BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985
REQUEST
“Lay Your Hands on Me” is a 1984 song by the British band Thompson Twins. It was the first single to be released from their 1985 album Here’s To Future Days, and was released in the UK almost a year in advance of the album. It was written by Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie, and Joe Leeway. There are two main versions of the song, with various edits and remixes of the two. The first version was produced by Alex Sadkin & Tom Bailey was released in late 1984 in Europe and Australia. The 1985 version was a reworking co-produced by Nile Rodgers, adding electric guitar and a gospel choir and released as a single in the US (this version appeared on the album). The single peaked at #13 in the UK, spending nine weeks on the chart. The single fared better in America where it peaked at #6 on the US Billboard 100 and also peaked at #46 on the US Dance /Club Play Singles.
The B-side, “The Lewis Carol (Adventures In Wonderland)”, is an instrumental variation of the song and was exclusive to this single.
SIDE A:
Lay Your Hands On Me (Single Version) 3:57
Producer – Alex Sadkin, Nile Rodgers, Tom Bailey
The Lewis Carol (Adventures In Wonderland) 4:13
Producer – Alex Sadkin, Tom Bailey
SIDE B:
Lay Your Hands On Me (Extended Version) 6:00
Producer – Alex Sadkin, Nile Rodgers, Tom Bailey
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Lay Your Hands On Me | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #6 |
| 1985 | Lay Your Hands On Me | U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary | #14 |
| 1985 | Lay Your Hands On Me | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #46 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Arista – AD1-9397
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Art Direction – Alannah Currie
Design – Andie Airfix, Satori (14)
Mixed By – James Farber
Photography By – Rebecca Blake (2)
Written-By – Alannah Currie, Joe Leeway, Tom Bailey
NOTES:
“Lay Your Hands On Me” taken from forthcoming album/cassette
“Here’s To Future Days”
Mastered at Masterdisk.
Find the 12″ on DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Love the Lewis Carrol, as I always found the song could do without the choir, to make it more intimate. So I did my own editting (okay, press play/pauze a lot while recording) of both sides of my 12” back then :-0
Interesting, I picked up the uk version of the single in the used bin and when I played it I thought, this record doesn’t sound at all like I remember… now it all makes sense. Thank you!
Thank you so much for this great post! I think the Extended Version is unique – it’s a longer version than the “U.S. Remix” which has been issued on on the TT’s remix compilations and singles. Is that right?
Though the U.S. Remix has a similar timing, it is a completely different remix of the original 1984 version.
Don’t stop it ! thx
Awesome. More Twins please if you do get time. As Normand said on the Facebook post on this, at least one of these tracks haven’t ever appeared in full on CD STILL. So, many thanks for this!
Just checked it’s been exactly 6 months since the last Twins post!
Couple of weeks back had the pleasure of meeting Tom , and seeing him perform this very track with Nile Rogers on stage (first time on stage together since Live Aid)
Adore this song (in all it’s versions) but the full Nile Rogers extended is normally cut down on compilations so thanks for presenting it in all it’s glory
Paul,
Thank you for this gem from the Twins! You wouldn’t happen to have “Sugar Daddy” or “Come Inside” on 12″? I’d love to have either of those! 🙂
I love(d) the Tompson Twins. There must be about 20 12inches in my collection.
Gosh, the Eighties were awesome, weren´t they!? 🙂
With Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Blancmange, depeche, PSB, Ultravox, Howard Jones, Nik Kershaw, Tears For Fears, Talk Talk, Yello, Duran, Erasure, Heaven 17 and and and. The list of my “favourite bands” is endless 🙂
…Cyndi Lauper, Wham, Sting, A-ha, Johnny Hates Jazz, Bros, Alison Moyet, George Michael, T’pau, Yazoo, Prince… and many more!
Thank you, Paul.
My favorite new wave band and one of their finest singles.
Cheers!
Chris
You’re welcome Chris 🙂
Paul, whoa, you just have no idea on how PHENOMENAL you are!! You put the pyrotechnics of fireworks to shame with your dazzling displays of audio and the gorgeous light from your personality!! Thanks for these posts because I missed so much back in the 80’s. It’s a hard fact to admit, but I couldn’t buy everything I wanted. That’s why I am so grateful to you and these gifts you lavish on us. It’s Christmas everyday with you. A great big musical ORGASM without much clean-up afterwards (although, a towel is needed most of the time to wipe the… Read more »
Thank you Jeff. I missed out on a lot of records in the 80’s too. Everyday someone sends me an email asking me to track down a forgotten record sometimes I have never heard of the band/song but it ends up being a new favorite. I love my readers so much 🙂
While we are all reminded about how awesome the Thompson Twins are, I’d like us to think a moment about the sadly late, but VERY great Alex Sadkin! He was such an amazing producer, remixer and engineer. Just listen deeply to every note in The Lewis Carol! Many fans rue the day Nile Rogers got involved but lets stick to Alex Sadkin. His work on Quick Step and Into The Gap catapulted Thompson Twins to international stardom but in 1987 when he was horrifically killed, the world lost such a great talent who had so much more to give! Thank… Read more »
I deeply miss Alex Sadkin such a huge force in 80’s music. The music world would have been quite different without Alex in it.
I cannot believe it´s been 29 years since he left us. Jeeeez.
As a huge lover of all things Compass Point All Stars I can only subscribe – and hey I’m gonna play The Apple Stretching – again.
Bloomin’ awesome! It’s about time we had more Thompson twins!! 🙂
This era was great! All of the cover art was amazing and I loved collecting all of the 7″s, 12″s and picture discs!
Wasn’t this a very late release in the USA after Tom’s illness, as it came out in the UK in 1984?
Thank you!
From what I know it was released almost a year before the album in the Uk in 1984 and then remixed for the USA in 1985.
Hi Paul, the reason for the delay is because Tom got seriously ill. The album was put on hold and the UK tour cancelled. In return we got a free live album! When Tom was better a year later the world had moved on and the album took a new direction with a new producer. I remember it all being a frantic and worrying time as everything was in limbo. The early version of King For A Day with Alex producing is awesome! It would have been great to have heard a final album wholly produced by Alex. Luckily I… Read more »
Are you talking about the version with “Fools in paradise” lyrics, from The Greatest Hits 1996 CD?
That lyric first appeared on the Greatest hits from 1990… https://www.discogs.com/Thompson-Twins-The-Greatest-Hits/master/270130
Does “the early version of King For A Day with Alex producing” appear on a TTwins release?
There are some people that know everything about the Twins but my memory fails me on this. It’s quite a complicated issue i think. So many versions of this track! The Remixes and rarities CD from 2014 (i think) is the best place to go. If you don’t own it, buy it ASAP.
OMG!!! Paul. Thanks for this excellent choice. This is one of their best singles!. Infact everything off Here’s To Future Days was great!
You’re welcome Omar 🙂