Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Henry's Dream

 |   |  1 min read

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Henry's Dream

By the time Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds got to Henry's Dream in '92 much had changed in their world: the band line-up had stabilised with bassist Martyn P Casey also officially joining the recording team, Cave had moved to Sao Paolo and found new inspiration in the streets and as well as his new-born son and their move from cult status to more mainstream acceptance was well underway.

Cave – who by now was wearing bespoke suits – was also refining his ballad style where he allowed himself to be more nakedly emotional yet still managing to code his lyrics in such a way as to be both personal and obliquely religious (the lovely Straight To You here).

The raw narrative songs remained (I Had a Dream Joe, Brother My Cup is Empty) alongside his abiding interest in Christian mysticism (Christina the Astonishing) and dark songs grounded in weird old America/British folk ballads (the orchestrated John Finn's Wife, Loom of the Land). And, right at the end, the bruising Jack the Ripper.

Although Cave professed to hate the production by David Briggs (Neil Young producer) over time he became more generous towards it and the album has long been a fan favourite, although some would concede it is a transitional album also.

JB_logoAfter 25 years it has stood the test of time and still sounds immediate and affecting.

We mention it here because it has appeared at JB Hi-Fi stores on record for just $25, alongside a number of other Cave/Seeds vinyl reissues.

Another one to add to your expanding record collection.

Buy direct on-line from here

There is a considerable amount about Nick Cave -- including an interview from around this period -- in Elsewhere's archive starting here

For other recommended vinyl albums at a budget price see here.



Share It

Your Comments

mason baker - Jan 22, 2018

This is a great album! "Papa wont leave you Henry.... papa wont leave you boy...." (very underrated album for some reason)

Grant McDougall - Jan 23, 2018

Great album. Saw them touring it in Auckland in Dec, '92.

Also got him to sign my vinyl lp of this at the Q&A with him at Sky City the afternoon of their Dec, 2014 Auckland show, too.

post a comment

More from this section   Hi-Fi Vinyl articles index

The Who: My Generation

The Who: My Generation

In a classic cover -- bassist John Entwistle sporting the famous Pop Art-referencing "Union Jacket" -- the Who's debut album of '65 captured the youthful energy, anger, self-doubt and... > Read more

Suzanne Vega: Solitude Standing

Suzanne Vega: Solitude Standing

In recent years Suzanne Vega -- who came to attention wth the beguiling Marlene on the Wall song on her self-titled debut album in '85 -- had taken to going back into her catalogue and re-recording... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

Elsewhere Art . . . Diana Krall, Karrin Allyson

Elsewhere Art . . . Diana Krall, Karrin Allyson

This collage was done for Real Groove, a magazine whose audience was predominantly into rock, pop, hip-hop and Americana etc. I had a jazz column and that is always a hard sell, so I tried to... > Read more

Debashish Bhattacharya/Bob Brozman: Mahima (2003)

Debashish Bhattacharya/Bob Brozman: Mahima (2003)

The late American guitarist and raconteur Brozman was one of the unexpected delights at the 2003 Womad, where he appeared with Takashi Hirayasu playing Okinawan folk songs which they took off into... > Read more