The Firstborn Is Dead

by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

The Firstborn Is Dead cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: 4 June 1985
  • Label: Mute
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Length: 40:36
  • Community rating: 3.5/5 from 9 ratings

Artists on this release: Bob Dylan, Barry Adamson, Mick Harvey, Nick Cave, Blixa Bargeld

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Plunging into the dark mythology of the American South, Nick Cave channels the spirits of Delta blues legends through a menacing, post-punk filter. The album utilizes highly repetitive, grinding basslines and explosive bursts of guitar noise to score apocalyptic, biblical narratives of floods and murder. 'The Firstborn Is Dead' is an incredibly sombre, rhythmic, and terrifyingly intense slice of gothic blues.

Genres

Descriptors: repetitive, rhythmic, violence, guitars, vocal, bluesy, atmospheric, theatrical

Tracklist

  1. Tupelo (7:18)
  2. Say Goodbye to the Little Girl Tree (5:10)
  3. Train Long Suffering (3:48)
  4. Black Crow King (5:05)
  5. Knockin' On Joe (7:38)
  6. Wanted Man (5:26)
  7. Blind Lemon Jefferson (6:08)

Credits

  • Nick Cave - primary artist, producer, lyrics by [all], vocals, harmonica, words by, music by
  • Barry Adamson - bass, guitar, organ, drums, backing vocals, music by
  • Mick Harvey - drums, piano, guitar, organ, bass, backing vocals, music by
  • Flood - engineer, producer
  • George - engineer [assistant]
  • Blixa Bargeld - guitar, slide guitar, backing vocals, music by
  • Tim Young - lacquer cut by
  • Loud And Clear Management - management [personal representation]
  • Jutta Henglein - photography by [front/back photographs]
  • Bob Dylan - words by, music by

More from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: full discography