Hitsville UK: Difference between revisions

"Hitsville U.K."
"Hitsville U.K."
	Sleeve for the UK and Dutch single releases
Single by The Clash
from the album Sandinista!
B-side	"Radio One"
Released	16 January 1981
Recorded	1980
Genre	Post-punk, pop punk
Length	4:21
Label	CBS
Songwriter(s)	The Clash
Producer(s)	The Clash
The Clash singles chronology

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"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

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

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

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

Ellen Foley – lead vocals
Mick Jones – lead vocals, piano, organ
Joe Strummer – guitar
Norman Watt-Roy – bass guitar
Topper Headon – drums
Jody Linscott – percussion, marimba

Charts

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

References

^ 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.
^ "Hitsville UK". Official Charts Company. 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
^ "The Clash: Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.

This 1980s rock song–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This punk song-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[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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[2]

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
-{{Infobox Single <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs -->
+{{Use British English|date=December 2012}}
-| Name           = Hitsville UK
+{{Infobox song
-| Cover          = HitsvilleUK.jpg
-| Artist         = [[The Clash]]
+| name       = Hitsville U.K.
-| from Album     = [[Sandinista!]]
+| cover      = HitsvilleUK.jpg
-| B-side         = "[[Radio One (song)|Radio One]]"
+| alt        =
+| caption    = Sleeve for the UK and Dutch single releases
-| Released       = [[1981]]
-| Format         = [[Single (music)|7" single]]
+| type       = single
-| Recorded       = [[1980]]
+| artist     = [[The Clash]]
-| Genre          = [[Rock music|Rock]]
+| album      = [[Sandinista!]]
-| Length         = 4:21
+| B-side     = Radio One
+| released   = 16 January 1981
-| Label          = [[CBS Records|CBS]]
-| Writer         = [[The Clash]]
+| recorded   = 1980
-| Producer       = [[The Clash]]
+| studio     =
-| Certification  =
+| venue      =
+| genre      = [[Post-punk]], [[pop punk]]
-| Chart position = * 53 <small>([[USA]] [[Mainstream Rock]])<!-- (1981) --></small>
+| length     = 4:21
-* 56 <small>([[UK]] [[UK Singles Chart|Singles Chart]])</small>
-| Last single    = "[[The Call Up]]"<br />(1980)
+| label      = [[Columbia Records|CBS]]
+| writer     = The Clash
-| This single    = "[[Hitsville UK]]"<br />(1981)
+| producer   = The Clash
-| Next single    = "[[The Magnificent Seven (song)|The Magnificent Seven]]"<br />(1981)
+| prev_title = [[The Call Up]]
-| Misc           =
+| prev_year  = 1980
-<!--
+| next_title = [[The Magnificent Seven (song)|The Magnificent Seven]]
-{{Extra musicsample
+| next_year  = 1981
-| filename       = hitsvilleuksample.ogg
-| title          = Hitsville UK
-| format         = [[Ogg]]
-| Type           = single
-}}
- -->
-{{Extra tracklisting
-| Album          = [[Sandinista!]]
-| Type           = studio
-| Tracks         = ;Side one
-# "[[The Magnificent Seven (song)|The Magnificent Seven]]"
-# "[[Hitsville UK]]"
-# "[[Junco Partner]]"
-# "[[Ivan Meets G.I. Joe]]"
-# "[[The Leader (song)|The Leader]]"
-# "[[Something About England]]"
-;Side two
-# "[[Rebel Waltz]]"
-# "[[Look Here]]"
-# "[[The Crooked Beat]]"
-# "[[Somebody Got Murdered]]"
-# "[[One More Time (song)|One More Time]]"
-# "[[One More Dub]]"
-;Side three
-# "[[Lightning Strikes (Not Once But Twice)]]"
-# "[[Up in Heaven (Not Only Here)]]"
-# "[[Corner Soul]]"
-# "[[Let's Go Crazy (song)|Let's Go Crazy]]"
-# "[[If Music Could Talk]]"
-# "[[The Sound of Sinners]]"
-;Side four
-# "[[Police on My Back]]"
-# "[[Midnight Log]]"
-# "[[The Equaliser (song)|The Equaliser]]"
-# "[[The Call Up]]"
-# "[[Washington Bullets (song)|Washington Bullets]]"
-# "[[Broadway (Clash song)|Broadway]]"
-;Side five
-# "[[Lose This Skin]]"
-# "[[Charlie Don't Surf (song)|Charlie Don't Surf]]"
-# "[[Mensforth Hill]]"
-# "[[Junkie Slip]]"
-# "[[Kingston Advice]]"
-# "[[The Street Parade]]"
-;Side six
-# "[[Version City]]"
-# "[[Living in Fame]]"
-# "[[Silicone on Sapphire]]"
-# "[[Version Pardner]]"
-# "[[Career Opportunities]]"
-# "[[Shepherds Delight]]"
-}}
 }}
+"'''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==
-"[[Hitsville UK]]" is the 13th [[Single (music)|single]] released by [[The Clash]], and the second off their fourth album ''[[Sandinista!]]'' It is a [[duet]] between lead guitarist [[Mick Jones (The Clash)|Mick Jones]] and his one-time girlfriend [[Ellen Foley]]. Overall, it is notable for being one of the band's most overtly [[melodic]] songs, reminiscent of a [[dance]]able [[ballad]] with striking resemblances to, among other songs, [[Jackie Wilson]]'s [[Higher and Higher (song)|Higher and Higher]] and a number of [[Motown Records|Motown]] hits from the early 1960s.
+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>
-Its lyrics refer to the emerging [[independent record label|indie]] scene in [[United Kingdom|British]] music in the late 70's/early 80's, 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 independant labels ([[Small Wonder Records|Small Wonder]], [[Rough Trade Records|Rough Trade]], [[Fast Product]] and [[Factory Records|Factory]]). Notably, the Clash never signed to an indie label but spent their entire career on [[CBS Records]].
+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]]).
+==Release==
-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]].
+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 available on the 1991 compilation ''[[The Singles (1991 The Clash album)|The Singles]]'' and the 2013 remastered compilation ''[[The Clash Hits Back]]''.
-The original release had "Radio One" as the B-side.  A second issue released later in [[1981]] (catalog number 51013) replaced "Radio One" with "[[Police on My Back]]" as the B-side.
+==Track listing==
-Like all other Clash singles, the song is also available in the [[1991]] compilation ''[[The Singles (The Clash album)|The Singles]]''.
+;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==
+* [[Ellen Foley]] – lead vocals
+* [[Mick Jones (The Clash)|Mick Jones]] – lead vocals, piano, organ
+* [[Joe Strummer]] – guitar
+* [[Norman Watt-Roy]] – bass guitar
+* [[Topper Headon]] – drums
+* [[Jody Linscott]] – percussion, marimba
+==Charts==
+{| width="0%"
+|- valign="top"
+| width="50%" |
+{| class="wikitable"
+!Chart
+!Peak<br />position
+!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="center"|56
+|align="left"|January 1981
+|-
+|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="left"|April 1981
+|}
+|}
+==References==
+{{reflist}}
 {{The Clash}}
+{{authority control}}
-[[Category:1980 singles]]
 [[Category:1980 songs]]
-[[Category:Punk rock songs]]
-[[Category:Rock songs]]
-[[Category:Vocal duets]]
 [[Category:The Clash songs]]
+[[Category:Male–female vocal duets]]
+[[Category:1981 singles]]
+[[Category:CBS Records singles]]
-{{1980s-single-stub}}
+{{1980s-rock-song-stub}}
-[[it:Histville UK (singolo)]]
+{{punk-song-stub}}

v t e The Clash
Joe Strummer Mick Jones Paul Simonon Topper Headon Terry Chimes Keith Levene Rob Harper Pete Howard Nick Sheppard Vince White
Studio albums	The Clash Give 'Em Enough Rope London Calling Sandinista! Combat Rock Cut the Crap
Live albums	From Here to Eternity: Live Live at Shea Stadium
Compilations	Black Market Clash The Story of the Clash, Volume 1 1977 Revisited Clash on Broadway The Singles (1991) Super Black Market Clash The Essential Clash Singles Box The Singles (2007) Sound System The Clash Hits Back 5 Album Studio Set
Extended plays	Capital Radio The Cost of Living
Singles	"White Riot" "Remote Control" "Complete Control" "Clash City Rockers" "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" "Tommy Gun" "English Civil War" "I Fought the Law" "Groovy Times" "London Calling" "Clampdown" "Train in Vain" "Bankrobber" "The Call Up" "Hitsville U.K." "The Magnificent Seven" "This Is Radio Clash" "Know Your Rights" "Should I Stay or Should I Go" "Rock the Casbah" "Straight to Hell" "This Is England" "Return to Brixton"
Other songs	"Career Opportunities" "Capital Radio One" "Garageland" "I'm So Bored with the USA" "Janie Jones" "London's Burning" "Police and Thieves" "Jail Guitar Doors" "Brand New Cadillac" "Death or Glory" "Lost in the Supermarket" "Revolution Rock" "Rudie Can't Fail" "Spanish Bombs" "Junco Partner" "Washington Bullets" "Overpowered by Funk"
Films	Rude Boy Concert for Kampuchea Westway to the World Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten London Town
Related articles	Discography Songs Band members The 101ers London SS Public Image Ltd Big Audio Dynamite Havana 3am The Latino Rockabilly War The Pogues The Mescaleros Carbon/Silicon The Good, the Bad & the Queen Gorillaz Spirit of St. Louis Rock Against Racism The Joe Strummer Foundation Bernard Rhodes Don Letts Alex Michon Caroline Coon Sandy Pearlman Guy Stevens Kosmo Vinyl Mick Gallagher Norman Watt-Roy Tymon Dogg Mikey Dread Ellen Foley Futura 2000
Category