This is the Sea was released in the UK and Europe on September 16th 1985 to critical acclaim. The iconic album artwork photos were taken by Lynn Goldsmith.

This album was a slow burner but sold well and made its way into many a twenty-something's record collection.

Thank you to Mike Scott, Anto Thistlethwaite, Steve Wickham, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Dominic Lake, Sharon Shannon, David Lappin, Niall Reddy, Jack Vervoort, Dag Reinert Johansen, Andy Pritchatt, Harry Schets, Allan Smith, Flattop, Javi Morant, Stephen Charlton, Seán Miller, Linda Ten Hove and Ferry for contributing items to this web page.

[I asked Mike about this photo and he told me]: 'The photo is May 1982 outside the Ad Lib Club, based in The Kensington, a pub on Russell Gardens near Kensington High Street. It is a very interesting photo because it shows a very rare character indeed. The chap on the left with the shades and red hair is my then-manager Danny Morgan, of whom there are few photos. He was a real character, an old-school almost Dickensian figure with a limp, a former employee of Simon Napier-Bell. Nigel Grainge at Ensign suggested him as manager of Another Pretty Face / Funhouse when we signed to Ensign. His main contribution to Waterboys music was taking me to the music shop, somewhere in south London, where I saw and bought the Danelectro Bellzouki that featured on so many early records'.

'My band The Red And The Black played there on May 26th and Danny's presence probably indicates this was the afternoon of my show. We may have been waiting to get in for the soundcheck. That Ad Lib show on May 26th was when I played violin on Red Army Blues - the final solo (the one that is wild guitar on the record). It was also the last show with Steve Fraser (the "other Steve") on bass, before he moved back to Scotland, and Martin Saunders on drums. They were replaced by Anto's mates Kev Wilkinson and Matthew Seligman'.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

J: Anto, that is such an amazing backing vocal by Max Edie on The Whole Of The Moon...

Anto: 'Yes, Max Edie was a friend of mine who did a bit of singing and stuff and I met Nikki Sudden through her and I ended up playing on Nikki's records'.

'But Max Edie lived on the Kings Road and she was a lovely lady, she sang on some of Nikki's things doing backing vocals and stuff. She had a beautiful voice actually. In fact she and I did the backing vocals on a song called Cathy. It's on Nikki's Bible Belt album and our voices went together really nicely on that. So when Mike was recording The Whole Of The Moon he got her to come in and she sings, on the third verse I think it is, she sort of sings like a little girl; 'La La La La La'. So that was nice that she was involved too'.

'Once I'd played on Nikki's Waiting On Egypt record, Kevin Wilkinson and I became mates along with Matthew Seligman as well who came and played on some of the sessions at Park Gate but I'm not sure that Matthew actually ended up on the record. He did come down there though and I do remember him playing on a version of Be My Enemy with him playing bass'.

'Then with Mike, the four of us did some gigs around London in 1982 and we were called The Red And the Black. So that was Kevin Wilkinson on the drums who ended up playing on a lot of things and he's on this record too, on Be My Enemy. He was a great drummer actually. He was a great guy and a great musician'.

'When I was recording with Nikki Sudden I would sometimes play bass in the studio if there was no one there who played bass, which was quite a lot of the time. (Laughs) So that's how I ended up playing bass on the Big Music with Kevin on drums again. But Nikki somehow persuaded Kevin and I to go to Leamington Spa where he always did his recording in a studio there and that's where his family lived actually. So it was Kevin on drums and me on the bass. Most of what became the Bible Belt had Kevin and I doing a rhythm section, and then of course I put Mandolins on, I played sax and stuff'.

'Nikki also managed to get Mike to go along as well on a separate occasion and he did a vocal on that song which I mentioned earlier called Cathy and it's is a really nice song too. He eventually released this song with his vocal on the expanded A Pagan Place album. So in a way that Bible Belt album is very closely associated with The Waterboys of that period (Laughs) because Nikki had somehow managed to get us all to come along and play on it and that's a nice thing. Max Edie was also on that record'.

J: You recorded a live video for The Whole Of The Moon...

Anto: 'That's right. We did it in a lovely old theatre called the Lyceum in the West End. Mike did a live vocal on the video because he didn't want to be miming lyrics. It was a very brave thing to do and he did a great job of it. They managed to edit all of the different shots together. Of course by then Steve was playing with us and because we were making the video he went into the studio and overdubbed some little bits of violin onto the song so that gave him something to play in the video'.

J: The violin really adds to the fabric of the song...

Anto: 'Yes it does! On All The Things She Gave Me there was a guy called Tim Blanthorn playing violin so there had been a bit of violin on Waterboys recordings before so it was a kind of natural progression for it to be there again'.

'There had also been mandolin on earlier Waterboys recordings. You know, I played Mandolin on Red Army Blues and Somebody Might Wave Back so when that kind of came to the fore, much later on, when we were working on Fisherman's Blues, it had been there all the time, it just came out a bit more'.

J: Do you remember the first time you met Steve?

Anto: 'Well he came over with Sinead who was recording some demos for Ensign. The guys from Ensign had come to Dublin fishing around for new people. So they got Sinead to come over and Steve came with her to work on the demos. Because Karl had a recording setup in his apartment near Baker St she did the demos at his place and Steve was there also'.

Karl, Steve and Mike on Tour in 1985:

A rare photo, taken by Anto, of Karl, Steve and Mike together somewhere on the road in 1985.

J: You kicked off the This Is the Sea tour in early October 1985. Is there any show that stands out in your memory?

Anto: 'There was the gig we played at the Town & Country Club in Kentish Town. I remember being on stage at the sound check and I had Roddy next to me, Steve on the other side of me and Karl was across the stage and Mike in the middle and I thought: God! This is some fucking band! (Laughs hard) Sinead came on and sang with us at that gig in the Town & Country Club too. She sang a backing vocal on The Big Music. It was a hell of a line up and quite a combination of people playing together'.

J: Wow! I wish I had been there!

Anto: 'I can still picture the stage and doing that sound check and everything. Marco Sin was on the bass and Chris Whitten may have been playing the drums, he went on to play with Dire Straits and Paul McCartney. I think he lives in Australia now'.

'We didn't have Roddy with us after a certain point and Karl left at the end of the American tour because he had his own records to make. I don't know if there is any document of that tour because we didn't have all the gigs recorded unlike later on when we recorded most of the shows. It's a shame there is no multi-track recording of one of the gigs because it would be great to have, just for the combination of sounds and the different colours of the instruments'.

J: Do you have any fond offstage tour memories?

Anto: 'It was on that US tour when we were playing in San Francisco that we met the Greenpeace people and that was an adventure and a big moment. We went down to their offices and I made friends with some of them. We went out with them in a boat on the bay, and we did it again a couple of years later. But that was the start of something and it was certainly a pivotal moment. In early 1986 we played at a benefit for Greenpeace in the Royal Albert Hall. There were loads of bands on and we only played a short set but I'm glad that we did that'.

J: Finally Anto, do you have any favourites among the album songs?

Anto: 'Well apart from the original albums tracks I do like Beverly Penn a lot and Sleek White Schooner too, I really like that'.

J: Thanks very much for the chat Anto, it was brilliant.

Anto: 'You are very welcome James. It was a really great time for me and it was really great to be me in that time'.

☄ Steve - Tales From The Sea ☄

It is always great to have a chat with Steve whenever I am fortunate enough to meet up with him. This time the subject of our conversation is the This is the Sea album and tour.

J: So Steve, how did you get involved in the recording of the album?

Steve: 'I played violin on Sinead O'Connor's first demo which she made for Ensign Records. The demos were recorded by Karl Wallinger at his home studio in London. Mike heard the demo either at Karl's or the Ensign office and liked the violin playing. I was still playing with In Tua Nua at the time. So I flew over to London. Then I went to Mike's flat in Ladbroke Grove and he played me some of the early mixes as he cooked us up some tomato soup. I remember being really impressed with Old England.'

J: Sinead guested with the band in the Town & Club in London in October 1985, which I believe was her first time appearing on stage in the UK. How did that come about?

Steve: 'Sinead and I are longtime pals. Sinead sang on the first In Tua Nua demos which we made in Eamonn Andrew's studios in 1982/3 and in fact she wrote a song for us called Take My Hand, which was our first or second single for Island records. Back then, Sinead lived close by me in Rathmines [Dublin] and her best friend was my flatmate. And as I said, she had signed to Ensign Records which was the recording home of The Waterboys in 1985. I think Mike had a lot of respect for Sinead's work and they had already met in London.'

J: Going back to 1985, did you go to the Park Gates Studio in Hastings for the recording?

Steve: 'I'm not sure where the studio was for the session, it might have been a place called RG Jones?' [It was RG Jones studio]

J: Were the band at the studio too?

Steve: 'Nope the band weren't there. It was just me and Mike. My fiddle was an overdub, the final touch to the song 'The Pan Within'.'

J: Oh I didn't know that... You recorded a live video version of The Whole of the Moon, was that soon afterwards?

Steve: 'I don't think so, it was later that year [November 1985]. The director was Meiert Avis, who'd also made In Tua Nua's first video the previous year. I went into a studio to record a fiddle line addition to The Whole of the Moon, That way I would have a genuine part to play on the video.'

J: You played a lot of songs from the This is the Sea album on the autumn 1985 UK tour including a lot of the earlier songs from the first two Waterboys records, and also a pile of Bob Dylan songs plus a few Stones and Van covers, which I'm sure you knew from your busking days. Was there much rehearsal beforehand or did you 'wing' it to a certain extent and just go for it?

Steve: 'There were an intense few days rehearsal in John Henry's rehearsal studios in North London. I was struck by how professional it was, everybody on time and ready to go, up a notch from my previous rehearsal experiences. There was a great crew.'

J: And of course you had met all of the band members by then?

Steve: 'Yes. They were all great musicians and all round nice blokes. Karl is a really funny guy and we hit it off, we shared a love of Flann O'Brien. Karl is a natural surrealist. Anto and I started a lifelong friendship, we both played mandolin and shared a similar history having busked in the same street in Paris a few years earlier, even though we had never met in France. Roddy the trumpeter is a great musician and also a very funny man too. By the time we made it to the first gig after the rehearsals we were all buddies.'

J: You played your first gig with the band on October 2nd in Nottingham Rock City. Do you remember that show?

Steve: 'Well yes as a matter of fact I do. The Waterboys were an exciting band to join. The sound we made was Big. Along with Mike's various guitars and great voice, Roddy Lorimer and Anto had a section going and I added to that. Karl's keyboards were expansive then add to that the driving Chris Whitten on Drums and also a New York punk rocker bassman Marco Sinn, we really powered along. The bouncers at Rock city at the time were all burly and scary looking (friendly) bikers and there was a real crush up front of the stage. I remember hoping that it wouldn't get out of control. It didn't and the first night was a great one.

J: By the time the UK tour finished the album sales were looking good and it was very well received by critics and fans alike. The buzz must have been incredible?

Steve: 'You know strangely that didn't effect me much. The buzz was already there for me playing in a rock band with a great singer and great songs. I remember Mike was dealing with the manager and the record company who were asking/demanding that he and us go back to the UK, we were on tour in the US at the time, to appear on Top Of The Pops where the single had charted. Of course it was a buzz that there were lots of people coming to the shows and it seemed natural to me that it would be successful as the music we were making was great.'

J: Within a fortnight of the UK tour finishing you then did an extensive US tour with a gig up in Toronto too. Did the tour take you to new cities and places?

Steve: 'It's a long time ago James! (Laughs) I was holding on as tight as I could to the magic carpet of my dreams as we zipped around the States. I'd been to the states a few years earlier on holidays, mostly on the east coast. This was different, I had a great reason to be there. I wasn't a tourist.'

J: Is there any memorable gig on that tour that comes to mind?

Steve: 'We had an amazing show in Berkeley, California [November 11th 1985], we were all in the zone, the audience and the band. Mike departed from the script and went into a freeform stream of consciousness, changing lines of lyrics and the band went with him, nobody dropped the ball and we went all the way to the highest high, at least that's how I recall it.'

J: Wow! That sounds like a very special show indeed. And I'd say you have fond memories off stage too?

Steve: 'Well Karl and myself were roomies for some of the tour and I remember one night in a motel, the pair of us waking up to the the sound of high-pitched scratching. And when I turned on the light the bedside table was crawling with cockroaches. Karl had the right idea and went out to sleep on the tour bus. I don't know how I managed to get to sleep.'

'In San Diego a few of us slipped over the border into Mexico for an adventure on the day off. I remember drinking in a cantina in Tijuana and the Mexican telly station was playing a video by the Mama's Boys. Some mariachi musicians came in and played too. Anto and I had a bottle of Tequila with the worm bobbing about at the bottom. We also had a gig in LA where it was rumoured that Bob Dylan was due to show up. He never came.'

J: Speaking of Bob, I saw you on stage with him in front of about 50,000 at Slane Castle in 1984. But in 1986 you did a stadium tour with Simple Minds in front of 40 or 50,000 at every show. What did you make of the huge stadium crowds?

Steve: 'Were the Simple Minds crowds that big? It's mostly about the music James. How many people see the show is a kind of Guinness Book of Records thing. Among us, Ralph holds that one for his participation in the London Olympics opening ceremony... 900 million viewers!'

J: Yeah I think so... I saw you in Croke Park in June '86 and it was jammed!
So finally Steve, let's fast forward to today, the crowd goes absolutely mental when you play The Whole of the Moon at any show... It must be a real blast for you and the band on stage to feel that energy and reaction?

Steve: 'Yes of course!... These days I like the way it sometimes morphs into a Sly and the Family Stone groove. Funky Aongus Ralston on bass! Mike sometimes sings 'Everyday People' on the outro.'

J: Indeed... It is always a joy to hear it live. Well thank you Steve for the great chat and for sharing your memories on what can only be described as a truly fantastic album.

Steve: 'Cheers James... See you down the road someplace.'

☄ Promo Display Flat and Decal Window Stickers ☄

A 12 x 12-inch display flat and a set of window decal stickers for promotion in record shops.

☄ Liam Ó Maonlaí - This is the Sea and Me ☄

'It was 1986.... I was 21 years old. I was in a band and had found a voice and a road in music. I was in love. I was also feeling disappointment in the business. I was feeling it deeply but music was moving through me and was brewing up what would be my life. We were about to tour Ireland for the first time. We were to open for John Martyn.

Robbie, who was driving the van, put a tape in the player as we set out for Cork. The opening sequence of Don't Bang The Drum is like the heralding of a prophecy. Roddy Lorimer plays trumpet over a musical movement that evokes something akin to a heavenly flamenco. This has Duende!

The following collection of songs touched me so deeply. It spoke for me to me. The lyrics and the pure glass-like quality of the vocal were that of a poet with the anger and energy of my time. My generation. An evolution from the earth shaking power of punk rock ten years earlier.

There is a saying in Irish 'Ní neart go cuir le chéile' which translates into the power of collaboration. Working together. There are three people on the cover of this album. Mike Scott, Anthony Thistlethwaite and Karl Wallinger. Three powerful energies in the creating of a world of sound and soul. That is what makes a band. That is what makes 'This Is The Sea.' When one person channels something it is beautiful. When a group of people channel something it is beyond words and beyond beautiful.

This Is The Sea moves me still today. The enormity of the sound. The darkness that defines a blinding light. The playfulness and simplicity. The power of the saxophone as a counterpoint to the passionate vocal. This record shook me to the core. It showed me love. It blew my mind.'

Thank you Liam.

☄ This is the Sea - Acetate & Vinyl Albums ☄

☄ The Sound Clinic Acetate ☄

An extremely rare four-track acetate containing different versions of Don't Bang the Drum, The Whole of the Moon, The Pan Within and This is the Sea (slow) than the official releases. This is the only known pressing to have survived.

☄ UK Test Press LP ☄

A scarce UK Test Pressing housed in an album sleeve with no inner. The lyrics THE STARS ARE ALIVE (Side A) and HIGH FAR SOON! (Side B) are etched in capitals into the wax on each side.

☄ USA Test Press LP ☄

A USA Test Pressing of This is the Sea with cover note.

☄ Album Review - 1985 ☄

A stellar album review from 1985.

☄ 'This Is The Sea' - LP ☄

☄ This is The Sea Lyrics - The Black Book ☄

The extensive lyrics Mike wrote for This is The Sea from his Black Book collection of songs.

Thank you Mike.

☄ Shop Display 1985 ☄

An unusual, and no doubt, very rare green shop display card, which measures 12-inch x 12-inch (30cm x 30cm) from 1985. Thank you Dom.

☄ Irish Pressing ☄

This is an Irish pressing of the album and it was manufactured in the Carlton Productions Record Plant in Dublin, notable by the Double Dip at the centre of the label and with the letters CP in the matrix run-out. Both of these identifying characteristics are exclusive to the Irish Record Plant. The wax used by the Carlton Productions Plant also has a slight brownish tint which takes on a golden brown translucent hue when the vinyl is held up to a light.

☄ Brazil LP ☄

This Is The Sea got a belated release in Brazil in 1987.

☄ France ☄

Original French pressing of This is the Sea with black labels and cover signed by Mike in 1985.

☄ Japan LP ☄

A first press Japanese vinyl of This Is The Sea with Lyric sheet and OBI strip.

☄ Signed Japan LP ☄

☄Japan - White Label Promo LP ☄

A white label promotional Japanese vinyl of This Is The Sea with Promo Tag, OBI strip, gatefold Lyric Sheet and two page Press Release.

☄ New Zealand Pressing ☄

Original New Zealand pressing of This is the Sea with distinctive labels.

☄ UK Advance Listening LP ☄

A scarce UK Advance Listening pressing for the This is the Sea album with the 'The Stars Are Alive' clearly visible in photo inset. Thank you Harry.

☄ USA - DMM Promo LP with Bio and Photo ☄

A promo gold-stamped Direct Metal Master (DMM) album with band bio and promo photo included. (Cover: see photo inset).

☄ Signed Clear Vinyl Release 2024 ☄

A signed Limited Edition clear vinyl This is the Sea with OBI strip 2024.

☄ Original Tour Laminates 1985 - 1986 ☄

A pair of Tour Laminates from 1985 and 1986.

☄ Original Poster - The Poly, Leicester - 11th October 1985 ☄

An original and rare poster for The Waterboys in The Poly, Leicester - 11th October 1985.

Thank you Andy.

☄ 1985 Gig Ticket and Badges ☄

A 1985 concert ticket stubb from Toronto and a selection of original vintage badges.

☄ Mike - On The Road 1986 ☄

☄ Melody Maker Covers - 1985 and 1986 ☄

Melody Maker magazine covers from October 5th 1985 and June 21st 1986 with interviews and extensive content within. Both photos taken by Tom Sheehan.

☄ Related Vinyl ☄

☄ BBC Transcription Disc - Glastonbury 1986 ☄

A very scarce BBC Transcription disc from the Glastonbury Festival 1986 featuring one hour of the legendary performance by the band on the Pyramid stage. A reliable source (and ex BBC employee) says only twenty four of these vinyls were originally pressed for broadcast on BBC stations overseas, then the vinyls were either returned to BBC HQ or destroyed afterwards. The number of these special pressings that still survive today is not known.

☄ The Secret Life of The Waterboys - 1994 ☄

A scarce double vinyl 'Greece Only' release of the 'Secret Life' album in a gatefold sleeve. This album contains a number of different versions of a few songs songs from the 'This is the Sea' album on side one and two.

Thank you Allan.

☄ The Secret Life 2LP - Signed ☄

The ONLY signed copy of the Greek double LP 'The Secret Life of the Waterboys' in the world! Mike, Anto or Steve had never seen or held a vinyl copy before.

☄ The Live Adventures of The Waterboys - Triple LP - 1998 ☄

Only 2000 copies of this triple vinyl album were pressed worldwide. The content is culled from four 1986 shows, (Dublin, Glastonbury, Glasgow Barrowland and the PinkPop Festival in the Netherlands).

The vinyl contains an extra song, a superb outing of Medicine Jack which is not on the double CD. This album is now long deleted and it commands a high price whenever it appears for sale but it is a good purchase, especially if you desire having that extra track.

Thank you David.

☄ The Waterboys: The Live Adventures - Signed ☄

The Live Adventures of The Waterboys triple vinyl album sleeve signed by Mike, Anto, Steve and Trevor.

☄ This Is the Sea [Fast Version] 10-Inch ☄

A Record Store Day issue of 1500 copies, This Is the Sea was released on November 24 2023 on 10-inch vinyl. It features the late Tom Verlaine on lead guitar. The b-side is a cover of the Iggy Pop classic The Passenger and is exclusive to this release. A vital purchase!

☄ Full Page Promotions - NME and Melody Maker 1985 ☄

Full Page (A3-size) press promotion in the New Musical Express (NME) and the Melody Maker music magazines. Both magazine adverts are dated 21st September 1985.

☄ CD Albums and More ☄

☄ Original Release ☄

An original CD of This Is The Sea.

☄ Japan ☄

A very scarce first press CD of This Is The Sea with lyric sheet and elusive OBI strip intact.

☄ USA Longbox Edition ☄

The USA album was first released in a longbox, with artwork unique to this version. The longbox format was normal practice at that time. However, very few of these have survived intact, so if you happen upon one, do not hesitate. Still Sealed longbox album shown.

☄ Chrysalis 25th Anniversary Special - 1994 ☄

A reissue celebrating 25 years of Chrysalis records. The CD came housed in a blue case with a small cover photo.

☄ UK - 2-CD Remaster - 2004 ☄

This fantastic double disc was released in 2004 and it contains a full disc of extra songs and early versions. It is an absolutely essential album for any Waterboys fan to have.

☄ Japan - 2-CD - 2004 ☄

Japanese release of the 2-CD remaster in 2004.

☄ Taiwan - 2-CD Import - 2004 ☄

This is a Taiwan import CD of the double album for the domestic and Chinese market.

☄ This is the Sea Remaster - Promo CD 1 ☄

A promo CD of the first disc of the 2004 remaster.

☄ This is the Sea Remaster - Promo CD 2 ☄

A promo CD of the bonus disc of the 2004 remaster.

☄ UK - The Secret Life of The Waterboys 81 - 85 - 1994 ☄

This gem of an album was released in 1994 and it contains outtakes, demos, radio sessions and some b-sides from the 1981-1985 period, including several early versions of songs from the 'Sea' recording sessions. It is an essential album for any Waterboys fan to have.

☄ UK - 'The Live Adventures' 2-CD - 1998 ☄

This double live disc, culled from four 1986 shows, (Dublin, Glastonbury, Glasgow Barrowland and the PinkPop Festival in the Netherlands), and it was released in 1998. It contains a good cross-section of the many different setlists of the day. An absolutely essential purchase.

☄ Live Adventures Double CD Signed ☄

Double CD signed by the Fantastic Four.

☄ Saints and Angels - 2009 ☄

This 2-track CD featuring Sharon Shannon with Mike, Anto and Steve was released in 2009. It features an edit and a remix of Saints and Angels and it was also produced by Mike Scott.

Thank you Sharon.

☄ In A Special Place - 2011 ☄

This album contain early Piano Demos of the This is the Sea songs. A vital acquisition!

☄ In A Special Place - Promo CD ☄

A promo CD of the Piano Demos album.

☄ In A Special Place - USA Promo CD ☄

A USA promo Piano Demos CD with 'PROMOTIONAL - NOT FOR SALE' printed on disc.

☄ 1985 Box Set 2024 ☄

This superb six CD set, and beautifully resplendent hardback book was released in February 2024. The set was released in a numbered Limited Edition of just 3000 copies. This edition, with the book, was completely sold out worldwide within a couple of weeks.

The exquisitely produced book, written by Mike, is packed with unseen photos and wonderful background information about each song and the recording sessions for the album. Mike tells the full story, with contributions from Anto Thistlethwaite and Max Edie. This publication is an absolute must-have!

☄ 1985 Clamshell Release ☄

This is the 6 CD Clamshell release, without the book. Thank you Niall Reddy.

☄ Promo Postcards ☄

A trio of original promotional postcards.

☄ 7-Inch Singles and More ☄

☄ The Whole of the Moon ☄

☄ The Whole Of The Moon Lyrics - The Black Book ☄

The lyrics Mike wrote for The Whole Of The Moon from his Black Book collection of songs.

Thank you Mike.

☄ Sheet Music - The Whole Of The Moon ☄

Gatefold sheet music for The Whole Of The Moon released in 1985.

☄ Test Pressing 7-Inch Single ☄

A test pressing of The Whole of the Moon 7-inch single. This 7-inch single is date stamped Dec 5 1985 and it is a rare item to find nowadays.

☄ Australia 7-Inch Single ☄

☄ Canada 7-Inch Single ☄

A Canadian issue of the The Whole of the Moon 7-inch single, uniquely b/w Trumpets.

☄ Irish 7-Inch Single ☄

An Irish issue of the The Whole of the Moon 7-inch single. This 7-inch single was pressed in the Carlton Productions Record Plant in Dublin, notable by the Double Dip at centre of label and the gripper teeth surrounding the label rim. Both of these identifying characteristics are exclusive to the Irish Record Plant.

☄ UK - DJ Promo 7-Inch Single and Press Release ☄

A UK DJ promo of 'The Whole of the Moon' (full length) b/w 'The Whole of the Moon' (radio edit) with press release.

☄ Germany - 7-Inch - Stars Sleeve ☄

A German issue of The Whole Of The Moon in a stars sleeve.

☄ Germany - 7-Inch - Hands Raised Sleeve ☄

A German issue of The Whole Of The Moon in a 'Hands Raised' sleeve with album art on reverse.

☄ Portugal - 7-Inch ☄

A Portuguese issue of The Whole Of The Moon b/w Medicine Bow with large logo and titles on sleeve.

☄ New Zealand 7-Inch Single ☄

☄ South African 7-Inch Single ☄

A South African 7-inch single of 'The Whole of the Moon' b/w 'Medicine Jack'.

☄ Spain - 7-Inch Promo Single ☄

A Spanish promo white label of The Whole Of The Moon in a full colour satin finish sleeve.

☄ Spain 7-Inch Single ☄

☄ Zimbabwe 7-Inch Single ☄

An extremely rare Zimbabwe issue of the The Whole of the Moon 7-inch single, b/w Medicine Jack. This single came from local Zimbabwe 'Steam' radio station. Thank you Andy.

☄ Zimbabwe - The Whole of the Moon - 7-Inch ☄

A very rare Zimbabwe issue of the The Whole of the Moon 7-inch single, b/w Medicine Jack in a record company sleeve.

☄ USA - Jukebox Only Single ☄

A Jukebox Only version of the The Whole of the Moon 7-inch single, b/w Medicine Bow.

☄ Jamming! Fanzine Cover - July 1985 ☄

Mike graces the cover of the superbly produced fanzine Jamming! on the July 1985 issue.

Thank you Chris.

☄ Medicine Bow ☄

☄ Medicine Bow Lyrics - The Black Book ☄

The lyrics Mike wrote for Medicine Bow from his Black Book collection of songs.

Thank you Mike.

☄ Press Promotion -Medicine Bow Lyric ☄

An original A2 sized Press Promotion for the forthcoming album release and tour, with Medicine Bow lyric.

☄ Medicine Bow / Don't Bang The Drum 7 inch Test Pressing ☄

Two one-sided test pressings for the planned follow-up single to The Whole Of The Moon.

Thank you Dag.

☄ Australia 7-Inch Single ☄

An Australian issue of the Medicine Bow 7-inch single, b/w a live version.

☄ New Zealand 7-Inch Single ☄

A New Zealand issue of the Medicine Bow 7-inch single, again b/w a live version.

Thank you Andy.

☄ Germany - 7-Inch ☄

☄ Hot Press Magazine Cover 1986 ☄

Irish music magazine Hot Press cover from 22nd May 1986 with extensive interviews and concert reviews within.

☄ Don't Bang the Drum ☄

☄ Germany - 7-Inch Single ☄

A German only release of Don't Bang the Drum b/w the previously unreleased The Ways of Men with single title printed on both sides of sleeve.

☄ Germany - 7-Inch with Ways of Men printed Sleeve ☄

A cover variation of the German only release with The Ways of Men printed on cover and no Don't Bang the Drum title on reverse.

☄ Gig Poster - 4th May 1986 ☄

Large size concert poster from Chippenham Goldiggers on the 4th May 1986.

Thank you Javi.

☄ 12-Inch Singles ☄

☄ Press Promotion 1985 ☄

☄ Australia/NZ - The Whole Of The Moon - Limited Edition ☄

An antipodean four-track 'Limited Edition' 12-inch of 'The Whole Of The Moon' with 'stars' sleeve.

☄ Australia/NZ - Medicine Bow - Limited Edition ☄

An antipodean four-track 'Limited Edition' 12-inch of 'Medicine Bow' b/w a live version.

☄ France - The Whole Of The Moon ☄

A French pressing of 'The Whole Of The Moon' 12-inch on a black label, with a rarer 'Hands Aloft' sleeve. Back sleeve shown

☄ Germany / Europe - The Whole Of The Moon ☄

A German pressing of 'The Whole Of The Moon' 12-inch with a rarer cover sleeve, for the domestic and European market.

☄ The Philippines - The Whole Of The Moon ☄

A very scarce four-track 'Mini-LP' of 'The Whole Of The Moon' from The Philippines. Pressed in low quantities in a Special Limited Edition for the American armed forces and Ex-Pats, these records are rarely found in pristine condition, as they usually succumb to humidity or water damage during the Typhoon season. Thank You Ferry.

☄ South Africa - The Whole Of The Moon ☄

A very rare four-track South African 12-inch of 'The Whole Of The Moon' released under licence by Priority Records in South Africa and with uniquely centred titles on a 'stars' sleeve.

☄ UK - The Whole Of The Moon ☄

A UK four-track 12-inch of 'The Whole Of The Moon' with colour photo sleeve.

☄ Acetates and Rarities ☄

☄ 12-Inch Single Acetates and Rarities ☄

☄ Medicine Bow CBS 12-inch Acetate ☄

Thank you Flattop.

☄ Don't Bang The Drum / Ways Of Men 12" Acetate ☄

Thank you Flattop.

☄ Medicine Bow 10-inch Acetate ☄

Thank you Dag.

☄ The Whole Of The Moon 12-inch One-Sided Test Press ☄

Thank you Flattop.

☄ Don't Bang The Drum 12-inch One-Sided Test Press ☄

Thank you Flattop.

☄ Israel Tour Poster - May 1986 ☄

A beautiful and very rare large poster for the Israel Tour in late May 1986.

Thank you Stephen.

☄ Promo 12-Inch Singles ☄

☄ Germany - 12-inch Test Pressing ☄

A very unique German Sonopress pressing of Medicine Bow b/w Don't Bang the Drum made to promote the headline appearance by the band at the Pink Pop Festival on the 19th May 1986.

Thank you Jack.

☄ Canada - Promo This is the Sea ☄

Canadian 12-inch white label promo of 'This is the Sea'. b/w Medicine Jack in a generic sleeve.

☄ Canada - Promo Sampler ☄

A Canadian 12-inch Promo Sampler of 'The Whole of the Moon' b/w 'Don't Bang the Drum'.

☄ USA - Promo Don't Bang the Drum ☄

A USA white label promo two-track 12-inch of 'Don't Bang the Drum' b/w same song.

☄ USA - Promo The Whole Of The Moon ☄

A USA white label promo 12-inch of 'The Whole Of The Moon' with same song on both sides.

☄ Promo Publicity Photos ☄

Promo publicity shot from 1985 and another promo photo of Mike that was used on the album artwork and on a Press Bio. Photos by Lynn Goldsmith.

Thank you Dag.

☄ Cassette Albums ☄

☄ Sound Clinic - 'New Cut' - 15.8.85 ☄

A very scarce Sound Clinic cassette of the album dated 15th August 1985 and titled 'New Cut'.

☄ CBS - Promo Tape ☄

A rare CBS promo album cassette.

☄ Australia ☄

An Australian cassette of the album with slightly different artwork.

☄ Canada ☄

An Canadian cassette of the album on a Dolby HX Pro tape.

☄ France ☄

A French cassette in a foldout sleeve with a pink tape label.

☄ Greece ☄

A Greek cassette of the album with seal.

☄ Indonesia ☄

An Indonesian cassette of the album with unique artwork, housed in a heat proof sleeve with a different track running order and with three extra songs.

☄ The Philippines ☄

A rare cassette of the album from the Philippines with a lyric booklet included within.

☄ Spain ☄

A very distinctive red cassette with orange labels from Spain, with standard artwork but uniquely with a pink spine and it comes housed in a red case. Made in Italy is printed on cassette, so perhaps it was available in Italy as well.

☄ South Africa ☄

A cassette of the album from South Africa, released by Priority Records.

☄ Sweden ☄

A very unique version from Sweden with the cassette housed in a very distinctive pink sleeve.

☄ Saudi Arabia ☄

A cassette of the album from Saudi Arabia with portrait style artwork.

☄ Taiwan ☄

A scarce album cassette from Taiwan on the WEA label, with a different running order of the songs, in a wraparound sleeve and separate lyric sheet.

☄ United Arab Emirates - Thomsun Original ☄

A cassette manufactured in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with superb sound. These Thomsun tapes are highly sought after.

☄ UK - Ensign Chrome ☄

A Chrome Ensign album with grey artwork on a black cassette.

☄ UK - Chryalis Release ☄

A UK album cassette on Chrysalis.

☄ The Big Music - Chrysalis Promo Tape 1986 ☄

A very scarce promotional Chrysalis USA cassette from 1986 that features four Waterboys songs The Big Music, A Girl Called Johnny, The Whole Of the Moon and This Is The Sea.

☄ The Secret Life of The Waterboys - 1994 ☄

☄ VHS and DVD ☄

☄ This is The Sea - Movie 1997 VHS ☄

A scarce VHS version of the This is The Sea movie which features seven Mike Scott - The Waterboys songs. Thank you Seán.