A Walk Across the Rooftops
The Blue Nile
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| Name | Artist | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1 |
A Walk Across the Rooftops | The Blue Nile | 4:56 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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2 |
Tinseltown in the Rain | The Blue Nile | 5:57 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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3 |
From Rags to Riches | The Blue Nile | 5:59 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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4 |
Stay | The Blue Nile | 4:57 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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5 |
Easter Parade | The Blue Nile | 4:34 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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6 |
Heatwave | The Blue Nile | 6:28 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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7 |
Automobile Noise | The Blue Nile | 5:08 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
| Total: 7 Songs |
Album Review
The Blue Nile's debut album has a rather fascinating genesis. Scotland's Linn Electronics wanted a demo track to demonstrate the fidelity and versatility of their new recording console and tapped a struggling local trio, the Blue Nile, to provide it. Their effort was a deliberately disjunctive song called "A Walk Across the Rooftops." To demonstrate the recording equipment's dynamic range and clarity, the song was arranged most peculiarly, with vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, and full string and horn sections all appearing, but never at the same time. Linn liked the song so much that they formed a record label and bankrolled the recording of this full album. The seven lengthy tracks on A Walk Across the Rooftops all follow the model of the opener, with Paul Buchanan's rich voice at the center of near-symphonic arrangements that manage to sound lush and incredibly austere at the same time. The tempos are deadly slow, with the most upbeat track, "Tinseltown in the Rain," barely rising above a graceful saunter, and the inventive arrangements make extensive use of empty space. This was a popular album for demonstrating the lack of hiss and background noise in the then-new compact disc medium, but A Walk Across the Rooftops works even better as a piece of music than as a stereo demonstration record.
Customer Reviews
Timeless Classic - Requires a few listenings
I can recall when I was first introduced to The Blue Nile and this, their first album. I thought it was minimalist, tinkering and without soul. Then by the 3rd listen I was consumed by the most heartfelt of story telling, raw and engaged. Paul Buchanan pouring his soul into the words; no posturing or posing. This is music that connects. It is seemingly simple in form, but the details build a certain richness and depth that can only be experienced after several listenings (and preferably alone and in peace and surprisingly, quite loud). It's not morbid, it's not shoe-gazing even though the slow beats may give that impression on first listen. Some of the best city night driving music you will ever come across too.
From the wailing horn in the opening title and the first crack of the snare drum (real not sampled by the way!) you know this is different.
Being from Glasgow, the home of this reclusive band, it could be a biased opinion, but this is not some tartan, flag-waving nonsense. This is about the pain and joy of love, of one's family, lover and city. Glasgow is indeed Tinseltown and it is quite often in the rain...but how can you not connect with the words "I leave a home of a life time, like any son, I have hope and good intentions" (Rags to Riches). (Well if you are female for one thing...but you get the gist).
This isn't music consigned to the 80's. It's as relevant today as it was when it was first played.
Biography
Formed: 1981 in Glasgow, Scotland
Genre: Rock
Years Active: '80s, '90s, '00s, '10s
Top Albums and Songs By The Blue Nile
| Name | Album | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Tomorrow Morning | Peace at Last | 4:15 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
2 |
Happiness | Peace at Last | 4:39 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
3 |
Let's Go Out Tonight | Hats | 5:16 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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4 |
Family Life | Peace at Last | 5:21 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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5 |
Soul Boy | High | 4:37 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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6 |
Body and Soul | Peace at Last | 5:15 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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7 |
I Would Never | High | 4:24 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
8 |
Sentimental Man | Peace at Last | 5:05 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
9 |
Love Came Down | Peace at Last | 3:35 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
10 |
Stay Close | High | 7:46 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
- $7.99
- Genres: Rock, Music, Alternative, College Rock, Vocal, Vocal Pop
- Released: May 1984
- ℗ 1983 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by Virgin Records Ltd
