"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.
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".
Background The theme of the song is domestic abuse. It was inspired by a news article about a person in France having murdered someone, but the court considered the act as a "crime of passion," and that it therefore couldn't be tried on the same basis of a regular homicidal murder.Tom Bailey of the Thompson Twins songfacts.com 12 August 2014
Formats 7" UK vinyl single (Arista TWINS 5) "Sister Of Mercy" - 4:55 "Out Of The Gap" - 5:53
12" UK vinyl single (Arista TWINS 125) "Sister Of Mercy" (Extended Version) - 9:26 "Out Of The Gap" (Extended Version) - 8:57
5" UK shaped picture disc (Arista TWISD 5) [Shaped like a spaceship] "Sister Of Mercy" - 4:55 "Out Of The Gap" - 5:48
7" Japanese vinyl single (Nippon Phonogram 7RS-103) "Sister Of Mercy" (LP Version) - 5:07 "You Take Me Up" - 5:53
12" Japanese vinyl single (Nippon Phonogram 15RS-28) "Sister Of Mercy" (Extended Version) - 9:26 "Funeral Dance" - 3:15 "You Take Me Up" (Extended Version) - 7:33 "Leopard Ray" - 3:50
Chart performance Chart (1984)PeakpositionUK Singles Chart11
Official versions Version Length CommentAlbum Version5:04Found on the album Into The Gap, and on most of the various greatest hits compilation CDs. 7" UK Single Version4:55Features a different intro with vocals, piano, and flute and was used in the music video. It also fades out while the group is singing, while the album version has an instrumental fade out. 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" Version9:26Found on the UK 12" vinyl single (Arista TWINS 125) and the double CD reissue of Into The Gap (2008 Edsel Records).Premix Version5:22A 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, bass, guitar, drum programming Alannah Currie - marimba, xylophone, backing vocals, percussion Joe Leeway - backing vocals, congas, synthesizer 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