Dominion (song)

"Dominion"
Single by The Sisters of Mercy
from the album Floodland
B-side	"Untitled" "Sandstorm" "Emma" "Ozymandias"
Released	February 1988
Format	7" 12" CD cassette
Recorded	1987 at Power Station Studios (Manhattan, New York)
Genre	Gothic rock dark wave
Length	7:00 (album version) 5:10 ("Dominion") 1:50 ("Mother Russia") 3:43 (short edit)
Label	Merciful Release
Writer(s)	Andrew Eldritch
Producer(s)	Larry Alexander Andrew Eldritch Jim Steinman
The Sisters of Mercy singles chronology
"This Corrosion" (1987) "Dominion/Mother Russia" (1988) "Lucretia My Reflection" (1988)

"Dominion" is a song by English rock band The Sisters of Mercy. It was released as the second single from their second studio album, Floodland, in February 1988. The version on Floodland, titled "Dominion/Mother Russia", features "Dominion" as well as an outro piece titled "Mother Russia". It was written by band frontman Andrew Eldritch and produced by Larry Alexander, Eldritch, and Jim Steinman.

The song peaked at number 7 on the Irish Singles Chart, number 13 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 30 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. It was also featured on the fictional Liberty Rock Radio 97.8 radio station in the 2008 video game Grand Theft Auto IV.

Background and composition

Eldritch has revealed the song disguises an anti-American diatribe flavoured by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.^[1] At the time of release he also claimed that the second part of the song "Mother Russia" was a call for the West to give up Berlin to the Soviets, "because in reality they already control the city. It's only stupid to pretend otherwise".^[2]

Recording of the song took place in 1987 at Power Station Studios in Manhattan, New York.^[3] Like its Steinman-produced twin "This Corrosion", "Dominion/Mother Russia" features vocals from the New York Choral Society.^[4] The full version comprises two main parts, "Dominion" and "Mother Russia", with "Dominion" being released as a standalone single.

Track listing

• All songs written by Andrew Eldritch except "Emma", written by Errol Brown and Tony Wilson.

7"

• Merciful Release / MR43

Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Dominion"	3:43

Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Untitled"	3:38
2.	"Sandstorm"	1:49

12"

• Merciful Release / MR43T

Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Dominion"	5:06
2.	"Untitled"	3:36

Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sandstorm"	1:46
2.	"Emma"	6:23

CD

• Merciful Release / MR43CD

Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Dominion"	5:06
2.	"Untitled"	3:36
3.	"Sandstorm"	1:46
4.	"Ozymandias"	4:19

Cassette

• Merciful Release / MR43C

Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Dominion"	5:06

Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Untitled"	3:36
2.	"Sandstorm"	1:46
3.	"Ozymandias"	4:19

Charts

Chart (1988)	Peak position
scope="row"	Ireland (IRMA)[5]	7
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[6]	13
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[7]	30

References

1. Dave Thompson. "Dominion/Mother Russia - The Sisters of Mercy | Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
2. Swedish music magazine Slitz, December 1987 issue"
3. Mary Scanlon: "Bridge over Troubled Water" (in: Sounds magazine 19 December 1987, page 10)
4. Marszalek, Julian (19 November 2012). "Dreams Of Rain: The Sisters Of Mercy's Floodland 25 Years On". The Quietus. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
5. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Dominion". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
6. "Archive Chart: 1988-02-28" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
7. "The Sisters of Mercy – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for The Sisters of Mercy. Retrieved 5 November 2015.

External links

• "Dominion" at Discogs (list of releases)