B-Sides & Rarities is a compilation album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in March 2005. It features over 20 years of the band's B-sides and previously unreleased tracks. It is also the first recording to include all members of the Bad Seeds, past and present up to the time of its release: current members Mick Harvey, Blixa Bargeld, Thomas Wydler, Martyn P. Casey, Conway Savage, Jim Sclavunos, and Warren Ellis, and former members Barry Adamson, Hugo Race, Kid Congo Powers, Roland Wolf, and James Johnston. A second volume, B-Sides & Rarities Part II, was released in October 2021.

Content

In addition to the large number of B-sides that make up the majority of the compilation, the record includes two unreleased songs, two unreleased covers, as well as live and acoustic versions of Bad Seeds tracks.

Some of the tracks were originally released as Nick Cave solo tracks, namely "Helpless", "Cassiel's Song", the Shane MacGowan collaboration "What a Wonderful World", and "A Rainy Night in Soho".

Track listing

All songs written by Nick Cave unless otherwise stated.

Disc 1

  1. "Deanna" (Acoustic Version) – 2:51
  2. Acoustic version of the song from "Tender Prey" (Recorded January 8th, 1990 at Fun City Studios). Attached as a bonus 7" to initial pressings of The Good Son album, 1990
  3. "The Mercy Seat" (Acoustic Version) (lyrics: Cave; music: Cave, Harvey) - 3:45
  4. Acoustic version of the song from "Tender Prey", (Recorded May 1989 at Hansa Ton Studios). Attached as a bonus 7" to initial pressings of The Good Son album, 1990
  5. "City of Refuge" (Acoustic Version) – 2:42
  6. Acoustic version of the song from "Tender Prey" (Recorded January 8th, 1990 at Fun City Studios). Attached as a bonus 7" to initial pressings of The Good Son album, 1990
  7. "The Moon is in the Gutter" – 2:35
  8. B-side of "In the Ghetto", 1984
  9. "The Six Strings that Drew Blood" – 4:47
  10. B-side of "Tupelo", 1985
  11. "Rye Whiskey" (Traditional; arranged by Cave and Mick Harvey) - 3:27
  12. Flexidisc in Reflex magazine in 1989
  13. "Running Scared" (Roy Orbison, Joe Melson) - 2:06
  14. B-side of "The Singer", 1986
  15. "Black Betty" (Lead Belly) - 2:32
  16. B-side of "The Singer", 1986
  17. "Scum" (lyrics: Cave; music: Cave, Harvey) - 2:53
  18. Flexidisc sold at concerts, 1986
  19. "The Girl at the Bottom of My Glass" – 4:48
  20. B-side of "Deanna" 12", 1988
  21. "The Train Song" – 3:26
  22. B-side of 'The Ship Song', 1990
  23. "Cocks 'N' Asses" (lyrics: Cave; music: Cave, Victor Van Vugt) - 5:43
  24. B-side of "The Weeping Song", 1990, retitled as "The B-Side Song" on the US single
  25. "Blue Bird" – 2:46
  26. B-side of "Straight to You/Jack the Ripper", 1992
  27. "Helpless" (Neil Young) - 3:51
  28. From Neil Young Tribute/Charity Album The Bridge, 1989. Also B-side of "The Weeping Song", 1990
  29. "God's Hotel" – 3:07
  30. Live Radio Session for KCRW Santa Monica. Released on Rare on Air Vol. 1, Mammoth Records, 1992
  31. "(I'll Love You) Till the End of the World" – 3:58
  32. From the original soundtrack Until the End of the World, 1991. Also B-side of "Loverman", 1994
  33. "Cassiel's Song" – 3:35
  34. From the original soundtrack Faraway, So Close, 1993. Also B-side of "Do You Love Me?", 1994
  35. "Tower of Song" (Leonard Cohen) - 5:39
  36. From Leonard Cohen tribute album I'm Your Fan, 1991
  37. "What Can I Give You?" – 3:40
  38. From the French promo give-away with Henry's Dream, 1992

Disc 2

  1. "What a Wonderful World" (George David Weiss, George Douglas) - 3:04
  2. From the single "What a Wonderful World", 1992
  3. "Rainy Night in Soho" (Shane MacGowan) - 3:58
  4. Harvey & Bill McGee – String and woodwind arrangement
  5. From the single "What a Wonderful World", 1992
  6. "Lucy" (Version #2) – 2:23
  7. From the single "What a Wonderful World", 1992
  8. "Jack the Ripper" (Acoustic Version) – 4:45
  9. B-side of the limited edition 7" "Straight to You/Jack the Ripper", 1992
  10. "Sail Away" – 4:13
  11. B-side of "Do You Love Me?", 1994
  12. "There's No Night Out in the Jail" (John Harold Ashe) - 3:43
  13. Recorded for a compilation of Australian country music cover versions which was never released, 1993
  14. "That's What Jazz Is to Me" (lyrics: Cave; music: Cave, Harvey, Savage, Wydler) - 5:05
  15. Improvised piece. B-side of "Red Right Hand", 1994
  16. "The Willow Garden" (Traditional; arranged by Cave and Ellis) - 3:59
  17. B-side of "Where the Wild Roses Grow", 1995
  18. "The Ballad of Robert Moore and Betty Coltrane" – 3:35
  19. B-side of "Where the Wild Roses Grow", 1995
  20. "King Kong Kitchee Kitchee Ki-Mi-O" (Traditional; arranged by Cave) - 3:10
  21. B-side of "Henry Lee", 1996
  22. "Knoxville Girl" (Traditional; arranged by Cave and Johnston) - 3:36
  23. B-side of "Henry Lee", 1996
  24. "Where the Wild Roses Grow" – 3:47
  25. Version with original guide vocal by Blixa Bargeld. Previously unreleased, 1995
  26. "O'Malley's Bar Pt. 1" – 5:16
  27. From Mark Radcliffe Radio 1 session, 1996
  28. "O'Malley's Bar Pt. 2" – 6:38
  29. From Mark Radcliffe Radio 1 session, 1996
  30. "O'Malley's Bar Pt. 3" – 4:57
  31. From Mark Radcliffe Radio 1 session, 1996
  32. "Time Jesum Transeuntum et Non Riverentum" (lyrics: Cave; music: Cave, Ellis, Turner, White) - 6:22
  33. Featuring The Dirty 3. Hidden track on X-Files album, 1996
  34. "O'Malley's Bar Reprise" – 1:03
  35. From Mark Radcliffe Radio 1 session, 1996
  36. "Red Right Hand" (Scream 3 version) (lyrics: Cave; music: Cave, Harvey, Wydler) - 6:01
  37. Recorded for the movie Scream 3. Previously unreleased, 1999

Disc 3

  1. "Little Empty Boat" (lyrics: Cave; music: Cave, Bargeld, Casey, Harvey) - 4:26
  2. B-side of "Into My Arms", 1997
  3. "Right Now I'm a-Roaming" (lyrics: Cave; music: Cave, Casey, Harvey, Savage, Wydler) - 4:21
  4. B-side of "Into My Arms", 1997
  5. "Come Into My Sleep" – 3:47
  6. B-side of "(Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For?", 1997
  7. "Black Hair" (Band Version) – 4:13
  8. B-side of "(Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For?", 1997
  9. "Babe, I Got You Bad" – 3:51
  10. B-side of "(Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For?", 1997
  11. "Sheep May Safely Graze" – 4:14
  12. Unreleased studio outtake, 1996
  13. "Opium Tea" (Cave, Savage) - 3:48
  14. Unreleased studio outtake, 1996
  15. "Grief Came Riding" – 5:05
  16. From limited edition of No More Shall We Part album, 2001
  17. "Bless His Ever Loving Heart" – 4:02
  18. From limited edition of No More Shall We Part album, 2001
  19. "Good Good Day" – 4:04
  20. B-side of "As I Sat Sadly By Her Side", 2001
  21. "Little Janey's Gone" – 2:59
  22. B-side of "As I Sat Sadly by Her Side", 2001
  23. "I Feel So Good" (J. B. Lenoir) - 1:44
  24. From the film The Soul of a Man by Wim Wenders, 2003
  25. "Shoot Me Down" – 3:32
  26. B-side of "Bring It On", 2003
  27. "Swing Low" – 5:40
  28. B-side of "Bring It On", 2003
  29. "Little Ghost Song" – 3:44
  30. B-side of "He Wants You/Babe, I'm On Fire", 2003
  31. "Everything Must Converge" – 3:17
  32. B-side of "He Wants You/Babe, I'm On Fire", 2003
  33. "Nocturama" – 4:01
  34. B-side of limited edition 7" "Rock of Gibraltar", 2003
  35. "She's Leaving You" (lyrics: Cave; music: Cave, Ellis, Casey, Sclavunos) - 4:01
  36. B-side of "Nature Boy", 2004
  37. "Under This Moon" – 4:01
  38. B-side of "Breathless/There She Goes, My Beautiful World", 2004

Musicians

  • Bronwyn Adams - backing vocals, violin
  • Barry Adamson - bass, timpani, orchestral arrangements
  • Blixa Bargeld - guitar, backing vocals, vocals, handclaps, slide guitar, pedal steel guitar, feedback guitar, percussion
  • Martyn P. Casey - bass, backing vocals, percussion
  • Nick Cave - vocals, piano, Hammond organ, harmonica, backing vocals, keyboards, whistling, guitar, string synth, sound effects
  • Tony Cohen - backing vocals, percussion
  • Kid Congo Powers - backing vocals, handclaps, slide guitar, tremolo guitar
  • Terry Edwards - brass section
  • Warren Ellis - violin, mandolin, bouzouki, looped violin
  • Mick Gallagher - backing vocals
  • Mick Harvey - guitar, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, bass, organ, drums, string arrangements, piano, Hammond organ, marimba, keyboards, sound effects, cymbals, vibes, xylophone, woodwind arrangement
  • Chas Jankel - backing vocals
  • James Johnston - organ, guitar
  • Shane MacGowan - vocals
  • Anna McGarrigle - backing vocals
  • Kate McGarrigle - backing vocals
  • Bill McGee - string arrangement, woodwind arrangement
  • Astrid Munday - percussion
  • Tracy Pew - bass
  • Hugo Race - guitar
  • Conway Savage - piano, organ, backing vocals, vocals, electric piano, Hammond organ, percussion
  • Jim Sclavunos - drums, brushed snare, tambourine, percussion, tubular bells, organ, bongos, bells, shaker
  • Johnny Turnbull - backing vocals
  • Mick Turner - guitar
  • Victor Van Vugt - drum machine
  • Norman Watt-Roy - backing vocals
  • Jim White - drums
  • Roland Wolf - backing vocals, handclaps, piano
  • Thomas Wydler - drums, percussion, backing vocals, tambourine, handclaps

Musicians by track

;Disc 1

  1. "Deanna" (acoustic version)
  2. Cave – Vocals
  3. Harvey – Guitar, backing vocals
  4. Wydler – percussion
  5. Congo Powers, Bargeld, Wolf – handclaps, backing vocals
  6. "The Mercy Seat" (acoustic version)
  7. Cave – vocals
  8. Harvey – guitar, backing vocals
  9. Wolf – piano
  10. Bargeld – backing vocals
  11. "City of Refuge" (acoustic version)
  12. Cave – Vocals
  13. Harvey – guitar, backing vocals
  14. Bargeld, Wydler, Congo Powers, Wolf – handclaps, backing vocals
  15. "The Moon is in the Gutter"
  16. Cave – vocals, piano
  17. Bargeld – guitar
  18. Race – guitar
  19. Adamson – bass
  20. Harvey – drums
  21. "The Six Strings that Drew Blood"
  22. Cave – vocals, whistling
  23. Harvey – Guitars, Bass, Keyboard
  24. Bargeld – Feedback Guitar
  25. "Rye Whiskey"
  26. Cave – Vocals, Harmonica
  27. Harvey – Acoustic Guitar, Drums
  28. Race – Guitar
  29. Tracy Pew – Bass
  30. "Running Scared"
  31. Cave – Vocals
  32. Harvey – Drums, String Arrangement
  33. Race – Guitar
  34. Tracy Pew – Bass
  35. "Black Betty"
  36. Cave – Vocals
  37. Harvey – Drums, Backing vocals
  38. Bargeld – Backing vocals
  39. "Scum" – 2:53
  40. Cave – Vocals
  41. Bargeld – Guitar
  42. Harvey – Bass
  43. Wydler – Drums
  44. "The Girl at the Bottom of My Glass"
  45. Cave – Vocals, Guitar, Backing vocals
  46. Harvey – Drums, Backing vocals
  47. Tony Cohen – Backing vocals
  48. "The Train Song" – 3:26
  49. Cave – Vocals, Piano
  50. Harvey – Acoustic Guitar, Bass
  51. Bargeld – Guitar
  52. Congo Powers – Tremolo Guitar
  53. Wydler – Drums
  54. Harvey & Bill McGee – String Arrangement
  55. "Cocks 'N' Asses"
  56. Cave – Piano, Vocals, String Synth
  57. Harvey – Guitar, Sound Effects
  58. Victor Van Vugt – Drum Machine
  59. "Blue Bird"
  60. Cave – Vocals, Piano, Hammond organ
  61. Harvey – Marimba
  62. Casey – Bass
  63. Wydler – Drums
  64. "Helpless"
  65. Cave – Vocals, Keyboard
  66. Harvey – Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Organ, Drums, Backing vocals
  67. Congo Powers – Slide Guitar
  68. Bronwyn Adams – Backing vocals
  69. "God's Hotel"
  70. Cave – Vocals
  71. Harvey – Acoustic Guitar
  72. Bargeld – Slide Guitar
  73. Savage – Piano
  74. Casey – Bass
  75. Wydler – Drums
  76. "(I'll Love You) Till the End of the World"
  77. Cave – Vocals, Piano
  78. Bargeld – Guitar
  79. Harvey – Acoustic Guitar, Bass, String Arrangement
  80. Wydler – Drums
  81. Bronwyn Adams – Violin
  82. "Cassiel's Song"
  83. Cave – Vocals, Piano
  84. Adamson – Bass, Timpani
  85. Harvey – String Arrangement
  86. "Tower of Song"
  87. Cave – Vocals
  88. Harvey – Guitar
  89. Bargeld – Guitar, Vocals
  90. Casey – Bass
  91. Wydler – Drums
  92. "What Can I Give You?"
  93. Cave – Vocals, Piano
  94. Harvey – Acoustic Guitar
  95. Savage – Electric Piano
  96. Casey – Bass
  97. Wydler – Drums

;Disc 2

  1. "What a Wonderful World"
  2. Cave – Vocals
  3. Shane MacGowan – Vocals
  4. Harvey – Acoustic Guitar
  5. Bargeld – Guitar
  6. Savage – Piano
  7. Casey – Bass
  8. Wydler – Drums
  9. Bill McGee – Woodwind Arrangement
  10. "Rainy Night in Soho"
  11. Cave – Vocals
  12. Harvey – Acoustic Guitar, Vibes
  13. Bargeld – Guitar
  14. Savage – Piano
  15. Casey – Bass
  16. Wydler – Drums
  17. Harvey & Bill McGee – String & Woodwind Arrangement
  18. "Lucy" (Version #2)
  19. MacGowan – Vocals
  20. Cave – Piano, Backing vocals
  21. Harvey & Bill McGee – String Arrangement
  22. "Jack the Ripper" (acoustic version)
  23. Cave – Vocals
  24. Harvey – Acoustic Guitar
  25. The Bad Seeds – Backing vocals, Percussion
  26. "Sail Away"
  27. Cave – Vocals, Hammond organ
  28. Harvey – Marimba
  29. Savage – Backing vocals
  30. Casey – Bass
  31. Wydler – Drums
  32. "There's No Night Out in the Jail"
  33. Cave – Vocals, Harmonica organ
  34. Harvey – Organ, Guitar
  35. Savage – Piano
  36. Casey – Bass
  37. Wydler – Drums
  38. "That's What Jazz is to Me"
  39. Cave – Vocals, Piano
  40. Savage – Hammond organ
  41. Harvey – Bass
  42. Wydler – Drums
  43. "The Willow Garden"
  44. Savage – Vocals, Piano
  45. Cave – Hammond organ
  46. Ellis – Violin
  47. Casey – Bass
  48. Harvey – Cymbals
  49. "The Ballad of Robert Moore and Betty Coltrane"
  50. Cave – Vocals, Hammond organ, Piano, Sound Effects
  51. Harvey – Acoustic Guitar
  52. Casey – Bass
  53. Wydler – Drums, Percussion
  54. Terry Edwards – Brass Section
  55. "King Kong Kitchee Kitchee Ki-Mi-O"
  56. Cave – Vocals
  57. Bargeld – Guitar
  58. Ellis – Violin
  59. Race – Guitar
  60. Casey – Bass
  61. Wydler – Drums
  62. Sclavunos, Tony Cohen, Astrid Munday – Percussion
  63. "Knoxville Girl"
  64. Cave – Vocals
  65. Johnston – Guitars
  66. "Where the Wild Roses Grow"
  67. Bargeld – Vocals, Guitar
  68. Cave – Vocals, Piano
  69. Harvey – Guitars, Backing vocals
  70. Casey – Bass
  71. Savage – Piano
  72. Wydler – Drums
  73. Sclavunos – Tubular Bells
  74. "O'Malley's Bar Pt. 1"
  75. Cave – Vocals
  76. Harvey – Piano
  77. Savage – Organ
  78. Casey – Bass
  79. Wydler – Drums
  80. Sclavunos – Brushed Snare
  81. "O'Malley's Bar Pt. 2"
  82. Cave – Vocals
  83. Harvey – Piano
  84. Savage – Organ
  85. Casey – Bass
  86. Wydler – Drums
  87. Sclavunos – Brushed Snare
  88. "O'Malley's Bar Pt. 3"
  89. Cave – Vocals
  90. Harvey – Piano
  91. Savage – Organ
  92. Casey – Bass
  93. Wydler – Drums
  94. Sclavunos – Brushed Snare
  95. "Time Jesum Transeuntum Et Non Riverentum"
  96. Cave – Vocals, Piano
  97. Ellis – Violin
  98. Mick Turner – Guitar
  99. Jim White – Drums
  100. "O'Malley's Bar Reprise"
  101. Cave – Vocals
  102. Harvey – Piano
  103. Savage – Organ
  104. Casey – Bass
  105. Wydler – Drums
  106. Sclavunos – Brushed Snare
  107. "Red Right Hand" (Scream 3 version)
  108. Cave – Vocals, Hammond organ
  109. Harvey – Guitar
  110. Bargeld – Guitar
  111. Casey – Bass
  112. Wydler – Drums, Percussion
  113. Adamson – Orchestral Arrangement

;Disc 3

  1. "Little Empty Boat"
  2. Cave – Vocals, Piano
  3. Harvey – Guitar, Organ
  4. Bargeld – Guitar, Backing vocals
  5. Casey – Bass, Backing vocals
  6. Wydler – Drums, Backing vocals
  7. Sclavunos – Percussion
  8. Ellis – Looped Violin
  9. "Right Now I'm A-Roaming"
  10. Cave – Vocals, Keyboard
  11. Harvey – Organ, Guitar, Backing vocals
  12. Bargeld – Guitar, Backing vocals
  13. Savage – Piano
  14. Casey – Bass
  15. Wydler – Drums
  16. Sclavunos – Bells
  17. "Come Into My Sleep"
  18. Cave – Vocals
  19. Harvey – Xylophone, Guitar, Organ
  20. Bargeld – Guitar
  21. Savage – Piano
  22. Casey – Bass
  23. Wydler – Drums
  24. Sclavunos – Bongos
  25. "Black Hair" (band version)
  26. Cave – Vocals, Piano
  27. Sclavunos – Organ
  28. Casey – Bass
  29. Wydler – Drums
  30. "Babe, I Got You Bad"
  31. Cave – Vocals
  32. Harvey – Guitar, Organ
  33. Bargeld – Guitar
  34. Savage – Piano
  35. Casey – Bass
  36. Wydler – Drums
  37. Sclavunos – Tambourine
  38. "Sheep May Safely Graze"
  39. Cave – Vocals
  40. Harvey – Guitar
  41. Bargeld – Guitar
  42. Savage – Piano
  43. Casey – Bass
  44. "Opium Tea"
  45. Cave – Vocals, Hammond organ
  46. Savage – Piano
  47. Casey – Bass
  48. Wydler – Drums
  49. "Grief Came Riding"
  50. Cave – Vocals, Piano
  51. Harvey – Guitar
  52. Casey – Bass
  53. Wydler – Drums
  54. Kate & Anna McGarrigle – Backing vocals
  55. "Bless His Ever Loving Heart"
  56. Cave – Vocals, Piano
  57. Harvey – Guitar
  58. Ellis – Violin
  59. Casey – Bass
  60. Wydler – Drums
  61. Kate & Anna McGarrigle – Backing vocals
  62. "Good Good Day"
  63. Cave – Vocals, Piano
  64. Harvey – Guitar
  65. Bargeld – Guitar
  66. Casey – Bass
  67. Wydler – Drums
  68. Sclavunos – Tambourine
  69. "Little Janey's Gone"
  70. Cave – Vocals, Piano
  71. Harvey – Guitar
  72. Bargeld – Guitar
  73. Ellis – Violin
  74. Casey – Bass
  75. Wydler – Drums
  76. "I Feel So Good"
  77. Cave – Vocals, Hammond organ
  78. Harvey – Guitar, Backing vocals
  79. Savage – Piano, Backing vocals
  80. Sclavunos – Drums
  81. "Shoot Me Down"
  82. Cave – Vocals, Piano
  83. Harvey – Guitar, Hammond organ
  84. Ellis – Violin
  85. Casey – Bass
  86. Wydler – Drums
  87. The Blockheads – Backing vocals
  88. "Swing Low"
  89. Cave – Vocals, Hammond organ
  90. Harvey – Guitar, Hammond
  91. Bargeld – Pedal Steel Guitar
  92. Ellis – Violin
  93. Casey – Bass
  94. Wydler – Drums
  95. Sclavunos – Tubular Bells, Tambourine
  96. The Blockheads – Backing vocals
  97. "Little Ghost Song"
  98. Cave – Vocals, Piano, Hammond organ
  99. Savage – Vocal
  100. Harvey – Guitar, Backing vocals
  101. Bargeld – Guitar
  102. Ellis – Violin
  103. Casey – Bass
  104. Wydler – Drums
  105. "Everything Must Converge"
  106. Cave – Vocals, Hammond organ, Harmonica
  107. Bargeld – Guitar
  108. Harvey – Bass
  109. Sclavunos – Drums
  110. The Blockheads – Backing vocals
  111. "Nocturama"
  112. Cave – Vocals
  113. Harvey – Guitar
  114. Bargeld – Guitar
  115. Savage – Organ
  116. Casey – Bass
  117. Wydler – Drums
  118. Sclavunos – Shaker
  119. The Blockheads – Backing vocals
  120. "She's Leaving You"
  121. Cave – Vocals, Piano
  122. Harvey – Guitar
  123. Ellis – Bouzouki
  124. Johnston – Organ
  125. Savage – Piano
  126. Casey – Bass
  127. Sclavunos – Drums
  128. Wydler – Tambourine
  129. "Under This Moon"
  130. Cave – Vocals, Piano
  131. Harvey – Guitar
  132. Ellis – Mandolin
  133. Johnston – Organ
  134. Casey – Bass
  135. Sclavunos – Drums
  136. Wydler – Tambourine

References