The Good Son (album)
Encyclopedia
The Good Son is the sixth album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
, released in 1990 (see 1990 in music
). 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 disappointed to hear a relaxed and loving Nick Cave on this record. The change of mood was due in great deal to Nick Cave falling in love with Brazil
ian journalist Viviane Carneiro, and an apparently salutary spell in rehab
which purged the despair and squalor of the previous two albums. However, today, most fans consider this album as a classic that was unfairly judged at the time. Indeed, "The Weeping Song" and "The Ship Song
" are now Bad Seeds standards, and the relatively obscure closing track "Lucy" was resurrected in 1993 as a B-side of "What a Wonderful World", a collaboration of the Bad Seeds and the Pogues
' Shane MacGowan
.
The album was remastered and reissued on March 29, 2010 as a collector's edition CD/DVD set.
of the same title. The title translates roughly as "It Happened on the cross".
"The Good Son" - the opening is based loosely upon the African-American traditional song "Another Man Done Gone". A recording of this traditional song, by Odetta
, later appeared on Original Seeds
Vol. 1. The lyrics appear, at least in part, to have been influenced by the Cormac McCarthy
novel Child of God, with references to a "malign star" and laying down "queer plans" appearing in both, as well as common themes of dislocation and rejection.
"The Witness Song" is based loosely upon the traditional American gospel song "Who Will be a Witness?".
Four of the songs on the album were left with their working titles ("The Ship Song
", "The Weeping Song", "The Hammer Song", "The Witness Song").
The instrumental b-side "Cocks 'n' Asses" was retitled "The B-side Song" for the USA release.
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 :...
, released in 1990 (see 1990 in music
1990 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1990.-Events:*January 21 – MTV's Unplugged premieres on cable television with British band Squeeze...
). 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
Tender Prey
Tender 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...
, some fans were disappointed to hear a relaxed and loving Nick Cave on this record. The change of mood was due in great deal to Nick Cave falling in love with Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian journalist Viviane Carneiro, and an apparently salutary spell in rehab
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
which purged the despair and squalor of the previous two albums. However, today, most fans consider this album as a classic that was unfairly judged at the time. Indeed, "The Weeping Song" and "The Ship Song
The Ship Song
"The Ship Song" is a song written by Nick Cave , originally performed by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on their 1990 The Good Son album. It was released by Mute Records as the first single from the album on 12 March 1990, as a CD single, 7" vinyl and a 12" vinyl release...
" are now Bad Seeds standards, and the relatively obscure closing track "Lucy" was resurrected in 1993 as a B-side of "What a Wonderful World", a collaboration of the Bad Seeds and the Pogues
The Pogues
The Pogues are a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before...
' Shane MacGowan
Shane MacGowan
Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan is an Irish musician and singer, best known as the original singer and songwriter of The Pogues.-History:...
.
The album was remastered and reissued on March 29, 2010 as a collector's edition CD/DVD set.
Track listing
All songs written by Cave unless otherwise stated.- "Foi Na Cruz" – 5:39
- Singers - Clovis Trindade, Rubinho
- "The Good Son" – 6:01
- "Sorrow's Child" – 4:36
- "The Weeping Song" – 4:21
- "Father" Vocal by Blixa Bargeld
- "The Ship SongThe Ship Song"The Ship Song" is a song written by Nick Cave , originally performed by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on their 1990 The Good Son album. It was released by Mute Records as the first single from the album on 12 March 1990, as a CD single, 7" vinyl and a 12" vinyl release...
" – 5:14 - "The Hammer Song" – 4:16
- Guitars by Mick Harvey
- "Lament" – 4:51
- "The Witness Song" – 5:57
- "Lucy" – 4:17 (words: Cave. Music: Cave, Bargeld, Roland WolfRoland Wolf (musician)Roland Wolf was a German musician who played keyboards with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds from 1986 to 1989...
)- Piano on reprise section by Roland Wolf
The songs
"Foi Na Cruz" is based partly upon the traditional Brazilian Protestant hymnHymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
of the same title. The title translates roughly as "It Happened on the cross".
"The Good Son" - the opening is based loosely upon the African-American traditional song "Another Man Done Gone". A recording of this traditional song, by Odetta
Odetta
Odetta Holmes, known as Odetta, was an American singer, actress, guitarist, songwriter, and a human rights activist, often referred to as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement". Her musical repertoire consisted largely of American folk music, blues, jazz, and spirituals...
, later appeared on Original Seeds
Original Seeds
Original Seeds: Songs that inspired Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are two compilation CDs. Volume one was issued in 1998, Volume two in 2004, initially on the Rubber Records label in Australia, but also in the U.K....
Vol. 1. The lyrics appear, at least in part, to have been influenced by the Cormac McCarthy
Cormac McCarthy
Cormac McCarthy is an American novelist and playwright. He has written ten novels, spanning the Southern Gothic, Western, and modernist genres. He received the Pulitzer Prize and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction for The Road...
novel Child of God, with references to a "malign star" and laying down "queer plans" appearing in both, as well as common themes of dislocation and rejection.
"The Witness Song" is based loosely upon the traditional American gospel song "Who Will be a Witness?".
Four of the songs on the album were left with their working titles ("The Ship Song
The Ship Song
"The Ship Song" is a song written by Nick Cave , originally performed by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on their 1990 The Good Son album. It was released by Mute Records as the first single from the album on 12 March 1990, as a CD single, 7" vinyl and a 12" vinyl release...
", "The Weeping Song", "The Hammer Song", "The Witness Song").
The instrumental b-side "Cocks 'n' Asses" was retitled "The B-side Song" for the USA release.
Singles
- "The Ship SongThe Ship Song"The Ship Song" is a song written by Nick Cave , originally performed by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on their 1990 The Good Son album. It was released by Mute Records as the first single from the album on 12 March 1990, as a CD single, 7" vinyl and a 12" vinyl release...
" (MUTE 108) (March 12, 1990)- b/w: "The Train Song"
- "The Weeping Song" (MUTE 118) (September 17, 1990)
- b/w: "Cocks 'n' Asses" / "HelplessHelpless (song)"Helpless" is a song written by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young, most famously recorded by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young on their 1970 album Déjà Vu....
"
- b/w: "Cocks 'n' Asses" / "Helpless
Bad Seeds
- 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, Piano, Hammond, Harmonica - 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...
– Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Vibraphone, Percussion, Backing Vocals - Blixa BargeldBlixa BargeldBlixa Bargeld is a composer, author, actor, singer, musician, performer and lecturer in a number of artistic fields...
– Guitar, Backing Vocals - 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 - 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, Percussion
String Section
- Arranged by Mick Harvey and Bill McGee
- Violins - Alexandre Ramirez, Altamir Tea Bueno Salinas, Helena Akiku Imasoto, Lea Kalil Sadi
- Violas - Akira Terazaki, Glauco Masahiru Imasoto
- Cellos - Braulio Marques Lima, Cristina Manescu