Wellerman – The Album
| Wellerman – The Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 4 November 2022 | |||
| Recorded | 2021–2022 | |||
| Genre | Folk, sea shanty, pop | |||
| Label | Electrola, Universal, GmbH | |||
| Producer | Saltwives | |||
| Nathan Evans chronology | ||||
| ||||
Wellerman – The Album is the debut album by the Scottish singer-songwriter Nathan Evans, released on 4 November 2022 by Electrola and Universal Music.[1] It was supported by the lead single "Wellerman" which achieved global commercial success, reaching number 1 in the United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium and Germany. It was subsequently certified 2× Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI),[2] and in the United States was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), missing the Billboard Hot 100 by charting at number 116.[3][4]
Background and release
Following the viral success of his 2021 rendition of "Wellerman (Sea Shanty)", which sparked a global interest in sea shanties, Evans compiled a full album mixing traditional maritime songs, covers, and folk-influenced arrangements.[5] The release came amid renewed mainstream fascination with folk-style music, catalysed largely by social media trends.[6] Critical response to the album was mixed but acknowledged its role in defining Evans’s post-viral career direction. A live review noted that the album "is a decent start, showcasing … the artist he wants to be," describing the record as an amalgam of folk-pop influences comparable to contemporary acoustic/pop-folk acts, with a mix of traditional songs and modern sensibilities. The review commented that Evans still showed enough charm and vocal strength to carry the material, despite limited experience.[7]
In May 2021, it was announced that Evans was publishing a collection of Sea Shanties titled The Book of Sea Shanties: Wellerman and Other Songs from the Seven Seas. The book was published on 14 October 2021 by Welbeck, more than a year before the album was released. It contains 35 shanties and the stories around them.[8]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Wellerman (Sea Shanty)" | 2:35 |
| 2. | "Bully Boys" | 2:22 |
| 3. | "Bully in the Alley" | 3:29 |
| 4. | "Drunken Sailor" | 2:12 |
| 5. | "Leave Her Johnny" | 2:22 |
| 6. | "Roll the Old Chariot" | 3:08 |
| 7. | "The Last Shanty" | 2:01 |
| 8. | "Haul Away" | 1:46 |
| 9. | "Wild Mountain Thyme" | 3:04 |
| 10. | "Caledonia" | 4:25 |
| 11. | "The Banks of Sacramento" | 3:14 |
| 12. | "Shanty Man" | 3:26 |
| 13. | "Wagon Wheel" | 3:44 |
| 14. | "Wellerman" (220 Kid × Billen Ted remix) | 1:56 |
| 15. | "Drunken Sailor" (Harris & Ford remix) | 2:25 |
| 16. | "Santiano" (with Santiano) | 3:04 |
| Total length: | 45:13 | |
Notes
- The song "Leave Her Johnny" was originally on Evans' self-titled EP.
- The songs "Roll the Old Chariot", "Drunken Sailor", "Wellerman", "Bully in the Alley", and "Leave Her Johnny" were all included in Evans' book The Book of Sea Shanties: Wellerman and Other Songs from the Seven Seas, and were eventually placed on this album.[8]
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album's listing.[1]
- Nathan Evans – vocals, associated performer
- Saltwives – production; engineering; studio personnel
- Alex Oriet – composer/songwriter/studio personnel
- David Phelan – composer/songwriter/studio personnel
- Samuel Brannan – composer/songwriter/studio personnel
- Tom Hollings – composer/songwriter/studio personnel
- William Graydon – composer/songwriter/studio personnel
- Mike Hillier – mastering engineer/studio personnel
- James F. Reynolds – mixing engineer/studio personnel
Commercial performance
| Chart | Peak position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| German Albums Chart | 12 | 18 weeks on chart.[9] |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 30 | 6 weeks on chart.[10] |
| UK Album Downloads Chart | 25 | First chart appearance 17 November 2022.[11] |
References
- ^ a b "Wellerman – The Album". Apple Music. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ "Nathan Evans/220Kid/Billen Ted, Wellerman, Single - The BPI". BPI. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ "'Wellerman' by Nathan Evans". Notion. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ "Nathan Evans' sea shanty Wellerman goes to number one in UK chart". BBC News. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ "Nathan Evans, St Luke's, Glasgow – Live review". The Scotsman. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ a b Parr, Freya (1 June 2021). "Sea shanty TikTok star Nathan Evans to release The Book of Sea Shanties". Classical Music. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ "Wellerman – The Album by Nathan Evans". ACharts. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ "Wellerman – The Album by Nathan Evans". ACharts. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ "Wellerman – The Album". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 November 2025.