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"Hang On to Yourself"
Song by Arnold Corns
B-side"Man in the Middle"
ReleasedAugust 1972
Recorded25 February 1971, Radio Luxembourg studios, London
Genre
Length2:51
LabelB&C Records
Songwriter(s)David Bowie
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"Hang On to Yourself"
Song by David Bowie
from the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Released16 June 1972[1]
RecordedNovember 1971
Genre
Length2:38
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)David Bowie
Producer(s)David Bowie and Ken Scott
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"Hang On to Yourself" is a song written by David Bowie in 1971 and released as a single under the name Arnold Corns. A re-recorded version was released on the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. The main riff is representative of glam rock's influence as a bridge between 1950s rock and roll, specifically rockabilly, and the punk to come; it draws on rockabilly influences such as Eddie Cochran, yet is faster and grungier (thanks to guitarist Mick Ronson's raunchy, distorted Les Paul), in a way that would influence punk records such as "Teenage Lobotomy" by Ramones.

Arnold Corns version[]

The Arnold Corns version of "Hang On to Yourself"—recorded at the Radio Luxembourg studios in London on 25 February 1971[3]—was first released by B&C as the B-side to the single "Moonage Daydream" in the UK on 7 May 1971.[4] On 11 August 1972, it was released again, this time as an A-side, by B&C.[5]

  1. "Hang On to Yourself" – 2:55
  2. "The Man in the Middle" – 4:20

The Arnold Corns version was a bonus track on the 1990 Rykodisc/EMI remastering of Bowie's album The Man Who Sold the World. In 2002, this version appeared on the bonus disc of the Ziggy Stardust album's 30th Anniversary 2-CD reissue.

  • Musicians:
    • David Bowie: vocals, piano
    • Freddi Buretti: vocals
    • Mark Carr-Pritchard: guitar
    • Peter DeSomogyi: bass
    • Tim Broadbent: drums, tambourine

The official band line-up, fronted by dress designer Freddi Buretti, was a total fabrication; Buretti was at the session but his contributions were simply lost alongside Bowie's.

Album version[]

The album version of the song was recorded in November 1971 at Trident Studios, London.

  • David Bowie – vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Mick Ronson – lead guitar
  • Trevor Bolder – bass guitar
  • Mick "Woody" Woodmansey – drums

Other releases[]

  • It was released as the B-side of the single "John, I'm Only Dancing" in September 1972 (1972-09).
  • It was also released as the B-side to the single "Looking for a Friend" in May 1985 (1985-05).
  • The Portuguese version of the single "Starman" from September 1972 (1972-09) also had "Hang On to Yourself" as the B-side.
  • In November 1972 (1972-11) it was released as the B-side of the US release of the single "The Jean Genie".
  • It was released as a picture disc in the RCA Life Time picture disc set.
  • It also appeared on the Japanese compilation The Best of David Bowie (1974).

Live versions[]

  • Bowie recorded the song for the BBC radio programme Sounds of the 70s Bob Harris on 18 January 1972 (1972-01-18). This was broadcast on 7 February 1972 (1972-02-07). On 16 May 1972 (1972-05-16), Bowie again played the song on Sounds of the 70s: John Peel, and this was broadcast on 23 May 1972 (1972-05-23). Both of these versions were released on the Bowie at the Beeb album in 2000.
  • A live version, recorded for radio broadcast at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on 20 October 1972 (1972-10-20) was released on Santa Monica '72. This version also appeared on the Japanese release of RarestOneBowie and on the official 2008 release of that concert as Live Santa Monica '72.
  • The version played at the famous "last concert" at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, 3 July 1973 (1973-07-03), was released on Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture.
  • A spring 1978 performance from the "Heroes" tour was released on Stage.
  • A November 2003 live performance from the A Reality Tour was released on the A Reality Tour DVD in 2004, and is included on the A Reality Tour album, released in 2010.

Cover versions[]

  • Gilby ClarkeThe Hangover (1997)
  • Of Montreal – Live on their 2009 tour
  • The Pocket FishRMen – Only Bowie tribute album
  • Melvin JamesDavid Bowie Acoustic Tribute
  • Kommunity FKTribute to David Bowie
  • Mutant Monster Beach Party – Hero: The Main Man Records Tribute to David Bowie (2007)
  • Techno Cowboy – "The Ziggy Stardust Omnichord Album" (2009)
  • Offbeats – "Evolution Of The Stickman" LP (1987)[6]
  • Contraband – On their 1991 debutalbum

References[]

  1. "Happy 43rd Birthday to Ziggy Stardust". Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  2. "500 Greatest Albums of All Time : 35 – David Bowie, 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars'". Rolling Stone. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  3. Kevin Cann (2010). Any Day Now – David Bowie: The London Years: 1947–1974: pp.206-207
  4. Kevin Cann (2010). Any Day Now – David Bowie: The London Years: 1947–1974: p.216
  5. Kevin Cann (2010). Any Day Now – David Bowie: The London Years: 1947–1974: p.262
  6. "Offbeats - The Evolution Of The Stickman (Vinyl, LP, Album)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 6 October 2016.

External links[]

  • Template:MetroLyrics song

Template:David Bowie singles

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