Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-07-19
Atlantic Rain—The Lost Fisherman’s Blues Recordings, a collection of previously unheard music from The Waterboys’ classic Fisherman’s Blues era, is available now via Chrysalis Records in 3CD, 3LP and digital editions.
The Waterboys have also released a new lyric video for the collection’s focus track, “Light Shine On Me.”
Watch the “Light Shine On Me” lyric video
Consisting of 25 tracks, Atlantic Rain contains long-lost music recorded during the prodigious sessions for Fisherman’s Blues between 1986 and 1988.
During this period, The Waterboys recorded almost 400 multi-track reels of music, many running at half-speed in order to fit more music onto each tape. Around one-fifth of those reels had no song titles written on them, only notes such as “instrumental,” “unknown,” “soundcheck” or “jam.”
Band leader Mike Scott finally went through those mysterious tapes in 2024 and 2025 and discovered many long-forgotten, release-worthy performances. Among them are previously unheard songs including “Come Back To Galway,” “Light Shine On Me” and “Endless Store,” the epic “The Man With The Wind At His Heels,” and covers of songs by Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie and Willie Nelson.
These and many other lost recordings have been collected for Atlantic Rain, which serves as a companion to the six-disc Fisherman’s Box, released in 2013 and thought at the time to be the final word on the Fisherman’s Blues sessions.
Upon its original release in 1988, Fisherman’s Blues marked a major change in direction for The Waterboys following the band’s early alternative rock albums. After relocating to Ireland, the group embraced roots, country and Celtic music.
As Atlantic Rain demonstrates, the palette also included soul, old-time gospel and ecstatic instrumental explorations. Fisherman’s Blues was met with bemusement, delight and anger upon its release, depending on the listener’s perspective, and went on to become the band’s biggest-selling album.
Atlantic Rain—The Lost Fisherman’s Blues Recordings is available on 3CD, 3LP and digital editions, with the same track listing across all configurations. The package includes a 54-page deluxe book featuring contextual notes and track-by-track commentary from Mike Scott.
Atlantic Rain Track Listing:
1. “Too Close To Heaven” (soul version) – 5:32
2. “Come Back To Galway” – 8:51
3. “The Man With The Wind At His Heels” – 7:15
4. “And Then The Gods” – 2:47
5. “Light Shine On Me” – 3:14
6. “Endless Store” – 5:39
7. “This Land Is Your Land” (studio version) – 4:55
8. “Saints And Angels” (1988 version) – 4:41
9. “I Can’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore” – 2:35
10. “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” – 3:54
11. “Honky Tonkin’” – 2:04
12. “No Expectations” – 3:03
13. “When Doves Cry” – 3:16
14. “Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground” – 4:59
15. “Killing My Heart” (full length) – 5:27
16. “Bob And Anto’s Soundcheck” – 1:07
17. “We Will Not Be Lovers” (live take) – 7:58
18. “Lost Highway” (double version) – 7:59
19. “The Good Ship Sirius / The Ship In Full Sail” – 2:31
20. “Mister Saxman” – 4:11
21. “The Waves” – 6:36
22. “The Last Jam” (long version) – 6:12
23. “Night Falls On Windmill Lane” – 1:18
24. “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” – 13:27
25. “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)” – 6:54
Following the release, The Waterboys will head out for a series of arena dates in summer 2026 under the banner The Fisherman’s Blues Revue.
The shows will celebrate and explore the music of the Fisherman’s Blues era and will feature Americana singer-songwriter Steve Earle, who will perform his own songs while adding vocals, guitar and mandolin to Waterboys material.
The ensemble will also include longtime Waterboys fiddler Steve Wickham and Fisherman’s Blues flautist Colin Blakey. Other band members include Brother Paul on organ, Famous James on piano, Aongus Ralston on bass, Eamon Ferris on drums and Norwegian lap-steel guitarist Roar Øien.
The Waterboys 2026 Eire and UK Dates:
August 29 – Glasgow, Scotland – OVO Hydro
September 5 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena
September 12 – London, England – The O2
Stream or purchase Atlantic Rain:
Listen and purchase here
More information:
MikeScottWaterboys.com
