Susannah's Still Alive Explained

Susannah's Still Alive
Cover:	Susannah's Still Alive cover.jpg
Caption:	West German picture sleeve
Type:	single
Artist:	Dave Davies
B-Side:	Funny Face
Released:	24 November 1967
Recorded:	October 1967
Studio:	Pye, London
Genre:	Pop, folk pop^[1]
Length:	2:22
Label:	Pye
Producer:	Ray Davies
Prev Title:	Death of a Clown
Prev Year:	1967
Next Title:	Lincoln County
Next Year:	1968

"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)^[2] but it did not live up to the expectations of Davies' last single "Death of a Clown", which was a Top 5 hit.^[2] 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.^[2] 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.

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

Personnel

According to band researcher Doug Hinman:

The Kinks

• Dave Davies lead vocal, electric guitar
• Ray Davies acoustic guitar, piano, harmonica
• Pete Quaife bass
• Mick Avory drums

Additional musician

• Nicky Hopkinspiano

Cardiacs version

Susannah's Still Alive
Cover:	File:Susannahs_Still_Alive_Cardiacs.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Cardiacs
Released:	5 September 1988^[3]
Recorded:	Summer 1988
Studio:	The Slaughterhouse (Yorkshire)
Label:	Alphabet Business Concern
Producer:	Tim Smith
Prev Title:	Is This the Life
Prev Year:	1988
Next Title:	Night Tracks (The Janice Long Session)
Next Year:	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

Credits adapted from the 12" liner notes.^[4] Personnel according to Eric Benac:^[5]

• Tim Smith – guitar, vocals
• Jim Smith – bass, vocals
• Sarah Smith – sax, vocals
• William D. Drake – keyboards, vocals
• Dominic Luckman – drums
• Tim Quy – percussion, vocals

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

Sources

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

External links

• Dave Davies Official Site

Notes and References

1. Shindig!. May 2022. Perfect Stranger. Cam. Cobb. Silverback.
2. News: The Kinks' Chart Positions. Emlen. Dave. Kindakinks.net. 22 November 2011.
3. Web site: Susannah's Still Alive Flyer -. 2 August 2014.
4. "Susannah's Still Alive" . . 5 September 1988 . liner notes. Alphabet Business Concern . ALPH 009.
5. Book: Benac, Eric . The Cardiacs: Every Album, Every Song . 27 August 2021 . Sonicbond Publishing . 978-1-78952-131-3 . On Track . 157.