Dogs of Lust

"Dogs of Lust" marked a change of style for the The, with a lighter tone compared to the band's previous work.{{cite magazine|title=Market Preview: Next Week's Essential Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=7|date=26 December 1992}} The track is a rock song driven by a harmonica played by Johnny Marr.{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=10|issue=3|page=8|date=16 January 1993}} Matt Johnson's vocals on the track were filtered to produce an "unsettling", "desperate", and "almost frighten[ing]" edge.{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Albums|magazine=Music & Media|volume=10|issue=5|page=26|date=30 January 1993}} Johnson chose to release "Dogs of Lust" as the lead single from Dusk, as he believed it would provide a good preview of the album's "confessional" themes of lust and loneliness.{{cite magazine|title=The The Strips Down Sound, Hits New Creative Peak|last=Sexton|first=Paul|magazine=Billboard|volume=105|issue=4|page=16|date=23 January 1993}} Epic Records released the song in the United Kingdom on 4 January 1993 across three formats: 7-inch vinyl, 12-inch vinyl, and CD.{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=23|date=26 December 1992}} The B-sides of these releases include remixes of "The Violence of Truth" and "Armageddon Days Are Here (Again)" from Mind Bomb (1989), as well as live versions of "Beyond Love" from Mind Bomb, "Infected" from Infected (1986), and "Jealous of Youth" from the Shades of Blue EP (1990). "Dogs of Lust" was included as third track on Dusk, which was released on 25 January 1993.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/dusk-mw0000617472|title=The The: Dusk|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=1 April 2025}}{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Album|magazine=Music Week|page=12|date=23 January 1993}}

On 10 January 1993, "Dogs of Lust" debuted at its peak of number 25 on the UK Singles Chart. It stayed at that position for a second week before descending the chart, totalling four weeks within the top 75. It gave the The their third UK top-10 hit, after "Heartland" in 1986 and "The Beat(en) Generation" in 1989. At the time, it was the band's highest-charting single on the UK chart, until it was surpassed by the Dis-Infected EP, which peaked at number 18 in January 1994. In Ireland, "Dogs of Lust" peaked at number 18 on the Irish Singles Chart on 18 January 1993 and stayed within the top 30 for three weeks. This marked the sixth time that the The had entered the top 30 in Ireland, and it is their second-highest-charting single there after "The Beat(en) Generation", which peaked at number eight.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement|title=Search the Charts|publisher=Irish Singles Chart|access-date=1 April 2025}} Enter The The into the "Search by Artist" field and click Search. Across Europe, "Dogs of Lust" charted in Norway, where it debuted and peaked at number seven on the VG-lista chart during the third charting period of 1993. Immediately afterwards, the song dropped off the chart. With its combined UK, Irish, and Norwegian sales, the song attained a peak of number 32 on the Eurochart Hot 100 on 30 January 1993.

Outside Europe, "Dogs of Lust" charted in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. In the US, the song appeared on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, debuting at number 15 on 23 January 1993 to become that week's highest new entry.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/1993-01-23/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=23 January 1993|url-access=subscription|access-date=1 April 2025}} The following week, the single jumped to number six, then rose to number four on 6 February.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/1993-01-30/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=30 January 1993|url-access=subscription|access-date=1 April 2025}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/1993-02-06/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=6 February 1993|url-access=subscription|access-date=1 April 2025}} The next week, it ascended to its peak of number two, where it remained for three weeks.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/1993-02-27/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=27 February 1993|url-access=subscription|access-date=1 April 2025}} Afterwards, the song began dropping down the chart, eventually exiting from number 21 on 17 April after a 12-week run.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/1993-04-10/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=10 April 1993|url-access=subscription|access-date=1 April 2025}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/1993-04-17/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=17 April 1993|url-access=subscription|access-date=1 April 2025}} At the end of the year, Billboard placed the track at number 15 on the Modern Rock Tracks' year-end ranking. On New Zealand's RIANZ Singles Chart, "Dogs of Lust" first appeared at number 30 on 14 February 1993. The following week, it rose to number 16, its peak. The song continued charting for the next four weeks, leaving the top 50 on 28 March. On 25 April, the song re-appeared at number 45, then dropped out of the top 50 for the final time, logging seven weeks on the chart. "Dogs of Lust" entered the top 75 in Australia, where it entered the ARIA Singles Chart on 14 February 1994 and peaked at number 70.

The music video for "Dogs of Lust" was directed by Tim Pope.{{cite magazine|title=A Chronology of Events: The The|magazine=Music & Media|volume=10|issue=7|page=26|date=13 February 1993}} It features the band playing the song under yellow and blue lighting. The video was added to MTV's playlists on the week ending 20 February 1993.{{cite magazine|title=The Clip List|magazine=Billboard|volume=105|issue=9|page=46|date=27 February 1993}}

UK 7-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Dogs of Lust|year=1993|type=UK 7-inch single seeve|publisher=Epic Records|id=658457 7}}

:A. "Dogs of Lust"

:B. "The Violence of Truth" (remix)

UK CD1 and 12-inch single; Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Dogs of Lust|year=1993|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Epic Records|id=658457 6}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Dogs of Lust|year=1993|type=UK CD1 & Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Epic Records|id=658457 2}}

1. "Dogs of Lust"
2. "The Violence of Truth" (remix)
3. "Infected" (live)

UK CD2{{cite AV media notes|title=Dogs of Lust|year=1993|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Epic Records|id=658457 5}}

1. "Dogs of Lust"
2. "Jealous of Youth" (live)
3. "Armageddon Days Are Here (Again)" (DNA remix)
4. "Beyond Love" (live)

Credits are taken from the UK CD1 liner notes and the Dusk album booklet.{{cite AV media notes|title=Dusk|title-link=Dusk (The The album)|year=1993|type=UK CD album booklet|publisher=Epic Records|id=472468 2}}

Recording

• Produced at Johnson's home studio
• Recorded live at The War Room (London, England)
• Mixed at The Hit Factory (London, England)
• Mastered in New York City

Personnel

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• Matt Johnson – music, words, vocals, electric guitars, production
• Johnny Marr – electric guitars, harmonica
• James Eller – bass guitar
• Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
• Bruce Lampcov – production, recording, mixing, engineering
• Richard "Noz" Norris – assistant recording engineer
• Marc "Boy!" Williams – assistant and additional mixing engineer
• Martin "Max" Heyes – additional mixing engineer
• Howie Weinberg – mastering

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Category:1992 songs

Category:1993 singles

Category:Epic Records singles

Category:Music videos directed by Tim Pope

Category:The The songs