Always the Sun
"Always the Sun" | ||||
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Single by The Stranglers | ||||
from the album Dreamtime | ||||
B-side | Norman Normal | |||
Released | 18 October 1986 | |||
Format | 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl, double-7" vinyl, 7" vinyl picture disc | |||
Recorded | 1985 | |||
Genre | New wave, pop rock | |||
Length |
4:51 (Album Version) 4:05 (Single Version) | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Writer(s) | Hugh Cornwell, Jean Jacques Burnel, Dave Greenfield, Jet Black | |||
Producer(s) | The Stranglers | |||
The Stranglers singles chronology | ||||
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"Always the Sun" is a song by The Stranglers, first released as a single in October 1986, the second single from the album Dreamtime. A remixed version was released as a single in December 1990. Both versions were top thirty hits in the UK.[1] "Always the Sun" was released in October 1986 in four different formats: a seven-inch single, shaped seven-inch picture disc, twelve-inch single, and as a double seven-inch single pack.[2]
Reception
Despite radio play and much hype, it only reached number 30 in the UK Singles Chart.[2][3] However, it was a hit throughout Europe (No. 15 in France, No. 16 in Ireland) and nearly broke the Stranglers in America due to radio play. The song also reached No. 21 in Australia.
Hugh Cornwell mentioned in his book The Stranglers Song by Song that he thought it could have been as big as "Golden Brown". He recalls going to CBS for a midweek prediction on how the song would chart and was amazed at the bad news. He also wrote "We'd given CBS something great to work with and I could see in this guy's face that he knew he hadn't delivered", giving the impression that Cornwell felt that CBS was to blame for this poor position.
Video
The video for "Always the Sun" showed the Stranglers performing in a dark room, all on separate small stages with Hugh Cornwell on the ground. During the song, after Cornwell sings "Who has the fun? Is it always a man with a gun?" he takes out a gun and shoots the Aztec Sun Calendar Wheel, which then shatters.
The cover of the single (depicted on this page) shows The Stranglers band logo and the Aztec Sun Calendar Wheel glyph on a black background.
Track listings
7" Single/7" shaped picture disc
- "Always the Sun" 4:04
- "Norman Normal" 4:30
12 Single
- "Always the Sun (Hot Mix)" 4:04
- "Norman Normal" 4:30
- "Souls"
Double 7" Single
- "Always the Sun" 4:04
- "Norman Normal" 4:30
- "Nice in Nice"
- "Since You Went Away"
Charts
Chart (1986/87) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles Chart[1] | 30 |
Irish Singles Chart | 16 |
Dutch Top 40 | 42 |
French Singles Chart | 15 |
Issue with "Big in America"
The two tracks from the 7-inch single were reissued in December 1986 as half of a double 7-inch release of the band's next single, "Big in America".[2]
Sunny Side Up Mix
"Always the Sun (Sunny Side Up Mix)" | ||||
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Single by The Stranglers | ||||
from the album Greatest Hits 1977–1990 | ||||
B-side | Burnham Beeches | |||
Released | December 1990 | |||
Format | 7" vinyl, cassette single, 12" vinyl, CD single | |||
Recorded | 1990 | |||
Genre | Rock, new wave | |||
Length | 3:56 | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Producer(s) | The Stranglers | |||
The Stranglers singles chronology | ||||
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Following Hugh Cornwell's departure from the band in 1990, Epic Records decided to release a greatest hits compilation album. To promote this compilation, a remix of "Always the Sun" was released as a single in December 1990.[2] The remix consisted of extra guitar work from new guitarist John Ellis and a slight variation in the music, although Hugh Cornwell's original vocals were still used.
Like the original, the single got good airplay but this time peaked at number 29, one place higher than the original.[3] Cornwell stated in his book Song By Song that he was not angered by the remix, asserting that he was privileged that Epic Records thought "Always the Sun" was good enough to be re-released, and feeling that the band changed little of the original recordings.
Track listings
7" Single/cassette single
- "Always the Sun (Sunny Side Up Mix)" 3:56
- "Burnham Beeches" 3:40
12" Single
- "Always the Sun (Long Hot Sunny Side Up Mix)"
- "Burnham Beaches"
- "Straighten Out"
CD Single
- "Always the Sun (Sunny Side Up Mix)"
- "Nuclear Device" (live)
- "All Day and All of the Night" (live)
- "Punch and Judy" (live)
Charts
Chart (1991) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles Chart[1] | 29 |
Other versions
A live version of the song was included on the album All Live and All of the Night in February 1988.[2]
Cover versions
- 1997: Dire Straits
- 2003: Hugh Cornwell
- 2014: Get Well Soon
References
- 1 2 3 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 535. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Strong, Martin C. (2003) The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN 1-84195-335-0, p. 155
- 1 2 "Stranglers - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2016.