The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)
"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine" | |
---|---|
Song | |
B-side | "This Is Goodbye" |
"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)" is a song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio.
It was originally released as a single by Frankie Valli in 1965 on the Smash label, but was more successful when recorded by The Walker Brothers in 1966. Cher and Keane have also recorded the song.
Frankie Valli
Frankie Valli recorded and released the first version of the song but his single achieved only limited success, charting on Billboards Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles chart but not making the Billboard Hot 100 itself. Although it was recorded in a Four Seasons recording session (with the other group members at that time), it was Valli's first official "solo" single in over a decade.
The Walker Brothers
"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine" | |
---|---|
Song | |
B-side | "After the Lights Go Out" |
In 1966, The Walker Brothers released their remake as a single. Retitled "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore", this version met with much greater success than Valli's. It topped the UK Singles Chart,[4] and also became their highest rating song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S., where it peaked at #13.[5] The single also hit the top 10 in the Netherlands.
In 2010, the Walker Brothers version was used in the promotional trailer for the AMC television series The Walking Dead.[citation needed]
In 2012, the Walker Brothers version played a prominent role in the film Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" | Bob Crewe, Bob Gaudio | 3:17 |
2. | "After the Lights Go Out" | John Stewart | 4:01 |
Chart positions
Chart (1966) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgium Ultratop singles chart[6] | 15 |
Canadian RPM Top Singles[7] | 2 |
Dutch Top 40[8] | 9 |
Germany Media Control singles chart[9] | 4 |
Irish Singles Chart[10] | 5 |
Norway VG-lista singles chart[11] | 6 |
UK Singles Chart[4] | 1 |
US Billboard Hot 100[5] | 13 |
Cher version
"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine" | |
---|---|
Song |
In the summer of 1996, Cher released her remake as the fourth official European single from her twenty-second album It's a Man's World. The song went to #26 on the UK Singles Chart. Her version was used in the X-Files episode "The Post-Modern Prometheus."
Critical reception
Allmusic called this song "a real highlight" and continued "epic and beautiful, complete with echoes of the Wild West."[12]
- Formats and track listings
UK CD Maxi-Single (WEA 071 CD)[13][14]
- "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)" (Trevor Horn Remix)
- "Not Enough Love in the World" (Sam Ward Remix)
- "Paradise Is Here"
- Official versions
- Main Version (5:15)
- Demo Mix (4:51)
- Junior's Arena Anthem (Unreleased)(9:55)
- Junior's Arena Mixshow (Unreleased)(6:54)
- Trevor Horn Remix (4:03)
Charts
Chart (1996) | Peak position |
---|---|
Scotland (OCC)[15] | 15 |
UK Singles (OCC)[16] | 26 |
Keane
"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine" | |
---|---|
Song |
In 2004, the British group Keane recorded a special version of this song. Unlike the original version, Tim Rice-Oxley, pianist and composer of Keane, changed the guitar for piano. He also takes the lead vocals in the second chorus, like the original version. The single was selected in summer 2004 by readers of the NME and first released as a download-only single in September 2004. The song was given for download to the War Child foundation website and one thousand vinyl copies given as a gift to some fans of Keane, who had supported and helped the band. The numbered copies each included a handwritten note from Tim Rice-Oxley, also signed by the other two members, thanking them for their support.
- Track listing
- "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"
- "Your Eyes Open" (Mo Mental Remix)
Other versions
This section needs additional citations for verification. (April 2016) |
- Jay and the Americans released a cover version on their 1966 album, Livin Above Your Head.
- American singer Neil Diamond recorded this song for his 1979 album September Morn.
- In 1981, Nielsen/Pearson released their remake as a single. It became their last Hot 100 hit, peaking at #56.
- German eurodisco band Chilly recorded a cover of this song for their 1982 album Secret Lies.
- The Croatian rock group Dorian Gray released the cover version of this song in 1984, on Croatian language, with lyrics "Sjaj u tami".
- British singer David Essex released a cover of this song on his 1989 album Touching The Ghost.
- Recorded by Air Supply in 1993 for their album "The Vanishing Race".
- British actor/singer duo Robson & Jerome recorded the song on their 1995 album Robson & Jerome.
- Kommunity FK released a cover version of the song on their 2010 album La Santisima Muerte.
Other notable artists who recorded this song include Jules Shear, Long John Baldry, Clarence Clemons, The Ides of March, The Lettermen (for their 1970 album Reflections), and Robson and Jerome. Alfie Boe and G4 have both released classical versions.
The song also features prominently in the 1991 bittersweet romance film Truly, Madly, Deeply, starring Alan Rickman and Juliet Stevenson, with Nina (Stevenson) playing the main chords in the chorus on the piano and Jamie (Rickman) playing the main riff on the bass strings of his cello, and both of them singing.[17] The singing of the song is a game the couple often played. The choice of this song in particular, given the events in the film, emphasize the poignancy of the lyric especially well.[18]
References
- ^ "45cat - The Walker Brothers - The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Any More / After The Lights Go Out - Philips - UK - BF 1473". 45cat. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ^ "Scott free". The Age. 21 May 2006. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ a b c Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. pp. 98–100. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 589/590. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 1042/3. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
- ^ "Discografie The Walker brothers". ultratop.be. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
- ^ RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Top Singles - Volume 5, No. 16, June 13 1966
- ^ "Discografie The Walker Brothers". 2003-2012 Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
- ^ "musicline.de - The Walker Brothers: Single-Chartverfolgung". PHONONET GmbH. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
- ^ Jaclyn Ward (1 October 1962). "Irish Singles chart". www.irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "Discography The Walker brothers". ultratop.be. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
- ^ Jose F. Promis (25 June 1996). "It's a Man's World - Cher | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
- ^ "Cher - The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
- ^ "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore Single". Sites.google.com. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
- ^ "Cher: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
- ^ "Truly, Madly, Deeply - The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore". Comedy.videosift.com. 10 May 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
- ^ "Symbol". Moorestuff.us. 1 April 1995. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
- 1965 singles
- 1966 singles
- 1981 singles
- 1996 singles
- 2004 singles
- Songs written by Bob Crewe
- Songs written by Bob Gaudio
- Frankie Valli songs
- The Four Seasons (band) songs
- The Walker Brothers songs
- Cher songs
- Keane (band) songs
- Jay and the Americans songs
- Neil Diamond songs
- The Lettermen songs
- Song recordings produced by Bob Crewe
- UK Singles Chart number-one singles
- 1965 songs
- Smash Records singles
- Philips Records singles
- Song recordings produced by Ivor Raymonde