You Belong in Rock 'n' Roll
Encyclopedia
"You Belong in Rock n' Roll" was a song by Tin Machine
, released ahead of their second album
in August 1991. The song was the band’s first release on Victory Records, which was distributed by London Records
in the UK.
The band’s sound was somewhat more refined than on their debut album, influenced by Marc Bolan
and Elvis Presley
, and its use of a music-as-sex metaphor was a Bowie theme used on several tracks stretching right back to his glam
days.
Launched in a barrage of publicity, including appearances on Top of the Pops
(where the band mimed and Gabrels
chose to play his guitar with a bread roll, with Bowie seeming to be much amused by the resulting mess) and Wogan
(where the band again mimed, and Gabrels
played his guitar with a vibrator, and Bowie
visibly tired of the host’s patter), the single peaked at UK #33 – a disappointment, but it would be Tin Machine’s biggest hit single.
Musicians
Tin Machine
Tin Machine was a hard rock band formed in 1988, famous for being fronted by singer David Bowie. The group recorded two studio albums before dissolving in 1992, when Bowie returned to his solo career...
, released ahead of their second album
Tin Machine II
Tin Machine II is an album by Tin Machine, originally released by Victory Music in 1991.-Recording:The band reconvened following their 1989 tour, recording most of the album before taking a rest while David Bowie conducted his solo Sound+Vision Tour and filmed The Linguini Incident...
in August 1991. The song was the band’s first release on Victory Records, which was distributed by London Records
London Records
London Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
in the UK.
The band’s sound was somewhat more refined than on their debut album, influenced by Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
and Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, and its use of a music-as-sex metaphor was a Bowie theme used on several tracks stretching right back to his glam
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
days.
Launched in a barrage of publicity, including appearances on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
(where the band mimed and Gabrels
Reeves Gabrels
Reeves Gabrels is an American guitarist, known for virtuosity, versatility, and originality. His compositions and improvisations defy genre and "explore sonic extremes with a great, adaptive intuition for what each song needs most."...
chose to play his guitar with a bread roll, with Bowie seeming to be much amused by the resulting mess) and Wogan
Wogan
Wogan was a chat show on British television, hosted by Terry Wogan. It followed the format of a series broadcast in 1980 entitled What's On Wogan?, which failed to gather viewers. The Wogan show was initially broadcast on Tuesday evenings on BBC1 in 1981 and from 1982 to 1984, it moved into the...
(where the band again mimed, and Gabrels
Reeves Gabrels
Reeves Gabrels is an American guitarist, known for virtuosity, versatility, and originality. His compositions and improvisations defy genre and "explore sonic extremes with a great, adaptive intuition for what each song needs most."...
played his guitar with a vibrator, and Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
visibly tired of the host’s patter), the single peaked at UK #33 – a disappointment, but it would be Tin Machine’s biggest hit single.
7" version
- "You Belong in Rock 'n' Roll" (Bowie, Gabrels) – 3:33
- "Ampalura (Indonesian version)" (Bowie, Gabrels) – 3:49
12"/CD version 1
- "You Belong in Rock n' Roll (Extended version)" (Bowie, Gabrels) – 6:32
- "You Belong in Rock n' Roll (LP version)" (Bowie, Gabrels) – 4:07
- "Ampalura (Indonesian version)" (Bowie, Gabrels) – 3:49
- "Shakin' All Over (Live)" (KiddFrederick HeathJohnny Kidd was an English singer and songwriter, the front man for the rock band Johnny Kidd and the Pirates. He was one of the few pre-Beatles British rock and rollers to achieve worldwide fame....
) – 2:49
CD version 2
- "You Belong in Rock n' Roll" (Bowie, Gabrels) – 3:33
- "Ampalura (Indonesian version)" (Bowie, Gabrels) – 3:49
- "Stateside" (H. Sales) – 5:38
- "Hammerhead" (Bowie, H. Sales) – 3:15
Production credits
Producers- Tin MachineTin MachineTin Machine was a hard rock band formed in 1988, famous for being fronted by singer David Bowie. The group recorded two studio albums before dissolving in 1992, when Bowie returned to his solo career...
- Tim PalmerTim PalmerTim Palmer is a British music producer, audio engineer and songwriter of rock and alternative music.-1980-1990:Palmer worked as an assistant engineer at Utopia Studios in London, England in the early 1980s...
Musicians
- David BowieDavid BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
: Vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Reeves GabrelsReeves GabrelsReeves Gabrels is an American guitarist, known for virtuosity, versatility, and originality. His compositions and improvisations defy genre and "explore sonic extremes with a great, adaptive intuition for what each song needs most."...
: Lead guitar - Hunt SalesHunt SalesHunt Sales is an American rock and roll drummer who has played with Todd Rundgren, his brother Tony Sales, Iggy Pop and Tin Machine.- Personal life : Hunt Sales is the son of 1950s/60s television comedian Soupy Sales...
: DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocals - Tony SalesTony Sales|Tony Fox Sales is an American rock musician. A bass guitarist, Sales and his brother, Hunt Sales, played with Todd Rundgren, Iggy Pop and Tin Machine with David Bowie.-Early life and career:...
: BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Kevin Armstrong: Rhythm guitar
Live versions
- A live version recorded during the 1991 Tin Machine tour was released on the live album Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, BabyTin Machine Live: Oy Vey, BabyTin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby is a live album by Tin Machine originally released by London Records in 1992. It was to be the group's last release, and was recorded on the 1991–1992 It's My Life Tour. The title, suggested by Hunt Sales, was intended as a play on U2's album Achtung Baby.The album...
in 1992.