Hang On to Yourself

"Hang Onto Yourself"
B-side to "Moonage Daydream" by Arnold Corns
Released	April 1971 (1971-04)
Recorded	June 17, 1971 (1971-06-17), Radio Luxembourg studios
Genre	Glam rock, protopunk
Length	2:51
Label	B&C Records

"Hang On to Yourself"
Song by David Bowie from the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Released	June 6, 1972 (1972-06-06)
Recorded	1972
Genre	Glam rock
Length	2:38
Label	RCA
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 "Five Years" "Soul Love" "Moonage Daydream" "Starman" "It Ain't Easy" Side two "Lady Stardust" "Star" "Hang On to Yourself" "Ziggy Stardust" "Suffragette City" "Rock 'N' Roll Suicide"

"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 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.

Arnold Corns version

It was recorded at the Radio Luxembourg studios on June 17, 1971 (1971-06-17). The Arnold Corns version of "Hang Onto Yourself" was first released by B&C as the B-side to the single "Moonage Daydream" in the UK in April 1971 (1971-04). In September 1971 (1971-09) it was released again, this time as an A-side, by B&C.

1. "Hang Onto Yourself" - 2:55
2. "The Man in the Middle" - 4:20

Personnel

• David Bowie – vocals
• Freddi Buretti – vocals
• Mick Ronson – lead guitar
• Mark Carr Pritchard: guitar
• Trevor Bolder – bass guitar
• Mick "Woody" Woodmansey – drums

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 released as a bonus track to the Rykodisc/EMI remastering of The Man Who Sold the World album (1990). In 2002 the Arnold Corns version appeared again on the Ziggy Stardust 30th 2CD Anniversary Reissue bonus disc.

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 January 8, 1972 (1972-01-08). This was broadcast February 7, 1972 (1972-02-07). On May 16, 1972 (1972-05-16), Bowie again played the song on Sounds of the 70s: John Peel, and this was broadcast on May 23, 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 October 20, 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, July 3, 1973 (1973-07-03), was released on Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture.
• A recording from the 1978 "Heroes" tour was recorded at the Philadelphia Spectrum, April 28, 1978 (1978-04-28)–April 29, 1978 (1978-04-29), was released on Stage.

Cover versions

• Of Montreal - Live on their 2009 tour
• The Pocket FishRMen - Only Bowie tribute album
• Melvin James - David Bowie Acoustic Tribute
• Kommunity FK - Tribute 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)