August 10, 1979:

The single "Ships" by Ian Hunter with "Wild East" as the B-side was released by Chrysalis Records in the UK under catalog number CHS 2346,

Written by Ian Hunter and produced by Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson, both tracks were taken from Hunter's fourth solo album, You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic. The song is noted for its classic rock style with a melodic, introspective tone. While Hunter's version did not chart, it gained wider recognition through a cover by Barry Manilow, which peaked at 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 4 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the U.S. in 1979.