This Is the Day

For other uses, see This Is the Day (disambiguation).

"This Is the Day"
Single by the The
from the album Soul Mining
Released	2 September 1983
Studio	The Garden, London[a] Advision, London Sarm West, London
Genre	New wave, synthpop
Length	4:59 (album version) 3:42 (single edit)
Label	Some Bizzare/Epic
Songwriter(s)	Matt Johnson
Producer(s)	Paul Hardiman Matt Johnson
The The singles chronology
"Perfect" (1983) "This Is the Day" (1983) "Heartland" (1986)

"This Is the Day" is a song written by Matt Johnson and originally released as a single by his band The The on 2 September 1983.[3] It reached number 71 on the UK Singles Chart.[4] A version of the song was included on the band's debut album Soul Mining, released in October 1983.

A re-recorded version of the song, re-titled "That Was the Day", was released as the lead track on the Dis-Infected EP in 1993. The EP reached number 17 on the UK singles chart.[5]

Track listing

7" single

1. "This Is the Day" – 3:42
2. "Mental Healing Process" – 3:44

12" single

1. "This Is the Day" (Extended Version) – 5:22
2. "I've Been Waitin' for Tomorrow (All of My Life)" (Special Mix) – 7:36

Artwork

The artwork is by Andy Johnson. The font was designed by Fiona Skinner. An alternative layout for the the The logo was used on this single with the lowercase 'the' larger and set at an angle.

Video

Fiona Skinner directed the promo video for the re-release of 1983 single. The video is a collage of images and memories illustrating Matt Johnson's childhood and Skinner and Johnson's relationship. The single was re-released around the time they split. Skinner created the farewell promo for the song.

Personnel

Credits for the album version are adapted from the sleeve notes for Soul Mining.[6]

• Matt Johnson – synths, instruments, percussion, vocals
• Andy Duncan – drums
• Paul Boyle – fiddle
• Wix Wickens (credited as "Wicks") – accordion

Charts

Chart performance for "This Is the Day"

Chart (1983)	Peak position
UK Singles (OCC)[4]	71

Chart performance for "That Was the Day"

Chart (1994)	Peak position
UK Singles (OCC)[5]	17

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[7]	Silver	200,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Note

1. Although the only two studios credited in the liner notes for Soul Mining are Advision and Sarm, Johnson has since stated in several interviews that the majority of the album was recorded at the Garden studio in Shoreditch, east London.[1][2]

Manic Street Preachers version

"This Is The Day"
Single by Manic Street Preachers
from the album National Treasures – The Complete Singles
Released	18 September 2011
Studio	Faster Recording Studios, Cardiff
Genre	Alternative rock electronic rock
Length	3:41
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Matt Johnson
Producer(s)	Loz Williams & Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers singles chronology
"Postcards from a Young Man" (2010) "This Is The Day" (2011) "Show Me the Wonder" (2013)

In September 2011, "This Is the Day" was covered by Manic Street Preachers as a single to promote their National Treasures – The Complete Singles compilation album. The CD single was only available as a limited edition with the CD/DVD version of National Treasures on the HMV website.[8]

Track listing

Digital download

1. "This Is the Day" – 3:37
2. "We Were Never Told" – 3:20

HMV exclusive CD

1. "This Is the Day" – 3:37
2. "Rock 'n' Roll Genius" – 2:40

References

1. Mason, Neil (July 2014). "The Soul Miner". Electronic Sound. No. 7. pp. 36–47.
2. Bonner, Michael (2 July 2014). "'Somewhere between pure euphoria and terrible insecurity': An interview with The The's Matt Johnson". Uncut. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
3. "Record News". NME. 27 August 1983. p. 39.
4. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
5. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
6. Soul Mining (LP vinyl sleeve). The The. Some Bizzare Records. 1983. EPC 25525.
7. "British single certifications – The The – This Is the Day". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
8. "Pre-order 'National Treasures' for exclusive extras". Retrieved 2 January 2012.