Always the Sun

"Always the Sun"
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
"Nice in Nice"
(1986)		 "Always the Sun"
(1986)		 "Big in America"
(1986)

"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

  1. "Always the Sun" 4:04
  2. "Norman Normal" 4:30

12 Single

  1. "Always the Sun (Hot Mix)" 4:04
  2. "Norman Normal" 4:30
  3. "Souls"

Double 7" Single

  1. "Always the Sun" 4:04
  2. "Norman Normal" 4:30
  3. "Nice in Nice"
  4. "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)"
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
"The Sweet Smell of Success"
(1990)		 "Always the Sun (Sunny Side Up Mix)"
(1990)		 "Golden Brown (remix)"
(1991)

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

  1. "Always the Sun (Sunny Side Up Mix)" 3:56
  2. "Burnham Beeches" 3:40

12" Single

  1. "Always the Sun (Long Hot Sunny Side Up Mix)"
  2. "Burnham Beaches"
  3. "Straighten Out"

CD Single

  1. "Always the Sun (Sunny Side Up Mix)"
  2. "Nuclear Device" (live)
  3. "All Day and All of the Night" (live)
  4. "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

References

  1. 1 2 3 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 535. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Strong, Martin C. (2003) The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN 1-84195-335-0, p. 155
  3. 1 2 "Stranglers - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2016.

External links

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