Always the Sun

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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.

Contents

[edit] 1986 single

"Always the Sun"
Single by The Stranglers
from the album Dreamtime
B-side Norman Normal
Released 18 October 1986[citation needed]
Format 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl, double-7" vinyl, 7" vinyl picture disc
Recorded 1985
Genre New Wave
Length 4:51 (Album Version)
4:05 (Single Version)
Label Epic
Writer(s) Hugh Cornwell, Jean Jacques Burnel, Dave Greenfield, Jet Black
Producer The Stranglers
The Stranglers singles chronology
"Nice in Nice"
(1986)		 "Always the Sun"
(1986)		 "Big in America"
(1986)

"Always the Sun" was released in October 1986 in four different formats: a seven-inch single, shaped seven-inch picture disc, tewlve-inch single, and as a double seven-inch single pack.[1]

[edit] Reception

Despite radio play and much hype, it only reached number 30 in the UK singles chart.[1][2] However, it was a hit throughout Europe (#15 in France, #16 in Ireland) and nearly broke the Stranglers in America due to radio play. The song also reached #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 Hugh felt that CBS was somewhat to blame for this poor position.

[edit] Video

The video for Always the Sun show the Stranglers performing in a dark room, all on separate small stages with Hugh on the ground.

During the song, after Hugh sings "Who has the fun? Is it always a man with a gun?" Hugh takes out a gun and shoots a badge which then shatters.

Similarly, after Hugh sings "Who gets the job of pushing the knob?" he presses a button and a blinding white light engulfs the screen. The video ends as the band walk up stairs, over a small mountain-like obstacle into the sunlight. Hugh was involved in making the music video for Always the Sun, off-screen as well as on-screen. When the video was finished the rest of the band thought it was terrible, leading to a conflict between Hugh and the rest of the band[citation needed].

The cover of the single (depicted on this page) shows The Stranglers band logo and the famous Aztec Sun Calendar Wheel glyph on a black background.

[edit] 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"

[edit] Charts

Chart (1986/87) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 30
Irish Singles Chart 16
Dutch Top 40 42
French Singles Chart 15

[edit] 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".[1]

[edit] 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 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. To promote this compilation, a remix of "Always the Sun" was released as a single in December 1990.[1] 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] Hugh 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 very little of the original recordings.

[edit] 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)

[edit] Charts

Chart (1991) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 29

[edit] Other versions

A live version of the song was included on the album All Live and All of the Night in February 1988.[1] Another live version recorded by the band after Cornwell and Jet Black had left the band was included on the 1993 album Stranglers in the Night.[1]

[edit] Cover versions

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Strong, Martin C. (2003) The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN 1-84195-335-0, p. 155
  2. ^ "Always The Sun", Chart Stats, retrieved 2011-06-03
  3. ^ "Always The Sun {1991}", Chart Stats, retrieved 2011-06-03
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