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The Ship Song

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The Ship Song"
7" single cover
Single by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
from the album The Good Son
A-side"The Ship Song"
B-side"The Train Song"
Released12 March 1990 (1990-03-12)
Recorded8 October – 28 October 1989
StudioCardan Studios (São Paulo)
GenreAlternative rock
Length5:14
LabelMute
Songwriter(s)Nick Cave
Producer(s)The Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds singles chronology
"Deanna"
(1988) 		"The Ship Song"
(1990) 		"The Weeping Song"
(1990)
Music video
"The Ship Song" on YouTube

"The Ship Song" is a song written by Nick Cave (lyrics and music),[1] originally performed by the Australian rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on their sixth studio album The Good Son (1990). 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.[2][3]

The music video for the song was directed by John Hillcoat.[4]

In May 2001 "The Ship Song" was selected by Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time.[5]

Critical reception

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"The Ship Song" is widely regarded as one of Cave's best songs. In 2020, Far Out ranked the song number seven on their list of the 20 greatest Nick Cave songs,[6] and in 2023, Mojo ranked the song number five on their list of the 30 greatest Nick Cave songs.[7]

Cover versions

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The Sydney Opera House, with agency the Monkeys, achieved the collaboration of Neil Finn, Kev Carmody, Sarah Blasko, John Bell, Martha Wainwright, Katie Noonan, Paul Kelly, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, the Temper Trap, Angus & Julia Stone, and Daniel Johns, with Opera Australia, the Australian Ballet, Bangarra Dance Theatre, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, to perform and record a reinterpretation of "The Ship Song" over some months in 2010–2011. Titled "The Ship Song Project", the recording was to promote the Sydney Opera House.[8]

Track listing

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The track listing for the single is:[9]

  1. "The Ship Song" (Nick Cave[1]) - 5:14
  2. "The Train Song" (Nick Cave)[10] - 3:27

Personnel

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Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Technical

  • Bill McGee — string arrangement
  • Designlayout — artwork
  • Polly Borland — photography
  • Victor Van Vugt — engineer
  • The Bad seeds — producer

Releases

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Format Country Label Catalogue No. Year
CD single UK Mute CD MUTE 108 12 March 1990
7" single UK Mute MUTE 108 12 March 1990
12" single UK Mute 12 MUTE 108 12 March 1990
12" single (promotional) UK Mute P12 MUTE 108 12 March 1990
CD single Germany Mute International INT 826.930 March 1990

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b ""The Ship Song" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  2. ^ "UK Top 100 (1983-1991)". UKmix.org. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  3. ^ Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980-1989. Cherry Red Books. ISBN 0-9517206-9-4. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011.
  4. ^ "John Hillcoat". IMDb. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  5. ^ Kruger, Debbie (2 May 2010). "The songs that resonate through the years" (PDF). Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  6. ^ Whatley, Jack (22 September 2020). "Nick Cave's 20 greatest songs of all time". Far Out. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Nick Cave's 30 Greatest Songs Ranked". Mojo. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  8. ^ "All Star Cast for the Sydney Opera House's "The Ship Song Project"". Play, the Sydney Opera House Media Portal. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  9. ^ "Nick Cave Discography on "From The Archives"". From The Archives. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  10. ^ ""The Train Song" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 16 March 2010.
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