Susannah's Still Alive

"Susannah's Still Alive" ("Suzanah's Still Alive" on the original UK release) is a song by Dave Davies, released for his second solo single. The recording featured all of the Kinks' members as his backing band. It was a hit (peaking at #20 in the UK)[4] but it did not live up to the expectations of Davies' last single "Death of a Clown", which was a Top 5 hit.[4] It failed to chart in the US, but was a significant success in Europe, reaching #10 in the Netherlands, #27 in Germany, #18 in Belgium and #18 in Sweden.[4] Although it was never featured on an LP, its B-side "Funny Face" was included on the Kinks' 1967 album Something Else by the Kinks.

"Susannah's Still Alive"
West German picture sleeve
Single by Dave Davies
B-side"Funny Face"
Released24 November 1967
RecordedOctober 1967[1]
StudioPye, London
GenrePop,[2] folk pop[3]
Length2:22
LabelPye
Songwriter(s)Dave Davies
Producer(s)Ray Davies
Dave Davies singles chronology
"Death of a Clown"
(1967)
"Susannah's Still Alive"
(1967)
"Lincoln County"
(1968)

Although all original UK singles used the spelling 'Suzanah', in many other countries and on later compilation albums Suzannah or Susannah was used.

Personnel

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According to band researcher Doug Hinman:[5]

The Kinks

Additional musician

Cardiacs version

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"Susannah's Still Alive"
 
Single by Cardiacs
Released5 September 1988[7]
RecordedSummer 1988
StudioThe Slaughterhouse (Yorkshire)
LabelAlphabet Business Concern
Songwriter(s)Dave Davies
Producer(s)Tim Smith
Cardiacs singles chronology
"Is This the Life"
(1988)
"Susannah's Still Alive"
(1988)
"Night Tracks (The Janice Long Session)"
(1988)

"Susannah's Still Alive" is the fourth single and only cover version ever recorded by Cardiacs. As well as being released as a single, the track was also on the Kinks tribute album, Shangri-La - A Tribute to The Kinks.

Personnel

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Credits adapted from the 12" liner notes.[8] Personnel according to Eric Benac:[9]

Technical

  • Tim Smith – production
  • Roger Tebbutt – production assistance, engineering

Locations

  • Recorded at the Slaughterhouse in Yorkshire, England in the Summer 1988
  • "Blind in Safety and Leafy in Love" recorded under the bed

References

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  1. ^ Hinman 2004, pp. 105, 107.
  2. ^ Smith 2011, p. 10.
  3. ^ Cobb, Cam (May 2022). "Perfect Stranger". Shindig!. Silverback.
  4. ^ a b c Emlen, Dave. "The Kinks' Chart Positions". Kindakinks.net. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  5. ^ Hinman 2004, p. 107.
  6. ^ Smith 2011, pp. 10, 23.
  7. ^ "Susannah's Still Alive Flyer -". 2 August 2014.
  8. ^ "Susannah's Still Alive" (liner notes). Cardiacs. Alphabet Business Concern. 5 September 1988. ALPH 009.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Benac, Eric (27 August 2021). The Cardiacs: Every Album, Every Song. On Track. Sonicbond Publishing. p. 157. ISBN 978-1-78952-131-3.

Sources

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  • Hinman, Doug (2004). The Kinks: All Day and All of the Night: Day-by-Day Concerts, Recordings and Broadcasts, 1961–1996. San Francisco, California: Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-0-87930-765-3.
  • Smith, Russell (2011). Hidden Treasures (Liner notes). Dave Davies. Universal UMC. 277 765-3.
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