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Sometimes Always

Summary

"Sometimes Always" is a song by the Scottish alternative rock group the Jesus and Mary Chain and the first single from the group's album Stoned & Dethroned. Written by William Reid, the song is a duet between Jim Reid and Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval. The song was a moderate commercial hit in the UK while also making some noise on the alternative circuit in the US. It has since seen critical acclaim as one of the best songs from the Stoned & Dethroned album.

"Sometimes Always"
Single by the Jesus and Mary Chain
from the album Stoned & Dethroned
B-side"The Perfect Crime"
Released18 July 1994
GenreAlternative rock[1]
LabelBlanco y Negro
Songwriter(s)William Reid
Producer(s)Jim Reid, William Reid
The Jesus and Mary Chain singles chronology
"Almost Gold"
(1992) 		"Sometimes Always"
(1994) 		"Come On"
(1994)

Background edit

"Sometimes Always" was written by Jesus and Mary Chain guitarist William Reid, who felt that the song sounded like a Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra duet.[2] The band then recruited Mazzy Star vocalist Hope Sandoval to sing the female lead alongside Jesus and Mary Chain lead singer Jim Reid. William Reid commented, "We'd always liked Hope's voice. We asked her years ago to be on one of the records, but there was never a song that suited. Then this one came along and it felt right."[2]

Initially, the band worried that the song was "a bit too cute, too light a story," according to William Reid. However, as he stated, "When we recorded it, Hope and Jim sang and they just transcended it."[2] By the time the song was recorded, Sandoval was known to be a "good friend" to William, hinting at the pair's affair that would come to light. Sandoval would also appear alongside the band in the song's video, which was directed by Sophie Muller. Muller also directed the video for "Come On" and designed the album artwork for Stoned & Dethroned.[3]

Release edit

"Sometimes Always" was selected by the band as the first single from their 1994 album Stoned & Dethroned. The single was released by Blanco y Negro Records on 18 July 1994 and reached No. 22 on the UK Single Chart.[4][5] "Sometimes Always" peaked at No. 62 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart in August 1994.[6] It also reached No. 4 on the US Alternative Songs chart, the band's last song to appear on that chart.

A poster for the single can be seen in the Bottom episode "Terror" while the song itself appears in the 1995 film The Doom Generation.

Reception edit

"Sometimes Always" saw positive critical reception and was often named a highlight from Stoned & Dethroned. Ned Raggett of AllMusic wrote, "'Sometimes Always' does indeed make for a lovely little duet,"[7] while Drowned In Sound dubbed it the album's "best known and ultimately standout moment."[8] Pitchfork also named the song a "standout" on Stoned & Dethroned,[9] while Tom Breihan of Stereogum said that the song is a "classic" and that it "rules so hard."[10]

Track listings edit

7-inch (NEG70)

  1. "Sometimes Always" (William Reid) – 2:32
  2. "The Perfect Crime" (Jim Reid) – 1:32

10-inch (NEG70TE), 12-inch (NEG70T) and CD (NEG70CD)

  1. "Sometimes Always" (W. Reid) – 2:32
  2. "The Perfect Crime" (J. Reid) – 1:32
  3. "Little Stars" (W. Reid) – 3:29
  4. "Drop-Re-Recorded" (W. Reid) – 1:50

Personnel edit

Charts edit

Chart (1994) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[11] 62
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[12] 72
UK Singles (OCC)[13] 22
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 96
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[15] 4

Cover versions edit

The song was recorded as a duet by Courtney Jaye and Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses on Jaye's 2010 album, The Exotic Sounds of Courtney Jaye and by The Brakes on their 2005 album "Give Blood", duetting with Becki and Julia of The Pipettes. In 2020, Hatchie and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart recorded a duet cover.[10]

References edit

  1. ^ "The 100 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1994: The Jesus and Mary Chain, "Sometimes Always"". Spin. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Howe, Zoe (11 November 2014). The Jesus and Mary Chain: Barbed Wire Kisses. St. Martin's Publishing Group. pp. 187–190. ISBN 978-1-250-03023-8.
  3. ^ Howe, Zoe (11 November 2014). The Jesus and Mary Chain: Barbed Wire Kisses. St. Martin's Publishing Group. p. 164. ISBN 978-1-250-03023-8.
  4. ^ "Single Releases". Music Week. 16 July 1994. p. 23.
  5. ^ "Official Charts > Jesus & Mary Chain". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  6. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 28 Aug 1994". ARIA. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  7. ^ Raggett, Ned. "Stoned & Dethroned - The Jesus and Mary Chain | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Jesus and Mary Chain: Deluxe Reissues". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  9. ^ "The Jesus and Mary Chain: Psychocandy / Darklands / Automatic / Honey's Dead / Stoned & Dethroned". Pitchfork. 4 August 2006.
  10. ^ a b Breihan, Tom (4 June 2020). "Hatchie & The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – "Sometimes Always" (The Jesus And Mary Chain Cover)". Stereogum. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  11. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 144.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2613." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Jesus and Mary Chain: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  14. ^ "The Jesus and Mary Chain Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  15. ^ "The Jesus and Mary Chain Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.

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