Day Is Gone Explained

Day Is Gone
Cover:Day Is Gone.png
Type:single
Artist:Cardiacs
Album:Heaven Born and Ever Bright
A-Side:
  • "No Bright Side"
B-Side:
  • "Ideal"
  • "Joining the Plankton"
Released:28 October 1991
Studio:
  • Boundary Row Studios (London)
  • Studio 811 (Cowfold)
Genre:
  • Power pop
Label:Alphabet Business Concern
Producer:Tim Smith
Prev Title:Baby Heart Dirt
Prev Year:1989
Next Title:Bellyeye
Next Year:1995
Appealing to Venus
Cover:Appealing to Venus.png
Border:yes
Caption:Front sleeve of the original release
Type:single
Artist:the Sea Nymphs
Album:The Sea Nymphs
B-Side:
  • "Tree Tops High"
Released:1 June 1998 (reissue)
Studio:
  • Tree Tops High (Snakey Wood, Surrey)
  • Sea Views (Anglesey)
Label:Alphabet Business Concern (original)
Org (reissue)
Producer:The Sea Nymphs

"Day Is Gone" is a song by English rock band Cardiacs from their third studio album, Heaven Born and Ever Bright (1992). It was released as a twelve-inch single preceding the album on 28 October 1991 alongside a free 7-inch titled "Appealing to Venus" (b/w "Tree Tops High") by side project the Sea Nymphs from their eponymous debut studio album (1992). Both tracks were written by Tim Smith who solely produced the former, while the Sea Nymphs produced the latter. Musically, "Day Is Gone" has been described as a power pop song with a time signature and prominent guitars.

A low-budget music video for "Day Is Gone" was released on MTV, featuring various shots of the band in a forest. After being reissued by the Organ magazine's record label, Org Records, "Appealing to Venus" was made BBC Radio 1's daytime Single of the Week and led to the Sea Nymphs recording a Peel Session

Background and composition

The classic Cardiacs six-piece lineup dissipated following the release of On Land and in the Sea (1989), with William D. Drake, Tim Quy and Sarah Smith leaving the band.[1] Cardiacs slimmed down to a four piece on their third studio album Heaven Born and Ever Bright (1992), which displayed a harder edged, metal-leaning sound.[2] Tim Smith, Jim Smith and drummer Dominic Luckman remained, joined by guitarist Christian "Bic" Hayes. Hayes left the band before the song's release to commit to his other project Levitation and was replaced by Jon Poole.

"Day Is Gone" was composed and written by Tim Smith,[3] utilising a time signature. It was recorded at Boundary Row Studios in London and Studio 811 in Cowfold, Sussex. The song was also produced and mixed by Smith, with regular collaborator David Murder as the sound engineer. Its guitars have been described as having a power pop element with spacious production.

Release and promotion

"Day Is Gone" was released as a single preceding Heaven Born and Ever Bright on 28 October 1991.[4] The EP includes the B-sides "No Bright Side", "Ideal" and "Joining the Plankton", a concert favourite.[5] Future Cardiacs guitarist Kavus Torabi mentions in his book Medical Grade Music that he got his nose pierced the same week as the EP's release.[6] The single's cover features a moth and a daisy montage, which was also used on a T-shirt.[7] A low-budget music video for the song was released on MTV.[8] During the video, various shots of the band in a forest are shown.

"Appealing to Venus"

The song "Appealing to Venus" by Cardiacs side project the Sea Nymphs was released for free as a 7-inch single with copies of the "Day Is Gone" twelve-inch, backed with the B-side "Tree Tops High".[9] The song was written by Smith and produced by the Sea Nymphs, comprising Tim, Sarah and Drake. Org Records, the record label of the magazine Organ, reissued "Appealing to Venus" on 1 June 1998 as a CD-only EP.[10] The label had previously released the Cardiacs single "Bellyeye" and featured both bands on various compilations and gigs. As there was a dislike of Cardiacs in the mainstream music business, Org neglected to mention that the release was a reissue and that the Sea Nymphs members were in another band. They sent a pre-release tape to DJs including John Peel, who said he loved the single and asked if they could do a radio session. Mark Radcliffe and Mark Riley made "Appealing to Venus" their daytime Single of the Week on BBC Radio 1, which Organ says was "probably the most exposure since the days of 'Is This the Life?'."

The Sea Nymphs snuck around the BBC Maida Vale studio attempting to not be recognised, and recorded the Peel Session with string machines and other equipment. John Peel, who wasn't there, called up the following day to say that he was pleased and mentioned that he knew who the band members were weeks later. Because of the single's radio play, labels called wanting to sign the band and Org asked for more tracks to release, but Smith had moved on and had begun work on Cardiacs' Guns (1999).

Critical reception

Dom Lawson of Classic Rock called the single "irresistibly melodic", including "Day Is Gone" in the playlist Cardiacs: The Essential Playlist. Marco Sgrignoli of commented that might contain "the most 'straight' in history".[11] According to Organ, the reissue of "Appealing to Venus" received positive words in the press from the same people who never had a good printed word for Cardiacs.

Cover versions

The Trudy covered the "Day Is Gone" on the tribute album (2010). In , Cathi Unsworth wrote that the Trudy "spring through the [song's] cascading melodies."[12] Sam Sheppard of The Line of Best Fit said that "The Trudy bring their sunkissed pop to 'Day Is Gone', accentuating the fact that Cardiacs, despite all the fiddly bits are basically a damn fine pop band."[13]

Formats and track listings

All tracks are written by Tim Smith. All lyrics by Smith, except where noted.

"Day Is Gone"

A1. "Day Is Gone" – 3:19

A2. "No Bright Side" (Smith, Christian Hayes) – 5:15

B1. "Ideal" – 4:24

B2. "Joining the Plankton" – 3:42

  1. "Day Is Gone" – 3:19
  2. "No Bright Side" – 5:15
  3. "Ideal" – 4:24
  4. "Joining the Plankton" – 3:42
"Appealing to Venus"

A. "Appealing to Venus" – 2:35

B. "Tree Tops High" – 2:30

  1. "Appealing to Venus" – 2:36
  2. "God's Box" – 1:48
  3. "Up In Annies Room" – 3:33
  4. "Shaping the River" – 2:04
    • Bonus tracks
  5. "Little Creations" – 1:56
  6. "Camouflage" – 3:51
  7. "Hymn" (hidden track; music begins at 2:28) – 4:56
Notes

Credits and personnel

"Day Is Gone"

Credits adapted from the folded insert of the CD digipak.[15]

Cardiacs
Production

"Appealing to Venus"

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Sea Nymphs.[19]

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Reed . Nick . 20 May 2014 . Once In A Lifetime: On Land And In The Sea By Cardiacs Revisited . 10 September 2022 . The Quietus.
  2. Web site: Rowlands . Marc . 10 January 2018 . Members Of Faith No More, Voivod And Napalm Death Join Fundraiser For Cardiacs Vocalist . 10 September 2022 . Kerrang!.
  3. Web site: 22 January 2021 . Credits / Heaven Born And Ever Bright / Cardiacs . 11 September 2022 . Tidal.
  4. Web site: Lawson . Dom . 2 March 2021 . Cardiacs' best albums - a buyers guide . 10 September 2022 . Classic Rock.
  5. Web site: 21 May 2015 . free single/upcoming crowdfunder from The Duke Of Norfolk; Cardiacs and Knifeworld reissues; a new Tim Bowness album; disinterring lost Levitation . 12 September 2022 . Misfit City.
  6. Book: Davis . Steve . Medical Grade Music . Torabi . Kavus . 15 April 2021 . . 9781474619509 . London . Search "Day Is Gone" . Steve Davis . Kavus Torabi . 24 October 2022 .
  7. Web site: Kitching . Sean . 24 July 2020 . Remembering Tim Smith Of Cardiacs . 10 September 2022 . The Quietus.
  8. Web site: 20 January 2007 . Cardiacs - Day is Gone . 13 September 2022 . . YouTube.
  9. Book: Bell, Adrian . Aylesbury Bolton Wolverhampton Hove: A Little Man and 101 Cardiacs Gigs . Iron Bell Publishing . 2011 . 978-0-95-687950-9 . Sullivan County, New York . 128.
  10. Web site: Worral . Sean . 18 August 2016 . ORGAN THING: The reedy waters have been stirred, Appealing to Venus and the tale of that John Peel session… . 12 September 2022 . Organ.
  11. Web site: Sgrignoli . Marco . 20 July 2022 . Cardiacs - biografia, recensioni, streaming, discografia, foto . 10 September 2022 . . it.
  12. Web site: Unsworth . Cathi . Cathi Unsworth . 21 January 2011 . A Little Man, a House and the Whole World Window . 29 October 2022 . .
  13. Web site: Shepherd . Sam . 26 November 2010 . Various Artists – Leader Of The Starry Skies: A Tribute To Tim Smith. Songbook 1 . 4 November 2022 . The Line of Best Fit.
  14. "Day Is Gone" . vinyl liner notes . Cardiacs . 1991 . Alphabet Business Concern . ALPH 015T. Totally Vinyl Records.
  15. "Day Is Gone" (2015 reissue) . CD liner notes . Cardiacs . 1991 . Alphabet Business Concern . ALPH CD 015 . Discogs.
  16. Web site: 25 March 2018 . Day Is Gone (EP) . 10 September 2022 . Bandcamp.
  17. "Appealing To Venus" . vinyl liner notes . The Sea Nymphs . 1991 . Alphabet Business Concern . ALPH 016SP . Discogs.
  18. Appealing To Venus EP . CD liner notes . The Sea Nymphs . 1998 . . organ044cd . Discogs.
  19. The Sea Nymphs . liner notes . The Sea Nymphs . 1995 . Alphabet Business Concern . ALPH CD021.
  20. Web site: 3 June 1998 . The Sea Nymphs' 'Appealing to Venus' ("quivering, shipwrecked dreams and prayers") . 11 September 2022 . Misfit City.