"Sister Of Mercy" is a song by the British pop group

Thompson Twins Thompson Twins were an English Pop music, pop band, formed in 1977 in Sheffield. Initially a New wave music, new wave group, they switched to a more mainstream pop sound and achieved considerable popularity during the early and mid-1980s, scori ...

. It was originally included on the group's 1984 album '' Into The Gap'', though a remixed version was released as the fourth

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

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 Dieter Trattmann (b. Switzerland) is a director/editor and producer who resides in California. Life and career Dieter Trattmann was born and raised in Switzerland. In the late 1970s, he became fascinated with music and film and moved to London ...

and featured actress

Frances Tomelty Frances Tomelty (born 6 October 1948) is a Northern Irish actress whose numerous television credits include ''Strangers'' (1978–1979), '' Testament of Youth'' (1979), ''Inspector Morse'' (1988), '' Cracker'' (1993), '' The Amazing Mrs Pritchar ...

. 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 Domestic violence is violence that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage or cohabitation. In a broader sense, abuse including nonphysical abuse in such settings is called domestic abuse. The term "domestic violence" is often use ...

. 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) haped 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

Official versions

Personnel

Written by Tom Bailey,

Alannah Currie Alannah Joy Currie (born 20 September 1957) is a New Zealand artist based in London. She is a musician and activist, best known as a former member of the pop band Thompson Twins. Career Born in New Zealand and trained as a journalist, Currie ...

, and

Joe Leeway Joseph Martin Leeway (born 15 November 1955) is a British musician and songwriter, who is best known as being a member of the pop music, pop band Thompson Twins, joining the band in 1981 after being one of their Road crew, roadies. Leeway was b ...

. * Tom Bailey - vocals, synthesizer, bass, guitar, drum programming *

- marimba, xylophone, backing vocals, percussion *

- backing vocals, congas, synthesizer * Produced by

Alex Sadkin Alex Sadkin (April 9, 1949July 23, 1987) was an American record producer, engineer, mixer and mastering engineer. Early life Sadkin grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and played saxophone in Sunrise Junior High School and Fort Lauderdale Hig ...

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 Alana, Elana or Ilana is a female given name. It is derived from the Gaelic or Celtic Languages meaning “rock” (al), “noble” (ail), “beautiful” (àlainn), or “child” (leanbh). It is also considered an anglicized version of the Gae ...

References

{{Thompson Twins 1984 singles Thompson Twins songs Songs written by Alannah Currie Songs written by Tom Bailey (musician) Songs written by Joe Leeway 1984 songs Arista Records singles Music videos directed by Dieter Trattmann