The Firstborn Is Dead
The Firstborn Is Dead is the second studio album released by the post-punk band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. It was first released in 1985. On this record, singer Nick Cave continued his fascination with the American South, with its references to Elvis Presley and bluesmen like Blind Lemon Jefferson. The photography is by Jutta Heinglein.
The album's name is a reference to Jesse Garon Presley, the stillborn identical twin of Elvis Presley.
The album was remastered and reissued on April 27, 2009 as a collector's edition CD/DVD set. The CD features the original 7-song vinyl LP's track listing, while "The Six Strings That Drew Blood" is featured as a bonus audio track on the accompanying DVD.
Track listing
All lyrics by Nick Cave
- "Tupelo" – 7:17 (Adamson, Harvey)
- "Say Goodbye to the Little Girl Tree" – 5:10 (Harvey)
- "Train Long-Suffering" – 3:49 (Cave)
- "Black Crow King" – 5:05 (Bargeld, Cave)
- "Knockin' on Joe" – 7:38 (Cave)
- "Wanted Man" – 5:27 (Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash)
- "Blind Lemon Jefferson" – 6:10 (Adamson, Bargeld, Harvey, Cave)
- "The Six Strings That Drew Blood" – 4:50 (CD only) (Cave, Rowland S. Howard)
- "Tupelo" (single version) – 5:01 (CD only)
Songs
- "Tupelo" is loosely based on the John Lee Hooker song of the same title, which is about a flood in Tupelo, Mississippi (Hooker's song appears on Original Seeds). Tupelo is the birthplace of Elvis Presley. Cave's song incorporates imagery of the birth of Elvis and the apocalypse at the second coming of Christ. However, the "Looky, Looky Yonder" motif that features in the song is derived from a song of the same name recorded by Lead Belly, usually found as part of a medley which Cave himself covered under the title "Black Betty" on his third album, Kicking Against the Pricks.
- "Wanted Man" evolved from a song composed by Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. Cave was granted permission to alter the lyrics. Cave's lyrics include references to his friends, such as photographer Polly Borland.
- "The Six Strings that Drew Blood" is included on the CD version of the album, but not on the LP. It was the B-side of the "Tupelo" single and a re-recording of a song Cave originally recorded with The Birthday Party during the Mutiny sessions in 1982.
Singles
- "Tupelo" (MUTE 038) (July 29, 1985)
- "Tupelo" (Single Version) b/w: "The Six Strings That Drew Blood"
Credits
Personnel
- Nick Cave – Vocals, Harmonica
- Barry Adamson - Bass, Guitar, Organ, Drums, Backing Vocals
- Blixa Bargeld - Guitar, Slide Guitar, Piano, Backing Vocals
- Mick Harvey – Drums, Piano, Guitar, Organ, Bass, Backing Vocals
References
- ^ Deming, Mark. "allmusic ((( The Firstborn Is Dead > Review )))". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r3471. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
- ^ Brackett, Nathan. "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds". The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. November 2004. pg. 151, cited January 24, 2011
- ^ Berman, Stuart. "From Her to Eternity/The First Born Is Dead/Kicking Against the Pricks/Your Funeral... My Trial". pitchfork.com. May 2009, Retrieved on January 24, 2011.
- ^ Scaruffi, Piero. "Nick Cave". pieroscaruffi.com (Italian). Retrieved on January 24, 2011.
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