Come Inside (song)

"Come Inside"
Single by Thompson Twins
from the album Queer
B-side	The Saint
Released	22 August 1991
Format	7" Single, 12" single, CD Single
Genre	Alternative dance House (Feedback Max House Mix)
Length	3:57
Label	Warner Bros. Records
Writer(s)	Alannah Currie; Tom Bailey
Producer(s)	Alannah Currie; Tom Bailey
Thompson Twins singles chronology
"Bombers In The Sky" (1989) "Come Inside" (1991) "The Saint" (1992)

"Come Inside" is Thompson Twins' only single in 1991 from the album Queer. It was written by the duo, Alannah Currie and Tom Bailey. The single peaked at #56 in the UK, spending 4 weeks on the chart.^[1] The single also peaked at #7 on the US Dance Music/Club Play Singles.^[2] The single had a promo video to support it.

The single was supported by various techno inspired singles under the moniker of Feedback Max (in the UK) to disguise the identity of the band to club DJs. The single "Come Inside" reached #7 in the US Dance Chart and #1 in the UK Dance Chart. However, once it was discovered that the Thompson Twins were behind the record, sales dropped and the album Queer never had a UK release.

The song was featured in a 1991 "Beverly Hills 90210" episode.

Background

Aside from the album title Queer, the duo lyrically reclaimed positive sexuality through the "Come Inside" song. Bailey described the song's meaning; "It's about a breakthrough between two people, the act of penetration. But the song is inspired by William Blake's poem "The Doors of Deception," which, as Blake wrote are hard to open wide. It's amazing how people are not willing to open their minds, but are more than ready to open their legs." Bailey also noted that the song's music video included images of doors slamming on "rude people".^[3]

In a 1991 KISS FM radio interview with UK Radio Personality, Sonya Frazier, the duo were asked about "Come Inside" and why it was not initially released under the Thompson Twins name. Bailey stated "Well, as Feedback Max, I did a remix with Feedback Max and that was actually put out first on a white label format and it was credited to Feedback Max. Why? Because... I guess, in a way, we were trying to do something underhand; we were trying to slip in unnoticed into the clubs, you know, which is sometimes a fun thing to do - to wear a disguise. So then people are judging the piece of work rather than the reputation of the people who made it. I guess that's the real reason, you know. Cause sometimes people can hold your reputation against you; as we all know, and we wanted to avoid that with this song. And, sort of in a way, it worked, you know. Some people have this prejudice problem, they think "well, oh, if it's them, then I'm not interested in that sort of thing." But when they realized they'd been dancing to it for a couple of weeks already anyway, they sort of had to come to terms with their own prejudice. In the end, we released a version by C&C. They did a remix for us and put the Feedback Max on the other side. It seems to be taking off club-wise really well for us [in the UK and US]."^[4][5]

Formats

7" Single

1. "Come Inside (C & C Club Mix Edit)" - 3:20
2. "Come Inside (Feedback Max House Mix Edit)" - 4:04

12" Single

1. "Come Inside (C & C Club Mix Edit)" - 3:20
2. "Come Inside (Feedback Max House Mix)" - 5:53

12" Single (America only)

1. "Come Inside (Turn The Knob Mix)" - 10:10
2. "Come Inside (Feedback Max Chill Out Remix)" - 6:25
3. "Come Inside (Feedback Max House Mix)" - 5:51
4. "The Saint (Def Sonic 12" Mix)" - 7:46
5. "The Saint (Red Zone Dub)" - 5:32
6. "The Saint (8th Street Dub)" - 5:32

2x 12" Single Gatefold (America only)

1. "Come Inside (Turn The Knob Mix)" - 10:10
2. "Come Inside (Dub Inside)" - 5:00
3. "Come Inside (Feedback Max Chill Out Remix)" - 6:25
4. "Come Inside (Rock A Dub)" - 8:04
5. "Come Inside (Alternative 12" Remix)" - 5:26
6. "Come Inside (Single Edit)" - 3:58
7. "Come Inside (Feedback Max House Mix)" - 5:51
8. "Come Inside (Feedback Max Dub)" - 4:04

12" Single (promo only - Feedback Max feat Thompson Twins)

1. "Come Inside"
2. "Come Inside (Bonus Beats)"

CD Single

1. "Come Inside (C+C Club Mix Edit)" - 3:20
2. "Come Inside (Feedback Max House Mix)" - 5:53
3. "Come Inside (LP Version)" - 3:57

CD Single (America only)

1. "Come Inside (Single Edit)" - 3:58
2. "Come Inside (Turn The Knob Mix)" - 10:10
3. "Come Inside (Feedback Max Chill Out Remix)" - 6:25
4. "The Saint (Def Sonic 12" Mix)" - 7:46
5. "The Saint (Red Zone Dub)" - 5:32
6. "Come Inside (Feedback Max House Mix)" - 5:51
7. "Come Inside (Turn The Knob Edit)" - 3:57

CD Single (American promo)

1. "Come Inside" - 4:00

Critical reception

In the Billboard Magazine of 21 September 1991, Larry Flick reviewed the Queer album and stated, "With "Queer", the Thompson Twins continue to prove their knack for combining tightly constructed pop hooks with tasty, funk-rooted dance grooves. The first single "Come Inside", sets the mood nicely with its slow and sleazy rhythms and sing-along chorus."^[6]

In the 1991 Trouser Press Record Guide, Ira Robbins noted "There is a dark, edgy undercurrent to Bailey's singing - like eau de Foetus, diluted to a safe concentration - and in the arrangements of songs like Come Inside (proffered in two mixes), Groove On and The Saint, but the album's general tone is upbeat, atmospheric and clubby."^[7]

Chart performance

Personnel

• Editor – George Morel, Ricky Crespo
• Recording Engineer, Mixer – Lloyd Puckitt
• Additional Producer – Feedback Max, George Morel, Ricky Crespo
• Assistant Producer – Keith Fernley
• Producer, Writer, Vocals – Alannah Currie, Tom Bailey
• Design – Graham Wood, John Warwicker
• Recording Engineer, Mixer – John Poppo
• Photography – Mike Owen
• Additional Producer, Remixer – David Morales

References