She Sells Sanctuary

"She Sells Sanctuary" is a song by the British rock band the Cult. It is from their 1985 album Love and was released as a single in May of that year, peaking at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart. In July 2020, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) awarded the song a Gold certification for sales and streams of over 400,000.

"She Sells Sanctuary"
Single by the Cult
from the album Love
B-side
  • "No. 13"
  • "The Snake"
Released17 May 1985 (1985-05-17)
Genre
Length
  • 4:23
  • 6:58 (long version)
LabelBeggars Banquet
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Steve Brown
The Cult singles chronology
"Ressurection Joe"
(1984)		 "She Sells Sanctuary"
(1985)		 "Rain"
(1985)
1993 remix cover
"Sanctuary MCMXCIII"
Audio sample
An excerpt from "She Sells Sanctuary".
  • file
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"She Sells Sanctuary" was the last song to be recorded with the Cult's longtime drummer, Nigel Preston, who was fired from the band shortly after its release. According to Cult guitarist Billy Duffy, the iconic introduction effects were the result of all the guitar effects pedals being on at the same time. The recording was edited to include the introduction with the effects, whereas earlier versions started the song more abruptly. Duffy says he found a violin bow lying around the studio and started playing the guitar with it "like Jimmy Page" to amuse singer Ian Astbury, hit every effects pedal he had "to make it sound weirder", and then played the middle section of the song. "And we decided to start the song with that mystical sound. If I hadn't found that violin bow laying around, we wouldn't have gone there," said Duffy.[3]

Release

After its release in 1985, the single reached number 36 during a six-week run on the US Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play chart in 1986.[4]

The band has released various versions of the song. Aside from the original 7-inch single, three other versions had been released around the same time on 12-inch formats: "The Long Version", "The Howling Mix" and "Assault on Sanctuary".

In 1993, several more mixes were released on two different CD singles, each called Sanctuary MCMXCIII (Volumes 1 & 2). The "Sundance" remix was remixed by Butch Vig who previously had produced Nirvana's Nevermind album. The "Dog Star Rising" remix was remixed by Youth who produced the Cult's eighth album, Born into This.

In 2009, two more previously unreleased versions, a demo and the "Olympic Rough Mix" were included in a 4-disc box set of the Omnibus edition of Love.

Track listings

7-inch single[5]

A. "She Sells Sanctuary"
B. "No.13"

UK 12-inch single[6]

A1. "She Sells Sanctuary" (long version)
B1. "The Snake"
B2. "No.13"

Sanctuary MCMXCIII CD1[7]

  1. "She Sells Sanctuary" (original) (mix by Steve Brown)
  2. "She Sells Sanctuary" (Dog Star Rising) (remix by Youth)
  3. "She Sells Sanctuary" (Phlegmatic) (remix by J.G. Thirwell)
  4. "She Sells Sanctuary" (Flusteresqueish) (remix by J.G. Thirwell)

Sanctuary MCMXCIII CD2[8]

  1. "She Sells Sanctuary" (Dog Star Radio) (remix by Youth)
  2. "She Sells Sanctuary" (Sundance) (remix by Butch Vig)
  3. "She Sells Sanctuary" (Slutnostic) (remix by J.G. Thirwell)
  4. "She Sells Sanctuary" (Lakeland live)

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[18] Gold 400,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Spracklen, Karl; Spracklen, Beverley (2018). The Evolution of Goth Culture: The Origins and Deeds of the New Goths. Emerald Group Publishing. p. 63. ISBN 978-1-78714-677-8.
  2. Masley, Ed (28 September 2019). "Here's your guide to the best fall concerts in Phoenix". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  3. "She Sells Sanctuary by the Cult - Songfacts". Songfacts. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  4. "The Cult Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  5. She Sells Sanctuary (UK 7-inch vinyl sleeve). The Cult. Beggars Banquet Records. 1985. BEG 135.CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. She Sells Sanctuary (UK 12-inch vinyl sleeve). The Cult. Beggars Banquet Records. 1985. BEG 135T.CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. Sanctuary MCMXCIII (UK CD1 liner notes). The Cult. Beggars Banquet Records. 1993. BEG 263 CD1.CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. Sanctuary MCMXCIII (UK CD2 liner notes). The Cult. Beggars Banquet Records. 1993. BEG 263 CD.CS1 maint: others (link)
  9. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7803." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  10. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – She Sells Sanctuary". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  11. "Dutchcharts.nl – The Cult – She Sells Sanctuary" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  13. "The Cult Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  14. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  15. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10 no. 7. 13 February 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  16. "Charts.nz – The Cult – Sanctuary MCMXCIII". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  17. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  18. "British single certifications – Cult – She Sells Sanctuary". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
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