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{{Infobox single {{Short description|1968 single by Love}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2016}}
| Name = Alone Again Or
⚫ {{Infobox song
| Cover = Alone Again Or cover.jpg
| Artist = ] | name = Alone Again Or
| from Album = ] | cover = Alone Again Or cover.jpg
| alt =
| B-side = <small>"A House Is Not A Motel" (USA) <br/> "Bummer In The Summer" (UK)</small>
| Released = January 1968 | type = single
| Format = ] | artist = ]
| Recorded = ], June–September 1967 | album = ]
| Genre = ], ] | B-side = ]
| released = {{Start date|1968|1}}
| Length = 2:49 (edited single version)<br/> 3:18 (album version)
| recorded = September 10, 1967
| Label = ]<br/><small>EK 45629 (USA)<br/>EKSN 45024 (UK)</small>
| Writer = ] | studio = ], ]
| venue =
⚫ | Producer = ] and ]
| genre = *]<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Barker|first=Emily|date=31 January 2014|title=The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time - 200-101|url=https://www.nme.com/photos/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-200-101-1421780|access-date=10 October 2020|magazine=]}}</ref>
⚫ | Last single = "]"<br />(1967)
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=16}}
| This single = "Alone Again Or"<br />(1968)
| label = ]
⚫ | Next single = "]"<br />(1968)
| writer = ]
| producer =
* ]
⚫ * ]
⚫ | prev_title = ]
| prev_year = 1967
⚫ | next_title = Your Mind and We Belong Together
| next_year = 1968
}} }}
⚫ "'''Alone Again Or'''" is a song originally recorded in 1967 by rock group ], written by band member ]. It was the opening track on the album '']'', and was also released as a single in the USA, UK, Australia, France and Holland.<ref></ref>


⚫ "'''Alone Again Or'''" is a song originally recorded in 1967 by the rock group ] and written by band member ]. It appears on the album '']'', and was released as a single in the USA, UK, Australia, France and the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://love.torbenskott.dk/singles.asp#ForeignSingles |title=Love Singles |website=Love.torbenskott.dk |date=4 March 2002 |access-date=1 October 2016}}</ref>
⚫ Versions have subsequently been recorded by an eclectic variety of bands and singers including ] (1986), ] (1993), ] (1977), ] (1990), ] (1991), ] Band (1999), ] (2004), ] (2006), ] (2007). Two demo versions by MacLean himself were released in 1997 on his album ''Ifyoubelievein''.


==Original recording by Love== ==Original version==
Bryan MacLean originally wrote the song, then called "Alone Again", in 1965 for Love's ]. However, he did not complete it until the recording of ''Forever Changes'' in summer of 1967. The song was inspired by his memory of waiting for a girlfriend, and the melody drew loosely on ]'s '']''.<ref name=hoskyns>], ''Arthur Lee: Alone Again Or'', 2001, {{Listed Invalid ISBN|1-84195-085-5}}</ref> The essence of the song is the contrast between the positivity of the tune and the bleakness of the lyrics, with the chorus ''"And I will be alone again tonight, my dear"'' finishing with a lone acoustic guitar, closing the song with the opening melody that sounds anything but ecstatic,<ref></ref> ending with an E-minor plus 2 chord. MacLean originally wrote the song, then called "Alone Again", in 1965 for Love's ]. However, he did not complete it until the recording of "Forever Changes" in the summer of 1967. The song was inspired by his memory of waiting for a girlfriend, and, according to ], the melody drew loosely on ]'s '']''.<ref name=hoskyns>], ''Arthur Lee: Alone Again Or'', 2001, {{Listed Invalid ISBN|1-84195-085-5}}</ref> The essence of the song is the contrast between the positivity of the tune and the bleakness of the lyrics, with the chorus "And I will be alone again tonight, my dear" finishing with a lone acoustic guitar, closing the song with the opening melody that sounds anything but ecstatic,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=Alone%20Again%20Or |title=Alone Again Or |website=Everything2.com |date=3 July 2002 |access-date=1 October 2016}}</ref> ending with an ] plus 2 chord.


For the recording session, arranger ] worked with MacLean, adding a string section and a horn part for a ] band whom co-producer ] had recently used on a ] album. MacLean later said ''"That was the happiest I ever was with anything we ever did as a band - the orchestral arrangement of that song."''<ref name=hoskyns /> However, Botnick, with co-producer and band leader ], remixed the track to bring Lee's own unison vocal to the forefront of the song, at least partly on the grounds that MacLean's own vocal lead was too weak.<ref name=hoskyns /> Lee also added to the mystery of the song by changing the title to "Alone Again '''Or'''". For the recording session, which took place on September 10, 1967 at ] in ], arranger ] worked with MacLean, adding a string section and a horn part. MacLean later said, "That was the happiest I ever was with anything we ever did as a band - the orchestral arrangement of that song".<ref name=hoskyns /> However, Botnick, with co-producer and band leader ], remixed the track to bring Lee's own unison vocal to the forefront of the song, at least partly on the grounds that MacLean's own vocal lead was too weak.<ref name=hoskyns /> Lee also added to the mystery of the song by changing the title to "Alone Again Or".


According to the band's guitarist ],<blockquote>Arthur wasn't even at the studio when we recorded "Alone Again". When he heard everyone saying what a great song it was, and how great Bryan's voice sounded. Arthur became jealous and decided to feature his voice on a record he had absolutely nothing to do with. To make matters worse Arthur changed the title of Bryan's song. That was basically the beginning of the end for the group.<ref></ref></blockquote>
Released as a single at the beginning of 1968, "Alone Again Or" reached #7 on KHJ on 17 April 1968<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.users.qwest.net/~oldiesloon/khj041768.htm|title=KHJ's Boss 30 Records in Southern California, Official Issue No. 146, 17 April 1968}}</ref> but only barely "Bubbled Under" the ] in May 1968, peaking on the Hot 100 on re-release at #99 on 12 September 1970. Over the years it has become regarded as a classic of the era, being ranked #436 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.


With Lee now on co-lead vocals, "Alone Again Or" became the opening track of ''Forever Changes''. It was the sole single released from the album to reach the ]. Its 1968 ] was Lee's "A House Is Not a Motel", although the 1970 reissue of the single featured "Good Times" from the 1969 ''Four Sail'' album instead.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kikEAAAAMBAJ&q=billboard%201970%20love%20%22alone%20again%20%20or%22&pg=PA78 |title=Billboard |page=78 |date=15 August 1970 |access-date=1 October 2016}}</ref> "Alone Again Or", in an edited version in early 1968, initially peaked nationally at No. 123 (and at No. 7 on both Los Angeles station ] and San Diego station ]), while the longer, original album version spent three weeks on the singles chart in 1970, peaking at No. 99, according to ]'s ''Top Pop Singles: 1955–2010''.
⚫ The song has been featured in several motion pictures, most notably two in 1996: '']'' and '']''. It also appeared at the close of the 2009 British comedy movie '']'', playing as the lead character finally breaks free of his obsessions.


MacLean's composition (as well as the recording itself) has come to be considered a classic. In 2004, "Alone Again Or" came in at No. 436 in the '']'' ] poll.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/rstone.html#500Songs| title = The Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time| access-date = 15 April 2018|work= Rock List Music}}</ref> In the magazine's 2010 version, the song ranked at No. 442.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/love-alone-again-or-201105261|title=500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 442. 'Alone Again Or'|access-date= 15 April 2018|magazine=]|publisher=Wenner Publishing}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
==Single by The Damned==<!-- linked from Gigolo (The Damned song)-->

⚫ {{Infobox single
⚫ The song has been featured in several films, most notably the 1996 films '']'' and '']''. It appeared at the close of the 2009 British comedy movie '']'', playing as the lead character finally breaks free of his obsessions. Alone Again Or was also featured in the climactic parade scene ending the last episode of season one of the 2019 Netflix series '']''.
| Name = Alone Again Or

| Cover = Damned_AloneAgainOr.jpg
| Artist = ] ==The Damned version==<!-- linked from Gigolo (The Damned song)-->
{{Infobox song
⚫ | from Album = ]
| B-side = "In Dulce Decorum (Live)" | name = Alone Again Or
| Released = 6 April 1987 | cover = Damned_AloneAgainOr.jpg
| alt =
| Format = ], ], ]
| Recorded = ]; ] 1986 | type = single
| Genre = ] | artist = ]
| Length = 3:38 | album = ]
⚫ | B-side = In Dulce Decorum (Live)
| Label = ]<br/><small>GRIM 7</small>
| released = 13 April 1987<ref>{{cite magazine |title=New Singles |magazine=] |date=11 April 1987 |page=36}}</ref>
⚫ | Producer = ]
| recorded = 1986
| Last single = "]"<br/>(1987)
| studio = ], Denmark
| This single = "Alone Again Or"<br/>(1987)
| venue =
⚫ | Next single = "]"<br/>(1987)
| genre = {{hlist|]|]|}}
| length = 3:38
| label = ]
| writer = Bryan MacLean
⚫ | producer = ]
⚫ | prev_title = ]
| prev_year = 1987
| next_title = ]
| next_year = 1987
}} }}
"'''Alone Again Or'''" was a single released by ] in 1987. They recorded it as an acknowledgement of one of their influences, Love. Boosted by multi-format releases (including the band's first ] single, which included the first release of their version of "]" on this format) and a surreal video helmed by ], the single peaked at #27 in the UK - The Damned's final Top 40 hit to date. The UK B-side "In Dulce Decorum" was recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon on 12 November 1986. "Alone Again Or" was released as a single by English ] band ] on 6 April 1987 by ]. They recorded it as an acknowledgement of Love being one of their influences. Boosted by multi-format releases (including the band's first ] single, which included the first release of their version of "]" on this format) and a surreal music video directed by Gerard de Thame, the single peaked at No. 27 in the UK, the Damned's final Top 40 hit to date. The UK ] "In Dulce Decorum" was recorded live at the ] on 12 November 1986.


] also issued the single in the ], their first single to be issued in the territory since "]" in 1981. This release added the studio version of "In Dulce Decorum" in place of the live version on the UK release. MCA also issued the single in the United States, their first single to be issued in the territory since "Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde" in 1981. This release added the studio version of "In Dulce Decorum" in place of the live version on the UK release.

===Charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Chart (1987)
! Peak<br />position
|-
|] (])
| style="text-align:center;"|27
|-
|] (])
| style="text-align:center;"|50
|}

==Other Versions==
⚫ Versions have also been recorded by an eclectic variety of bands and singers including ] (1977), ] (1990), ] (1991), ] (1993), ] Band (1999), ] (2004), ] (2006), ] (2007) and ] (2014). Two demo versions by MacLean himself were released in 1997 on his album '']''.


==References== ==References==
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{{Love}} {{Love (band)}}
{{The Damned}} {{The Damned}}

{{authority control}}


] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]

] ]
]

Latest revision as of 11:48, 4 August 2024

1968 single by Love
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Alone Again Or" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
"Alone Again Or"
Single by Love
from the album Forever Changes
B-side"A House Is Not a Motel"
ReleasedJanuary 1968 (1968-01)
RecordedSeptember 10, 1967
StudioSunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, Los Angeles
Genre
Length3:16
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)Bryan MacLean
Producer(s)
Love singles chronology
"¡Que Vida!"
(1967) 		"Alone Again Or"
(1968) 		"Your Mind and We Belong Together"
(1968)

"Alone Again Or" is a song originally recorded in 1967 by the rock group Love and written by band member Bryan MacLean. It appears on the album Forever Changes, and was released as a single in the USA, UK, Australia, France and the Netherlands.

Original version

MacLean originally wrote the song, then called "Alone Again", in 1965 for Love's debut album. However, he did not complete it until the recording of "Forever Changes" in the summer of 1967. The song was inspired by his memory of waiting for a girlfriend, and, according to Barney Hoskyns, the melody drew loosely on Sergei Prokofiev's Lieutenant Kije Suite. The essence of the song is the contrast between the positivity of the tune and the bleakness of the lyrics, with the chorus "And I will be alone again tonight, my dear" finishing with a lone acoustic guitar, closing the song with the opening melody that sounds anything but ecstatic, ending with an E minor plus 2 chord.

For the recording session, which took place on September 10, 1967 at Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood, arranger David Angel worked with MacLean, adding a string section and a horn part. MacLean later said, "That was the happiest I ever was with anything we ever did as a band - the orchestral arrangement of that song". However, Botnick, with co-producer and band leader Arthur Lee, remixed the track to bring Lee's own unison vocal to the forefront of the song, at least partly on the grounds that MacLean's own vocal lead was too weak. Lee also added to the mystery of the song by changing the title to "Alone Again Or".

According to the band's guitarist Johnny Echols,

Arthur wasn't even at the studio when we recorded "Alone Again". When he heard everyone saying what a great song it was, and how great Bryan's voice sounded. Arthur became jealous and decided to feature his voice on a record he had absolutely nothing to do with. To make matters worse Arthur changed the title of Bryan's song. That was basically the beginning of the end for the group.

With Lee now on co-lead vocals, "Alone Again Or" became the opening track of Forever Changes. It was the sole single released from the album to reach the Billboard singles chart. Its 1968 B-side was Lee's "A House Is Not a Motel", although the 1970 reissue of the single featured "Good Times" from the 1969 Four Sail album instead. "Alone Again Or", in an edited version in early 1968, initially peaked nationally at No. 123 (and at No. 7 on both Los Angeles station KHJ-AM and San Diego station KGB-AM), while the longer, original album version spent three weeks on the singles chart in 1970, peaking at No. 99, according to Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles: 1955–2010.

MacLean's composition (as well as the recording itself) has come to be considered a classic. In 2004, "Alone Again Or" came in at No. 436 in the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time poll. In the magazine's 2010 version, the song ranked at No. 442.

The song has been featured in several films, most notably the 1996 films Bottle Rocket and Sleepers. It appeared at the close of the 2009 British comedy movie Bunny and the Bull, playing as the lead character finally breaks free of his obsessions. Alone Again Or was also featured in the climactic parade scene ending the last episode of season one of the 2019 Netflix series Russian Doll.

The Damned version

"Alone Again Or"
Single by the Damned
from the album Anything
B-side"In Dulce Decorum (Live)"
Released13 April 1987
Recorded1986
StudioHammersmith, Denmark
Genre
Length3:38
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)Bryan MacLean
Producer(s)Jon Kelly
The Damned singles chronology
"Gigolo"
(1987) 		"Alone Again Or"
(1987) 		"In Dulce Decorum"
(1987)

"Alone Again Or" was released as a single by English rock band the Damned on 6 April 1987 by MCA Records. They recorded it as an acknowledgement of Love being one of their influences. Boosted by multi-format releases (including the band's first CD single, which included the first release of their version of "Eloise" on this format) and a surreal music video directed by Gerard de Thame, the single peaked at No. 27 in the UK, the Damned's final Top 40 hit to date. The UK B-side "In Dulce Decorum" was recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon on 12 November 1986.

MCA also issued the single in the United States, their first single to be issued in the territory since "Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde" in 1981. This release added the studio version of "In Dulce Decorum" in place of the live version on the UK release.

Charts

Chart (1987) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC) 27
Album Rock Tracks (Billboard) 50

Other Versions

Versions have also been recorded by an eclectic variety of bands and singers including UFO (1977), Sarah Brightman (1990), The Boo Radleys (1991), the Oblivians (1993), Chris Pérez Band (1999), Calexico (2004), Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs (2006), Les Fradkin (2007) and Sara Lov (2014). Two demo versions by MacLean himself were released in 1997 on his album Ifyoubelievein.

References

  1. Barker, Emily (31 January 2014). "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time - 200-101". NME. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  2. "Love Singles". Love.torbenskott.dk. 4 March 2002. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  3. ^ Barney Hoskyns, Arthur Lee: Alone Again Or, 2001, ISBN 1-84195-085-5
  4. "Alone Again Or". Everything2.com. 3 July 2002. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  5. Johnny Echols comment on Facebook, July 20, 2023
  6. Billboard. 15 August 1970. p. 78. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  7. "The Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rock List Music. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  8. "500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 442. 'Alone Again Or'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Publishing. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  9. "New Singles". Music Week. 11 April 1987. p. 36.

External links

Love
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Related articles
The Damned
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Live albums
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