THE WATERBOYS

The Waterboys formed in Scotland in the early eighties. Throughout their 25+ years, the only constant member has been leader Mike Scott.

The band has gone through three distinct periods since its inception. In the eighties, they had a “Big Music” sound, typified by their hit “The Whole of the Moon”. In the late eighties, Scott moved the band to Ireland and transformed them into what has been called a “Raggle Taggle” band. After breaking up in the nineties, they later reformed as an experimental folk-rock band.

While I am a big fan of the early days, and to some extent the more recent, I’m going to concentrate on the Raggle Taggle period today.

After joining up with fiddler Steve Wickham (formerly of In Tua Nua), Scott assembled a revolving group of folk and rock musicians in Ireland. They took to recording umpteen sessions over the course of two and a half years, beginning at Windmill Lane in Dublin, and later moving the operation to the town of Spidal. Out of these sessions, the magnificent album Fisherman’s Blues was born.

Over the years, many of the other tracks recorded (and there were hundreds of them) have been issued. Some on singles, some on later albums and remasters, and many through bootlegs. Here’s some of the songs that didn’t make the original, or subsequent official albums:

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The Waterboys - “Lost Highway” (written by Leon Payne, made famous by Hank Williams) B-side of the “Fisherman’s Blues” single. Liam O’Maonlai of Hothouse Flowers guests on piano.
The Waterboys - “Raggle Taggle Gypsy” (live) B-side of “And a Bang On the Ear” single. A studio version later appeared on Room To Roam.
The Waterboys - “Drunken Head Ghost of Rimbaud Blues” Recorded at Windmill Lane on January 23, 1986. Unreleased.
The Waterboys - “Everybody Takes a Tumble” (radio session) Written during the Fisherman’s Blues sessions, but not recorded at that time. This session is from around 15 years later. A studio version finally made it out on Book of Lightning.
The Waterboys - “Golden Age Medley” B-side of “The Whole of the Moon” reissue single. The medley is comprised of four songs: “A Golden Age”, “Higher In Time”, “High Far Soon” and “Soon As I Get Home”. Two of these have had alternate takes issued, but these versions are unique to this medley.
The Waterboys - “Twa Recruitin’ Sergeants” Session recording from The Factory in 1988. Unreleased.
The Waterboys - “The Stolen Child” (remix) Released on the Now and In Time To Be compilation.
The Waterboys - “Lonesome and A Long Way From Home” Bonus track on the US edition of Too Close To Heaven.
The Waterboys - “Give That Fiddler a Drink” A rather drunken session recording from some time in 1986. Unreleased.

The Waterboys discography:

The Waterboys, 1983 (buy remaster)
A Pagan Place, 1984 (buy remaster)
This Is the Sea, 1985 (buy 2cd remaster) (buy original)
Fisherman’s Blues, 1988 (buy 2cd remaster) (buy original)
Room to Roam, 1990 (buy)
Dream Harder, 1993 (buy)
The Secret Life of The Waterboys, 1994 (b-sides and rarities from 81-85)
A Rock In a Weary Land, 2000 (buy)
Too Close to Heaven, 2001 (buy) (from Fisherman’s Blues sessions)
Universal Hall, 2003 (buy)
Book of Lightning, 2007 (buy)

For more information, you can check out the wiki, or the official site.

THE THE

Pornography of Despair (Part Two)

As promised, here’s the rest of what may have been The The’s Pornography of Despair.

For a good chunk of an interview with Matt talking about Pornography, go to this wiki.


01 The The - “The Nature of Virtue”
02 The The - “Leap Into the Wind”
03 The The - “Dumb as Death’s Head”
04 The The - “Mental Healing Process (For a Mixed Up Kid)”
05 The The - “Absolute Liberation”
06 The The - “Uncertain Smile” This is an early version, released under the title “Cold Spell Ahead”.
07 The The - “Perfect” Released as a non-album single. A different version was also issued on some versions of Soul Mining.
08 The The - “Three Orange Kisses from Kazan” B-side of “Uncertain Smile” single.
09 The The - “Waiting for the Upturn” B-side of “Uncertain Smile” 12” single.
10 The The - “Fruit of the Heart” B-side of “Heartland” 12” single.
11 The The - “Soup of Mixed Emotion” Released on a limited edition 12” with the first copies of Soul Mining.
Bonus track The The - “Untitled”
Bonus track The The - “The Sinking Feeling” B-side of “Infected” 12” single. A different version is on Soul Mining.

There. That’s all. Now go and buy some of these:

See Without Being Seen, 1978 (unreleased)
Spirits, 1979 (unreleased)
Burning Blue Soul, 1981 (buy)
Pornography of Despair, 1982 (unreleased)
Soul Mining, 1983 (buy)
Infected, 1986 (buy)
Mind Bomb, 1989 (buy)
Dusk, 1993 (buy)
Hanky Panky, 1995 (buy) (Hank Williams, Sr. covers)
Gun Sluts, 1998 (unreleased)
Naked Self, 2000 (buy)
Silent Tongue, 2002 (unreleased)

The The's new single, "Mrs. Mac", is only available as a download through the official website (www.thethe.com)

THE THE

Pornography of Despair (Part One)

Matt Johnson is The The. Occasionally with a few other blokes as well, but for the most part they’re just him.

For those who are familiar with The The, you’re already aware that they have several legendarily unreleased albums. Spirits, Gun Sluts, See Without Being Seen, Silent Tongue, and the one I’m dealing with today, Pornography of Despair.

Pornography of Despair was recorded and meant for release in 1982, but was withdrawn prior to any copies being made. Some of the ideas were later used on the follow up album, Soul Mining, and quite a few of the songs did make it out as b-sides for subsequent singles.

Though no one is entirely sure what the song order was intended to be, there are several songs that Matt has stated were to have been on the album. A couple of different unofficial track lists have popped up over the years. For the purpose of this blog, I’m using the one I’ve found that most closely resembles what Matt has officially listed.

01 The The - “The Nature of Virtue” B-side of the “Perfect” single.
02 The The - “Leap Into the Wind” B-side of “This Is the Day” 12”.
03 The The - “Dumb as Death’s Head” Released as a flexi-disc in an issue of Melody Maker.
04 The The - “Mental Healing Process (For a Mixed Up Kid)” B-side of “This Is the Day” single.
05 The The - “Absolute Liberation” B-side of “This Is the Day” 12”.
06 The The - “Uncertain Smile”
07 The The - “Perfect”
08 The The - “Three Orange Kisses from Kazan”
09 The The - “Waiting for the Upturn”
10 The The - “Fruit of the Heart”
11 The The - “Soup of Mixed Emotion”
Bonus track The The - “Untitled” Recorded just prior to Pornography. This was released on a Some Bizarre compilation.
Bonus track The The - “The Sinking Feeling”

Next time round, I’ll post the second half, and the other bonus track. Until then go and buy some of these:

See Without Being Seen, 1978 (unreleased)
Spirits, 1979 (unreleased)
Burning Blue Soul, 1981 (buy)
Pornography of Despair, 1982 (unreleased)
Soul Mining, 1983 (buy)
Infected, 1986 (buy)
Mind Bomb, 1989 (buy)
Dusk, 1993 (buy)
Hanky Panky, 1995 (buy) (Hank Williams, Sr. covers)
Gun Sluts, 1998 (unreleased)
Naked Self, 2000 (buy)
Silent Tongue, 2002 (unreleased)

The The recently released a new song, "Mrs. Mac" which is said to be from an unnamed album, due out this year.