The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)

"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)" is a song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio.

"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)"
Single by Frankie Valli
from the album Solo
B-side	"This Is Goodbye"
Released	August 1965
Recorded	July 1965
Genre	Pop rock
Length	3:26
Label	Smash
Songwriter(s)	Bob Crewe Bob Gaudio
Producer(s)	Bob Crewe
Frankie Valli singles chronology
"Please Take a Chance" (1959) "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)" (1965) "(You're Gonna) Hurt Yourself" (1966)

It was originally released as a single credited to Frankie Valli as a solo artist in 1965 on the Smash label, but was more successful when recorded by the Walker Brothers in 1966. Cher, Keane, Doug Parkinson and Bruce Springsteen have also recorded the song.

Frankie Valli recorded and released the first version of the song but his single achieved only limited success, charting on Billboards Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles chart (#128) but not making the Billboard Hot 100 itself.^[1] Although it was recorded in a Four Seasons recording session (with the other band members at that time), it was Valli's first official "solo" single since the 1950s.

The Walker Brothers version

"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"
Single by The Walker Brothers
from the album The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore
B-side	"After the Lights Go Out"
Released	25 February 1966[2]
Recorded	9 January 1966
Studio	Philips Studios, Stanhope Place, London
Genre	Baroque pop[3] lounge[4]
Length	3:02
Label	Philips BF 1473[5] Smash Records (U.S.)
Songwriter(s)	Bob Crewe Bob Gaudio[5]
Producer(s)	Johnny Franz Ivor Raymonde[5]
The Walker Brothers singles chronology
"My Ship Is Coming In" (1965) "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" (1966) "I Need You EP" (1966)

In 1966, the Walker Brothers released their remake as a single. Re-titled "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore", this version met with much greater success than Valli's. It topped the UK Singles Chart,^[6] and also became their highest-charting song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S., where it peaked at #13.^[7] The single also hit the top 10 in Canada, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Norway.

The Walker Brothers' recording has since garnered retrospective critical acclaim, and is considered the group's signature song. NME ranked the song at #357 on its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time", Pitchfork ranked it at #187 on its list of "The 200 Best Songs of the 1960s", and it is listed in the 2010 book 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die.

Usage in media

In 1990, in the movie Truly, Madly, Deeply this song was sung as a cover, as well as playing a prominent role in trailer.

In 2010, this version was used in the promotional trailer for the AMC television series The Walking Dead.^{[citation needed]}

In 2012, the Walker Brothers' rendition played a prominent role in the film Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. It was featured the following year in the film Stoker.

In 2013, the single's B-side, "After the Lights Go Out", played over the end credits of the Canadian-Spanish psychological thriller film Enemy.

In 2018, the Hulu streaming service series Castle Rock used the Walker Brothers' recording in season 1, episode 6.

In 2019, the Frankie Valli version featured during the end credits of the film Midsommar.

Track listing

Philips – BF 1473 / Smash Records S-2032

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"	Bob Crewe Bob Gaudio	3:17
2.	"After the Lights Go Out"	John Stewart	4:01

Chart positions

Chart (1966)	Peak position
Belgium Ultratop singles chart[8]	15
Canadian RPM Top Singles[9]	2
Germany Media Control singles chart[10]	4
Netherlands[11]	9
New Zealand (Listener)[12]	7
Irish Singles Chart[13]	5
Norway VG-lista singles chart[14]	6
UK Singles Chart[6]	1
US Billboard Hot 100[7]	13

Cher version

"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"
Single by Cher
from the album It's a Man's World
B-side	"Not Enough Love in the World" (Sam Ward Remix)
Released	August 1996
Recorded	1995
Studio	Elephant Studios (London, England)[15]
Genre	Pop rock
Length	5:13
Label	WEA
Songwriter(s)	Bob Crewe Bob Gaudio
Producer(s)	Trevor Horn
Cher singles chronology
"Not Enough Love in the World" (1996) "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" (1996) "Paradise Is Here" (1996)
Licensed audio
"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" on YouTube

In 1996, Cher released her remake as the fourth official European single from her twenty-second album, It's a Man's World. The track went to #26 on the UK Singles Chart. Her version was used in The X-Files episode "The Post-Modern Prometheus".

Critical reception

Allmusic called the song "a real highlight" and added, "epic and beautiful, complete with echoes of the Wild West."^[16]

Track listing

• UK cassette single

1. "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" (Trevor Horn Remix) – 4:02
2. "Not Enough Love in the World" (Sam Ward Remix) – 4:21

• UK CD single

1. "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" (Trevor Horn Remix) – 4:02
2. "Not Enough Love in the World" (Sam Ward Remix) – 4:21
3. "Paradise Is Here" (Album Version) – 5:04

• UK 12" single

1. "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" (Alternative Mix) – 4:02
2. "Not Enough Love in the World" (Sam Ward Remix) – 4:21
3. "Paradise Is Here" (Sam Ward US Mix) – 4:40

Charts

Chart (1996)	Peak position
Scotland (OCC)[17]	15
UK Singles (OCC)[18]	26

Keane version

"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"
Single by Keane
Released	20 April 2005
Recorded	Helioscentric Studios, Rye, East Sussex
Length	3:31
Label	War Child music
Songwriter(s)	Bob Crewe-Bob Gaudio-Tim Rice-Oxley
Producer(s)	Alex Lake Nathan Thomas
Keane singles chronology
"This Is the Last Time" (2004) "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" (2005) "Bend and Break" (2005)

In 2004, British band Keane recorded the song. Deviating from the original, Tim Rice-Oxley, pianist and composer of Keane, changed the guitar for piano. He also took the lead vocals in the second chorus, like the original version. The single was selected in summer 2004 by readers of the NME and first released as a download-only single in September 2004. It was given for download to the War Child foundation website and one thousand vinyl copies given as a gift to some fans of Keane, who had supported and helped the band. The numbered copies each included a handwritten note from Tim Rice-Oxley, also signed by the other two members, thanking them for their support.

Track listing

1. "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"
2. "Your Eyes Open" (Mo Mental Remix)

Other versions

• The Ormsby Brothers released a version as a single in 1974, which peaked at #93 in Australia.^[19]
• Neil Diamond included it as the 9th track of his 1979 LP album September Morn, with Bob Gaudio at the piano.
• Doug Parkinson recorded it with Broderick Smith on his 1981 album Heartbeat To Heartbeat. It was released as a single, peaking at #18 in Australia.^[19]
• In 1981, Nielsen/Pearson released their remake as a single. It became their last Hot 100 hit, peaking at #56.
• The song was covered on German disco group Chilly's 1982 album Secret Lies.
• Croatian band Dorian Gray covered it as Sjaj u tami in 1983, and the eponymous song became a hit single in Yugoslavia.
• Russell Hitchcock, the lead vocalist of Air Supply, included it on his eponymous 1988 solo debut album.
• The song features prominently in the 1991 bittersweet romance film Truly, Madly, Deeply, starring Alan Rickman and Juliet Stevenson, with Nina (Stevenson) playing the main chords in the chorus on the piano and Jamie (Rickman) playing the main riff on the bass strings of his cello, and both of them singing.^[20] Singing the song is a game the couple often played.^[21]
• Jules Shear included a version on his 1994 album The Healing Bones.
• Bruce Springsteen recorded the song for his 2022 album Only the Strong Survive.