Classic Albums: This Is Not The Way Home by The Cruel Sea

Off course, this album is my fave by these guys! It was the very first one I found by way of watching TV, I never watch TV now but growing up in a small country town it was pretty much only thing to say something else was out there! Not just bogans, rednecks, surfers, etc. It’s wasn’t the Aussie TV show Rage because it was daylight hours so it had to be something else? I don’t know what TV show but I remember seeing the title track’s video promo clip very clear and plus a little interview with them, maybe some Sunday arts show the ABC had at the time. Even if I grew-up in that town and even now living in this city, it’s never feels this is not the way home and if I was going somewhere else it’s most likely not the way home too! Every feel like that? Well, teenage me listened to that song and have loved it forever since then. Anyway here’s that very same video now for you to watch.

So I feel in love with this album, yeah I discovered The Cruel Sea before Beasts of Bourbon but sooner or later I figure it out it’s the same bloke singing in both bands. Maybe, I should reversed the order because I wrote about the Beasts the other day and now it’s Sea turn. I guess, I’m going by the years The Axeman’s Jazz album was 1983/84 and now it’s 1991 for this album This Is Not The Way Home. Tex in his book pretty much dismissed this album unfairly because he hates Tony Cohen production, calling it and anything he did from “91, Tony’s year of reverb” quote.

Once again I seen them live more than a few times in the 90’s, could one of my most seen live band in the 90’s because they didn’t seem to stop touring. The very first time was my very first Big Day Out fest too so any of those band still hold a special place for me. Most likely closer to the next album release by then, I think I couldn’t pick which album after this one? I would say both The Honeymoon Is Over album from 1993 and Three Legged Dog album from 1995 would be tied at second place, OK? Tex didn’t seem to like these album mainly due to the big success that came with them, what band doesn’t what success? Well, Tex does have fair point because becoming one of the most popular band at the time fucked it all up for them. Could they be still together and releasing albums and touring to this day now? God knows really! If you would like to know Tex’s fave Cruel Sea album? It’s the last one Where’s There’s Smoke in 2001 which they didn’t know was going to be the end but it was. I guess, that’s time to finish up writing too, full stop.

The Cruel Sea in early 90’s and they were left to right: Danny Rumour (guitar), Ken Gormley (bass), James Cruikshank (keys/guitar), Jim Elliot (drums) and Tex.

Do you know The Cruel Sea and love them too? Was it just an Aussie 90’s thing? They did tour oversea but I wouldn’t have a clue how big they got? Anyway leave a comment if what say something about them!

This Is Not The Way Home tracklisting and times:

1. It’s Alright (Cause She Loves Me) – 4:21
2. Baby – 5:10
3. 4 – 3:09
4. Sure ‘Nuff – 4:00
Written by Van Vliet & Bermann, that’s Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band cover originally titled Sure ‘Nuff ‘N Yes I Do
5. Don’t Sell It – 5:20
6. Cry For Me – 5:23
7. Fangin’ Hoons – 2:17
8. This Is Not The Way Home – 3:58
9. Shadder – 3:27
10. I Feel – 3:19
11. You Are Gone – 4:54
12. High Plains Drifter – 3:45

So here’s all my Classic Albums posts and it’s number 96 today! Counting them all up in the last post so leaving the numbers. Which really only mean the order I wrote these posts in and that’s it! NOT a chart, they’re all my fave albums and the basic idea is write a little about each of all my fave albums but I don’t know why really I titled/tagged them all as classic albums? I’m not anywhere close to finishing this little project too, you know?

1. Tales From The Australian Underground – Volume 1 & 2 by Various Artists
2. Station To Station by David Bowie
3. Unplugged In New York by Nirvana
4. Rust In Peace by Megadeth
5. Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs by Marty Robbins
6. Henry’s Dream by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
7. Whatever You Love, You Are by Dirty Three
8. Gala Mill by The Drones
9. Black Monk Time by The Monks
10. Ex Tropical by Lost Animal
11. Work (Work, Work) by HTRK
12. In The Wee Small Hours by Frank Sinatra
13. The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn by Pink Floyd
14. Songs Of Love And Hate by Leonard Cohen
15. Warm Leatherette by Grace Jones
16. The White House by The Dead C
17. Silence Is Sexy by Einstürzende Neubauten
18. Lulu by Lou Reed & Metallica
19. Kaira by Toumani Diabaté
20. Kings Of The Wild Frontier by Adam And The Ants
21. Drowning In The Fountain Of Youth by Dan Kelly And The Alpha Males
22. Aerial by Kate Bush
23. The Future by Leonard Cohen
24. Rock For Light by Bad Brains
25. Last Splash by The Breeders
26. Sex by The Necks
27. Emergency Ward by Nina Simone
28. Paradise by My Disco
29. Batman by Prince
30. Sings Christmas Carols by Mark Kozelek
31. What Are Rock Stars Doing Today by Magic Dirt
32. Love Of Life by Swans
33. Big Name, No Blankets by Warumpi Band
34. Blue Valentine by Tom Waits
35. In The Pines by The Triffids
36. Where Joy Kills Sorrow by Various Artists
37. TV Sky by The Young Gods
38. King For A Day, Fool For A Lifetime by Faith No More
39. Jean Lee And The Yellow Dog by Ed Kuepper
40. Law Of Nature by Laughing Clowns
41. (I’m) Stranded by The Saints
42. Super Ape by Lee “Scratch” Perry & The Upsetters
43. The Soft ‘N’ Sexy Sound by Dave Graney ‘N’ The Coral Snakes
44. Mutiny/The Bad Seed by The Birthday Party
45. Bahdeni Nami by Omar Souleyman
46. Ascension by John Coltrane
47. The Definitive by Blind Willie McTell
48. Rid Of Me by PJ Harvey
49. Horses by Patti Smith
50. Vespertine by Björk
51. Hex Enduction Hour by The Fall
52. Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood by DMX
53. I’m New Here by Gil Scott-Heron
54. Charcoal Lane by Archie Roach
55. In My Own Time by Karen Dalton
56. Stay Sick! by The Cramps
57. Primary Colours by Eddy Current Suppression Ring
58. Veedon Fleece by Van Morrison
59. Trainspotting by Various Artists
60. After School Session by Chuck Berry
61. Body Language by Kylie Minogue
62. Bricks Are Heavy by L7
63. Trailer Park by Beth Orton
64. Arular by M.I.A.
65. Moon Pix by Cat Power
66. White Light/White Heat by The Velvet Underground
67. Y by The Pop Group
68. The Human Jukebox by Scientists
69. The Shape Of Things by Pere Ubu
70. Congotronics by Konono Nº1
71. High Voltage by AC/DC
72. Self-tilted by The Seeds
73. His Best by Bo Diddley
74. Embracism by Kirin J Callinan
75. Benji by Sun Kil Moon
76. Betty by Helmet 
77. Late Registration by Kanye West
78. Under The Western Freeway by Grandaddy
79. What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have by Sarah Blasko
80. Regret Is An Inevitable Consequence Of Life by Ricaine
81. Tu-Plang by Regurgitator
82. Hourly, Daily by You Am I
83. In A Bar, Under The Sea by dEUS
84. Gurrumul by Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
85. Twin Peaks by Angelo Badalamenti
86. Some Girls by The Rolling Stones
87. Adult Themes For Voice by Mike Patton
88. Candy Apple Grey by Hüsker Dü
89. This Is It by The Strokes
90. To Record Only Water For Ten Days by John Frusciante
91. How I Love You by The Angels Of Light
92. Soaking Red by Tendrils
93. Rock Action by Mogwai
94. Rock And Rollin’ With Fat Domino by Fat Domino
95. The Axeman’s Jazz by Beasts Of Bourbon
96. This Is Not The Way Home by The Cruel Sea

Please leave a reply about this one or any of them or all of them all if you like, Thank you!