{{Short description|1996 single by Tori Amos}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}} {{Infobox song | name = Caught a Lite Sneeze | cover = Caught a Lite Sneeze single cover.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = [[Tori Amos]] | album = [[Boys for Pele]] | B-side = * "[[This Old Man]]" * "That's What I Like Mick (The Sandwich Song)" * "Graveyard" * "Toodles Mr. Jim" * "Hungarian Wedding Song" * "[[London Girls]]" * "Samurai" | released = {{start date|1996|1|1}} | recorded = | studio = * A church ([[Delgany]], Ireland) * A [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] house ([[County Cork]], Ireland) | genre = <!-- Do not add unsourced genres --> | length = 4:27 | label = * [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]] * [[East West Records|EastWest]] | writer = Tori Amos | producer = Tori Amos | prev_title = [[Past the Mission]] | prev_year = 1994 | next_title = [[Talula]] | next_year = 1996 }} "'''Caught a Lite Sneeze'''" is a song by American singer-songwriter and pianist [[Tori Amos]], released as the first single from her third studio album, ''[[Boys for Pele]]'' (1996), on January 1, 1996. The song is about wanting to do anything to keep a relationship going, knowing that it is over.<ref>[http://www.yessaid.com/talk/7caughtalitesneeze.html Quotes from interviews with Tori Amos] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080121205629/http://www.yessaid.com/talk/7caughtalitesneeze.html |date=January 21, 2008 }}.</ref> It references [[Nine Inch Nails]]'s album ''[[Pretty Hate Machine]]'' in the lyrics "''Caught a lite sneeze / Dreamed a little dream / Made my own pretty hate machine.''" On December 11, 1995, [[Atlantic Records]] made the song available for streaming on their website, one of the earliest examples of a major label implementing such a feature.<ref name="pride">{{cite magazine|title=Amos Bares Soul on Atlantic Set|last1=Pride|first1=Dominic|last2=Taylor|first2=Chuck|author-link2=Chuck Taylor (music journalist)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=108|issue=2|page=66|date=January 13, 1996}}</ref>
Following the song's release, it reached number 60 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], number three on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Adult Alternative Airplay|Triple-A]] chart, and No. 20 on the [[UK singles chart]]. Despite being one of Amos's higher-charting singles, it does not appear on her best-of collection, ''[[Tales of a Librarian]]'' (2003). In live performances from 1996 and 1998, Amos would frequently insert lines directly from and inspired by "[[Hurt (Nine Inch Nails song)|Hurt]]", another song by Nine Inch Nails.
==Critical reception== [[Larry Flick]] from ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine felt the song "is easily her most viable bid for top 40 success to date." He added, "Literal, accessible lyrics waft over a rumbling rock-ish beat and a haunting blend of acoustic guitars and keyboard. Her often waif-like delivery is enhanced with throaty declarations and vamps that nicely punctuate the melody and flesh out the words. Nourishment for the intelligent pop music fan."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|title=Reviews & Previews: Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1996/BB-1996-01-13.pdf|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=January 13, 1996|page=62|accessdate=November 21, 2022|author-link=Larry Flick}}</ref> Steve Baltin from ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]'' said "Wow", declaring the song as "simply stunning." He wrote, "If not the best singer in music right now, Amos is near the top of a very short list. Time and time again the passionate redhead has proven herself to be a vocalist capable of bringing listeners into her pain."
Baltin explained, "'Caught a Lite Sneeze' begins with a very understated [[Industrial music|industrial]] feel and Amos showing great restraint in her vocals. By the end though, Amos has fans trembling with her cathartic rushes. A definite at [[Modern Rock]] and a smash at [[Adult Alternative Airplay|Triple A]]. The ''Cash Box'' psychic predicts that by the end of this year [[Tori Amos]] will have broken through to be a true superstar in every sense of the word."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Steve|last=Baltin|title=Pop Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1996/CB-1996-01-20.pdf|magazine=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]|date=January 20, 1996|page=7|accessdate=November 11, 2022}}</ref> Kevin Courtney from ''[[Irish Times]]'' noted that the song "has a contagious quality of its own."<ref>Courtney, Kevin (January 26, 1996). "Rock". ''[[Irish Times]]''.</ref> [[Andrew Mueller]] from ''[[Melody Maker]]'' named it Single of the Week, adding, "The song itself is pleasant enough without being what you'd call memorable. The usual [[Kate Bush]] references will do the trick, or you could resort to some [[Alanis Morissette]] ones if you were feigning contemporaneity."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Andrew|last=Mueller|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53623547861/|title=Singles|magazine=[[Melody Maker]]|date=January 13, 1996|page=28|access-date=May 9, 2024|author-link=Andrew Mueller}}</ref>
==Track listings== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} * '''US maxi-CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Caught a Lite Sneeze|year=1996|type=US maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=[[Atlantic Records]]|id=85519-2}}</ref> # "Caught a Lite Sneeze" (unedited version) # "[[This Old Man]]" # "That's What I Like Mick (The Sandwich Song)" # "Graveyard" # "Toodles Mr. Jim"
* '''UK CD1 and Australian CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Caught a Lite Sneeze|year=1996|type=UK CD1 & Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=[[East West Records|EastWest Records]]|id=A5524CD1, 7567-85526-2}}</ref> # "Caught a Lite Sneeze" – 4:24 # "This Old Man" – 1:44 # "Hungarian Wedding Song" – 1:00 # "Toodles Mr. Jim" – 3:09 {{col-2}} * '''UK CD2'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Caught a Lite Sneeze|year=1996|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=EastWest Records|id=A5524CD2, 7567-85525-2}}</ref> # "Caught a Lite Sneeze" – 4:24 # "[[London Girls]]" – 3:20 # "That's What I Like Mick (The Sandwich Song)" – 2:59 # "Samurai" – 3:03
* '''UK and Australian cassette single, European CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Caught a Lite Sneeze|year=1996|type=UK & Australian cassette single sleeve|publisher=EastWest Records|id=A5524C, 7567-85524-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Caught a Lite Sneeze|year=1996|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=EastWest Records|id=7567-85524-2}}</ref> # "Caught a Lite Sneeze" – 4:24 # "Graveyard" – 0:54 # "Toodles Mr. Jim" – 3:09 {{col-end}}
==Credits and personnel== Credits are lifted from the ''[[Boys for Pele]]'' album booklet.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Boys for Pele|title-link=Boys for Pele|year=1996|type=US CD album booklet|publisher=Atlantic Records|id=82862-2}}</ref>
'''Recording and production''' * Recorded at a church ([[Delgany]], Ireland) and "a wonderfully damp Georgian house" ([[County Cork]], Ireland) * Additionally recorded at The Egyptian Room and Dinosaur Studios (New Orleans, Louisiana) * Mixed at Jacobs Studios ([[Surrey]], England), [[Mix This!]], and [[Record One]] (Los Angeles) * Mastered at Gateway Mastering ([[Portland, Maine]])
'''Personnel''' {{div col}} * [[Tori Amos]] – writing, vocals, [[harpsichord]], [[Bösendorfer]], production * Alan Friedman – drum programming * George Porter Jr. – bass * Steve Caton – swells * Mark Hawley – recording * Marcel van Limbeek – recording * Rob van Tuin – recording assistance * [[Bob Clearmountain]] – mixing * [[Ryan Freeland]] – mixing assistance * [[Bob Ludwig]] – mastering {{div col end}}
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable" !Chart (1996) !Peak<br />position |- |Australia ([[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/WpkGjXy.jpg|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 31 Mar 1996|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]]|via=[[Imgur]]|accessdate=March 12, 2016}} N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia|edition=pdf|page=14}}</ref> |align="center"|51 |- {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|20|chartid=2926|access-date=March 19, 2018}} |- {{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|27|chartid=2900|access-date=May 20, 2020}} |- {{single chart|Canadarock|18|chartid=9200|access-date=March 19, 2018}} |- |Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles|Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-01-20.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=13|issue=3|date=January 20, 1996|page=13|access-date=August 28, 2020}}</ref> |align="center"|73 |- |Finland ([[Suomen virallinen lista]])<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sisältää hitin |url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf}}</ref> |align="center"|33 |- {{single chart|Ireland2|21|song=Caught a Lite Sneeze|access-date=March 19, 2018}} |- {{single chart|Scotland|19|date=19960113|access-date=March 19, 2018}} |- {{single chart|UK|20|date=19960113|access-date=March 19, 2018}} |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|60|artist=Tori Amos|access-date=March 19, 2018}} |- {{single chart|Billboardadultalternativesongs|3|artist=Tori Amos|access-date=March 19, 2018}} |- {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|13|artist=Tori Amos|access-date=March 19, 2018}} |- {{single chart|Billboarddancesales|9|artist=Tori Amos|access-date=June 30, 2021}} |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {|class="wikitable" !Chart (1996) !Position |- |US Modern Rock Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref name="usrockye">{{cite magazine|title=Airplay Monitor Best of '96|magazine=[[Airplay Monitor]]|volume=4|issue=53|page=24|date=December 27, 1996}}</ref> |align="center"|70 |- |US Triple-A (''Billboard'')<ref name="usrockye"/> |align="center"|27 |} {{col-end}}
==Release history== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- !scope="row"|United Kingdom |January 1, 1996 |{{hlist|CD|cassette}} |[[East West Records|EastWest]] |<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1995/Music-Week-1995-12-23.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=32|date=December 23, 1995|access-date=June 30, 2021}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|United States |January 2, 1996 |{{hlist|[[Modern rock]]|[[college radio|college]]|[[Adult album alternative|triple A]] radio}} |[[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]] |<ref name="pride"/> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Tori Amos}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Tori Amos songs]] [[Category:1996 singles]] [[Category:1995 songs]] [[Category:Atlantic Records singles]] [[Category:East West Records singles]] [[Category:Music videos directed by Mike Lipscombe]] [[Category:Songs written by Tori Amos]]