Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds made a record of leftovers, and it mostly works. The Boatman’s Call Outtakes is a 16-track collection of demos, alternate versions and songs that didn’t make the final album. It’s not a second album, and it doesn’t try to be. Instead, it’s a window into the studio process behind that record, with rough edges, unfinished ideas and a few surprises.
The record runs 78 minutes across 16 tracks. It opens with “Come Into My Sleep,” a slow, atmospheric build that sets the tone for what follows. “Little Empty Boats” follows with a more urgent pulse, and “Right Now I’m Roaming” is a solid, driving track that shows the band working through the rhythm of the original song.
The Opening Tracks
The opening trio sets the record’s tone before the first real dip arrives. “Come Into My Sleep” builds slowly and atmospherically, establishing the mood for the rest of the collection. “Little Empty Boats” brings a more urgent pulse, and “Right Now I’m Roaming” is a solid, driving track that shows the band working through the rhythm of the original song.
Track List
| # | Track |
|---|---|
| 1 | Come Into My Sleep |
| 2 | Little Empty Boats |
| 3 | Right Now I’m Roaming |
| 4 | The Garden Duet |
| 5 | West Country Girl |
| 6 | Black Hair |
| 7 | I’ve Got Another Woman Now |
| 8 | Opium Tea |
| 9 | Baby I Got You Bad |
| 10 | Are You The One That I’ve Been Waiting For |
| 11 | Wake Up My Lover |
| 12 | I Do, Dear, I Do |
| 13 | Sheep May Safely Graze |
| 14 | Farewell, So Long, Goodbye |
| 15 | Bless His Ever Loving Heart |
| 16 | Grief Came Riding |
The Middle Stretch
The middle stretch is where the record loses focus. “The Garden Duet” and “West Country Girl” are competent but slight, the kind of tracks that exist to fill space rather than demand attention. “Black Hair” is better, with a darker, more brooding feel that suits the material. “I’ve Got Another Woman Now” stretches past nine minutes and feels like a sketch rather than a finished song.
“Opium Tea” picks things back up, a moody, atmospheric piece that rewards patience. “Baby I Got You Bad” and “Are You The One That I’ve Been Waiting For” both offer alternate takes that sit alongside the original versions, giving fans a chance to compare the two. “Wake Up My Lover” is a solid rock track, though it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the album’s best moments.
“I Do, Dear, I Do” is a standout, a slow-burning duet that shows off Cave’s vocal range. “Sheep May Safely Graze” and “Farewell, So Long, Goodbye” are pleasant but forgettable, filler tracks that don’t add much to the overall picture. “Bless His Ever Loving Heart” is a brief, bluesy detour that lands with some force. “Grief Came Riding” closes the record on a somber note, a fitting end to a collection of unfinished business.
The Verdict
The strength of The Boatman’s Call Outtakes comes from its honesty. This isn’t a polished record; it’s a collection of raw material, and that honesty is what makes it compelling. The standout tracks — “Right Now I’m Roaming,” “I Do, Dear, I Do,” “Black Hair” — are strong enough to justify the purchase on their own.
The lesser tracks, the filler and the sketches, are less essential but still interesting in context. They show the work that went into making the final album, and that process is worth hearing. The record doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. It simply offers more of what made the original so good.
- Come Into My Sleep3:49
- Little Empty Boats4:29
- Right Now I’m Roaming (outtake)4:22
- The Garden Duet (outtake)6:17
- West Country Girl (alternate take)3:13
- Black Hair (alternate version)4:38
- I’ve Got Another Woman Now (outtake)9:06
- Opium Tea (outtake)5:29
- Baby I Got You Bad (alternate version)3:55
- (Are You) The One That I’ve Been Waiting For (alternate version)4:27
- Wake Up My Lover (outtake)5:15
- I Do, Dear, I Do5:47
- Sheep May Safely Graze (outtake)4:44
- Farewell, So Long, Goodbye (outtake)3:27
- Bless His Ever Loving Heart4:04
- Grief Came Riding5:06
