Hang on to Yourself

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“Hang on to Yourself”
B-side to "Moonage Daydream" by Arnold Corns
Released April 1971
Recorded June 17, 1971, Radio Luxembourg studios
Length 2:51
Label B&C Records
“Hang on to Yourself”
Song by David Bowie
Album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Released June 6, 1972
Recorded 1972
Genre Rock
protopunk
Length 2:38
Label RCA Records
Writer David Bowie
Producer David Bowie and Ken Scott
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars track listing
Side one
  1. "Five Years"
  2. "Soul Love"
  3. "Moonage Daydream"
  4. "Starman"
  5. "It Ain't Easy"
Side two
  1. "Lady Stardust"
  2. "Star"
  3. "Hang on to Yourself"
  4. "Ziggy Stardust"
  5. "Suffragette City"
  6. "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide"

"Hang on to Yourself" is a song written by David Bowie in 1971 and released on single under the name Arnold Corns. A rerecorded version was in 1972 released on the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. The main riff is quite representative of glam rock's influence as a bridge between the rock and roll of the past and the punk of the (then) future -- it is quite similar in style to Eddie Cochran, and yet carries a distinctive sound which would be used in many punk records and songs.

Contents

[edit] Arnold Corns version

Recorded at the Radio Luxembourg studios on June 17th, 1971. The Arnold Corns version of "Hang on to Yourself" was first released by B&C as the B-side to the single "Moonage Daydream" in the UK in April 1971. In September 1971 it was released as the A-side by B&C.

  1. "Hang on to Yourself"
  2. "Man in the Middle"

[edit] Production credits

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.

This version was also released as a bonus track on the Rykodisc rerelease of The Man Who Sold the World album (1990). It was also released as the B-side to the single "Looking for a Friend" in May 1985. In 2002 the Arnold Corns version appeared on the Ziggy Stardust - 30th Anniversary Reissue bonus disc.

[edit] Other releases

  • It was released as the B-side of the single "John, I'm Only Dancing" in September 1972.
  • The Portugal version of the single "Starman" from September 1972 also had "Hang on to Yourself" as the B-side.
  • In November 1972 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).

[edit] Live versions

  • Bowie recorded the song for the BBC radio program "Sounds of the 70s: Bob Harris" January 1st, 1972. This was broadcast February 7th, 1972. May 16th, 1972 Bowie again played the song at "Sounds of the 70s: John Peel", and this was broadcast May 23rd, 1972. Both these versions was released on the Bowie at the Beeb album in 2000.
  • A live version recorded at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 20 October 1972 was released on Santa Monica '72. This version also appeared on the Japanese release of RarestOneBowie.
  • The version played at the famous concert at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, July 3 1973 was released on Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture.
  • A recording from the 1978 Heroes tour recorded at the Philadelphia Spectrum, April 28-29. 1978, was released on Stage.

[edit] Cover versions

  • Of Montreal performed a live cover at their March 15, 2007 show in Chicago
  • Ceiling Fan – Loving the Alien: Athens Georgia Salutes David Bowie
  • Gilby Clarke – The Hangover (1997)
  • Contraband – Contraband (1991)
  • The Germs – Live From the Masque Forming (1996)
  • Charles De Goal – Algorhythmes
  • Kommunity FK – Goth Oddity - A Tribute to David Bowie (1999)
  • The Pocket FishRMen – Only Bowie (1995)
  • Rhodesians – 1978 Demo Tape
  • Victim – Single and Rabid/TJM Punk Singles Collection (1996)
  • Shesus - Spiders from Venus: Indie Women Artists and Female-Fronted Bands Cover David Bowie (2003)
  • The Danger - .2 Contamination: A Tribute to David Bowie (2006)