Editing First and Last and Always (section)

==Background==
The band was founded in 1980 by [[Andrew Eldritch]] and [[Gary Marx]] in [[Leeds]]. Up to 1983, they had produced five singles and two [[Extended play|EPs]], which were released on the band's own [[Independent record label|indie label]] Merciful Release and were distributed independently as well. As the band became increasingly successful and featured regularly in the [[UK Indie Chart]], a first studio album was announced in 1983 for the following year. Eldritch estimated the production costs at £40,000,<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Niemczyk |first=Ralf |date=October 1983 |title=Plus-Minus-Null – Sisters of Mercy |magazine=[[Spex (magazine)|SPEX]] |page=5}}</ref> a sum which exceeded the financial capabilities of an indie band. Around the same time talks with interested record labels began. Eldritch, who handled management and business affairs of the band, negotiated with several record companies early in the new year and finally signed a satisfactory contract with [[Warner Music Group|WEA Records]]. Merciful Release opened an office in London and founded its own [[Music publisher (popular music)|publishing company]] Candelmaesse Limited, as well, which licensed the future song material to the publisher of [[RCA Records]], RCA Music Limited.

In October 1983, guitarist Ben Gunn left. At the end of the year, through [[Columbia Records|CBS Records]], who were interested in signing the band, he was replaced by former [[Dead or Alive (band)|Dead or Alive]] member [[Wayne Hussey]]. The new band line-up played its debut concert on 7 April 1984,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ultimatesistersguide.org/images/mag/mercyme.jpg |title=mercyme.jpg |work=ultimatesistersguide.org |type=JPEG |access-date=9 March 2013}}</ref> which featured the newly written songs "Body and Soul", "Train" and "Walk Away". The gig was followed by a short American tour until 16 April. After returning to the UK, Eldritch wrote a new song called "Wide Receiver", which was inspired by a [[Wide receiver|term]] in [[American football]] and which he recorded on his own at home as a demo.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} The rudimentary song wasn't used in the end, but Eldritch's solo demo recording appeared in early 1992 on a bootleg album.

At [[Strawberry Studios|Strawberry Recording Studios]] in [[Stockport]], the Sisters of Mercy recorded their first single in March 1984 for WEA ("Body and Soul"),<ref name="heavyleatherblog">{{cite web|url=https://heavyleatherblog.wordpress.com/tag/the-sisters-of-mercy/|title = The sisters of mercy}}</ref> which was composed and produced by Eldritch himself and which was released on 4 June 1984. "Body and Soul" peaked at {{abbr|No.|Number}} 46 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="occ">{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/21742/sisters-of-mercy/ |title=Sisters of Mercy {{!}} full Official Chart History |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref> From 2 May to 6 June, the band toured the UK and Europe and tried out a new Gary Marx composition which he later used in [[Ghost Dance (band)|Ghost Dance]]. Recommended by [[Warner Music Group|WEA Records]], [[The Cure|Cure]] producer Dave Allen saw the band in Amsterdam (2 June 1984) and later received a telegram by Andrew Eldritch which said: "The Sisters say yes to Dave Allen".{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} After the end of the tour, they began to prepare themselves for the album recordings, but first they entered [[Maida Vale Studios]] on 19 June to record a [[John Peel|John Peel Session]] for [[BBC Radio 1]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Levy |first=Eleanor |date=June 1984 |title=Bad Habits |magazine=[[Record Mirror]] |url=http://www.ultimatesistersguide.org/images/mag/badhabits.jpg |type=JPEG |access-date=9 March 2013}}</ref> The session was broadcast on 13 July<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/sessions/1980s/1984/Jun19sistersofmercy/ |title=BBC – Radio 1 – Keeping It Peel – 19/06/1984 Sisters of Mercy |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=9 March 2013}}</ref> when the Sisters of Mercy were already in the recording studio.