Don't Follow

"Don't Follow"
Single by Alice in Chains
from the album Jar of Flies
Released October 1994[1]
Format CD
Recorded September 7–14, 1993 at London Bridge Studio in Seattle, Washington
Genre Acoustic rock, alternative rock, blues rock
Length 4:22
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Jerry Cantrell
Producer(s) Alice in Chains, Toby Wright
Alice in Chains singles chronology
"I Stay Away"
(1994)		 "Don't Follow"
(1994)		 "Grind"
(1995)

"I Stay Away"
(1994)		 "Don't Follow"
(1994)		 "Grind"
(1995)

"Don't Follow" is a song by American rock band Alice in Chains. It is the third single from the studio EP Jar of Flies, released in 1994 through Columbia Records. The single reached No. 25 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks and spent seven weeks on the chart.[2]

Composition

The song is very melancholic and soft; this is largely due to the lack of electrically amplified instruments—replaced by the gentle wail of a harmonica, and especially the lack of a rhythm section during the first half of the song. Lead guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell sings during most of the song except the bridge, which vocalist Layne Staley sings.[3] Bassist Mike Inez, Randy Biro and Jerry Cantrell's guitar tech Darrell Peters sang backing vocals for the second part of the song.[4]

Release and reception

"Don't Follow" was released as a single in October 1994,[1] and peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the week of December 3, 1994.[2]

Ned Raggett of Allmusic called the song "one of the best" by Alice in Chains, referred to Cantrell's vocals on the song as "some of his best work ever," and said that the song "finds the band at its most calm, reflective, and gently warming."[5]

Personnel

  • Jerry Cantrell – lead vocals, guitars
  • Layne Staley – backing vocals, co-lead vocals
  • Mike Inez – bass, backing vocals
  • Sean Kinney – drums, percussion
  • David Atkinson – harmonica
  • Randy Biro – backing vocals
  • Darrell Peters – backing vocals

Chart positions

Chart (1994) Peak
position
US Mainstream Rock Tracks[2] 25

References

  1. 1 2 "Mainstream Rock Songs - The Week of October 29, 1994". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "Alice in Chains "Don't Follow" Chart History – Mainstream Rock". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Dusting 'Em Off: Alice in Chains – Jar of Flies". Consequence of Sound. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  4. ↑ de Sola, David (August 4, 2015). Alice in Chains: The Untold Story. Thomas Dunne Books. p. 209. ISBN 1250048079.
  5. ↑ Raggett, Ned. "Don't Follow". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
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