Released in 1988 on the album 'Fisherman's Blues', The Waterboys' iconic song blends Celtic folk, rock, and country. Its expansive sound features fiddles, mandolin, and soaring vocals, painting a vivid picture of life by the sea. This timeless classic marked a shift in the band's direction and remains a beloved anthem.
Karl Wallinger, frontman of World Party and an early member of the Waterboys, died yesterday at age 66, his publicist says. The Welsh multi-instrumentalist also contributed to Sinéad O'Connor's debut album, "The Lion and the Cobra," was musical director for the 1994 movie "Reality Bites," and contributed to Peter Gabriel's "Big Blue Ball" album. Here's more from Variety.
#GreatAlbums1980s - #TheWaterboys – Fisherman's Blues (1988). In one of pop's sharpest left turns, M. Scott recast the Waterboys from big-audio spiritualists to mandolin-plucking folkies on this LP. Bits of the Big Music survive in "We Will Not Be Lovers" and "World Party" (the song). But the LP stakes its main claim in the driving folk balladry of "And a Bang on the Ear" and the infectious title track. A friend of mine called Scott's new genre "Heavy Wood." Perfect.
#GreatAlbums1980s - #TheWaterboys – This is the Sea (1985). The Waterboys were a cult band in the best sense – sustaining small legions of fans despite only having one real hit in this LP's "Whole of the Moon." There's an almost Springsteeny gravitas in how Mike Scott emotes lyrics about personal transcendence and a pagan's quest for truth. Like Van the Man, Scott can take a simple line ("That was the river; this is the sea") and hammer on it till it sinks in like a mantra.
#GreatAlbums1980s - #TheWaterboys – A Pagan Place (1984). "The Big Music" – Mike Scott's term for lush, spiritually-infused pop (often by Scottish or Irish bands such as Big Country, Simple Minds, and U2) – took its name from a song on this LP. But where grandiosity would normally grate against the post-punk zeitgeist, Scott's songs felt urgent enough for troubled times on "Church Not Made with Hands," "Rags" and the title romp. Future World Partier Karl Wallinger played keys.
Not a productive day for Christmas shopping as I bought nothing. I finally got a chance to visit a fabulous #vegan cafe in Southampton, enjoying a not a hog roast bun which was amazing, a cronut and a black forest tart which I brought home.
I also collected my #RecordStoreDay purchase by #TheWaterboys from Vinilo Records.
I gave most of the cash on me to a variety of rough sleepers, it breaks my heart to see them. I miss my days of working in the homeless shelter in Coventry.
An epic night with my favourite band #TheWaterboys
The venue wouldn't allow photography but I snuck just one in! Picked up a cool bag too. I've grown up with this band and seen them play many times over the years, never as tight as they were tonight. They just get better and better. Shame about the sit down venue, way too civilised for me but the music rocked! Fab night #LiveMusic
I'm feeling decidedly ropey today but marginally better thanks to this.
Released for the first time on vinyl on Friday. #UniversalHall by #TheWaterboys
One of their best in my view, but the cd never quite cut it for me. Delighted to finally own it on #vinyl
Tonight's cooking tunes courtesy of The Waterboys - Universal Hall, released 2003, inspired by posting photos with the lyrics to Peace of Iona earlier.