Alice (The Sisters of Mercy song)

Last updated
"Alice"
The Sisters of Mercy - Alice cover.jpg
Single by The Sisters of Mercy
B-side "Floorshow"
Released21 November 1982
Genre
Length3:35
Label Merciful Release
Songwriter(s) Andrew Eldritch
Producer(s) John Ashton
The Sisters of Mercy singles chronology
"Body Electric"
(1982)
"Alice"
(1982)
"Anaconda"
(1983)

"Alice" is a song by the British rock band the Sisters of Mercy, written by vocalist Andrew Eldritch. The song was released as a non-album single by the band's own label by Merciful Release, on 21 November 1982. It was re-released in March 1983 as a 12" EP.

Contents

Recording

After one week of pre-production at Andrew Eldritch's flat in Leeds, four tracks were recorded over two weekends with producer John Ashton of the Psychedelic Furs at Kenny Giles's studio in Bridlington: "Alice", "Floorshow", Stooges cover "1969" and the unreleased "Good Things". [1] The same four songs had been previously recorded for a BBC radio session in August 1982. [2]

"Alice" and "Floorshow" were released as the band's third 7" single on 21 November 1982. [3]

Alice (EP)

Alice
The Sisters of Mercy - Alice cover.jpg
EP by
ReleasedMarch 1983
Recorded1982
Genre
Length17:12
Label
Producer John Ashton
The Sisters of Mercy chronology
Alice
(1983)
The Reptile House E.P.
(1983)
Singles from Alice
  1. "Alice/Floorshow"
    Released: November 1982

With two additional tracks, "1969" and the new recording "Phantom", the 12" EP Alice was released in March 1983.

Ashton financed a US release (the band's first) of the 12" EP on Island Park, New York label Brain Eater Records. [4] [5]

The EP was never released as a stand-alone CD, but was included on the Some Girls Wander by Mistake collection.

Track listing

7" single (1982)

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Alice" Andrew Eldritch Eldritch3:35
2."Floorshow"Eldritch Craig Adams, Eldritch, Gary Marx 3:41

12" EP (1983)

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Alice"EldritchEldritch3:35
2."Floorshow"EldritchAdams, Eldritch, Marx3:41
3."Phantom"InstrumentalAdams, Marx7:11
4."1969" (Originally performed by the Stooges) James Osterberg Dave Alexander, Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton, Osterberg2:45

Personnel

Artist commentary

References

  1. 1 2 Dave Thompson: Beautiful Chaos. The Psychedelic Furs. Helter Skelter Publishing 2004, page 108.
  2. "Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 25/08/1982 Sisters Of Mercy". BBC. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  3. George Gimarc: Punk Diary. Backbeat Books 2005, page 684.
  4. "The Sisters of Mercy Ultimate Resource Guide - Official Releases". Ultimatesistersguide.org. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  5. "The Sisters Of Mercy - Alice". Discogs.com. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  6. David Quantick: New Boots And Panzers, New Musical Express, 15 December 1990, page 30.
  7. "Two sisters, at our mercy! (part one)". Ultimatesistersguide.org. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  8. "Two sisters, at our mercy! (part two)". Ultimatesistersguide.org. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  9. Gary Marx interview, Myheartland website, 6 July 2003