The Boatman's Call

Release type:What's this?
studio album
First released:
Mar 4 1997

Overview Edit

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").

The Overview appearing in this section is attributed to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boatman's_Call. Portions of this Overview may be available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, version 3.0 or any later version, available at: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/. Additional terms may apply. See Wikipedia Terms of Use for details.

This particular version Edit

Record label:
unknown
Catalog number:
46530
Release dates:
  • Mar 4 1997

Genres

Rock, Singer-Songwriter. Vote on Genres

What do Amazon.com customers think?

5 stars One of the best albums I own
You know, the more I listen to "The Boatman's Call," the more I'm convinced that it's not only one of the best albums I own, but may simply be one of the best albums, period. I'm not usually given to untempered praise, but Cave's intelligent, moody and melodic attempt to work through crises of love as crises of faith is a sobering and powerful reminder of just how far brilliant lyrics and great instrumental hooks will get you.

What I like best about this album is that it thinks big. Cave is tang…
Written by Volkswagen Blues "cead1"
3 stars Very good
Very good album. I'm not a Nick Cave fanatic, I don't listen to him all the time, I don't own all the albums. I'm here just as someone who loves music, knows Nick Cave without being a "follower" to say this is really quite wonderful. Some songs lovely, all unique - a love song in Nick Cave's hands is a love song in no other's. If the slow quality, the sound of his voice, and his style of lyric is something you'd like - you'll love it. If you want the younger Nick Cave or faster music or "murder ballads," this isn't the one.
Written by foundpoem

Track listing Edit

  • unknown format

    format:
    number:
    title:
    number name artist hh:mm:ss
    1
    Into My Arms
    ?:??
    2
    Lime Tree Arbor
    ?:??
    3
    People Ain't No Good
    ?:??
    4
    Brompton Oratory
    ?:??
    5
    There Is a Kingdom
    ?:??
    6
    (Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For
    ?:??
    7
    Where Do We Go Now but Nowhere?
    ?:??
    8
    West Country Girl
    ?:??
    9
    Black Hair
    ?:??
    10
    Idiot Prayer
    ?:??
    11
    Far From Me
    ?:??
    12
    Green Eyes
    ?:??
    13
    Little Empty Boat
    ?:??
    14
    Right Now I'm A-Roaming
    ?:??

Credits Edit

  1. design

    1. Anton Corbijn [photography]
    2. Steve Gullick [photography]
  2. engineer

    1. Chris Scard [mix]
    2. Flood [mix]
    3. Paul Corkett [recording]
    4. Paul Hicks [recording]
    5. Paul Wright [recording]
  1. producer

  2. writer

    1. Nick Cave [lyrics]

Other versions Edit

The Boatman's Call 12 tracks format: 1 x CD
record label: Mute
catalog number: INT 846.936
release dates: Apr 23 1997
view details
14 tracks format: 1 x CD
view details
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