"Follow You Down" is a song by American rock band Gin Blossoms, and the first single released from their album Congratulations I'm Sorry. It was released as a double A-side single with "Til I Hear It from You" in the United States. The song reached number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100 in a 46-week stay on the chart. It also became the band's second number-one single in Canada, after "Til I Hear It from You", and reached number 30 in the United Kingdom.
Background According to an interview by Songfacts with Gin Blossoms songwriter Jesse Valenzuela, this song was written at the very end of the recording process for the Congratulations I'm Sorry album. Valenzuela recalled:
The song would ultimately become the biggest hit on the album, reaching number nine on the Billboard Hot 100.
Critical reception Larry Flick of Billboard spoke positively of "Follow You Down", commenting that the song showcases "[the Gin Blossoms'] knack for crafting perfect pop hooks with sing-along lyrics".Flick, Larry (February 3, 1996), "Singles: Pop". Billboard. 108 (5):70 Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune referred to the song as "easy-listening alterna-rock of the first order".
Track listings and formats
Australian and US maxi-CD single "Follow You Down" (Edit) – 3:45 "Til I Hear It from You" (LP version) – 3:46 "Seeing Stars" – 3:44 "Idiot Summer" – 4:10
US 7-inch vinyl, cassette, and CD single "Follow You Down" (edit) – 3:45 "Til I Hear It from You" (LP version) – 3:46
German CD single and UK cassette single "Follow You Down" (edit) – 3:45 "Allison Road" (LP version) – 3:18 "Until I Fall Away" (LP version) – 3:51 "Follow You Down" (LP version) – 4:30
UK CD single "Follow You Down" (edit) – 3:47 "Not Only Numb" (live) – 3:14 "My Car" (live) – 4:09 "Whitewash" (live) – 3:19
Netherlands CD single "Follow You Down" (Edit) – 3:45 "Allison Road" (LP Version) – 3:18
Credits and personnel Credits and personnel are adapted from Congratulations I'm Sorry album liner notes. Robin Wilson – vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica Jesse Valenzuela – guitars, vocals Phillip Rhodes – drums, percussion, background vocals Bill Leen – bass, background vocals Scott Johnson – guitars, background vocals John Hampton – producer, engineering, mixing Erick Flettrich – engineering Billy Moss – assistant engineer at Vintage Recorders (Phoenix) Billy Siegle – pre-production engineer David Collins – mastering at A&M Mastering Studios (Hollywood)
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1996)PeakpositionAustralia (ARIA)65Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)98Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)35US Cash Box Top 1007
Year-end charts Chart (1996)PositionCanada Top Singles (RPM)7US Billboard Hot 10015US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)11US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)46US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)63US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)17US Triple-A (Billboard)7
Decade-end charts Chart (1990s)PositionCanada (Nielsen SoundScan)49
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesJanuary 30, 1996Contemporary hit radioA&MJapanFebruary 5, 1996Mini-CDUnited KingdomApril 15, 1996
References