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
Released	December 1989
Genre	Indie rock
Label	Red Eye, Polydor
Producer	Phil 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.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Down Below"	Jim Elliott Tex Perkins Dan Rumour	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.	Title	Writer(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.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Down Below"	Jim Elliott Tex Perkins Dan Rumour	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"	Bobby Bland	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

Release history

Country	Date	Format	Label	Catalogue
Australia	September 1989	12" Extended Play	Red Eye Records	REDEP 7
	December 1990	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.