Night on My Side

Background

Following the release of two acclaimed EPs in 2001 4:35AM and Work Myself Into A Calm, Hayes returned to record her debut album at Tarbox Road Studios in New York City and Black Box Studios in France. With some of these original demos previously recorded in Dublin. The album was produced by Dave Fridmann and David Odlum. Hayes would later go onto forge a unique relationship with Odlum who continues to work with her to this day.

In early 2002 it was confirmed her debut album would receive a May release in Europe. Upon release Hayes was compared to Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez. To coincide with the album's release Hayes confirmed an extensive European tour with dates across Ireland, the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands. She would later go onto support Marianne Faithfull and Counting Crows on their European tours. The album received positive reviews upon release. A special version of the LP was released in France, Japan and the US.

Hayes continued to appear on European radio performing live for RTÉ Radio, France Inter and BBC Radio. She made appearances on radio and television in Ireland and also made appearances on French radio to perform on The Black Sessions for France Inter and BBC Radio 1 Live Sessions in the UK.

By summer 2002 at the tender age of 24 her debut album was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize 2002. Apparently she narrowly missed out on winning the award. Hayes would later confirm a live tour of the US with Josh Ritter supporting her. The album received a much later release in the US & Canada in April 2003, the artwork and track listing on the North American version differs from the European and Japanese editions.

European version

All songs written by Gemma Hayes.

1. "Day One"
2. "Hanging Around"
3. "Back of My Hand"
4. "Over & Over"
5. "Let a Good Thing Go"
6. "Ran For Miles"
7. "What A Day"
8. "Tear In My Side"
9. "I Wanna Stay"
10. The hidden track "Dartmouth Square" appears at the end of "I Wanna Stay"
11. "Lucky One (Bird Of Cassadaga)"
12. "My God"
13. "Night On My Side"
14. "Pieces Of Glass" (hidden track)

LP version

All songs written by Gemma Hayes.

1. "Day One"
2. "Hanging Around"
3. "Back of My Hand"
4. "Over & Over"
5. "Let a Good Thing Go"
6. "Ran For Miles"
7. "What A Day"
8. "Tear In My Side"
9. "I Wanna Stay"
10. The hidden track "Dartmouth Square" appears at the end of "I Wanna Stay"
11. "Lucky One (Bird Of Cassadaga)"
12. "My God"
13. "Night On My Side"
14. "Pieces Of Glass" (hidden track)

French version

A special edition of Night on My Side was released in France by Source Records France it contains the original album plus an additional bonus CD.

1. "Day One"
2. "Hanging Around"
3. "Back of My Hand"
4. "Over & Over"
5. "Let a Good Thing Go"
6. "Ran For Miles"
7. "What A Day"
8. "Tear In My Side"
9. "I Wanna Stay"
10. The hidden track "Dartmouth Square" appears at the end of "I Wanna Stay"
11. "Lucky One (Bird Of Cassadaga)"
12. "My God"
13. "Night On My Side"
14. "Pieces Of Glass" (hidden track)

1. "Brightness"
2. "Hanging Around (acoustic version)"
3. "Summers in Doubt"
4. "Pieces of Glass (radio session version)"
5. "Let a Good Thing Go (video)"

Japanese version

The track listing for the Japanese release is different from the original European version.

1. "Day One"
2. "Hanging Around"
3. "Making Waves"
4. "Let a Good Thing Go"
5. "Back of My Hand"
6. "4:35AM"
7. "I worked myself into a calm"
8. "Ran For Miles"
9. "Tear In My Side"
10. "What A Day"
11. "I Wanna Stay"
12. The hidden track "Dartmouth Square" appears at the end of "I Wanna Stay"
13. "Lucky One (Bird Of Cassadaga)"
14. "My God"
15. "Night On My Side"
16. "Pieces Of Glass" (hidden track)

American version

The American release features a different cover and track listing, including songs from the 4.35am EP but omitting songs featured on the European release of the album:

1. "Hanging Around"
2. "Back of My Hand"
3. "Let a Good Thing Go"
4. "Tear in My Side"
5. "Work to a Calm"
6. "Lucky One"
7. "Making Waves"
8. "Ran for Miles"
9. "My God"
10. "4.35am"
11. "I Wanna Stay"
12. "Evening Sun"
13. Extras
14. "Let A Good Thing Go" (Video)