Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Lay Your Hands on Me (Thompson Twins song)

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Genre
  
New wave, pop rock

B-side
  
The Lewis Carol (Adventures in Wonderland)

Released
  
26 November 1984 (UK/Australia) 26 July 1985 (U.S./Canada)

Format
  
7" vinyl, 12" vinyl, cassette single

Recorded
  
1 January 1984 – 23 June 1985

Length
  
4:22 (album version) 3:44 (single version)

"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.

Contents

The B-side, "The Lewis Carol (Adventures in Wonderland)", is an instrumental variation of the song and was exclusive to this single.

Music Video

Two versions of the promotional music video directed by Dee Trattmann exist for the single. The original edit of the music video features the band performing the 1984 version of the song on a stage in front of an audience of pop star look-alikes including David Bowie, Siouxsie Sioux, Mari Wilson, Gary Glitter, Boy George and Grace Jones. When the song was reworked in 1985, the video was re-edited with the 1985 version dubbed instead.

Formats

7" UK vinyl single (1984) Arista TWINS 6

Side A

  1. "Lay Your Hands on Me" – 4:11

Side B

  1. "The Lewis Carol (Adventures in Wonderland)" – 4:10
12" UK vinyl single (1984) Arista TWINS 126

Side One

  1. "Lay Your Hands on Me" (Extended Mix/Full Version) – 6:08

Side Two

  1. "The Lewis Carol (Adventures in Wonderland)" – 4:10
7" UK vinyl single (1984) Arista TWING 6

Side A

  1. "Lay Your Hands on Me" (U.S. Re-mix) – 4:19

Side B

  1. "The Lewis Carol (Adventures in Wonderland)" – 4:10
12" UK vinyl single (1984) Arista TWINS 226

Side One

  1. "Lay Your Hands on Me" (U.S. Re-mix) – 5:51

Side Two

  1. "The Lewis Carol (Adventures in Wonderland)" – 4:10
7" UK vinyl Picture Disc (1984) Arista TWISD 6

Side A

  1. "Lay Your Hands on Me" (Single Version) – 3:44

Side B

  1. "The Lewis Carol (Adventures in Wonderland)" – 4:12
12" Australian vinyl single (1984) Arista TWINS 126/Festival Records-X 14155
New Zealand cassette single (1984) Festival Records-C 14155

Side One

  1. "Lay Your Hands on Me" (Extended Version) – 6:05

Side Two

  1. "Lay Your Hands on Me" (U.S. Remix) – 5:56
  2. "The Lewis Carol (Adventures in Wonderland)" – 4:13
7" U.S. vinyl single (1985) Arista AS1-9396

Side A

  1. "Lay Your Hands on Me" (Single Version) – 3:44

Side B

  1. "The Lewis Carol (Adventures in Wonderland)" – 4:12
12" U.S. vinyl single (1985) Arista AD1-9397

Side One

  1. "Lay Your Hands on Me" (Single Version) – 3:52
  2. "The Lewis Carol (Adventures in Wonderland)" – 4:14

Side Two

  1. "Lay Your Hands on Me" (Extended Version) – 6:00
7" vinyl (1985 promo) Arista AS1-9396

Side A

  1. "Lay Your Hands on Me" (Cold Ending) – 3:44

Side B

  1. "Lay Your Hands on Me" (Fade) – 3:44

Personnel

Written by Alannah Currie, Tom Bailey, and Joe Leeway.

  • Tom Bailey - vocals, piano, Fairlight, synthesizers, guitar, contrabass, Fairlight and drum programming
  • Alannah Currie - lyrics, marimba, backing vocals, acoustic drums, percussion, tuned percussion
  • Joe Leeway - backing vocals, congas, percussion
  • 1984 Versions

  • Produced by Alex Sadkin and Tom Bailey
  • Remixed by Alex Sadkin, Tom Bailey, and John 'Tokes' Potoker (U.S. Re-mix)
  • Sleeve Designs – Satori
  • Art Direction - Alannah Currie and Nick Marchant
  • Photography – Moshe Brakha
  • 1985 Versions

  • Produced by Alex Sadkin, Nile Rodgers, and Tom Bailey
  • Engineered by James Farber and Terry Becker
  • Mixed by James Farber
  • Backing Vocals - East Harlem Hobo Choir
  • Mixed at Skyline Studio, NYC
  • Photography - Rebecca Blake
  • Artwork/Design - Andie Airfix, Satori
  • Art Direction - Alannah
  • References

    Lay Your Hands on Me (Thompson Twins song) Wikipedia