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A Small Victory

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"A Small Victory"
Single by Faith No More
from the album Angel Dust
B-side
  • "Let's Lynch the Landlord"
  • "Malpractice"
ReleasedAugust 3, 1992 (1992-08-03)
RecordedJanuary–March 1992
StudioCoast Recorders & Brilliant Studios, San Francisco, California
Genre
Length4:57
LabelSlash
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
  • Mike Patton
Producer(s)Matt Wallace
Faith No More singles chronology
"Midlife Crisis"
(1992)
"A Small Victory"
(1992)
"Everything's Ruined"
(1992)

"A Small Victory" is the tenth track and the second single from Faith No More's fourth studio album Angel Dust. It was released as a single on August 3, 1992, in Europe and 16 days later in Japan. The song was later remixed by Youth of Killing Joke. This remix was released on September 1, 1992, in Europe, and on October 29, 1992, in the US. It was their last single to chart in the Billboard Modern Rock charts, peaking at #11.[1] It was one of their lowest charting singles in Australia, only making it to #84 on the ARIA Charts.[2] When asked about the song's meaning, Mike Patton said:

It's kind of about, well my dad was a coach, so I grew up and I always wanted to win. And well, I found out that I just can't win every game… darn it.[3]

Artwork

The cover features a vintage World War 2 photograph of a soldier loading shells which originally featured on the cover of Life Magazine in September 1939.[4]

Music video

At the time it was described as their "most radio-friendly song"[5] and stylistically more of a "dance song" than their other works.[6] For this reason the band wanted a music video "visual to complement it."[6]

The video was directed by Marcus Nispel, known for his work with C+C Music Factory. On September 2, 1993, the music video was nominated for the MTV Video Music Awards for Best Art Direction, but lost to Madonna's song "Rain" off her album Erotica.[7]

Track lists

Standard track list
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."A Small Victory" (Video edit)PattonBordin, Bottum, Gould, Patton4:23
2."A Small Victory"PattonBordin, Bottum, Gould, Patton4:58
3."Let's Lynch The Landlord"BiafraBiafra2:58
4."Malpractice"PattonPatton4:03
Remix track list
No.TitleLength
1."A Small Victory"4:58
2."A Small Victory" (R-evolution 23 (Full Moon) Mix)7:21
3."Malpractice"4:03
4."A Small Victory" (Sundown Mix)5:27
5."A Small Victory" (Sundown Instrumental)6:05
6."A Small Victory" (R-evolution 23 Edit)3:53

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1992–93) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[8] 84
Finland (The Official Finnish Charts)[9] 17
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 29
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[11] 11

Release history

Region Date Format Label Catalogue # Tracks Notes [12]
Worldwide 12" vinyl Slash, London 869 823-1 1, 3, 4 Limited edition
United Kingdom August 3, 1992 12" vinyl Slash, London LASHX39 1, 3, 4 Limited edition [13]
Germany August 3, 1992 12" vinyl Slash, London 869 825-1 1, 3, 4
Worldwide 7" vinyl Slash, London 869 822-7 1, 3 Special edition with yellow vinyl
United Kingdom August 3, 1992 7" vinyl Slash, London LASH39 1, 3 Special edition with yellow vinyl [14]
Germany August 3, 1992 7" vinyl Slash, London 869 824-7 1, 3 [15]
Worldwide Cassette Slash, London 869 823-4 2, 3
United Kingdom August 3, 1992 Cassette Slash, London LASCS39 2, 3
Australia Cassette Slash, Liberation C11259 2, 3, 4
Worldwide CD Slash, London 869 823-2 All Limited edition
United Kingdom August 3, 1992 CD Slash, London LASCD39 All Limited edition [16]
Germany August 3, 1992 CD Slash, London 869 825-2 All
France August 3, 1992 CD Slash, London 869 822-2 All
Australia CD Slash, Liberation D11259 All
Japan August 19, 1992 Mini CD Slash, London PODD-1020 1, 3 Rectangular digipack

Remix release history

Region Date Format Label Catalogue # Tracks [12]
Worldwide 12" vinyl Slash, London 869 885-1 4, 5, 2
United Kingdom September 1, 1992 12" vinyl Slash, London LASHX40 4, 5, 2 [17]
United States October 29, 1992 Cassette Slash, Reprise 9 40626-4 1, 3
Worldwide Cassette Slash, London 869 885-4 4, 5, 2
United Kingdom September 1, 1992 Cassette Slash, London LASCS40 4, 5, 2
United States October 29, 1992 CD Slash, Reprise 9 40626-2 All [18]
Worldwide CD Slash, London 869 885-2 4, 5, 2
United Kingdom September 1, 1992 CD Slash, London LASCD402 4, 5, 2

References

  1. ^ "Billboard.com – Artist Chart History – Faith No More". Nielsen Company, Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2008.
  2. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  3. ^ fnm.com, FAQ page q30
  4. ^ https://www.originallifemagazines.com/product/life-magazine-september-18-1939/
  5. ^ Nathan Ammons; Tim Newman (January 27, 1993). "Talking music and zoning with Roddy Bottom of Faith No More". Public News, Houston, Texas. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  6. ^ a b Marina Zogbi (1992). "Faith No More: The Long & Dusty Road". Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2008.
  7. ^ rockonthenet.com, page on the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards, retrieved on January 6, 2008
  8. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  9. ^ Pennanen, Timo. Sisältää hitin: levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. Otava Publishing Company Ltd, 2003. ISBN 951-1-21053-X
  10. ^ "Faith No More: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  11. ^ "Faith No More Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  12. ^ a b Faith No More discography, text alternative. FNM.com. Retrieved May 30, 2008
  13. ^ "Faith No More – A Small Victory (12". #LASHX39)". Discogs. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  14. ^ "Faith No More – A Small Victory (7". #LASH39)". Discogs. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  15. ^ "Faith No More – A Small Victory (7". #869 824-7)". Discogs. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  16. ^ "Faith No More – A small Victory (CD. #LASCD39)". Discogs. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  17. ^ "Faith No More – A Small Victory (Remixed by Youth) (12". #LASHX40)". Discogs. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  18. ^ "Faith No More – A Small Victory (CD. #9 40626-2)". Discogs. Archived from the original on September 17, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2008.