The Sparrows and the Nightingales

"The Sparrows and the Nightingales"
CD version cover
Single by Wolfsheim
from the album No Happy View
B-side	"It's All the Rage"
Released	15 July 1991 (GER)
Format	12", CD single
Genre	Synthpop
Length	10:23
Label	Strange Ways
Songwriter(s)	Peter Heppner, Martin Müller, Markus Reinhardt
Producer(s)	Carlos Peron
Wolfsheim singles chronology
"The Sparrows and the Nightingales" (1991) "It's Not Too Late (Don't Sorrow)" (1992)
"The Sparrows and the Nightingales" (1991) "It's Not Too Late (Don't Sorrow)" (1992)

"The Sparrows and the Nightingales" is the first single by Wolfsheim. Written by Peter Heppner and Markus Reinhardt, it was featured on their album No Happy View.

Although the original release did not chart, the song has been covered by several artists, with the 1999 version by Mark 'Oh versus John Davies charting in the German Media Control charts for 14 weeks, peaking at number 14.^[1]

Wolfsheim single

The original Wolfsheim release of the song did not chart, but was a club hit^[2] and was widely available on compilations.

Reinhardt says the lyric was inspired by The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, "wegen der 'lautmalerischen Spannung' zwischen Raubtier und Geborgenheit gereizt." ("in the 'onomatopoeic tension' between predator and security.")^[2]

Track listing

• The Sparrows and the Nightingales (6:45) / Leading Man (2:58) (12", Strange Ways MS-11071-02, 1991)^[3]
• The Sparrows And The Nightingales (6:45) / Leading Men (2:58) / The Sparrows And The Nightingales (Radio Edit) (3:11) (CD, Strange Ways EFA-11071-03, 15 July 1991)^[4]

Mark 'Oh versus John Davies version

"The Sparrows and the Nightingales"
Single by Mark 'Oh
from the album Rebirth
Released	May 10, 1999
Format	CD
Recorded	Studi'Oh for Randy Recordings
Length	27:42
Songwriter(s)	Peter Heppner, Martin Müller, Markus Reinhardt
Producer(s)	Claus Hägele Marko Albrecht
Mark 'Oh singles chronology
"The Team On Tour" (1998) "The Sparrows and the Nightingales" (1999) "Your Love" (1999)
"The Team On Tour" (1998) "The Sparrows and the Nightingales" (1999) "Your Love" (1999)

In 1999, Mark 'Oh versus John Davies covered the song for their album Rebirth. The single peaked at number 14 in the Media Control of Germany, staying in the chart for 14 weeks.

Track listing

^[5]

1. "The Sparrows and the Nightingales" (Short Mix) (3:15)
2. "The Sparrows and the Nightingales" (Long Mix) (5:11)
3. "The Sparrows and the Nightingales" (Oliver Lieb Main Mix) (6:27)
4. "The Sparrows and the Nightingales" (D.V. Remix) (6:02)
5. "The Sparrows and the Nightingales" (Oliver Lieb Club Mix) (6:27)

Other versions

The German Gothic metal band Scream Silence covered the song in 2000.^[6]

The electronica band The Echoing Green covered the song on the 2004 edition of their album The Winter of Our Discontent.

References