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Tupelo (song)

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For 1995 song, see Chill Out (John Lee Hooker album).

"Tupelo"
Single by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
from the album The Firstborn Is Dead
B-side"The Six Strings That Drew Blood"
Released29 July 1985
RecordedDecember 1984
StudioHansa Studios (Berlin, Germany)
GenrePost-punk
Length5:01
LabelMute
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Flood
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds singles chronology
"In the Ghetto"
(1984) 		"Tupelo"
(1985) 		"The Singer"
(1986)
Music video
"Tupelo" on YouTube

"Tupelo" is the second single by Australian post-punk band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and the only single from the band's second album The Firstborn Is Dead.

Background and production

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The song was written in 1984 by Cave along with Barry Adamson (who plays drums on the track) and Mick Harvey (who plays bass). Using biblical imagery, the song describes the birth of Elvis Presley during a heavy storm in Tupelo, Mississippi.[1] The song is loosely based on the John Lee Hooker song of the same title, which also focuses on a flood in the same town. The "looky looky yonder" motif that is featured 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 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' third album, Kicking Against the Pricks. "Tupelo" was released on 29 July 1985.[citation needed]

"The Six Strings That Drew Blood"

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"Tupelo"'s B-side, "The Six Strings That Drew Blood", was recorded in March 1985 at Trident Studios in London and was a re-recording of a song Cave originally recorded with the Birthday Party during the Mutiny EP sessions in 1982. The original version of the song is included on the Birthday Party's Mutiny/The Bad Seed compilation album.

Critical reception

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The song was ranked number 5 among the "Tracks of the Year" for 1985 by NME.[2] In 2020, Far Out ranked the song number six on their list of the 20 greatest Nick Cave songs,[3] and in 2023, Mojo ranked the song number four on their list of the 30 greatest Nick Cave songs.[4]

Track listing

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All songs written by Nick Cave, except where noted

  • Standard 7" vinyl[5]
  1. "Tupelo" (Barry Adamson, Cave, Mick Harvey) – 5:01
  2. "The Six Strings That Drew Blood" – 4:50
  • Standard 12" vinyl
  1. "Tupelo" – 5:01
  2. "In the Ghetto" (Mac Davis) – 4:08
  3. "The Moon Is in the Gutter" – 2:38
  4. "The Six Strings That Drew Blood" – 4:50

Cover versions

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Charts

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Chart (1985) Peak
position
UK Indie Chart[6] 1

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds :: Firstborn Is Dead". Aquarium Drunkard. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  2. ^ "Albums and Tracks of the Year". NME. 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  3. ^ Whatley, Jack (22 September 2020). "Nick Cave's 20 greatest songs of all time". Far Out. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Nick Cave's 30 Greatest Songs Ranked". Mojo. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Nick Cave Discography on "From The Archives"". From The Archives. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  6. ^ Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980-1989. Cherry Red Books. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
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