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"'''Hitsville U.K.'''" is a song by [[the Clash]] and the second off their fourth album ''[[Sandinista!]]''. A [[duet]] between lead guitarist [[Mick Jones (The Clash)|Mick Jones]] and his then-girlfriend [[Ellen Foley]], it's the 13th [[Single (music)|single]] release by the Clash.
"'''Hitsville U.K.'''" is a song by the English [[punk rock]] band [[the Clash]] from their 1980 album ''[[Sandinista!]]''. A duet between lead guitarist [[Mick Jones (The Clash)|Mick Jones]] and his then-girlfriend [[Ellen Foley]], it is the second single released from the album.


==Composition==
⚫
The lyrics refer to the emerging [[independent record label|indie]] scene in British music in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which is held in contrast to the "mutants, creeps and musclemen" of the major labels with their "expense accounts" and "lunch discounts", making "[[Album-oriented rock|AOR]]" and using "chart-hyping" to sell their records. References are made to a number of UK independent labels ([[Small Wonder Records|Small Wonder]], [[Rough Trade Records|Rough Trade]], [[Fast Product]] and [[Factory Records|Factory]]).
⚫
The song's title is a nod to [[Motown Records]], which used the moniker "[[Hitsville U.S.A.]]" in its advertising and to refer to the label's first headquarters in Detroit.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Curtis |first=James M. |year=1987 |title=Rock Eras: Interpretations of Music and Society, 1954-1984 |url=https://archive.org/details/rockerasinterpre00curt/page/314 |location=Bowling Green, Kentucky |publisher=Bowling Green State University Popular Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/rockerasinterpre00curt/page/314 314] |isbn=9780879723682 |url-access=registration }}</ref>


⚫
The lyrics refer to the emerging [[independent record label|indie]] scene in British music in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which is held in contrast to the "mutants, creeps and musclemen" of the major labels with their "expense accounts" and "lunch discounts", making "[[Album-oriented rock|AOR]]" and using "chart-hyping" to sell their records. References are made to a number of UK independent labels ([[Lightning Records|Lightning]], [[Small Wonder Records|Small Wonder]], [[Rough Trade Records|Rough Trade]], [[Fast Product]] and [[Factory Records|Factory]]).
⚫
The song's title is a nod to [[Motown Records]], which used the moniker "[[Hitsville U.S.A.]]" in its advertising and to refer to the label's first headquarters in [[Detroit]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Curtis |first=James M. |year=1987 |title=Rock Eras: Interpretations of Music and Society, 1954-1984 |url=https://archive.org/details/rockerasinterpre00curt/page/314 |location=Bowling Green, Kentucky |publisher=Bowling Green State University Popular Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/rockerasinterpre00curt/page/314 314] |isbn=9780879723682 |url-access=registration }}</ref>


==Release==
The original UK release had "Radio One" by [[Mikey Dread]] as the B-side. A second issue released later in 1981 in the U.S. (catalog number 51013) replaced "Radio One" with "[[Police on My Back]]" as the B-side.<ref name="theclash.com-discography">{{cite web |url=http://www.theclash.com/#/discography/ |title=The Clash discography |access-date=2008-11-03 |publisher=TheClash.com }}</ref>
The original UK single release included "Radio One" by [[Mikey Dread]] as the B-side. A second issue, released later in 1981 in the U.S., replaced "Radio One" with "[[Police on My Back]]" as the B-side.{{citation needed|date=February 2022|reason=Previously cited source does not include any info on this.}}


Like all other Clash singles, the song is also available in the 1991 compilation ''[[The Singles (1991 The Clash album)|The Singles]]'' and the 2013 remastered compilation ''[[The Clash Hits Back]]''.
Like all other Clash singles, the song is available on the 1991 compilation ''[[The Singles (1991 The Clash album)|The Singles]]'' and the 2013 remastered compilation ''[[The Clash Hits Back]]''.


==Track listing==
American indie band [[Joy Zipper]] covered "Hitsville U.K." for the ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'' magazine cover disc ''White Riot Volume Two: A Tribute to The Clash'' in 2003.
;7" vinyl
# "Hitsville UK" (The Clash) – 4:23
# "Radio One" (Mikey Dread) – 6:20

;7" vinyl (North America)
# "Hitsville UK" (The Clash) – 4:23
# "Police On My Back" (Eddy Grant) – 3:16


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
* [[Ellen Foley]] – [[lead vocals]], [[percussion]]
* [[Ellen Foley]] – lead vocals
* [[Mick Jones (The Clash)|Mick Jones]] – [[lead vocal]], [[pianos]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]]
* [[Mick Jones (The Clash)|Mick Jones]] – lead vocals, piano, organ
* [[Joe Strummer]] – [[guitar]]
* [[Joe Strummer]] – guitar
* [[Norman Watt-Roy]] – [[bass guitar]]
* [[Norman Watt-Roy]] – bass guitar
* [[Topper Headon]] – [[drums]], [[percussion]]
* [[Topper Headon]] – drums
* [[Jody Linscott]] – percussion, marimba


==Charts==
==Charts==
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!Date
!Date
|-
|-
|align="left"|[[UK Singles Chart]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/hitsville-uk/ |title=Hitsville UK |date=2019 |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=3 August 2019 }}</ref>
|align="left"|[[UK Singles Chart]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/hitsville-uk/ |title=Hitsville UK |date=2019 |publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=3 August 2019 }}</ref>
|align="center"|56
|align="center"|56
|align="left"|January 1981
|align="left"|January 1981
|-
|-
|align="left"|U.S. [[Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks|Mainstream Rock]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/the-clash/chart-history/hot-mainstream-rock-tracks |title=The Clash: Mainstream Rock Tracks |date=2019 |work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=3 August 2019 }}</ref>
|align="left"|U.S. [[Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks|Mainstream Rock]]<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-clash/chart-history/rtt/ |title=The Clash: Mainstream Rock Tracks |date=2019 |magazine=Billboard|access-date=3 August 2019 }}</ref>
|align="center"|53
|align="center"|53
|align="left"|April 1981
|align="left"|April 1981
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[[Category:1980 songs]]
[[Category:1980 songs]]
[[Category:The Clash songs]]
[[Category:The Clash songs]]
[[Category:Vocal duets]]
[[Category:Male–female vocal duets]]
[[Category:Post-punk songs]]
[[Category:1981 singles]]
[[Category:1981 singles]]
[[Category:CBS Records singles]]
[[Category:CBS Records singles]]

Latest revision as of 12:39, 13 August 2023

"Hitsville U.K."
Sleeve for the UK and Dutch single releases
Single by The Clash
from the album Sandinista!
B-side"Radio One"
Released16 January 1981
Recorded1980
GenrePost-punk, pop punk
Length4:21
LabelCBS
Songwriter(s)The Clash
Producer(s)The Clash
The Clash singles chronology
"The Call Up"
(1980) 		"Hitsville U.K."
(1981) 		"The Magnificent Seven"
(1981)

"Hitsville U.K." is a song by the English punk rock band the Clash from their 1980 album Sandinista!. A duet between lead guitarist Mick Jones and his then-girlfriend Ellen Foley, it is the second single released from the album.

Composition

[edit]

The song's title is a nod to Motown Records, which used the moniker "Hitsville U.S.A." in its advertising and to refer to the label's first headquarters in Detroit.[1]

The lyrics refer to the emerging indie scene in British music in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which is held in contrast to the "mutants, creeps and musclemen" of the major labels with their "expense accounts" and "lunch discounts", making "AOR" and using "chart-hyping" to sell their records. References are made to a number of UK independent labels (Lightning, Small Wonder, Rough Trade, Fast Product and Factory).

Release

[edit]

The original UK single release included "Radio One" by Mikey Dread as the B-side. A second issue, released later in 1981 in the U.S., replaced "Radio One" with "Police on My Back" as the B-side.[citation needed]

Like all other Clash singles, the song is available on the 1991 compilation The Singles and the 2013 remastered compilation The Clash Hits Back.

Track listing

[edit]
7" vinyl
  1. "Hitsville UK" (The Clash) – 4:23
  2. "Radio One" (Mikey Dread) – 6:20
7" vinyl (North America)
  1. "Hitsville UK" (The Clash) – 4:23
  2. "Police On My Back" (Eddy Grant) – 3:16

Personnel

[edit]

Charts

[edit]
Chart Peak
position 		Date
UK Singles Chart[2] 56 January 1981
U.S. Mainstream Rock[3] 53 April 1981

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Curtis, James M. (1987). Rock Eras: Interpretations of Music and Society, 1954-1984. Bowling Green, Kentucky: Bowling Green State University Popular Press. p. 314. ISBN 9780879723682.
  2. ^ "Hitsville UK". Official Charts Company. 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  3. ^ "The Clash: Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.


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