The Boatman's Call

The Boatman's Call is the tenth studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds,
The Boatman's Call
released in 1997. The album is entirely piano-based, alternately somber and romantic
in mood, making it a marked departure from the bulk of the band's post-punk
catalogue. The Boatman's Call remains one of the most critically acclaimed releases
of Nick Cave's career.

Contents
Background and production
Critical reception
Track listing
Bonus tracks
Studio album by Nick Cave and
Outtakes and other songs
the Bad Seeds
Personnel
Released 3 March 1997
Chart positions
Certifications Recorded June–August 1996
Singles Studio Sarm West Studios,
References London, United
Kingdom
Length 52:07
Background and production
Label Mute/Reprise
Recording for the album began atSarm West Studios in London, United Kingdom in
Producer Flood, Nick Cave and
mid-1996, with "The Garden Duet", one of the album's outtakes, being the first song
the Bad Seeds
recorded. Though the bulk of The Boatman's Call was recorded at Sarm West,
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
further recordings — including overdubs — were later done atAbbey Road Studios.
chronology
Musically, the album's tone is considered sombre and minimalist and marks a major Murder The The Best of
departure for Cave and The Bad Seeds. Moving away from full-band arrangements Ballads Boatman's Nick Cave
and character-based narratives, the album's music and lyrics move towards the more (1996) Call & The Bad
intimate sound of Cave's solo voice accompanied by piano or a few other (1997) Seeds
instruments. The tempo is also generally slow, reflecting many of the moods of the (1998)
songs. Many of the lyrics seem to reflect on Cave's personal relationships and
Singles from The Boatman's Call
spiritual yearnings at the time of writing. Some songs are thought to be directed at
either the mother of Cave's oldest son Luke, Viviane Carneiro (in "Where Do We Go 1. "Into My Arms"
Now But Nowhere?") or singer PJ Harvey, with whom he had a brief relationship Released: 27 January 1997
around that time (as referenced in "West Country Girl", "Black Hair" and "Green
2. "(Are You) The One That I've
Eyes"). Green Eyes includes a line from “Sonnet 18”, by Louise Labé (Kiss me,
Been Waiting For?"
rekiss me, & kiss me again).
Released: 19 May 1997
Cave performed "Into My Arms" at the 1997 funeral of INXS vocalist Michael
Hutchence, an old friend from Cave's youth, and requested that the TV cameras be shut off for his performance out of respect for
Hutchence. The song "People Ain't No Good" was also featured in the movie Shrek 2. In October 2010, the album was listed in the
top 30 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums.[1]
Critical reception
The Boatman's Call received almost unanimous critical acclaim upon
Professional ratings
release with many reviewers citing it as Cave's most poignant album.
NME rated it as the 23rd best album of 1997.[12] The album was also Review scores
included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[13]
Source Rating

AllMusic [2]
Track listing Entertainment Weekly B+[3]
All tracks written by Nick Cave. [4]
The Guardian

Los Angeles Times [5]

No. Title Length
1. "Into My Arms" 4:15 NME 8/10 [6]
2. "Lime Tree Arbour" 2:56
Pitchfork 9.3/10 [7]
3. "People Ain't No Good" 5:42
Q [8]
4. "Brompton Oratory" 4:06
5. "There Is a Kingdom" 4:52 Rolling Stone [9]
6. "(Are You) The One That I've Been 4:05
Waiting For?" Select 4/5[10]

7. "Where Do We Go Now But 5:46 Uncut [11]

Nowhere?"
8. "West Country Girl" 2:45
9. "Black Hair" 4:14
10. "Idiot Prayer" 4:21
11. "Far from Me" 5:33
12. "Green Eyes" 3:32
Total length: 52:07

Bonus tracks
2011 Remaster
No. Title Writer(s) Length
13. "Little Empty Boat" Words: Cave, Music: Cave,
Bargeld, Casey, Harvey
14. "Right Now I'm A-Roaming" Words: Cave, Music: Cave,
Casey, Harvey, Savage, Wydler
15. "Black Hair" (Band version)
16. "Come Into My Sleep"
17. "Babe, I Got You Bad"

Outtakes and other songs

A number of other songs were recorded at The Boatman's Call sessions, some of which were later released as b-sides to the album's
two singles and also on Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds 2005 compilation album,
B-Sides and Rarities.

"The Garden Duet"

"I Do, Dear, I Do"
"Opium Tea" (released on B-Sides & Rarities)
"Sheep May Safely Graze"(released on B-Sides & Rarities)
"Wake Up My Lover"
"Farewell, Goodbye, So Long"
"I Got Another Woman Now, Dear"
 "Little Empty Boat" (released as a b-side on "Into My Arms")
"Right Now I'm A-Roaming"(released as a b-side on "Into My Arms")
"Come Into My Sleep"(released as a b-side on "(Are You) The One That I'veBeen Waiting For?")
"Babe, I Got You Bad" (released as a b-side on "(Are You) The One That I'veBeen Waiting For?"')

Personnel
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Nick Cave – vocals (1-17), piano (1-3,8,11-13,15), organ (2,5,10-11), keyboards (casio) (4), vibes (3), keyboard (14)
Mick Harvey – electric guitar (6,10,13-14,17), acoustic guitar (5,7-8,12), bass (2), organ (6,13-14,16-17), vibes (3), bass
organ (9), backing vocals (14), xylophone (16)
Blixa Bargeld – electric guitar (4-5,7,10-11,13-14,16-17), piano treatment (8), backing vocals (13-14)
Martyn P. Casey – bass (1,3-8,10-11,13-17), backing vocals (13)
Conway Savage – piano (5-7,10,14,16-17), backing vocals (5)
Warren Ellis – violin (3,7-8,10-11), accordion (9), piano (9), looped violin (13)
Jim Sclavunos – drums (6), melodica (12), bells (5,14), percussion (13), organ (15), bongos (16), tambourine (17)
Thomas Wydler – drums (2-3,5,7-8,10-11,13-17), maracas (4), backing vocals (13)

Technical personnel

Flood - producer, engineer, mixing

Chris Scard - co-producer, mixing
Paul Corkett - engineer
Paul Hicks - assistant engineer
Paul Wright - assistant engineer
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds- additional production

Chart positions
Peak
Chart (1997)
position

Australian ARIA Albums Chart[14] 5

Austrian Top 40[15] 18

Belgian Albums Chart (Vl)[16] 4

Belgian Albums Chart (Wa)[16] 18

Dutch Top 40[17] 58

Finnish Albums Chart[18] 17

French SNEP Albums Chart[19] 26

German Albums Chart[20] 19

New Zealand RIANZ Albums Chart[21] 4

Norwegian Albums Chart[22] 2

Swedish Albums Chart[23] 3

Swiss Hitparade Chart[24] 32

UK Albums Chart[25] 22

Certifications
 Region Certification Certified units/Sales

United Kingdom (BPI)[26] Gold 100,000^

Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[27] Platinum 0^

Worldwide (IFPI) N/A 500,000[28]

*sales figures based on certification alone

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Singles

Peak positions
Year Single AUS FIN NOR NZD SWE UK
[29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [25]

"Into My Arms" 26 10 8 41 46 53
1997 "(Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting
— — — — — 67
For?"

References
1. O'Donnell, John; Creswell, Toby; Mathieson, Craig (October 2010). 100 Best Australian Albums. Prahran, Vic: Hardie
Grant Books. ISBN 978-1-74066-955-9.
2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Boatman's Call – Nick Cave / Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds"(http://www.allmusic.co
m/album/the-boatmans-call-mw0000091353). AllMusic. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
3. Flaherty, Mike (14 March 1997)."The Boatman's Call" (http://www.ew.com/article/1997/03/14/boatmans-call).
Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
4. Gray, Louise (7 March 1997). "A religious experience". The Guardian.
5. Scribner, Sara (23 March 1997)."Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: 'The Boatman's Call' (Reprise)"(http://articles.latime
s.com/1997-03-23/entertainment/ca-41114_1_record-rack). Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
6. Oldham, James (1 March 1997)."Nick Cave – The Boatman's Call"(https://web.archive.org/web/20001002010937/h
ttp://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000143reviews.html). NME. Archived from the original (http://www.nm
e.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000143reviews.html)on 2 October 2000. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
7. Berman, Stuart (25 May 2011)."Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Let Love In / Murder Ballads / The Boatman's Call / No
More Shall We Part" (http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15476-let-love-in-murder-ballads-the-boatmans-call-no-mo
re-shall-we-part/). Pitchfork. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
8. "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: The Boatman's Call".Q (299). June 2011.
9. Diehl, Matt (20 March 1997)."Nick Cave: The Boatman's Call"(https://web.archive.org/web/20071205234856/http://
www.rollingstone.com/artists/nickcave/albums/album/118438/review/5946949/the_boatmans_call) . Rolling Stone.
Archived from the original (https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/nickcave/albums/album/118438/review/5946949/the_
boatmans_call) on 5 December 2007. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
10. Wilkinson, Roy (April 1997). "Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: The Boatman's Call".
Select (82): 110.
11. "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: The Boatman's Call".Uncut (70): 96. March 2003.
12. NME staff. "Albums and Tracks of the Year for 1997" (http://www.nme.com/bestalbumsandtracksoftheyear/1997).
NME. IPC Media. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
13. Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (23 March 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated
Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
14. "australian-charts.com - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call"
(http://australian-charts.com/showitem.a
sp?interpret=Nick+Cave+%26+The+Bad+Seeds&titel=The+Boatman%27s+Call&cat=a) . australian-charts.com.
Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
15. "Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call - austriancharts.at"(http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpr
et=Nick+Cave+%26+The+Bad+Seeds&titel=The+Boatman%27s+Call&cat=a) . austriancharts.at. Hung Medien.
Retrieved 30 April 2012.
16. "ultratop.be - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call"(http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=
Nick+Cave+%26+The+Bad+Seeds&titel=The+Boatman%27s+Call&cat=a) . Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved
30 April 2012.
17. "dutchcharts.nl - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call"(http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Ni
ck+Cave+%26+The+Bad+Seeds&titel=The+Boatman%27s+Call&cat=a) . dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved
30 April 2012.
18. "finnishcharts.com - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call"
(http://finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?inter
pret=Nick+Cave+%26+The+Bad+Seeds&titel=The+Boatman%27s+Call&cat=a) . finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien.
Retrieved 30 April 2012.
19. "lescharts.com - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call"(http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Ni
ck+Cave+%26+The+Bad+Seeds&titel=The+Boatman%27s+Call&cat=a) . lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved
30 April 2012.
20. "charts.de" (http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=Nick+Cave+%26+The+Bad+Seeds&title=The+Boatman%2
7s+Call&cat=a&country=de). Media Control Charts. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
21. "charts.org.nz - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call"(http://charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Nic
k+Cave+%26+The+Bad+Seeds&titel=The+Boatman%27s+Call&cat=a) . charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved
30 April 2012.
22. "norwegiancharts.com - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call"
(http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.a
sp?interpret=Nick+Cave+%26+The+Bad+Seeds&titel=The+Boatman%27s+Call&cat=a) . norwegiancharts.com.
Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
23. "swedishcharts.com - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call"
(http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?i
nterpret=Nick+Cave+%26+The+Bad+Seeds&titel=The+Boatman%27s+Call&cat=a) . swedishcharts.com. Hung
Medien. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
24. "Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call - hitparade.ch"(http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Nick
+Cave+%26+The+Bad+Seeds&titel=The+Boatman%27s+Call&cat=a) . Hitparade. Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April
2012.
25. "NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS | Artist | Official Charts Company"(http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/nick%20ca
ve%20%26%20the%20bad%20seeds/#albums) . UK Albums Chart/UK Singles Chart. Official Charts Company.
Retrieved 30 April 2012.
26. "British album certifications – Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – The Boatman's Call"(https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certifie
d/). British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field.Enter The
Boatman's Call in the search field and then press Enter.
27. "Danish album certifications – Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – The Boatman's Call"(http://www.ifpi.dk/?q=certificerin
ger). IFPI Denmark. Click on næste to go to pageif certification from official website
28. https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/78737/nick-cave-the-bad-seeds-return-with-new-look-at-old-themes
29. "australian-charts.com - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Into My Arms"(http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?int
erpret=Nick+Cave+%26+The+Bad+Seeds&titel=Into+My+Arms&cat=s) . australian-charts.com. Hung Medien.
Retrieved 30 April 2012.
30. "finnishcharts.com - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Into My Arms"(http://finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=N
ick+Cave+%26+The+Bad+Seeds&titel=Into+My+Arms&cat=s) . finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April
2012.
31. "norwegiancharts.com - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Into My Arms"(http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?int
erpret=Nick+Cave+%26+The+Bad+Seeds&titel=Into+My+Arms&cat=s) . norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien.
Retrieved 30 April 2012.
32. "charts.org.nz - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Into My Arms"(http://charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Nick+Cav
e+%26+The+Bad+Seeds&titel=Into+My+Arms&cat=s) . charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
33. "swedishcharts.com - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Into My Arms"(http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpre
t=Nick+Cave+%26+The+Bad+Seeds&titel=Into+My+Arms&cat=s) . swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved
30 April 2012.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Boatman%27s_Call&oldid=847067718
"

This page was last edited on 22 June 2018, at 18:07(UTC).

Text is available under theCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this
site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of theWikimedia
Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.