Down Below (The Cruel Sea album)

Down Below is the debut studio album by Australian indie rock band The Cruel Sea. Originally released as a 12" EP in September 1989, it was re-released in December 1989 as the band's debut studio album.

Down Below
Studio album by
The Cruel Sea
ReleasedDecember 1989
GenreIndie rock
LabelRed Eye, Polydor
ProducerPhil Punch, The Cruel Sea
The Cruel Sea chronology
Down Below
(1989)		 This Is Not the Way Home
(1991)

The album includes the track "Reckless Eyeballin'" – an instrumental track that later became the theme song of Australian TV police drama, Blue Heelers (1994–2006).

Background and release

The Cruel Sea formed late 1987 by Jim Elliot on drums and Dan Rumour on guitar, and as a purely instrumental outfit. In late 1988, keyboardist James Cruickshank and Ken Gormley on bass were added[1] and in early 1989 singer Tex Perkins joined the band on a part-time basis and added lyrics to the band's melodies. The band signed to Red Eye Records in mid-1989 and released Down Below as a 9-track 12" EP in September 1989. It was re-released in December 1989 with two additional tracks as the band's debut studio album.[2][3]

Reception

The Canberra Times said, "The band has roped in Tex Perkins (from the Beasts of Bourbon) as singer, and his deep, mournful voice gives the vocal tracks a wonderfully evocative atmosphere. Strong acoustic or semi-acoustic guitar dominates most tracks, with a largely inconspicuous rhythm line and keyboards."[4]

Track listings
12" EP Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Down Below"
3:15
2."The Gap"
  • Elliott
  • Rumour
2:33
3."Deadwood"
  • Perkins
  • Rumour
3:20
4."Navigate"
  • Elliott
  • Rumour
1:49
12" EP Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Drift"
  • Rumour
2:14
2."Margarita"
  • Elliott
  • Perkins
  • Rumour
2:44
3."Reckless Eyeballin'"
  • Rumour
1:39
4."How Low"
  • Elliott
  • Perkins
  • Rumour
4:35
5."I Don't Know Why"
  • Elliott
  • Perkins
  • Rumour
1:35
Studio album
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Down Below"
3:15
2."The Gap"
  • Elliott
  • Rumour
2:33
3."Deadwood"
  • Perkins
  • Rumour
3:20
4."Navigate"
  • Elliott
  • Rumour
1:49
5."I'll Take Care Of You"
3:15
6."Zip It Up"
  • Elliott
  • Perkins
  • Rumour
4:34
7."The Drift"
  • Rumour
2:14
8."Margarita"
  • Elliott
  • Perkins
  • Rumour
2:44
9."Reckless Eyeballin'"
  • Rumour
1:39
10."How Low"
  • Elliott
  • Perkins
  • Rumour
4:35
11."I Don't Know Why"
  • Elliott
  • Perkins
  • Rumour
1:35

Charts
Charts (1989) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[5] 133

Release history
Country Date Format Label Catalogue
Australia September 1989 12" Extended Play Red Eye Records REDEP 7
2 December 1990[6] CD, Cassette, LP Red Eye Records, Polydor Records 843665-1, REDLP 19

References
  1. "R.I.P. James Cruickshank of The Cruel Sea 1962-2015". noise11. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  2. "The Cruel Sea". The Harbour Agency. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  3. "The Cruel Sea Biography, Links & song listing". JPlay. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  4. Penelope Layland. "Disc Review". Canberra Times.
  5. "The Cruel Sea ARIA chart history, received 17 January 2020". ARIA. Retrieved 18 January 2020 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
  6. The ARIA Report. Vol. 47. ARIA. 2 December 1990. p. 20.
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