A Long December

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"A Long December"
Single by Counting Crows
from the album Recovering the Satellites
ReleasedDecember 2, 1996 (1996-12-02)
RecordedLate 1996
StudioThe Sound Factory (Hollywood, California)
GenreAlternative rock[1]
Length4:57
Label
Songwriter(s)Adam F. Duritz
Producer(s)Gil Norton
Counting Crows singles chronology
"Angels of the Silences"
(1996) 		"A Long December"
(1996) 		"Daylight Fading"
(1997)
Music video
"A Long December" on YouTube

"A Long December" is a song by American rock band Counting Crows. The ballad is the second single and 13th track from their second album, Recovering the Satellites (1996). Lead singer Adam Duritz was inspired to write the track after his friend was hit by a motorist and injured, making the song about reflecting on tragedy with a positive disposition.

Released in December 1996, "A Long December" peaked at number five on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number one on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. In December 1997, the song was re-released in the United Kingdom and reached number 68, six places below its original peak of number 62. American Songwriter magazine named "A Long December" the best Counting Crows song in April 2022.[2]

Background and composition[edit]

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, lead singer Adam Duritz explained that he was inspired to write "A Long December" after one of his friends had been hit by a motorist and was injured. While the song is a reflection on tragedy, it also possesses an optimistic tone. According to Duritz, the song is about "looking back on your life and seeing changes happening" while simultaneously looking forward to positive change in the future.[3][4] Musically, "A Long December" is an alternative rock ballad.[5][6] The track is composed in the key of F major and written in common time, possessing a tempo of 72 beats per minute.[7]

Chart performance[edit]

In the United States, "A Long December" was ineligible to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 since it was never released as a physical single there, which was a rule at that time.[8] The song instead appeared on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, where it peaked at number six in February 1997 and spent 29 weeks on the chart.[9] On other Billboard rankings, the song entered the top 10 on five of them, reaching number one on the Adult Alternative Songs chart for two weeks.[10] In Canada, the song became a number-one hit for two weeks and was the seventh-most-successful song of 1997.[11][12] On the UK Singles Chart, "A Long December" charted twice, peaking at number 62 during its original run in December 1996 and re-entering the listing at number 68 one year later.[13] The single also charted in the Netherlands, reaching number 68, and in Australia, peaking at number 86.[14][15]

Music video[edit]

Lawrence Carroll directed the music video for "A Long December", which features American actress Courteney Cox, whom Duritz was dating at the time. Filmed in Hollywood, California, the video was produced by Victoria Vallas.[16] The clip was first added to MTV, VH1, and The Box on the week ending December 1, 1996.[17] The video, which evokes a somber mood with its images of snow and dull colors, features Duritz playing a piano in the woods and Cox writing a letter in a dark room. Shown throughout the video are scenes of a chalkboard with dates written on it and Counting Crows playing their instruments.[6] Cox eventually leaves the building she is in and walks to a bus stop, clutching her note. Niko Stratis of Spin magazine called the video "perfect".[6]

Track listings[edit]

All songs were written by Duritz except where noted. All live tracks were recorded at Elysée Montmartre (Paris, France) on December 9, 1994.

UK CD1; Australian and Japanese CD single[18][19][20]

  1. "A Long December" (LP version)
  2. "Ghost Train" (live)
  3. "Sullivan Street" (live) (Duritz, David Bryson)

UK CD2[21]

  1. "A Long December" – 4:55
  2. "A Murder of One" (live) (Duritz, Bryson, Matt Malley) – 14:57

European CD single[22]

  1. "A Long December" (LP version)
  2. "Ghost Train" (live)

Credits and personnel[edit]

Credits are lifted from the Recovering the Satellites booklet.[23]

Studios

  • Recorded in late 1996 at The Sound Factory (Hollywood, California)
  • Mixed at River Sound (New York City)
  • Mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine, US)

Charts[edit]

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States November 19, 1996 Contemporary hit radio DGC [41]
United Kingdom December 2, 1996
  • CD
  • cassette
 Geffen [42]
Japan December 18, 1996 CD [43]
United Kingdom (re-release) December 8, 1997 [44]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Brian Galindo, Alex Naidus & Ryan Creed (November 5, 2023). "37 Alt Rock Songs You Haven't Thought About Since The Late '90s". BuzzFeed. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  2. ^ Uitti, Jacob (April 29, 2022). "The Top 10 Counting Crows Songs". American Songwriter. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  3. ^ Beviglia, Jim (January 5, 2021). "Behind the Song: 'A Long December' by Counting Crows". American Songwriter. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  4. ^ Natasha (December 31, 2020). "Throwback Thursday: 'A Long December' by Counting Crows (1996)". Hot 104.7. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  5. ^ "The 96 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1996". Spin. August 31, 1996. p. 2. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Stratis, Niko (December 9, 2021). "'A Long December' Always Gives Me Reason to Believe". Spin. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  7. ^ "A Long December by Counting Crows – Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. 6 January 2016. MN0159603. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  8. ^ Molanphy, Chris (August 1, 2013). "How the Hot 100 Became America's Hit Barometer". NPR. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Counting Crows Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Counting Crows Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  11. ^ a b "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9891." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  12. ^ a b "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. Retrieved August 24, 2021 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  13. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  14. ^ a b "Counting Crows – A Long December" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  15. ^ a b Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  16. ^ "Production Notes". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 2. January 11, 1997. p. 95.
  17. ^ "Video Monitor". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 50. December 14, 1996. p. 76.
  18. ^ A Long December (UK CD1 liner notes). Counting Crows. Geffen Records. 1996. GFSTD 22190.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ A Long December (Australian CD single liner notes). Counting Crows. Geffen Records. 1996. GEFDM-22190.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ A Long December (Japanese CD single liner notes). Counting Crows. Geffen Records. 1996. MVCG-13035.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ A Long December (UK CD2 liner notes). Counting Crows. Geffen Records. 1996. GFSXD 22190.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ A Long December (European CD single liner notes). Counting Crows. Geffen Records. 1996. GED 22193.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ Recovering the Satellites (US CD album booklet). Counting Crows. DGC Records. 1996. DGCD-24975.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3162." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  25. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 7778." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  26. ^ "European Radio Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 12. February 1, 1997. p. 17. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved June 14, 2023 – via World Radio History.
  27. ^ "EARR-Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 51/52. December 21, 1996. p. 25. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  28. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 3, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  29. ^ "Major Market Airplay: Poland" (PDF). Music & Media. 1 February 1997. p. 27. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  30. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  31. ^ "Major Market Airplay: Spain" (PDF). Music & Media. 1 February 1997. p. 27. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  32. ^ "Counting Crows Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  33. ^ "Counting Crows Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  34. ^ "Counting Crows Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  35. ^ "Counting Crows Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  36. ^ "The Year in Music 1997: Hot 100 Airplay". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. YE-36.
  37. ^ "The Year in Music 1997: Hot Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. YE-83.
  38. ^ a b "Best of '97". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 28, 1997. p. 28.
  39. ^ "The Year in Music 1997: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. YE-73.
  40. ^ "Best of '97: Top 40/Mainstream Singles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 28, 1997. p. 38.
  41. ^ "New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1172. November 15, 1996. p. 36. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  42. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. November 30, 1996. p. 45. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  43. ^ "ロング・ディセンバー | カウンティング・クロウズ" [Long December | Counting Crows] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  44. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. December 6, 1997. p. 27. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
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