"Again" is a song by American rock band Alice in Chains. It was released as the third single from their self-titled 1995 album. It peaked at No. 8 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart,[3] and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1997.[4] The song was included on the band's compilation albums Nothing Safe: Best of the Box (1999), Greatest Hits (2001) and The Essential Alice in Chains (2006). A remixed version of the song was included on the box set Music Bank (1999).
| "Again" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Alice in Chains | ||||
| from the album Alice in Chains | ||||
| Released | February 1996[1] | |||
| Studio | Bad Animals (Seattle) | |||
| Genre | Grunge[2] | |||
| Length | 4:05 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Composer(s) | Jerry Cantrell | |||
| Lyricist(s) | Layne Staley | |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Alice in Chains singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Again" on YouTube | ||||
Release and reception
edit"Again" made its radio debut in February 1996,[1] and peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the week of July 6, 1996.[3] It also peaked at No. 36 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.[5]
The song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1997.[4]
In the liner notes of 1999's Music Bank box set collection, guitarist Jerry Cantrell said of the song:
This guy, Praga Kahn, did three different mixes. One I didn't like, the second one (Trip hop Mix) had horns and strings without too many guitars or drums, which I kinda liked. Then there was [the "Tattoo of Pain Mix"], which was cool too. We put a couple out as "B" sides in Europe. Personally, I never got used to the idea that you had to give some places extra songs and not others, it should be the same for everybody as far as I'm concerned.[6]
Music video
editThe music video for "Again" was released in March 1996,[7] and was directed by George Vale.[8]
The music video was nominated for Best Hard Rock Video at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards.[9]
The video is available on the home video release Music Bank: The Videos, and is the final Alice in Chains music video that Layne Staley filmed with the band (the "Get Born Again" music video released in 1999 featured only archived footage of the singer).
Live performances
edit"Again" has been known to be performed with vocalist Layne Staley six times. They performed the song for the first on the TV show Saturday Night Special on April 20, 1996,[10] and also for their appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman on May 10, 1996.[11] The song was also performed during the four concerts that Alice in Chains opened for the reunited Kiss in late June and early July 1996.[12]
A live performance of "Again" can be found on the live album Live (2000).[13]
Since reuniting with new vocalist William DuVall in 2006, "Again" has become a regular part of the band's setlist.[12]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Again" | 4:05 |
| 2. | "Again" (Trip Hop mix) | 4:39 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Again" (Club mix) | 4:09 |
| 2. | "Again" (Tattoo of Pain mix) | 4:02 |
| 3. | "Again" | 4:05 |
Personnel
edit- Layne Staley – lead vocals
- Jerry Cantrell – guitars, backing vocals
- Mike Inez – bass
- Sean Kinney – drums, percussion
Charts
edit| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[14] | 8 |
| US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[15] | 36 |
References
edit- ^ a b "Active Rock Playlists" (PDF). Radio & Records Magazine. February 16, 1996. p. 82.
- ^ "The 30 Best Grunge Albums of All Time". Loudwire. January 10, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
"The sludgy single "Grind" and the driving "Again" most embody the grunge spirit...
- ^ a b "Alice in Chains "Again" Chart History – Mainstream Rock". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 4, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ a b "39th Grammy Awards – 1997". Rockonthenet.com. Archived from the original on December 28, 2007. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
- ^ "Alice in Chains "Again" Chart History – Alternative Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 4, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ Liner notes, Music Bank box set. 1999.
- ^ "Billboard Video Monitor". Billboard. April 13, 1996. p. 91. Archived from the original on July 4, 2018.
- ^ "Alice in Chains - "Again"". mvdbase.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ "1996 MTV Video Music Awards". Rockonthenet.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2007. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
- ^ "Alice in Chains Concert Setlist at Saturday Night Special, Los Angeles on April 20, 1996". Setlist.fm. Archived from the original on May 4, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ "Alice in Chains Concert Setlist at Late Show With David Letterman, New York on May 10, 1996". Setlist.fm. Archived from the original on May 4, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ a b "Again by Alice in Chains". Setlist.fm. Archived from the original on January 24, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ "Alice In Chains – Live". Discogs. Archived from the original on November 27, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ "Alice in Chains Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
- ^ "Alice in Chains Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2016.