Temple of Love (The Sisters of Mercy song)

Last updated
"Temple of Love"
Temple of Love 1983.jpeg
Single by The Sisters of Mercy
B-side
  • "Heartland"
  • "Gimme Shelter"
Released7 October 1983
Recorded1983
Genre
Length
  • 7:44 (12-inch)
  • 3:52 (7-inch)
Label Merciful Release
Songwriter(s) Andrew Eldritch
Producer(s) Andrew Eldritch
The Sisters of Mercy singles chronology
"Anaconda"
(1983)
"Temple of Love"
(1983)
"Body and Soul"
(1984)

"Temple of Love" is a song by English rock band The Sisters of Mercy, released as a non-album single in 1983.

Contents

After being out of print for years, the song was re-recorded in 1992 as "Temple of Love (1992)" featuring Israeli singer Ofra Haza. This version became the band's biggest hit in its native United Kingdom, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached the top five in Germany, the top 20 in Austria and Ireland, and the top 25 in Sweden.

Background

"Temple of Love", written by the band's lead singer Andrew Eldritch, was the fifth single released by The Sisters of Mercy. It did not chart on the United Kingdom's main singles chart, but it reached number one for a week on the UK Indie Chart and stayed on the chart for 36 weeks. [2] [3]

"Temple of Love (1992)"
Temple of Love 1992.jpeg
Single by The Sisters of Mercy
B-side
  • "I Was Wrong"
  • "Vision Thing"
  • "When You Don't See Me"
Released20 April 1992
Recorded1992
Genre
Length
  • 8:05
  • 4:40 (7-inch)
Label Merciful Release
Songwriter(s) Andrew Eldritch
Producer(s) Andrew Eldritch, Ian Stanley
The Sisters of Mercy singles chronology
"When You Don't See Me"
(1991)
"Temple of Love (1992)"
(1992)
"Under the Gun"
(1993)

"Temple of Love (1992)"

Following the release of the band's third album Vision Thing in 1990, there appeared to be no plans for a new record anytime soon, leading the band's record label Merciful Release to reissue the band's early non-album singles and B-sides, which had been out of print at this point, on the compilation Some Girls Wander by Mistake . This included the extended 12-inch version of the original "Temple of Love" recording. In conjunction with this release, The Sisters of Mercy also recorded a new version of "Temple of Love" featuring Israeli singer Ofra Haza, whom Eldritch was a longtime fan of. [4]

"Temple of Love (1992)" did not appear on Some Girls Wander by Mistake, but it did appear on The Sisters of Mercy's greatest hits album A Slight Case of Overbombing , released a year later in 1993. [2] It was produced by Eldritch, and additional production credits were given to Ian Stanley, the former Tears for Fears keyboardist.

The song does appear on the 2017 deluxe reissue of Some Girls Wander by Mistake. [5]

Track listing

CD: Merciful Release / MR53CD
No.TitleLength
1."Temple of Love (1992)"8:05
2."I Was Wrong (American Fade)"3:12
3."Vision Thing (Canadian Club Remix)"7:32
4."When You Don't See Me (German Release)"4:45

Charts

Weekly charts

"Temple of Love"

Chart (1983)Peak
position
UK Indie Chart (Official Charts Company) [6] 1

"Temple of Love (1992)"

Chart (1992)Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [7] 16
Germany (GfK) [8] 5
Ireland (IRMA) [9] 15
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [10] 24
UK Singles (OCC) [11] 3

Year-end charts

"Temple of Love (1992)"

Chart (1992)Peak
position
Germany (Official German Charts) [12] 20

Sampling

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ofra Haza</span> Israeli singer (1957–2000)

Ofra Haza was an Israeli singer, songwriter, and actress, commonly known in the Western world as "the Madonna of the East", or "the Israeli Madonna". Her voice has been described as a "tender" mezzo-soprano. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Haza at number 186 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sisters of Mercy</span> English rock band

The Sisters of Mercy are an English rock band formed in Leeds in 1980. After achieving early underground fame, the band experienced a commercial breakthrough in the mid-1980s, sustaining their success until the early 1990s, when they halted the release of new records in protest against their record company, WEA. Currently, although the band operates primarily as a touring outfit, they continue to perform new and unreleased music live.

<i>Floodland</i> (album) 1987 studio album by the Sisters of Mercy

Floodland is the second studio album by the English gothic rock band the Sisters of Mercy. It was released on 16 November 1987, through Merciful Release internationally and distributed by WEA, with Elektra Records handling the United States release. After the release of the band's debut studio album, First and Last and Always (1985), members Craig Adams and Wayne Hussey left to form the Mission, causing the dissolution of the Sisters of Mercy. As a result, band frontman Andrew Eldritch formed a side project known as the Sisterhood. After the first Sisterhood album was received negatively overall, Eldritch restarted the Sisters of Mercy and hired the Sisterhood member Patricia Morrison for the recording of a new album.

<i>First and Last and Always</i> 1985 studio album by the Sisters of Mercy

First and Last and Always is the debut studio album by English gothic rock band the Sisters of Mercy, first released on 11 March 1985 through the band's Merciful Release label. Prior to recording sessions for a debut album, the band started off by releasing multiple extended plays and singles from 1980 through 1984. Guitarist Ben Gunn departed the band in October 1983 and was subsequently replaced by Dead or Alive member Wayne Hussey. This created one of the band's most iconic line-ups, comprising Hussey with frontman Andrew Eldritch, guitarist Gary Marx, and bassist Craig Adams.

<i>Vision Thing</i> (album) 1990 studio album by the Sisters of Mercy

Vision Thing is the third studio album by English gothic rock band the Sisters of Mercy. It was released on 22 October 1990 through Merciful Release and East West Records, with Elektra Records handling the US release.

<i>Some Girls Wander by Mistake</i> 1992 compilation album by the Sisters of Mercy

Some Girls Wander by Mistake is a compilation album by English band the Sisters of Mercy, released on 27 April 1992 on their own label Merciful Release, distributed by East West/Warner Music UK.

<i>A Slight Case of Overbombing</i> 1993 greatest hits album by The Sisters of Mercy

A Slight Case of Overbombing is a greatest hits album by English gothic rock band the Sisters of Mercy. It was released on 23 August 1993 on the band's own label, Merciful Release, under distribution contract with East West Records. All the tracks featured on this compilation album are in reverse chronological order of release. A Slight Case of Overbombing contains mostly remixes and edited versions of songs that the Sisters of Mercy had released by 1993, as well as two never-before released tracks: a re-recorded version of "Temple of Love" from 1992, and one new track, "Under the Gun", which was released as a single to promote this compilation album and is also the band's most recent single as of 2024.

Gary Marx is a British guitarist and musician. He was a founding member of British rock band the Sisters of Mercy and its lead-guitarist and songwriter from 1980 to 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dominion (song)</span> 1988 single by the Sisters of Mercy

"Dominion" is a song by English rock band the Sisters of Mercy. It was released as the second single from their second studio album, Floodland, in February 1988. The version on Floodland features "Dominion" as well as a coda piece titled "Mother Russia". It was written by band frontman Andrew Eldritch and produced by Larry Alexander, Eldritch, and Jim Steinman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Corrosion</span> 1987 single by the Sisters of Mercy

"This Corrosion" is a song by the English rock band the Sisters of Mercy, released as the lead single from their second studio album, Floodland (1987), in September 1987. The song peaked at number 6 in Ireland, number 7 in the UK, and number 17 in Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Im Nin'alu</span> 1984 single by Ofra Haza

"Im Nin'alu" is a Hebrew poem by 17th-century Rabbi Shalom Shabazi. It has been set to music and sung by Israeli singer Ofra Haza and others. Haza first performed this song with the Shechunat Hatikva Workshop Theatre, appearing on television on IBA's General Television in 1978. The original version was included on the 1984 album Yemenite Songs, also known as Fifty Gates of Wisdom. The remixed version was part of her international debut album Shaday of 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Love Is for Real</span> 1995 single by Paula Abdul

"My Love Is for Real" is a song by American singer and songwriter Paula Abdul with backing vocals from Israeli singer Ofra Haza. It was released on May 30, 1995 by Virgin and Captive, as the first single from Abdul's third studio album, Head over Heels (1995). Intended as Abdul's comeback single, "My Love Is for Real" reached number one in Hungary and the top 20 in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, but it stalled outside the top 20 in the United States, peaking at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, and failed to make a major impact in Europe. The song's music video was directed by Michael Haussman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">More (The Sisters of Mercy song)</span> 1990 song by the Sisters of Mercy

"More" is a song by the Sisters of Mercy, from their album Vision Thing. It was the first single from the album, reaching number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for five weeks, starting 15 December 1990. The song was co-written and co-produced by Andrew Eldritch and Jim Steinman.

American disco group Chic released a number of albums in the period 1977 to 1983. After 1983's Believer the group did not record a studio album until 1992's Chic-Ism. The band has since continued to tour and release live and compilation albums. The group's first studio album in 26 years, titled It's About Time was released in September 2018. Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards produced for a series of artists in the years 1978 to 1982. They sometimes produced under the name 'The Chic Organization'.

<i>Hits 8</i> 1988 compilation album by Various Artists

Hits 8 is a 33-track compilation album released in the summer of 1988 by CBS, WEA and BMG Records in the UK. It was released as a double LP, MC and CD. Also known as The Hits Album 8, the compilation was successful and reached #2 in the UK Albums Chart and achieved a Platinum BPI award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Under the Gun (The Sisters of Mercy song)</span> 1993 single by the Sisters of Mercy

"Under the Gun" is a song by the English rock band the Sisters of Mercy released as the single from their album A Slight Case of Overbombing: Greatest Hits Vol. 1. It is a duet featuring Terri Nunn on vocals, and was accompanied by a music video with Andrew Eldritch and Nunn. It is the only new song on a greatest hits compilation released in 1993 by Merciful Release on EastWest Records, a UK Warner Music Group label. This is the band's most recent single as of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Mission (band)</span> English gothic rock band

The Mission are an English gothic rock band formed in 1986. Initially known as the Sisterhood, the band was started by frontman Wayne Hussey and bassist Craig Adams, soon adding drummer Mick Brown and guitarist Simon Hinkler. Aside from Hussey, the lineup has changed several times during the years and the band has been on hiatus twice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sisters of Mercy discography</span>

The discography of the English rock band the Sisters of Mercy consists of three studio albums, two compilation albums, two extended plays (EPs), and sixteen singles. The Sisters of Mercy were formed in Leeds in 1980 by Andrew Eldritch and Gary Marx (guitar) and released their debut single, "The Damage Done", the same year on their own independent record label, Merciful Release. In early 1981, Craig Adams (bass) joined the band and they started to use a drum machine, which was christened Doktor Avalanche. Ben Gunn joined the band as a second guitarist by the end of 1981 and this line-up recorded four more singles and two EPs during 1982 and 1983. Guitarist Wayne Hussey replaced Gunn in early 1984 and, after building up their live reputation, The Sisters signed with WEA, who distribute the band's releases on Merciful Release in the United Kingdom and on Elektra Records in the United States. The band's next single, 1984's "Body and Soul", became their first charting effort in the UK when it reached number 46. Three more singles were released before the band reached number 14 on the UK Albums Chart with their debut album, First and Last and Always, which was released in March 1985. Following the album's release, Marx left the band, before the rest of the group disbanded in mid-1985.

<i>The Reptile House E.P.</i> 1983 EP by The Sisters of Mercy

The Reptile House E.P. is the second independent EP by the Sisters of Mercy, released on 12" vinyl in May 1983 on the band's own label, Merciful Release. The EP was never released as a stand-alone CD, but was included on the Some Girls Wander by Mistake collection.

<i>Alice</i> (The Sisters of Mercy song) 1982 single by The Sisters of Mercy

"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.

References

  1. 1 2 "Your Ultimate Goth Anthem: The Sisters of Mercy's "Temple of Love", PopMatters". October 26, 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Happy Anniversary: Sisters of Mercy, "Temple of Love 1992" | Rhino". www.rhino.com. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  3. "Indie Hits "S"". 2011-06-06. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
  4. "The Quietus | Features | A Quietus Interview | Off To Never Land: The Sisters Of Mercy Interviewed". The Quietus. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  5. The Sisters Of Mercy - Some Girls Wander By Mistake , retrieved 2023-01-09
  6. Young 2006, p. 102.
  7. "The Sisters of Mercy – Temple of Love (1992)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  8. "The Sisters of Mercy – Temple of Love (1992)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  9. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Temple of Love (1992)". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  10. "The Sisters of Mercy – Temple of Love (1992)". Singles Top 100.
  11. "The Sisters of Mercy: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  12. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1992" (in German). GfK Entertainment . Retrieved February 1, 2020.