Sister of Mercy (song)

"Sister Of Mercy"
Single by Thompson Twins
from the album Into The Gap
B-side	Out Of The Gap
Released	June 19, 1984
Format	7" vinyl, 12" vinyl, 5" shaped picture disc
Recorded	December 31, 1983
Genre	Pop rock
Length	4:55
Label	Arista Records
Writer(s)	Tom Bailey Alannah Currie Joe Leeway
Producer(s)	Alex Sadkin & Tom Bailey
Thompson Twins singles chronology
"You Take Me Up" (1984) "Sister Of Mercy" (1984) "The Gap" (1984)

"Sister Of Mercy" is a song by the British pop group Thompson Twins. It was originally included on the group's 1984 album Into The Gap, though a remixed version was released as the fourth single from the album in the summer of 1984. The single peaked at #11 in the UK, spending ten weeks on the UK singles chart.^[1]

The promotional music video for this single was directed by Dieter Trattmann and featured actress Frances Tomelty.

The B-side of the single was a megamix of various Thompson Twins songs titled "Out Of The Gap".

Formats

7" UK vinyl single (Arista TWINS 5)

Side A

1. "Sister Of Mercy" - 4:55

Side B

1. "Out Of The Gap" - 5:53

12" UK vinyl single (Arista TWINS 125)

Side One

1. "Sister Of Mercy" (Extended Version) - 9:26

Side Two

1. "Out Of The Gap" (Extended Version) - 8:57

5" UK shaped picture disc (Arista TWISD 5) [Shaped like a spaceship]

Side A

1. "Sister Of Mercy" - 4:55

Side B

1. "Out Of The Gap" - 5:48

7" Japanese vinyl single (Nippon Phonogram 7RS-103)

Side A

1. "Sister Of Mercy" (LP Version) - 5:07

Side B

1. "You Take Me Up" - 5:53

12" Japanese vinyl single (Nippon Phonogram 15RS-28)

Side One

1. "Sister Of Mercy" (Extended Version) - 9:26
2. "Funeral Dance" - 3:15

Side Two

1. "You Take Me Up" (Extended Version) - 7:33
2. "Leopard Ray" - 3:50

Chart performance

Chart (1984)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart[2]	11

Official versions

Version	Length	Comment
Album Version	5:04	Found on the album Into The Gap, and on most of the various greatest hits compilation CDs.
7" UK Single Version	4:55	Features a different intro with vocals, piano, and flute and was used in the music video. Only found on the UK 7" vinyl single (Arista TWINS 5) and the CD compilation, The Best Of Thompson Twins - Platinum & Gold Collection (2003 Arista/BMG Heritage).
Extended Version/12" Version	9:26	Found on the UK 12" vinyl single (Arista TWINS 125) and the double CD reissue of Into The Gap (2008 Edsel Records).
Premix Version	5:22	A unique version of the song with more of a dub sound to it, found exclusively on the compilation, Thompson Twins - The Greatest Hits (2003 Camden/BMG). Mislabeled as the 7" version

Personnel

Written by Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie, and Joe Leeway.

• Tom Bailey - vocals, synthesizer, contrabass, guitar, drum programmes
• Alannah Currie - lyrics, marimba, xylophone, backing vocals, percussion
• Joe Leeway - backing vocals, congas, Prophet V
• Produced by Alex Sadkin with Tom Bailey
• Recorded and mixed by Phil Thornalley
• "Out Of The Gap" mixed by The Swedish Eagle & Chris Modig in Los Angeles
• Photography - Paul Cox
• Artwork/Design - Satori (Andie Airfix)
• Art Direction - Alannah

References

1. "Thompson Twins - UK chart history". ChartArchive.org. Retrieved 30 Sep 2012.
2. "Thompson Twins - UK chart history". ChartArchive.org. Retrieved 30 Sep 2012.