The Best of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Encyclopedia
The Best of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds is a compilation album from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
. It was released in 1998, following The Boatman's Call
(1997).
In order to decide the track listing, Cave asked each of the Bad Seeds, past and present, to choose their favourite tracks from the ten albums—their lists would then be discussed until a final list was produced. In the end, only guitarist and founding Bad Seed Mick Harvey
bothered, and it is his listing, unchanged, that makes up The Best Of.
NOTE: Tracks 2, 4, 10, 11 and 14 are the edited single versions (but are not listed as edits in the liner notes).
as a regular disk, with four additional tracks and without "The Weeping Song".
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :...
. It was released in 1998, following The Boatman's Call
The Boatman's Call
The Boatman's Call is the tenth studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in 1997. The album, which is entirely piano-based and a departure from the band's post-punk catalogue, remains one of the most critically acclaimed releases of Nick Cave's career.-Background and...
(1997).
In order to decide the track listing, Cave asked each of the Bad Seeds, past and present, to choose their favourite tracks from the ten albums—their lists would then be discussed until a final list was produced. In the end, only guitarist and founding Bad Seed Mick Harvey
Mick Harvey
Michael John Harvey , is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his long-time collaboration with the singer and songwriter Nick Cave...
bothered, and it is his listing, unchanged, that makes up The Best Of.
Track listing
- "Deanna" – 3:36
- "Red Right HandRed Right Hand"Red Right Hand" is a 1994 song and single from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.It first appeared on the album Let Love In, where it ran at 6:10. It was later released as a single at the condensed length of 4:48...
" – 4:48 - "Straight to You" – 4:35
- "Tupelo" – 5:12
- "Nobody's Baby Now" – 3:53
- "Stranger Than Kindness" – 4:42
- "Into My ArmsInto My Arms"Into My Arms" is a song written by Nick Cave, and released as the first single from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' tenth studio album The Boatman's Call in 1997. The single, released on 27 January 1997, was pressed on 7" vinyl, as well as a standard CD single...
" – 4:14 - "(Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For?" – 4:06
- "The Carny" – 8:01
- "Do You Love Me?" – 4:37
- "The Mercy Seat" – 5:08
- "Henry Lee" (featuring PJ HarveyPJ HarveyPolly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
) – 3:56 - "The Weeping Song" – 4:20
- "The Ship Song" – 4:42
- "Where the Wild Roses GrowWhere the Wild Roses Grow"Where the Wild Roses Grow" is an alternative-rock song written by Australian singer-songwriter Nick Cave for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' ninth album Murder Ballads , with guest vocals by Australian pop-singer Kylie Minogue. The song was produced by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Tony Cohen and...
" (featuring Kylie MinogueKylie MinogueKylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
) – 3:57 - "From Her to Eternity" – 5:32
- Track 16 is taken from the 1984 album From Her to EternityFrom Her to EternityFrom Her to Eternity is the debut album released by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in 1984. The title is a pun on the book/movie From Here to Eternity.-Background and production:...
. - Track 4 is taken from the 1985 album The Firstborn Is DeadThe Firstborn Is DeadThe Firstborn Is Dead is the second studio album released by the post-punk band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. It was first released in 1985. On this record, singer Nick Cave continued his fascination with the American South, with its references to Elvis Presley and bluesmen like Blind Lemon Jefferson...
. - Tracks 6 and 9 are taken from the 1986 album Your Funeral... My TrialYour Funeral... My Trial-Personnel:#"Sad Waters"#*Nick Cave – vocals, Hammond, harmonica#*Blixa Bargeld – guitar#*Mick Harvey – bass, rhythm guitar, drums#"The Carny"#*Nick Cave – vocals, harmonica#*Blixa Bargeld – guitar, other voice...
. - Tracks 1 and 11 are taken from the 1988 album Tender PreyTender PreyTender Prey is the fifth album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in 1988 on Mute Records.Tender Prey contains Cave's 'signature' tune "The Mercy Seat", which he has subsequently played at almost all of his live performances since 1988, and was covered by Johnny Cash...
. - Tracks 13 and 14 are taken from the 1990 album The Good SonThe Good Son (album)The Good Son is the sixth album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in 1990 . It was preceded by the release of "The Ship Song/The Train Song" single. "The Weeping Song/Cock's 'n' Asses" was later also released as a single. After an album as dark and intense as Tender Prey, some fans were...
. - Track 3 is taken from the 1992 album Henry's DreamHenry's DreamHenry's Dream is the seventh album released by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, in spring 1992. There are possible references to John Berryman's series of poems The Dream Songs, which logs the dreams of the protagonist Henry. This album remains a big favourite amongst Bad Seeds fans, although Nick Cave...
. - Tracks 2, 5 and 10 are taken from the 1994 album Let Love In.
- Tracks 12 and 15 are taken from the 1996 album Murder BalladsMurder BalladsMurder Ballads is the ninth studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in 1996 on Mute Records. As its title suggests, the album consists of new and traditional murder ballads, a genre of songs that relays the details of crimes of passion."Where the Wild Roses Grow," a duet featuring...
. - Tracks 7 and 8 are taken from the 1997 album The Boatman's CallThe Boatman's CallThe Boatman's Call is the tenth studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in 1997. The album, which is entirely piano-based and a departure from the band's post-punk catalogue, remains one of the most critically acclaimed releases of Nick Cave's career.-Background and...
.
NOTE: Tracks 2, 4, 10, 11 and 14 are the edited single versions (but are not listed as edits in the liner notes).
Special edition
The album was also released as a special edition with a live bonus disc, titled "Live at the Royal Albert Hall", recorded on 19 and 20 May 1997. This bonus CD was subsequently released in 2008Live at the Royal Albert Hall (Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds album)
Live at the Royal Albert Hall is a live album by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, released on 24 November 2008. It was recorded on 19 and 20 May 1997 during the tour for The Boatman's Call and eight of these tracks were originally released as a 9-track bonus disc for The Best of Nick Cave and The Bad...
as a regular disk, with four additional tracks and without "The Weeping Song".
- "Lime Tree Arbour" – 3:42
- "Stranger Than Kindness" – 5:02
- "Red Right Hand" – 5:18
- "I Let Love In" – 4:12
- "Brompton Oratory" – 3:47
- "Henry Lee" – 4:00
- "The Weeping Song" – 4:38
- "The Ship Song" – 4:12
- "Where the Wild Roses Grow" – 4:01
Musicians
- Nick CaveNick CaveNicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and...
– Vocals, Hammond, Organ, Oscillator, Piano, Harmonica, Backing Vocals, String Arrangement - Blixa BargeldBlixa BargeldBlixa Bargeld is a composer, author, actor, singer, musician, performer and lecturer in a number of artistic fields...
– Guitar, "Boss Bellini", Backing Vocals, Slide Guitar, "Father" Vocal (on "The Weeping Song") - Mick HarveyMick HarveyMichael John Harvey , is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his long-time collaboration with the singer and songwriter Nick Cave...
– Drums, Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Guitar, Shaker, Bell, Rhythm Guitar, Extra Piano, Hammond, Bass Guitar, Bass Organ, Backing Vocals, Piano, Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Loops, Vibraphone, Percussion, String Arrangement - Kid Congo PowersKid Congo PowersKid Congo Powers is the stage name of Brian Tristan , an American rock guitarist and singer, best known as a member of The Gun Club, The Cramps and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.-Biography:...
– Guitar - Martyn P. CaseyMartyn P. CaseyMartyn Paul Casey is an English-born Australian rock bass guitarist. He had been a member of The Triffids, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Grinderman. Casey plays either his Fender Precision Bass or Fender Jazz Bass.-Biography:...
– Bass, Backing Vocals - Thomas WydlerThomas WydlerThomas Wydler , is a Swiss musician best known for being a core member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, of which he has been a drummer since 1985. Prior to joining them, he was a member of the experimental German band Die Haut. Wydler has been present on almost every Bad Seeds album, making his...
– Drums, Timpani, Fish, Backing Vocals, Percussion - Conway SavageConway SavageConway Savage is an Australian rock musician best known as pianist/organist/backing vocalist for Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds....
– Piano, Backing Vocals - Barry AdamsonBarry AdamsonBarry Adamson is a British rock musician who has worked with rock bands such as Magazine, Visage, The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and the electronic musicians Pan sonic and Depeche Mode. Adamson created the seven-minute opus "Useless " remix for the latter band in 1997...
– Drums, Hammond, Backing Vocals, Bass - Jim SclavunosJim SclavunosJim Sclavunos is an American rock music drummer, percussionist and producer.Sclavunos, a half-Greek and half-Italian from Brooklyn, New York , is well-known for his exceptional height at 6'7". Sclavunos has performed with Sonic Youth, Tav Falco's Panther Burns, Lydia Lunch and was a member of 8...
– Drums, Bells - Tex Perkins – Backing Vocals
- Rowland S. HowardRowland S. HowardRowland Stuart Howard was an Australian rock musician, guitarist and songwriter, he played electric guitar in the post-punk group The Birthday Party. Howard died of liver cancer in December 2009, aged 50 years....
– Backing Vocals - Roland WolfRoland WolfRoland Wolf was an Austrian luger who competed from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. A natural track luger, he won the silver medal in the men's doubles event at the 1992 FIL World Luge Natural Track Championships in Bad Goisern, Austria.-References:...
– Guitar - Gini Ball – Strings
- Audrey RileyAudrey RileyAudrey Riley is a cellist and string arranger based in the UK. Riley trained at the Guildhall School of Music with Leonard Stehn and was a cellist for Virginia Astley from 1983 to 1986 and a one-time auxiliary member of The Family Cat. She has been a member of the post-minimalist band Icebreaker...
– Strings - Chris Tombling – Strings
- PJ HarveyPJ HarveyPolly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
– Vocals - Kylie MinogueKylie MinogueKylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
– Vocals - Jen Anderson – Strings
- Sue Simpson – Strings
- Kerran Coulter – Strings
- Helen Mountford – Strings
- Hugo RaceHugo RaceHugo Race is an Australian rock musician and record producer who has been based in Europe since 1989. He was a member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, before forming The Wreckery with Nick Barker and Robin Casinader in the 1980s. He is currently a member of Hugo Race and the True Spirit.Race is...
– Guitar