{"title":"Sisters of Mercy","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAbout Sisters of Mercy\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSisters of Mercy formed in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England in 1980 around Andrew Eldritch (Andrew William Harvey Taylor, born May 15, 1959, Ely, Cambridgeshire) and Gary Marx. The band's name was taken from a Leonard Cohen song (Sisters of Mercy 1967). They are widely cited as one of the most important gothic rock bands of the 1980s alongside contemporaries like the Cure, Bauhaus, Joy Division, and the Sisters of Mercy's Leeds gothic rock scene (use of the Drum Machine 'Doktor Avalanche' as fourth member). Their trilogy of studio albums First and Last and Always (1985, with Marx and Wayne Hussey, plus Patricia Morrison on bass), Floodland (1987, produced by Jim Steinman of Meat Loaf fame, with Lucretia My Reflection \/ This Corrosion \/ Dominion singles), and Vision Thing (1990, with harder rock direction) has been influential on contemporary gothic rock and broader alternative rock. The band has been inactive in studio recording since 1990 (Eldritch disputes with East-West Records \/ Elektra Records preventing further studio activity, with Eldritch refusing to deliver any further material to label obligations). Wayne Hussey departed in 1985 to form The Mission (UK). Andrew Eldritch has continued touring with rotating personnel as Sisters of Mercy across multiple decades. Their foundational influence on gothic rock is widely cited.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSound and style\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSisters of Mercy's sound is foundational to gothic rock as a recognized genre - combining gothic rock, post-punk, alternative rock, dark wave, art rock, and electronic rock with Andrew Eldritch's distinctive baritone vocal delivery, the Doktor Avalanche drum machine (use of mechanical rhythmic precision), use of layered synthesizers and atmospheric production approaches, and lyrical content addressing dark literary, political, and philosophical themes drawing on gothic, occult, and existentialist literary traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDiscography highlights\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFirst and Last and Always (1985, Merciful Release\/WEA)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFloodland (1987, Merciful Release\/East-West\/Elektra) - Jim Steinman production\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVision Thing (1990, Merciful Release\/East-West\/Elektra) - final\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFor collectors\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOriginal Merciful Release \/ East-West Records \/ Elektra Records pressings of the Sisters of Mercy catalog are foundational items in gothic rock collecting, with collector premiums on rare pressings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhere to start\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eListeners new to Sisters of Mercy typically start with Floodland (1987) or First and Last and Always (1985). \u003cspan class=\"related-collections\"\u003eExplore more: \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/classic-rock-vinyl-records\"\u003eClassic Rock\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/punk-new-wave-vinyl-records\"\u003ePunk \u0026amp; New Wave\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"sisters-of-mercy-first-last-always-cd","title":"First \u0026 Last \u0026 Always CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe album is known for its dark, atmospheric sound, with themes of paranoia and a post-apocalyptic atmosphere.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540723282103,"sku":"210000035135","price":10.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/991272.jpg?v=1781154008"},{"product_id":"sisters-of-mercy-first-last-always-red-black-marble-vinyl","title":"First Last \u0026 Always 4LP","description":"\u003cp\u003e40th anniversary 4 disc box set of The Sisters debut LP.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540726263991,"sku":"210000098548","price":107.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/sisters.jpg?v=1781154009"},{"product_id":"sisters-of-mercy-she-got-red-eyes-live-1-7-83-vinyl","title":"She Got Red Eyes Live 1\/7\/83 LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eVinyl LP pressing. Rare live FM broadcast recorded at Dingwalls on July 1, 1983.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540865298615,"sku":"210000095942","price":27.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/sisters-of-mercy.webp?v=1781154539"},{"product_id":"sisters-of-mercy-floodland-vinyl","title":"Floodland LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Sisters' seminal second album, a minimal dark wave gothic masterpiece almost entirely performed by Sisters' headman Andrew Eldritch and the band's drum machine Doktor Avalanche.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48541057614007,"sku":"210000054227","price":45.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/61t2apcxvis-sl1200.jpg?v=1781155244"},{"product_id":"sisters-of-mercy-first-and-last-and-always-vinyl-mobile-fidelity","title":"First and Last and Always LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Sisters of Mercy's \"First and Last and Always\" strikes like lightning in goth rock. This Mobile Fidelity reissue hammers home every guitar riff and haunting vocal of the 1985 original, driving the core of the genre. With the classic line-up of Eldritch, Hussey, Adams, and Marx, each track leaves its imprint, defining the sound of a generation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785743413431,"sku":"210000055121","price":46.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/1842235.jpg?v=1783045785"},{"product_id":"sisters-of-mercy-floodland-vinyl-mobile-fidelity","title":"Floodland LP","description":"","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785743511735,"sku":"210000054097","price":46.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/2379167.jpg?v=1783045786"},{"product_id":"sisters-of-mercy-first-and-last-and-always-the-japanese-edition-vinyl-rsd-26-excl","title":"First and Last and Always The Japanese Edition LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eFormed in Leeds in the UK by guitarist Gary Marx and vocalist Andrew Eldritch in 1980, The Sisters of Mercy released their first full-length album First And Last And Always in March 1985.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785928945847,"sku":"210000104594","price":28.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4491628-3562577.jpg?v=1783046312"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.waxtraxrecords.com\/collections\/sisters-of-mercy.oembed","provider":"Wax Trax Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}