More duets this week as it’s another when I’m busy….hope you don’t mind.
The minute I finished writing up the first five postings, I slapped my forehead for missing out today’s offering. I immediately thought about doing a piece as a stand-alone item but instead will now offer it as the overture for this week:-
mp3 : The Jesus and Mary Chain – Sometimes Always (featuring Hope Sandoval)
A duet from 1994 between the confident and outgoing Jim Reid and the reserved and insular vocalist from acclaimed American alt-combo, Mazzy Star. It’s one that the instinctive reaction should be ‘not a chance this will work’ and yet, after just one listen, such thoughts will be forever banished.
Lyrically, it’s a bit of a strange one as it hints at the way an abusive relationship might pan out.
She : I gave you all I had
I gave you good and bad
I gave but you just threw it back
He : I won’t get on my knees
Don’t make me do that please
I’ve been away but now I’m back
She : Don’t be too sure of that
What makes you sure of that
You went away you can’t come back
He : I walked away from you
I hurt you through and through
Aw honey give me one more chance
She : Aw you’re a lucky son
Lucky son of a gun
You went away, you went away
You went away but now you’re back
He : I got down on my knees
And then I begged you please
I always knew you’d take me back
He’s quite the conniving character isn’t he?
It was actually the first of what has proven to be a number of excellent duets or guest vocals involving Hope Sandoval with the likes of Chemical Brothers, Air, Massive Attack and Mercury Rev.
Sometimes Always reached #22 on its release, which outside of April Skies and Reverence, is the best chart position achieved by any JAMC single.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 