Peace at Last is the third studio album by Scottish band The Blue Nile, released on 10 June 1996 via Warner Bros. Records.
Peace at Last | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 10 June 1996 | |||
Genre | Sophisti-pop[1] | |||
Length | 44:53 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. | |||
Producer | The Blue Nile | |||
The Blue Nile chronology | ||||
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Singles from Peace at Last | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
Happiness |
Following the reissue of their first two albums in 2012 as 2-CD deluxe editions, Peace at Last was also reissued in a similar 2-CD version on 3 March 2014.
Background
editPeace at Last was a considerable musical departure for the band, marking a shift towards a more acoustic sound.[2] Unlike their prior two albums A Walk Across the Rooftops and Hats, which featured electronic instrumentation almost exclusively, Peace at Last was primarily driven by Paul Buchanan's acoustic guitar. A gospel choir made a brief appearance on the lead single, "Happiness".
Critical reception
editReview scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [3] |
Entertainment Weekly | B[4] |
The Guardian | [5] |
The Irish Times | [6] |
Mojo | [7] |
NME | 3/10[8] |
Q | [9] |
Record Collector | [10] |
Rolling Stone | [11] |
Uncut | 7/10[2] |
Critical reaction to Peace at Last was mixed.[12] Despite some initial high praise, including a five-star review from Q, in the years following the album's release it remained largely overshadowed by A Walk Across the Rooftops and Hats.[13]
Track listing
editAll songs written by Paul Buchanan, except where noted.
- "Happiness" – 4:39
- "Tomorrow Morning" – 4:15
- "Sentimental Man" – 5:05
- "Love Came Down" – 3:35
- "Body and Soul" – 5:16
- "Holy Love" – 2:42
- "Family Life" – 5:21
- "War Is Love" – 3:33
- "God Bless You Kid" (Robert Bell, Buchanan) – 4:56
- "Soon" – 5:27
2014 Remastered Collector's Edition CD bonus disc
edit- "Soon" (Laurel Canyon Mix) – 5:30
- "War Is Love" (New Vocal Mix) – 4:46
- "Turn Yourself Around" (Bell, Buchanan) – 4:46
- "Holy Love" (Picture Mix) – 4:03
- "A Certain Kind of Angel" (Bell, Buchanan) (unreleased demo) – 5:06
- "There Was a Girl" – 5:28
Personnel
editThe Blue Nile:
- Robert Bell – bass, synthesizer
- Paul Buchanan – vocals, guitar, synthesizer
- Paul Joseph Moore – keyboards, synthesizer
Additional musicians:
- Craig Armstrong – string orchestration ("Family Life")
- Calum Malcolm – keyboard
- Eddie Tate & Friends – gospel choir ("Happiness")
- Nigel Thomas – drums
Technical:
Charts
editChart (1996) | Peak position |
---|---|
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[14] | 46 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[15] | 3 |
UK Albums (OCC)[16] | 13 |
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[17] | 48 |
Release history
editRegion | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
---|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom and Europe | 10 June 1996 | Warner Bros. | LP | 9362-45848-1 |
cassette | 9362-45848-4 | |||
CD | 9362-45848-2 | |||
United States | 11 June 1996 | LP | 45848-1 | |
CD | 45848-2 | |||
Canada | CDW 45848 | |||
United Kingdom and Europe | 3 March 2014 | Virgin/Universal | remastered 2-CD set | LKHCDR 3 |
References
edit- ^ Gross, Joe (25 February 2019). "From 'Captain Marvel' to SXSW". Austin360. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- ^ a b Thomson, Graeme (January 2013). "'Late Night Music...'". Uncut. No. 188. London. p. 59.
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Peace at Last – The Blue Nile". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
- ^ Kim, Wook (21 June 1996). "Peace at Last". Entertainment Weekly. New York. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ^ Williams, Richard (14 June 1996). "CD of the week: The Blue Nile, back at last". The Guardian. London.
- ^ Courtney, Kevin (28 February 2014). "The Blue Nile: Peace at Last". The Irish Times. Dublin. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- ^ Doyle, Tom (April 2014). "The Blue Nile: Peace at Last". Mojo. No. 245. London.
- ^ Beaumont, Mark (8 June 1996). "Blue Nile – Peace At Last". NME. London. Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- ^ Maconie, Stuart (July 1996). "The Blue Nile: Peace at Last". Q. No. 118. London. p. 117.
- ^ Staunton, Terry (March 2014). "Peace At Last | The Blue Nile". Record Collector. No. 425. London. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- ^ Diehl, Matt (27 June 1996). "The Blue Nile: Peace At Last". Rolling Stone. New York. Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
- ^ Kelly, Jennifer (30 January 2013). "At the Source of the Blue Nile: An Interview with Paul Buchanan". PopMatters. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ^ Larkin, Colin, ed. (2011). "Blue Nile". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
- ^ "Charts.nz – The Blue Nile – Peace at Last". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- ^ "Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. 29 June 1996. Retrieved 7 January 2022.