Peace at Last (The Blue Nile album) explained

Peace at Last
Type:	studio
Artist:	The Blue Nile
Cover:	TBN-PeaceAtLast.jpg
Released:	10 June 1996
Genre:	Sophisti-pop^[1]
Length:	44:53
Label:	Warner Bros.
Producer:	The Blue Nile
Prev Title:	Hats
Prev Year:	1989
Next Title:	High
Next Year:	2004

Peace at Last is the third studio album by Scottish band The Blue Nile, released on 10 June 1996 via Warner Bros. Records.

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

Peace at Last was a considerable musical departure for the band, marking a shift towards a more acoustic sound. 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

Critical reaction to Peace at Last was mixed.^[2] 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.^[3]

Track listing

All songs written by Paul Buchanan, except where noted.

1. "Happiness" – 4:39
2. "Tomorrow Morning" – 4:15
3. "Sentimental Man" – 5:05
4. "Love Came Down" – 3:35
5. "Body and Soul" – 5:16
6. "Holy Love" – 2:42
7. "Family Life" – 5:21
8. "War Is Love" – 3:33
9. "God Bless You Kid" (Robert Bell, Buchanan) – 4:56
10. "Soon" – 5:27

2014 Remastered Collector's Edition CD bonus disc

1. "Soon" (Laurel Canyon Mix) – 5:30
2. "War Is Love" (New Vocal Mix) – 4:46
3. "Turn Yourself Around" (Bell, Buchanan) – 4:46
4. "Holy Love" (Picture Mix) – 4:03
5. "A Certain Kind of Angel" (Bell, Buchanan) (unreleased demo) – 5:06
6. "There Was a Girl" – 5:28

Personnel

The 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:

• The Blue Nile – producer
• Calum Malcolm – engineer

Release history

Region	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

External links

• The Blue Nile Official Web site
• The Blue Nile Fan pages Web site
• The Blue Nile's Altsounds.com Profile

Notes and References

1. Web site: Joe . Gross . From 'Captain Marvel' to SXSW . . 25 February 2019 . 7 January 2022.
2. Web site: Jennifer . Kelly . At the Source of the Blue Nile: An Interview with Paul Buchanan . . 30 January 2013 . 23 August 2015.
3. Book: Colin . Larkin . Colin Larkin . Blue Nile . The Encyclopedia of Popular Music . Encyclopedia of Popular Music . . 5th concise . 2011 . 978-0-85712-595-8.