It'll End in Tears
Encyclopedia
It'll End in Tears was an album released in 1984 by 4AD
using the name This Mortal Coil
as an umbrella title for a loose grouping of guest musicians and vocalists brought together by label boss Ivo Watts-Russell
. When released in late 1984, the album reached #38 on the UK Albums Chart
. It features many of the artists on the 4AD roster at the time of issue, including Dead Can Dance
, as well as key post-punk figure Howard Devoto
, who sang "Holocaust", one of two covers of songs from the Third/Sister Lovers
album by Big Star to appear on the album. The other Alex Chilton
-penned track, the album opener "Kangaroo", was released as a single to promote the album. Two key songs were performed by Elizabeth Fraser
of Cocteau Twins
, including "Song to the Siren
" by Tim Buckley
; which reached #66 on the UK Charts
when released as This Mortal Coil's debut single a year before the album. Their version of Buckley's haunting original showed continued popularity in alternative record shops as it spent almost 2 years on the UK Indie Chart
. Fraser also performed on "Another Day
" by Roy Harper
, a track which had previously been covered as a duet by Peter Gabriel
and Kate Bush
for the latter's TV special. 4AD would go on to release two further albums under the name of This Mortal Coil: Filigree & Shadow
(1986) and Blood (1991).
Valentino Records, a sublabel of Atco Records
, released the album in the United States in late 1984, marking the only time a This Mortal Coil album would be released simultaneously in the UK and America. All three This Mortal Coil albums would later be re-released in America in 1993 on 4AD/Warner Brothers
, and in 1998 solely on 4AD.
4AD
4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today...
using the name This Mortal Coil
This Mortal Coil
This Mortal Coil was a gothic dream pop supergroup led by Ivo Watts-Russell, founder of the British record label 4AD. Although Watts-Russell and John Fryer were technically the only two official members, the band's recorded output featured a large rotating cast of supporting artists, many of whom...
as an umbrella title for a loose grouping of guest musicians and vocalists brought together by label boss Ivo Watts-Russell
Ivo Watts-Russell
Ivo Watts-Russell was joint-founder with Peter Kent of the English indie record label 4AD. He has also produced several records, himself preferring to use the term "musical director" to explain his role in the creation....
. When released in late 1984, the album reached #38 on the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
. It features many of the artists on the 4AD roster at the time of issue, including Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...
, as well as key post-punk figure Howard Devoto
Howard Devoto
Howard Devoto is an English rock and roll singer-songwriter, who began his career as the frontman for the punk band Buzzcocks, but then left to form Magazine, one of the first post-punk bands...
, who sang "Holocaust", one of two covers of songs from the Third/Sister Lovers
Third/Sister Lovers
Third, also issued as Sister Lovers, is the third rock album by American power pop group Big Star, recorded in 1974 and eventually released in 1978 by PVC Records...
album by Big Star to appear on the album. The other Alex Chilton
Alex Chilton
William Alexander "Alex" Chilton was an American songwriter, guitarist, singer and producer, best known as the lead singer of the Box Tops and Big Star...
-penned track, the album opener "Kangaroo", was released as a single to promote the album. Two key songs were performed by Elizabeth Fraser
Elizabeth Fraser
Elizabeth Davidson Fraser is a Scottish singer best known as the vocalist for the pioneer alternative rock group Cocteau Twins...
of Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins were a Scottish alternative rock band active from 1979 to 1997, known for innovative instrumentation and atmospheric, non-lyrical vocals...
, including "Song to the Siren
Song to the Siren (Tim Buckley song)
"Song to the Siren" is a song written by Tim Buckley and his writing partner Larry Beckett and was first released on Buckley's 1970 album Starsailor...
" by Tim Buckley
Tim Buckley
Timothy Charles Buckley III was an American vocalist, and musician. His music and style changed considerably through the years; his first album was mostly folk oriented, but over time his music incorporated jazz, psychedelia, funk, soul, avant-garde and an evolving "voice as instrument," sound...
; which reached #66 on the UK Charts
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
when released as This Mortal Coil's debut single a year before the album. Their version of Buckley's haunting original showed continued popularity in alternative record shops as it spent almost 2 years on the UK Indie Chart
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
. Fraser also performed on "Another Day
Another Day (Roy Harper song)
"Another Day" is a song by Roy Harper from his album Flat Baroque and Berserk.The track's bittersweet lyrics are written from the point of view of a man looking back with regret upon a missed chance. A chance that might have led him to a love he searches for. Eternally. He views his former...
" by Roy Harper
Roy Harper
Roy Harper is an English folk / rock singer-songwriter and guitarist who has been a professional musician since the mid 1960s...
, a track which had previously been covered as a duet by Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
and Kate Bush
Kate Bush
Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...
for the latter's TV special. 4AD would go on to release two further albums under the name of This Mortal Coil: Filigree & Shadow
Filigree & Shadow
Filigree & Shadow is an album released in 1986 by Ivo Watts-Russell's supergroup, This Mortal Coil. The supergroup consists primarily of artists attached to the 4AD label, of which Ivo was the co-founder and the owner and president...
(1986) and Blood (1991).
Valentino Records, a sublabel of Atco Records
Atco Records
ATCO Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment.-Beginnings:Atco Records was founded in 1955 as a division of Atlantic Records. It was devised as an outlet for productions by one of Atlantic's founders, Herb Abramson, who...
, released the album in the United States in late 1984, marking the only time a This Mortal Coil album would be released simultaneously in the UK and America. All three This Mortal Coil albums would later be re-released in America in 1993 on 4AD/Warner Brothers
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
, and in 1998 solely on 4AD.
Track listing
Personnel
- Elizabeth FraserElizabeth FraserElizabeth Davidson Fraser is a Scottish singer best known as the vocalist for the pioneer alternative rock group Cocteau Twins...
- vocals - Robin GuthrieRobin GuthrieRobin Guthrie is a musician best known as co-founder of the Cocteau Twins. During his career Guthrie has played guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums and other musical instruments, in addition to programming, sampling and sound processing...
- guitar - Simon RaymondeSimon RaymondeSimon Philip Raymonde is an English musician and record producer. He is the son of the late arranger and composer, Ivor Raymonde.-Career:...
- guitar, bass, synthesizer - Lisa GerrardLisa GerrardLisa Gerrard is an Australian musician, singer, and composer who rose to prominence as part of the music group Dead Can Dance with former music partner Brendan Perry....
- vocals - Brendan PerryBrendan PerryBrendan Michael Perry is a singer and multi-instrumentalist best known for his work as the male half of the duo Dead Can Dance with Lisa Gerrard.-Early life:...
- drums - John FryerJohn Fryer (music)John Fryer is an English record producer. Best known for his production work, he also branched out as a musician as one of only two constant members of This Mortal Coil , providing keyboards, strings and synthesizer sequencing for the band, and its offshoot, The Hope Blister.- Career :Starting out...
- multi-instruments, production - Martyn Young - synthesizer, bass, guitar
- Mark Cox - synthesizer
- Steven Young - piano
- Manuela Rickers - guitar
- Martin McCarrickMartin McCarrickMartin McCarrick is an English cellist, keyboardist and guitarist.He is best known for his work Siouxsie and the Banshees from 1987 until 1995. He recorded with them three studio albums : Peepshow, Superstition and The Rapture...
- cello - Gini Ball - violin, viola
- Ivo Watts-RussellIvo Watts-RussellIvo Watts-Russell was joint-founder with Peter Kent of the English indie record label 4AD. He has also produced several records, himself preferring to use the term "musical director" to explain his role in the creation....
- keyboards, production
Album Chart Placings
- "It'll End in Tears" - #38 UK Albums ChartUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
(4 weeks), #1 UK Indie ChartUK Indie ChartThe UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
(35 weeks), #42 NZRecording Industry Association of New ZealandThe Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand...
(3 weeks); released October 1984
Singles Chart Placings
- "Song to the SirenSong to the Siren (Tim Buckley song)"Song to the Siren" is a song written by Tim Buckley and his writing partner Larry Beckett and was first released on Buckley's 1970 album Starsailor...
" - #66 UK Singles ChartUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
(3 weeks), #3 UK Indie ChartUK Indie ChartThe UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
(101 weeks), #8 NZRecording Industry Association of New ZealandThe Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand...
(15 weeks), #39 NL (4 weeks); released September 1983. - "Kangaroo" - #2 UK Indie ChartUK Indie ChartThe UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
(20 weeks); released September 1984.
Trivia
- "Song to the Siren"'s 101 weeks on the UK Indie ChartUK Indie ChartThe UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
was the 4th longest chart run after 3 classics of longevity, Bela Lugosi's DeadBela Lugosi's Dead"Bela Lugosi's Dead" is a gothic rock song written by the band Bauhaus. The song was the band's first single, released in August 1979, and is often considered to be the first gothic rock record released. It did not enter the UK charts. The b-side features the song "Boys" and some versions also...
by BauhausBauhaus (band)Bauhaus was an English rock band formed in Northampton in 1978. The group consisted of Peter Murphy , Daniel Ash , Kevin Haskins and David J . The band was originally Bauhaus 1919 before they dropped the numerical portion within a year of formation...
(131 weeks), Blue MondayBlue Monday (New Order song)"Blue Monday" is a single released in 1983 by British band New Order, and later remixed in 1988 and 1995. The song has been widely remixed and covered since its original release, and became a popular anthem in the dance club scene.-Background:...
by New OrderNew OrderNew Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
(186 weeks) and Love Will Tear Us ApartLove Will Tear Us Apart"Love Will Tear Us Apart" is a song by the British post-punk band Joy Division. It was written in August and September 1979, and debuted when the band supported Buzzcocks on their UK tour in September and October 1979. It is one of the few songs in which singer Ian Curtis played guitar...
by Joy DivisionJoy DivisionJoy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
(195 weeks). - The album is referenced in Patton OswaltPatton OswaltPatton Oswalt is an American stand-up comedian, writer, actor and voice actor. He is best known for portraying Spencer Olchin in the popular sitcom The King of Queens, voicing Remy from the film Ratatouille and Thrasher from the Cartoon Network original series Robotomy.-Early life:Oswalt was born...
's stand up set on his album Werewolves and LollipopsWerewolves and LollipopsWerewolves and Lollipops is Patton Oswalt's second comedy album, following Feelin' Kinda Patton. It was recorded in Austin, Texas and released on July 10, 2007...
, on the track "America Has Spoken" when ranting about the miserable, lazy, lonely and failed mentality of someone who eats Kentucky Fried Chicken's Famous Bowls. Quote, "Is there a way that the bowl can play This Mortal Coil's It'll End In Tears album while I'm eating at two in the morning in my darkened apartment, just kinda staring into the middle distance?" - "Song to the Siren" was used as opening song by Spanish rock band Heroes del SilencioHéroes del SilencioHéroes del Silencio was a Spanish rock band from Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain, formed by Juan Valdivia and Enrique Bunbury. During the 1990s they experienced success around Spain and the Americas, and in various European countries including Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Serbia and Portugal...
in the shows of their 20th anniversary commemorative World Tour 2007. - "Song to the Siren" also appears in the soundtrack of David Lynch'sDavid LynchDavid Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
Lost Highway, although it was not included in the album. - "Song to the Siren" also appears in the soundtrack of Peter JacksonPeter JacksonSir Peter Robert Jackson, KNZM is a New Zealand film director, producer, actor, and screenwriter, known for his The Lord of the Rings film trilogy , adapted from the novel by J. R. R...
The Lovely Bones (film)The Lovely Bones (film)The Lovely Bones is a 2009 American drama film directed by Peter Jackson. It is a film adaptation of the award-winning and best-selling 2002 novel of the same name by Alice Sebold. The film stars Saoirse Ronan as Susie Salmon, alongside Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz as Susie's parents Jack and...
External links
- [ Allmusic album main page]
- MP3.com album main page