David Bowie: "Hang On To Yourself" Single (1972)

Arnold Corns’ "Hang On To Yourself" backed with "Man In The Middle", was released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the UK by B&C Records (catalog number CB 189) on August 25, 1972.

Arnold Corns was a band, formed by David Bowie in 1971, the name of which was inspired by the Pink Floyd song "Arnold Layne".

This was one of David Bowie’s side projects and something of a dry run for Ziggy Stardust. The band was formed in Dulwich College and Bowie agreed to write for them.

At the same time he also agreed to write for the 19-year-old designer Freddie Burretti (born Frederick Burrett, aka Rudi Valentino). Bowie came up with the idea of combining Burretti and Arnold Corns, and with the help of Mick Ronson, Mick Woodmansey and Trevor Bolder, a revised version of Arnold Corns was created during the spring of 1971. Bowie was writing material that later became Hunky Dory, as well as songs earmarked for Burretti. Burretti as the frontman was a total fabrication.

The first session by the band, on 10 March 1971, which included "Lady Stardust", "Right on Mother" and "Moonage Daydream" was recorded at the Radio Luxembourg Studios. This was followed by a session, recorded at the Trident Studios on 4 June 1971, which included "Man in the Middle" and "Looking for a Friend".

The band’s first single was "Moonage Daydream" (with a spoken intro) "Whenever You're Ready"/"Hang On to Yourself", released on B&C Records on 7 May 1971 and was a flop. Both these songs later reappeared on Ziggy Stardust in new versions with updated lyrics. The Arnold Corns versions appeared as bonus tracks on the Rykodisc CD re-release of The Man Who Sold the World (minus the spoken intro on "Dream").

A second single "Looking for a Friend"/ "Man in the Middle" (vocals by Valentino) was planned but scrapped (it was released by Krazy Kat in 1984). In August 1972, B&C issued "Hang on to Yourself"/"Man in the Middle" as the second single.

In the Netherlands a 7" vinyl single in picture sleeve of "Moonage Dream" backed with "Hang On To Yourself" by Arnold Corns, was released.

Courtesy of Wikipedia