ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN SINGLES : #099

aka The Vinyl Villain incorporating Sexy Loser

# 099: The Sundays – ‘Can’t Be Sure’ (Rough Trade Records ’89)

Dear friends,

The Sugarcubes last earlier this week, The Sundays today: weren’t the late 80’s just awesome for those of us who got easily aroused? I mean, come on: Harriet Wheeler … she was just perfect, wasn’t she?

It’s just coincidental that (alphabetically) The Sundays follow The Sugarcubes in my singles box, but in hindsight it’s hard to say which band – or better singer – I adored more back then. Obviously, at the end of the day, such a comparison is rather fruitless, the same is true for the comparisons which were made at the time when ‘Can’t Be Sure’ was released. The music papers got mad about the band instantly, rightly so, of course, but all the time there were comparisons between The Sundays and a) The Smiths or b) The Cocteau Twins. I never thought this was accurate, I mean what did Harriet Wheeler have in common with Morrissey‘s huge ego, manifested in his singing style? Nothing. The same is true of Elizabeth Fraser: as great as The Cocteau Twins once were, they had painted themselves into a kind of drama corner by then – and it seemed to me as if there was no clever way for them to get out of it again. Quite unlike The Sundays …

It is fair to say though that The Sundays’ guitar playing might show some Smiths-/Marr influence, but that’s true for many late 80s artists, so why bother? As usual, it’s the song itself which counts – not how and why it was made.

‘Can’t Be Sure’ was released a full year before the debut album, and boy, it was a very long year of waiting after this masterpiece of a single, I can tell you! Its music may be as simple as it can get, but what it makes so special to me is the absolutely untraditional way of its structure, verses merge into another, they have different lengths – plus there is Harriet’s wonderful voice. Mind you, her going “Nnn—aah!” after the instrumental break alone is all I needed in life back then! Still makes me shiver, a hundred years later!

Then, when you’ve calmed down a bit on this, at 2:30, one minute before the song is over, the drums kick in – and passion gets a new definition: one fact why this tune is simply wonderful:

 

mp3: The Sundays – Can’t Be Sure

Two albums followed the debut, and then in ’97, literally overnight, The Sundays were no more. Harriet Wheeler, in a true Syd Barrett-style, disappeared from the face of the earth and was never seen again. Family matters, that’s what was assumed at the time.

The great Blogmeister from the ever-wonderful ‘Needle Time’ recently featured The Sundays’ debut album, the post was titled ‘The Harriet Wheeler Appreciation Society’. I’m all for this, if Blogmeister is the chairman, please, at least, let me be the CEO!

Hariet Wheeler, where are you?

Enjoy and take good care,

Dirk

 

 

Dirk

PS : JC adds……

Final chance to redirect you to this recent post, featuring the June book of the month, and the opportunity to win a copy as I’m running a competition. Closing date is 30 June.  Good luck!!!!