Always Stay Sweet

Infobox Album | Name = Always Stay Sweet
Type = Compilation Album
Artist = His Name Is Alive

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Released = February 01, 1999
Recorded = 1985-1995
Genre = Rock
Length = 64:01
Label = 4AD Records
Producer = His Name Is Alive
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:1yd8vwpua9lk]
Last album = "Ft. Lake"
(1998)
This album = Always Stay Sweet
(1999) | Next album = "Someday My Blues Will Cover the Earth"
(2001) |

"Always Stay Sweet" is a compilation album of songs by His Name Is Alive, released by 4AD in 1999.

History

"Always Stay Sweet" is one of the rare 4AD albums that was released in the USA only, and not the label's native UK. It is a compilation of tracks from His Name Is Alive's first five records for the label, all of which except for the last one (Stars on ESP) was out of print in America at the time. This is presumably part of the reason why 4AD chose the album for American release only--it was a way for American audiences to acquire some of the band's early work in lieu of re-issuing the entire back catalog.

The album relies heavily on the early albums when HNIA were often described as a gothic folk band inspired by 4AD supergroup This Mortal Coil. Nearly all of the songs are from Livonia, Home Is in Your Head, and Mouth by Mouth. Only two songs from "Stars on ESP" are included, and nearly all of the songs from The Dirt Eaters EP are featured (although two of the tracks from this EP are alternate versions that appeared on the LPs). No tracks from Ft. Lake are included at all, although the front cover was based on the inside sleeve of that album.

A version of the CD released by Mexican label Opcion Sonica included two more songs from "Stars on ESP" and a rare track from a 1994 4AD compilation.

As this CD came out after 4AD's USA distribution deal with Warner Bros. Records had ended, 4AD was back in the position of having to find distribution for each USA release. While the label has mostly used the Alternative Distribution Alliance, which distributes many indie rock labels in America, "Always Stay Sweet" was actually distributed by major label Polygram Records.

Track listing

4AD CD release (CAD9002CD)

#Are You Coming Down This Weekend? (0:18)
#Her Eyes Were Huge Things (1:40)
#E-Nicolle (3:20)
#If July (3:31)
#How Ghosts Affect Relationships (3:56)
#Chances Are We Are Mad (3:02)
#As We Could Ever (2:45)
#Are We Still Married? (2:55)
#Why People Disappear (4:17)
#Blue Moon (2:16)
#Cornfield (3:15)
#Home Is in Your Head (2:26)
#Underwater (3:29)
#We Hold the Land in Great Esteem (4:00)
#Last One (2:31)
#Sitting Still Moving Still Staring Outlooking (3:26)
#Sand That Holds the Lakes in Place (2:43)
#In Every Ford (3:44)
#Baby Fish Mouth (2:31)
#The Dirt Eaters (4:19)
#Man on the Silver Mountain (3:37)

"Underwater" was previously unreleased, having been recorded during the sessions for "Mouth by Mouth".

"The Dirt Eaters" is the version that appeared on the USA release of "Mouth by Mouth", without the Jack Nicholson sample.

Opcion Sonica Mexican release

#Are You Coming Down This Weekend? (0:18)
#Her Eyes Were Huge Things (1:40)
#E-Nicolle (3:20)
#If July (3:31)
#How Ghosts Affect Relationships (3:56)
#Chances Are We Are Mad (3:02)
#As We Could Ever (2:45)
#Are We Still Married? (2:55)
#Why People Disappear (4:17)
#Blue Moon (2:16)
#Cornfield (3:15)
#Home Is in Your Head (2:26)
#Underwater (3:29)
#We Hold the Land in Great Esteem (4:00)
#Last One (2:31)
#Sitting Still Moving Still Staring Outlooking (3:26)
#Sand That Holds the Lakes in Place (2:43)
#In Every Ford (3:44)
#Bad Luck Girl (2:02)
#Library Girl (3:24)
#Baby Fish Mouth (2:31)
#The Dirt Eaters (4:19)
#Man on the Silver Mountain (3:37)
#Universal Frequencies (3:22)

"Library Girl" was previously only available on the long out-of-print 1994 4AD compilation "All Virgos Are Mad". The running time for this version is 72:49.