Alvin Stardust: A Picture Of You Single (1982)

A Glam Ghost Revival

Alvin Stardust’s “A Picture Of You” 7-inch vinyl single, was released in the UK on November 12, 1982, on Stiff Records (catalogue: BUY 160). Backed with “Hold Tight,” this nostalgic glam cover, written by Oakman and Beveridge, was produced by Peter Collins for Loose End Productions. The A-side’s retro charm and Stardust’s brooding vocals did not chart in the UK. Pressed by CBS Aston Clinton and lacquer cut by ARUN, it was issued in standard and promo variants, with international releases following. A throwback to Stardust’s ‘70s heyday

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Single Overview

A-Side: “A Picture Of You” (2:28, Oakman, Beveridge)

Written-By – Oakman, Beveridge. Producer – Peter Collins. Produced for Loose End Productions.

B-Side: “Hold Tight” (2:25, Alvin Stardust)

Written-By – Alvin Stardust. Producer – Alvin Stardust.

Release Details:

Label: Stiff Records (UK pressing, 45 RPM).

Published By – Southern Music Pub. Co. Ltd. (A), MCA Music Ltd. (B).

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Stiff Records.

Pressed By – CBS Pressing Plant, Aston Clinton.

Lacquer Cut By – ARUN.

Formats:

Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single (BUY 160)

A: “A Picture Of You” (2:28, Oakman, Beveridge) – Written-By – Oakman, Beveridge – Producer – Peter Collins

B: “Hold Tight” (2:25, Alvin Stardust) – Written-By – Alvin Stardust – Producer – Alvin Stardust

Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo (BUY DJ 160)

A: “A Picture Of You” (2:28, Oakman, Beveridge) – Written-By – Oakman, Beveridge – Producer – Peter Collins

B: “Hold Tight” (2:25, Alvin Stardust) – Written-By – Alvin Stardust – Producer – Alvin Stardust: Same tracklist. Promo.

Notes: Publishers: Southern Music Publishing Co. Ltd. (label).

Country Variations:

UK (Stiff BUY 160)

Australia (Stiff 1982)

Belgium (Stiff 1982)

Germany (Stiff 1982)

Netherlands (Stiff 1982)

Sweden (Stiff 1982)

New Zealand (Stiff 1983)

Production and Context

Produced by Peter Collins (A) for Loose End Productions, Alvin Stardust (B). Recorded in 1982. The lineup: Alvin Stardust (vocals), with session musicians. “A Picture Of You” was a ‘60s Joe Brown cover revival, while “Hold Tight” was Stardust’s original. Released amid Stiff’s punk/new wave roster, it followed A Picture Of You album and competed with Culture Club and Kajagoogoo.

Singles Released and Chart Performance

“A Picture Of You” was a non-album single:

Chart Performance:

UK: No chart entry.

Legacy and Collectibility

“A Picture Of You” is Stardust’s glam nostalgia hit, with “Hold Tight” a solid B-side. Original UK 7-inch vinyls fetch £3–£8 on eBay/Discogs, promo variants (£5–£12). Verify catalogue BUY 160.

Streams on Spotify via compilations preserve the analog leather. This single is a must-have for Stardust fans and ‘80s glam collectors.

Have you snagged this Stardust snapshot in your vinyl collection? Does A Picture Of You frame your day? Share in the comments!

Sources

Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts Company, Billboard Chart History and YouTube

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