#* Nick Cave – vocals, Casio
#* Blixa Bargeld – guitar
#* Martyn P. Casey – bass
#* Thomas Wydler – maracas
# "There Is a Kingdom" – 4:52
#* Nick Cave – vocals, Hammond
#* Blixa Bargeld – guitar
#* Mick Harvey – acoustic guitar
#* Conway Savage – piano, backing vocals
#* Martyn P. Casey – bass
#* Thomas Wydler – drums
#* Jim Sclavunos – Bells
# "(Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For?" – 4:05
#* Nick Cave – vocals
#* Mick Harvey – guitar, Hammond
#* Conway Savage – piano
#* Martyn P. Casey – bass
#* Jim Sclavunos – drums
# "Where Do We Go Now but Nowhere?" – 5:46
#* Nick Cave – vocals
#* Blixa Bargeld – guitar
#* Mick Harvey – acoustic guitar
#* Conway Savage – piano
#* Martyn P. Casey – bass
#* Thomas Wydler – drums
#* Warren Ellis – violin
# "West Country Girl" – 2:45
#* Nick Cave – vocals, piano
#* Blixa Bargeld – piano treatment
#* Mick Harvey – acoustic guitar
#* Martyn P. Casey – bass
#* Thomas Wydler – drums
#* Warren Ellis – violin
# "Black Hair" – 4:14
#* Nick Cave – vocals
#* Mick Harvey – bass organ
#* Warren Ellis – piano accordion
# "Idiot Prayer" – 4:21
#* Nick Cave – vocals, Hammond
#* Blixa Bargeld – guitar
#* Mick Harvey – guitar
#* Conway Savage – piano
#* Martyn P. Casey – bass
#* Thomas Wydler – drums
#* Warren Ellis – violin
# "Far from Me" – 5:33
#* Nick Cave – vocals, piano, Hammond
#* Blixa Bargeld – guitar
#* Martyn P. Casey – bass
#* Thomas Wydler – drums
#* Warren Ellis – violin
# "Green Eyes" – 3:32
#* Nick Cave – vocals, piano
#* Mick Harvey – acoustic guitar
#* Jim Sclavunos – melodica

Trivia

*Cave performed "Into My Arms" at the funeral of Michael Hutchence, and demanded that the TV cameras be shut off for his performance out of respect for Hutchence.
*The song "People Ain't No Good" was featured in the movie Shrek 2.

Credits

Personnel

* Nick Cave – Vocals, Piano, Hammond, Casio, Vibes
* Mick Harvey – Acoustic Guitar, Guitar, Bass, Hammond, Bass Organ, Vibes
* Blixa Bargeld – Guitar, Piano Treatment
* Warren Ellis – Violin, Piano Accordion
* Jim Sclavunos – Melodica, Drums, Bells
* Conway Savage – Piano, Backing Vocals
* Martyn P. Casey – Bass
* Thomas Wydler – Drums, Maracas