The Waterboys Announce Atlantic Rain: Lost Recordings from Fisherman’s Blues Sessions

The Waterboys have unveiled details of Atlantic Rain: The Lost Fisherman’s Blues Recordings, a new collection of previously unreleased material from the band’s seminal 1986-88 Fisherman’s Blues sessions. Compiled by frontman Mike Scott, the release features 25 tracks across three discs, including extended versions and covers of artists like Bob Dylan, Prince, and The Rolling Stones. The album is set for release on 17 July 2026 via Chrysalis Records.

Discovery of the Lost Recordings

According to the band’s announcement, Atlantic Rain originated when Mike Scott reviewed approximately 80 unlabelled reel-to-reel tapes from the Fisherman’s Blues sessions. These tapes, part of nearly 400 multi-track reels totalling around 150 hours of music, contained rough notes such as “jam” or “unknown.” Scott’s archival work uncovered dozens of forgotten tracks, including original compositions and covers that had never been officially released.

Tracklist and Content

The standard Atlantic Rain package – available as both a 3CD set and 3LP vinyl edition – includes the same tracklisting. Disc one opens with a soul version of “Too Close To Heaven,” followed by “Come Back To Galway” (8:51), “The Man With The Wind At His Heels” (7:15), and “And Then The Gods” (2:…). The full tracklist features seven extended versions and previously unreleased originals such as “Light Shine On Me,” “Endless Store,” and “Man With The Wind At His Heels.”

In addition to original material, the collection includes covers of Bob Dylan’s “Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground,” Prince’s “When Doves Cry” (previously released to Patreon subscribers), and The Rolling Stones’ “No Expectations.”

Companion Release and Packaging

Alongside Atlantic Rain, The Waterboys are releasing Strange Boat, an official shop-exclusive companion EP featuring six further tracks from the sessions. Described as containing “two of them ‘new’ and four of them variations on familiar songs,” Strange Boat will be available on CD and 10-inch vinyl.

The main Atlantic Rain release includes a book with a 15,000-word essay by Mike Scott and unseen photographs from the sessions. The 3CD boxset is priced at £29.99, although the 3LP vinyl edition costs £45.99. The Strange Boat CD EP is £9.99 and the 10-inch vinyl version is £15.99.

Release Details

Atlantic Rain: The Lost Fisherman’s Blues Recordings will be released on 17 July 2026 through Chrysalis Records. Pre-orders are available via the band’s official shop and selected retailers. The release follows previous comprehensive collections such as the 2013 six-disc Fisherman’s Box and the 2017 collector’s edition, offering fans new insight into one of the band’s most celebrated recording periods.