Live Seeds

Last updated

Live Seeds
Liveseeds.jpg
Live album by
Released6 September 1993 (1993-09-06)
Recorded1992–1993
Australia, Europe
Length60:35
Label Mute
Producer Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds chronology
Henry's Dream
(1992)
Live Seeds
(1993)
Let Love In
(1994)

Live Seeds is the first official live album by Australian post-punk band, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The album was recorded live from 1992 to 1993, at various concerts throughout Europe and Australia, at the touring stage promoting their previous studio album, Henry's Dream . Nick Cave wanted to give the songs a raw feeling as originally intended before production problems occurred. Live Seeds includes a not previously studio-recorded track, "Plain Gold Ring", which is a cover of a song performed by Nina Simone.

Contents

Background

Live Seeds was a live album recorded from 1992 to 1993 by Australian post-punk band, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at various concerts throughout Europe and Australia. The band had formed in 1983 with a line-up including Nick Cave on lead vocals, Mick Harvey (initially on drums) on guitar, Blixa Bargeld on guitar and Barry Adamson on bass guitar. [1] Soon after the release and subsequent tour for 1988's Tender Prey , Cave began experimenting with piano-driven ballads, resulting in 1990's The Good Son . Seeped in sorrow and longing, the comparatively refined and understated album was well-received critically and commercially, yielding the singles "The Weeping Song" and "The Ship Song". [2]

In 1990 two Australian musicians joined, Martyn Casey (The Triffids) on bass guitar and Conway Savage on keyboards. Their next album, 1992's Henry's Dream , marked a step back to harder rock, utilising producer David Briggs (Neil Young). The album's tour is documented on Live Seeds and showcases the new group's aggressive yet accomplished sound. The live album was produced by the band. Sound engineer and mixer Tony Cohen said that the lead vocals were overdubbed 'live' in the studio in Melbourne before the album was mixed. [3] He said, "I let the tape roll and Nick sang from start to finish. To his credit, he didn't stop. It was as though he was on stage. Mentally he was. He sang exactly like he would live. Except not as out of breath, or badly out of tune." [4]

In mid-1993, Cave relocated to London where Henry's Dream's follow-up studio album, Let Love In , was recorded and released in 1994. [1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
NME 6/10 [6]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]

AllMusic's Ned Raggett review of Live Seeds noted that "some fans consider many of the songs on [this album] to be superior to their studio equivalent – a testament to its overall quality". [5] He felt that "few cuts differ drastically from the more familiar album versions, but generally everything is crisper, at times much more brusque, perhaps exchanging texture for force". [5]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Nick Cave, except where indicated

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Mercy Seat"Cave, Mick Harvey [9] 4:43
2."Deanna" 4:42
3."The Ship Song" 4:18
4."Papa Won't Leave You, Henry" 6:28
5."Plain Gold Ring" George Stone 5:03
6."John Finn's Wife" 5:43
7."Tupelo"Cave, Barry Adamson, Harvey6:05
8."Brother, My Cup Is Empty" 3:13
9."The Weeping Song" 3:59
10."Jack the Ripper" 3:49
11."The Good Son" 4:27
12."From Her to Eternity"Cave, Anita Lane, Adamson, Blixa Bargeld, Hugo Race, Harvey4:53
13."New Morning" 3:22

Personnel

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Additional musicians
Production details
Art work

Charts

1993 weekly chart performance for Live Seeds
Chart (1993)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [10] 47
UK Albums (OCC) [11] 67
2022 weekly chart performance for Live Seeds
Chart (2022)Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [12] 58
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [13] 88
Portuguese Albums (AFP) [14] 14

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds</span> Australian post punk/alternative rock band

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian rock band formed in 1983 by vocalist Nick Cave, multi-instrumentalist Mick Harvey and guitarist-vocalist Blixa Bargeld. The band has featured international personnel throughout its career and presently consists of Cave, violinist and multi-instrumentalist Warren Ellis, bassist Martyn P. Casey, guitarist George Vjestica, keyboardist/percussionist Larry Mullins, also known as Toby Dammit, and drummers Thomas Wydler (Switzerland) and Jim Sclavunos. Described as "one of the most original and celebrated bands of the post-punk and alternative rock eras in the '80s and onward", they have released seventeen studio albums and completed numerous international tours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blixa Bargeld</span> German musician

Blixa Bargeld is a German musician who has been the lead singer of the band Einstürzende Neubauten since its formation in 1980. Bargeld was also a founding member of the Australian rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, serving as a member from 1983 until his departure in 2003.

<i>Tender Prey</i> 1988 studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Tender Prey is the fifth studio album by Australian rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on 19 September 1988 on Mute Records. Produced by Flood, the album was recorded during several sessions over the course of four months in West Berlin—where the band were based at the time of its release—and London and dedicated to Fernando Ramos da Silva.

<i>Murder Ballads</i> 1996 studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Murder 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.

<i>Nocturama</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Nocturama is the twelfth studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on February 3, 2003 on Mute and ANTI-. Produced by Nick Launay, the album is the last to feature founding member Blixa Bargeld who departed from the band shortly after the album's release.

<i>No More Shall We Part</i> 2001 studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

No More Shall We Part is the eleventh studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on 2 April 2001 in the UK. The record, which was well received critically, came after a 4-year gap from recording, following the much acclaimed album The Boatman's Call and subsequent 'Best Of' album.

<i>Let Love In</i> (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds album) 1994 studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Let Love In is the eighth studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on 18 April 1994 on Mute Records.

<i>Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus</i> 2004 studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus is the thirteenth studio album by the Australian alternative rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on 20 September 2004 on Mute Records. It is a double album of seventeen songs.

<i>The Firstborn Is Dead</i> 1985 studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

The 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. The photography is by Jutta Henglein-Bildau.

<i>Kicking Against the Pricks</i> 1986 studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Kicking Against the Pricks is the third album released by the rock music group Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. First released in 1986, the album is a collection of Cave's interpretations of songs by other artists. The title is a reference to a biblical quote from the King James version of the Bible, Acts 26, verse 14.

<i>Your Funeral... My Trial</i> 1986 studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Your Funeral... My Trial is the fourth studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on 3 November 1986 by Mute Records. Your Funeral... My Trial was originally released as a double EP. The album was issued on CD with a different running order and the additional track "Scum". During this period in his life, Cave was steeped in heroin addiction, perhaps evidenced by the melancholy, desperate mood of this album. This was the final Bad Seeds album to feature Barry Adamson until he returned for Push the Sky Away (2013).

<i>Henrys Dream</i> 1992 studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Henry's Dream is the seventh album released by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, in April 1992.

<i>The Boatmans Call</i> 1997 studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

The Boatman's Call is the tenth studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, 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 up to that point. The Boatman's Call remains one of the most critically acclaimed releases of Nick Cave's career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anita Lane</span> Australian singer-songwriter (1960–2021)

Anita Louise Lane was an Australian singer-songwriter who was briefly a member of the Bad Seeds with Nick Cave and Mick Harvey and collaborated with both bandmates. Lane released two solo albums, Dirty Pearl (1993) and Sex O'Clock (2001).

<i>The Best of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds</i> 1998 greatest hits album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

The Best of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds is a compilation album by Australian rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on 11 May 1998.

<i>B-Sides & Rarities</i> (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds album) 2005 compilation album by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

B-Sides & Rarities is a 3CD compilation by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in March 2005. It features over 20 years of the band's B-sides and previously unreleased tracks. It is also the first recording to include all members of the Bad Seeds, past and present up to the time of its release: current members Mick Harvey, Blixa Bargeld, Thomas Wydler, Martyn P. Casey, Conway Savage, Jim Sclavunos, and Warren Ellis, and former members Barry Adamson, Hugo Race, Kid Congo Powers, Roland Wolf, and James Johnston. A second volume, B-Sides & Rarities Part II, was released in October 2021.

<i>Mutiny/The Bad Seed</i> 1983 compilation album by The Birthday Party

Mutiny/The Bad Seed is a compilation album by The Birthday Party. It is compiled from 2 EPs, The Bad Seed recorded in October 1982, and Mutiny! recorded in April and August 1983, and both were released in 1983. The Bad Seed and Mutiny! were released as a compilation in 1989. It is written by Nick Cave, Mick Harvey, Rowland S. Howard, and Tracy Pew.

<i>Live at the Royal Albert Hall</i> (Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds album) 2008 live album by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds

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 nine-track bonus disc for The Best of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. It features a version of "Where the Wild Roses Grow" with vocals by Blixa Bargeld, which is delivered in a way that is similar to the demo version that can also be found on the B-Sides & Rarities three-disc set. These live recordings display the more mellow sound and performances that the group had been showcasing at that period, and would continue to deliver in the later No More Shall We Part.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ship Song</span> 1990 single by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

"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 song reached #84 on the UK Singles Charts.

<i>The Honeymoon Is Over</i> 1993 studio album by The Cruel Sea

The Honeymoon Is Over is the third studio album by Australian indie rock band The Cruel Sea, which was released in May 1993. The album was produced by the band, Tony Cohen and Mick Harvey for Red Eye Records. It peaked at No. 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart and has sold over 140,000 copies. Its lead single, "Black Stick" was released ahead of the album in March 1993 and peaked at No. 25 on the related Singles Chart. The title song, "The Honeymoon Is Over", was released in July 1993 as a single and reached the Top 50. It was followed by a cover of Tony Joe White's 1969 song, "Woman with Soul", in October which peaked at No. 64. The final single from the album, "Seems Twice", was issued in February 1994 and peaked at No. 90.

References

  1. 1 2 McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Headband'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop . St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN   1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  2. Bliss, Abi (9 April 2010). "Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - The Good Son (remastered)". Drowned in Sound (Silentway Ltd., Sean Adams). Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  3. Blair, Dale, Life in a Padded Cell: A Biography of Tony Cohen, 2017, p155.
  4. Tony Cohen with John Olson (2023). Half Deaf, Completely Mad. Black Inc. Books. p. 174. ISBN   978-1-74382-308-8.
  5. 1 2 3 Raggett, Ned. "Live Seeds – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation . Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  6. Bailie, Stuart (4 September 1993). "Long Play". New Musical Express . p. 32.
  7. "Live Seeds Soundtrack CD Album". CD Universe . Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  8. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (2004). "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds". The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (Completely revised and updated 4th ed.). New York: Fireside. p. 151. ISBN   9780743201698.
  9. "'The Mercy Seat' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 18 March 2012. Note: To search for other titles click on Search again and enter track name.
  10. "Australiancharts.com – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Live Seeds". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  11. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  12. "Ultratop.be – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Live Seeds" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  13. "Dutchcharts.nl – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Live Seeds" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  14. "Portuguesecharts.com – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Live Seeds". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 May 2022.