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"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)" is a song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio.

It was originally released as a single credited to Frankie Valli as a solo artist in 1965 on the Smash label, but was more successful when recorded by the Walker Brothers in 1966. Cher, Keane, Doug Parkinson and Bruce Springsteen have also recorded the song.

Frankie Valli recorded and released the first version of the song but his single achieved only limited success, charting on Billboards Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles chart (#128) but not making the Billboard Hot 100 itself. Although it was recorded in a Four Seasons recording session (with the other band members at that time), it was Valli's first official "solo" single since the 1950s.

The Walker Brothers version

"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"
Single by The Walker Brothers
from the album The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore
B-side	"After the Lights Go Out"
Released	25 February 1966
Recorded	9 January 1966, Philips Studios, Stanhope Place, London
Genre	Baroque pop lounge
Length	3:02
Label	Philips BF 1473 Smash Records (U.S.)
Songwriter(s)	Bob Crewe Bob Gaudio
Producer(s)	Johnny Franz Ivor Raymonde
The Walker Brothers singles chronology
"My Ship Is Coming In" (1965) "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" (1966) "I Need You EP" (1966)

In 1966, the Walker Brothers released their remake as a single. Re-titled "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore", this version met with much greater success than Valli's. It topped the UK Singles Chart, and also became their highest-charting song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S., where it peaked at #13. The single also hit the top 10 in Canada, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Norway.

The Walker Brothers' recording has since garnered retrospective critical acclaim, and is considered the group's signature song. NME ranked the song at #357 on its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time", Pitchfork ranked it at #187 on its list of "The 200 Best Songs of the 1960s", and it is listed in the 2010 book 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die.

Usage in media

In 1990, in the movie 'Truly, Madly, Deeply', this song was sung as a cover, as well as playing a prominent role in trailer.

In 2010, this version was used in the promotional trailer for the AMC television series The Walking Dead.

In 2012, the Walker Brothers' rendition played a prominent role in the film Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. It was featured the following year in the film Stoker.

In 2013, the single's B-side, "After the Lights Go Out", played over the end-credits of the Canadian-Spanish psychological thriller film Enemy.

In 2018, the Hulu streaming service series Castle Rock used the Walker Brothers' recording in season 1, episode 6.

In 2019, the Frankie Valli version featured during the end credits of the film Midsommar.

Track listing.

Chart positions

Cher version

"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"
Single by Cher
from the album It's a Man's World
B-side	"Not Enough Love in the World" (Sam Ward Remix)
Released	August 1996
Recorded	1995
Genre	Pop rock
Length	5:13
Label	WEA
Songwriter(s)	Bob Crewe Bob Gaudio
Producer(s)	Trevor Horn
Cher singles chronology
"Not Enough Love in the World" (1996) "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" (1996) "Paradise Is Here" (1996)
Licensed audio
"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" on YouTube

In 1996, Cher released her remake as the fourth official European single from her twenty-second album, It's a Man's World. The track went to #26 on the UK Singles Chart. Her version was used in The X-Files episode "The Post-Modern Prometheus".

Critical reception

Allmusic called the song "a real highlight" and added, "epic and beautiful, complete with echoes of the Wild West."

Track listing

• UK cassette single

1. "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" (Trevor Horn Remix) – 4:02
2. "Not Enough Love in the World" (Sam Ward Remix) – 4:21

• UK CD single

1. "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" (Trevor Horn Remix) – 4:02
2. "Not Enough Love in the World" (Sam Ward Remix) – 4:21
3. "Paradise Is Here" (Album Version) – 5:04

• UK 12" single

1. "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" (Alternative Mix) – 4:02
2. "Not Enough Love in the World" (Sam Ward Remix) – 4:21
3. "Paradise Is Here" (Sam Ward US Mix) – 4:40

Charts

Keane version

In 2004, British band Keane recorded the song. Deviating from the original, Tim Rice-Oxley, pianist and composer of Keane, changed the guitar for piano. He also took the lead vocals in the second chorus, like the original version. The single was selected in summer 2004 by readers of the NME and first released as a download-only single in September 2004. It was given for download to the War Child foundation website and one thousand vinyl copies given as a gift to some fans of Keane, who had supported and helped the band. The numbered copies each included a handwritten note from Tim Rice-Oxley, also signed by the other two members, thanking them for their support.

Track listing

1. "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"
2. "Your Eyes Open" (Mo Mental Remix)

Other versions

• The Ormsby Brothers released a version as a single in 1974, which peaked at #93 in Australia.
• Neil Diamond included it as the 9th track of his 1979 LP album September Morn, with Bob Gaudio at the piano.
• Doug Parkinson recorded it with Broderick Smith on his 1981 album Heartbeat To Heartbeat. It was released as a single, peaking at #18 in Australia.
• In 1981, Nielsen/Pearson released their remake as a single. It became their last Hot 100 hit, peaking at #56.
• The song was covered on German disco group Chilly's 1982 album "Secret Lies".
• Russell Hitchcock, the lead vocalist of Air Supply, included it on his eponymous 1988 solo debut album.
• The song features prominently in the 1991 bittersweet romance film Truly, Madly, Deeply, starring Alan Rickman and Juliet Stevenson, with Nina (Stevenson) playing the main chords in the chorus on the piano and Jamie (Rickman) playing the main riff on the bass strings of his cello, and both of them singing. Singing the song is a game the couple often played.
• Jules Shear included a version on his 1994 album The Healing Bones.
• Bruce Springsteen recorded the song for his 2022 album Only the Strong Survive.

References

1. Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100 1959–2004
2. "45cat – The Walker Brothers – The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Any More / After The Lights Go Out – Philips – UK – BF 1473". 45cat. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
3. "Scott free". The Age. 21 May 2006. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
4. DeRogatis, Jim (1 January 1998). "Scott Walker". In Knopper, Steve (ed.). MusicHound Lounge: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 474–475.
5. ^ Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. pp. 98–100. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
6. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 589/590. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
7. ^ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 1042/3. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
8. "Discografie The Walker brothers". ultratop.be. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
9. RPM – Library and Archives Canada – Top Singles – Volume 5, No. 16, 13 June 1966
10. "musicline.de – The Walker Brothers: Single-Chartverfolgung". PHONONET GmbH. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
11. "Discografie The Walker Brothers". 2003–2012 Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
12. "flavour of new zealand – search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
13. Jaclyn Ward (1 October 1962). "Irish Singles chart". www.irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
14. "Discography The Walker brothers". ultratop.be. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
15. Jose F. Promis (25 June 1996). "It's a Man's World – Cher | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
16. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
17. "Cher: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
18. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 226. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
19. "Truly, Madly, Deeply – The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore". Comedy.videosift.com. 10 May 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
20. "Symbol". Moorestuff.us. 1 April 1995. Retrieved 6 April 2014.

• 1965 songs
• 1965 singles
• 1966 singles
• 1981 singles
• 1996 singles
• 2004 singles
• Songs written by Bob Crewe
• Songs written by Bob Gaudio
• Frankie Valli songs
• The Four Seasons (band) songs
• The Walker Brothers songs
• Cher songs
• Keane (band) songs
• Jay and the Americans songs
• Neil Diamond songs
• The Lettermen songs
• Russell Hitchcock songs
• Bruce Springsteen songs
• Song recordings produced by Bob Crewe
• UK singles chart number-one singles
• Smash Records singles
• Philips Records singles
• Warner Music Group singles
• Song recordings produced by Ivor Raymonde
• Song recordings with Wall of Sound arrangements