THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

878-The Jesus and Mary Chain-Sometimes Always.

1994-Number 22 single.

Best Bit-At 1.57. In one last ditch attempt to get on the Radio 2 playlist, they came up with this.

The Jesus and Mary Chain (see also best songs 336) were formed in East Kilbride, Scotland, in 1983, they officially split in 1999, but reformed in 2007, and at the time of writing they remain active. The original line up were comprised of the brothers Jim Reid, (singer/songwriter, and lead vocalist) William Reid, (composer, singer, and lead guitar) Douglas Hart, (bass) and Murray Dalglish (drummer.) The bands two constants have been the Reid brothers, as Hart left in 1991, then founded his own video company, while Dalglish was only a member for a few months, until leaving in November 1984, when he was replaced by Bobby Gillespie (see also best songs 724.) In total there have been 23 different band members come and go, with five official members still performing.

‘Sometimes Always’ was the first of two singles released from The Jesus and Mary Chains’ fifth studio Album ‘Stoned & Dethroned,’ from August 1994. The song was written by William Reid, with the production by William, and Jim Reid. ‘Sometimes Always’ is a very different sound to that which got the brothers signed to ‘Creation Records’ in 1983. The Reid brothers early influences included bands such as ‘The Stooges,’ (see also best songs 219) and ‘The Ramones,’ (see also best songs 707 and 102) but to my ears this track sounds like the best song Lee Hazelwood (1929-2007) (see also best songs 1010-978-367 and 124) never wrote.

As well as issuing seven studio Albums, and 21 singles with The Jesus and Mary Chain, William Reid has also released an EP as ‘William,’ in 1998, called ‘Tired of F..king.’ He has also issued a further two EP’s, and two solo Albums, between 1999-2000, as ‘Lazycame.’ Jim Reid has also released music with Ben Lurie, also a one time member of The Jesus and Mary Chain, and Romi Mori, and Nick Sanderson of the American Rock band ‘The Gun Club,’ using the name ‘Freeheat’ since 1999. He has also issued two solo singles in 2005 and 2006.

The female vocals on ‘Sometimes Always’ are sung as a duet between Jim Reid, and Hope Sandoval, William Reid has said,’We’d always liked Hope’s voice. We asked her years ago to be on one of the records, but there was never a song that suited. Then this one came along and it felt right.’ Initially William had been worried that the song was ‘A bit too cute, too light a story,’ but his worries were soon laid to rest, as he has explained,’When we recorded it, Hope and Jim sang, and they just transcended it.’

Hope Sandoval was born on June 24th, 1966, in Los Angeles, California, United States, she is a singer and songwriter. Sandoval is best known for being the co-founder, and lead singer of the American Alternative Rock band ‘Mazzy Star,’ whom she founded in 1988 with David Roback (1958-2020.) With ‘Mazzy Star,’ Sandoval has released four studio Albums between 1990-2013, and 12 singles between 1990-2014. ‘Mazzy Star’ have never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 in America, but have had three singles reach the Billboard Alternative chart, with ‘Fade into You’ peaking the highest at Number 3 in 1994. In the UK, their only top 40 entry remains ‘Flowers in December,’ which reached Number 40 in 1996. Sandoval has also issued three Albums between 2001-2016, and nine singles in the same time period with the Irish musician Colm Ó Cíosóig, who was the founding member, and drummer with the Alternative Rock band ‘My Bloody Valentine,’ together they perform as ‘Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions.’

‘Sometimes Always’ tells the tale of couple who broke up because he left her, and now he realises that he has made a big mistake, She tells him that she gave him everything, but he just threw it back in her face. He begs her to take him back, and after making him beg, she decides to give him one more chance…. Some women never learn do they.

‘Oh, you’re a lucky son, lucky son of a gun, you went away, you went away, you went away, but now you’re back. I got down on my knees, and then I begged you please, I always knew you’d take me back.’