Waterboys Reel In “Fisherman’s Blues” Box for October, November

In their heyday as one of Europe’s premiere post-punk bands, there were three words associated with The Waterboys: “the big music.” The Scottish-Irish-English band, led and anchored by singer/songwriter Mike Scott, hit it big on the other side of the Atlantic with emotionally resonant rock, awash in ringing guitars and evocative lyrics. Leave it to someone like Scott to break the mold with the band’s fourth album, Fisherman’s Blues – which is the subject of an exhaustive box set released today.

Recorded over two years in Dublin and Galway, Ireland and Berkeley, California, Fisherman’s Blues was a dramatic change in The Waterboys’ sound, eschewing electric rock for stripped-down sonics heavily influenced by rootsy American rock and country trappings as well as the rich musical traditions of the band’s home countries. Though both singles, the title track and “And a Bang on the Ear,” were low-to-middling U.K. chart hits, the album itself remains their best seller, and one that introduced the group to a much larger worldwide audience.

The raucous, near-mythical sessions that produced the record have been the subject of much focus in The Waterboys’ back catalogue. A European compilation, Too Close to Heaven, was released in 2001 with a bevy of unreleased outtakes; that disc was released in the U.S. with another EP’s worth of material as Fisherman’s Blues Part 2. Five years later, the album was remastered and reissued with another bonus disc of extra session material.

But on Fisherman’s Box: The Complete Fisherman’s Blues Sessions 1986-1988, Scott has arguably outdone himself and his contemporaries in terms of anthologizing. Six discs, featuring all of the tracks released on albums, singles and other compilations plus some 85 unreleased tracks, are featured herein – from early versions of familiar tracks to lively covers of traditional tunes and vintage pop/rock selections. A deluxe version of the box adds a seventh CD of tracks that influenced the recording of the album, including cuts by Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie and The Carter Family, plus the original album on vinyl and three 12″ art prints.

Somewhat bizarrely, both versions were slated for release today, but only the bigger version is ready. Reportedly demand for the six-disc version (which was a rather phenomenal value) outstripped production supply; the basic version is expected November 11. In any case, pre-order links are after the jump, as well as an exhaustive breakdown of every disc.

Release Round-Up: Week of October 22

Tears for Fears, The Hurting: Deluxe Edition (Mercury/UMe)

The landmark debut album from the U.K. hitmakers celebrates its 30th anniversary with a new double-disc deluxe edition stocked with rare single-only material and a deluxe box set version with a bonus disc of John Peel sessions and the In My Mind’s Eye live concert film on DVD.

2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
3CD/1DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Van Morrison, Moondance: Expanded Edition (Warner Bros./Rhino)

Though Van would rather you not buy this box, it features his classic 1970 album (newly remastered and in a new 5.1 surround sound mix on the Blu-Ray) plus three discs of session outtakes.

1CD remaster: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
4CD/1BD:  Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

The Waterboys, Fisherman’s Box: The Complete Fisherman’s Blues Sessions 1986-1988 (Parlophone)

This six-disc set features every take from the making of this celebrated album from Mike Scott’s band. A deluxe version features the original album on vinyl and a further bonus disc of songs that influenced the album – all of which will be broken down in full in a post later today!

6CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
7CD/1LP: Amazon U.K.

Ten Years After, Recorded Live: Expanded Edition / Robin Trower, State to State: Live Across America 1974-1980 / UFO, “Hot ‘N’ Live”: The Chrysalis Live Anthology 1974-1983 (Chrysalis/Rhino)

These three hard-rockin’ releases from the Chrysalis vaults are ready to purchase this week – or you can win them from us!

Ten Years After: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
Robin Trower: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
UFO: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

XTC, Nonsuch: Expanded Edition (Panegyric)

The band’s 1992 album, featuring modern rock hit “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead,” features a new stereo and surround mix by Steven Wilson, plus a host of audiovisual extras.

CD/DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
CD/BD: Amazon U.K.

Sparks, New Music for Amnesiacs: The Ultimate Collection (Universal U.K.)

One of the pioneering acts in quirk rock have a swag-filled five-disc career-spanning box set tangible object in the market. (Amazon U.K.)

Woody Guthrie, American Radical Patriot (Rounder)

A stunning 6CD/1DVD/1LP box set includes, for the first time, all of Guthrie’s historic recordings for Alan Lomax, plus scores of rarities – including a rare early Bob Dylan recording, too. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Queen, The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert: Deluxe Edition (Eagle Rock)

The life of the late Queen frontman was celebrated in one of the greatest benefit concerts of all time – and this expanded version features, for the first time on DVD or Blu-Ray, tribute performances from the first half of the concert.

3DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
BD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

Matt Monro, The Rarities Collection (Parlophone)

Three discs of rarities from the legendary crooner; most were originally released on The Rare Monro and/or Matt Uncovered: The Rarer Monro, but many have been sonically upgraded, with more rarities included herein! (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Laura Nyro, Smile: Expanded Edition (Iconoclassic)

Nyro’s 1976 release, issued after a four-year absence, is expanded with three rare demos. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Donna Summer, Love to Love You Donna (Verve)

Classic Donna Summer tracks, newly remixed by modern dance acts and producers, plus an unreleased collaboration between Summer and longtime producer Giorgio Moroder.

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.

TLC, 20 (Epic)

A new compilation from the acclaimed ’90s R&B girl group features a new track, “Meant to Be,” penned by R&B singer Ne-Yo. (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Release Round-Up: Week of May 17

Queen, Queen / Queen II / Sheer Heart Attack / A Night at the Opera / A Day at the Races: Deluxe Editions (Hollywood)

No, you’re not seeing double. The first batch of 40th anniversary Queen expanded editions, available in the U.K. since March, make their stateside debuts. There’s an Amazon-exclusive box with all of them included, too. Dear readers: any big box retailers carrying these? The only one I imagine that is would be Best Buy. (Official site)

The Go-Go’s, Beauty and the Beat: 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Capitol/EMI)

The first time this seminal album has ever been reissued and remastered! One disc full of hits (“Our Lips Are Sealed,” “We Got the Beat”), another of a previously unreleased vintage live show in Boston. (Official site)

The Supremes, Let Yourself Go: The ’70s Albums, Vol. 2 1974-1977 – The Final Sessions (Hip-o Select/Motown)

The last three Diana Ross-less Supremes records, expanded with a heaping helping of rare and unreleased bonus content. (Hip-o Select)

Iggy Pop, Roadkill Rising: The Bootleg Collection 1977-2009 (Shout! Factory)

Four disc of rock’s most wiry frontman in concert from all across his solo career. (Shout! Factory)

Queens of the Stone Age, Queens of the Stone Age: Deluxe Edition (Rekords Rekords)

This one’s been moved around a lot on the release calendar, but it looks like its time has finally come. QotSA’s first album from 1998, newly expanded with several unreleased tracks. (Official site)

The Hollies, The Clarke, Hicks and Nash Years: The Complete Hollies April 1963-November 1968 (Capitol/EMI)

The earliest years of the Manchester band, including some rarities and unreleased stuff, as a budget-minded, imported box set. (Amazon)

The Waterboys, In a Special Place: Piano Demos for This is the Sea (Capitol/EMI)

The first big hit record by the Scottish folk/rock band, in demo form. Another import from across the pond. (Official site)

This Was the Sea: Waterboys to Release Vintage Demos

Here’s another something we can share that Slicing Up Eyeballs expertly bought to our attention: a collection of demos from Scottish rock group The Waterboys.

Considered the early forbearers of the “Big Music” sound – a style that would become synonymous with the band’s first three albums and would describe other bands like Big Country, The Alarm and Simple Minds – The Waterboys, led by Mike Scott, achieved some of their greatest success with This is the Sea in 1985. Bolstered by the popular single “The Whole of the Moon” (which would peak at No. 3 in 1991 in the U.K.), This is the Sea marks the apex of the “Big Music” era, before Scott began to pursue more folk-oriented styles and dissolve the band in the 1990s (and reuniting them in 2000).

While This is the Sea was expanded with a bonus disc of B-sides and outtakes in 2004, In a Special Place provides more material from the era that’s never appeared in any format: 15 demos from the sessions, including early versions of “Don’t Bang the Drum,” “The Whole of the Moon,” “Old England” and the title track. It’s pretty neat to see this come out on a major label outside of being packed in with another reissue of the record. And it’ll be out on April 15.

As always, pre-order links and track listings are after the jump.