Hand In Glove (single)

Cover art

Alternate cover art

Sandie Shaw release cover art

THE SMITHS Single
Name	Hand In Glove
Release	13 May 1983 13 April 1984 (Sandie Shaw release) 18 June 2022 (Sandie Shaw release Record Store Day 2022 drop 2 colored vinyl re-issue)
Total Length	3:12 3:25 (album version) 2:59 (Sandie Shaw release)
Recorded	Winter 1983
Writer/composer	Morrissey / Johnny Marr
Producer	The Smiths
Art work	Cover star: Unknown male, photo by Jim French - 'The Nude Male' (1978) by Margaret Walters / Rita Tushingham in "A Taste Of Honey" (1961) (Sandie Shaw release) Layout: Caryn Gough
Vinyl Etching	KISS MY SHADES KISS MY SHADES TOO
Publisher	Rough Trade Records (UK)
Format(s)	7" Vinyl
Chart position	UK #124, UK #27 (Sandie Shaw release), UK Vinyl Chart #2 (Sandie Shaw reissue)
Single chronology
Hand In Glove → This Charming Man
Single (Sandie Shaw release) chronology
What Difference Does It Make? ← Hand In Glove → Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now

Information

• An alternate mix from the Troy Tate Sessions is included on the The Smiths Hang The DJ (Thrice!) bootleg LP.
  
• The cover star has much speculation surrounding him.
  It is suggested the model George O'Mara is the cover star, but has never been fully substantiated.
  This is further confused by two potential photographers: Jim French or Lou Thomas being the person who photographed him.
  See this archive article for more.

Track list

7" Vinyl

UK - [Rough Trade RT 131]

1. Hand In Glove – 3:12
2. Handsome Devil (live, Manchester 1983) – 2:53

7" Vinyl (Sandie Shaw release)

UK - [Rough Trade RT 130]

1. Hand In Glove (featuring Sandie Shaw) – 2:59
2. I Don't Owe You Anything (featuring Sandie Shaw) – 4:04

12" Vinyl (Sandie Shaw release)

UK - [Rough Trade RTT 130]

1. Hand In Glove (featuring Sandie Shaw) – 2:59
2. I Don't Owe You Anything (featuring Sandie Shaw) – 4:04
3. Jeane (featuring Sandie Shaw) – 2:50

Lyrics

Hand in glove
The sun shines out of our behinds
No, it's not like any other love
This one is different because it's us

Hand in glove
We can go wherever we please
And everything depends upon
How near you stand to me

And if the people stare
Then, the people stare
I really don't know and I really don't care

Kiss my shades...

Hand in glove
The Good People laugh
Yes, we may be hidden by rags
But we have something they'll never have

Hand in glove
The sun shines out of our behinds
Yes, we may be hidden by rags
But we have something they'll never have

And if the people stare
Then, the people stare
I really don't know and I really don't care

Kiss my shades...

So hand in glove I stake my claim
I'll fight to the last breath
If they dare touch a hair on your head
I'll fight to the last breath

For The Good Life is out there, somewhere
So stay on my arm, you little charmer
But I know my luck too well
Yes, I know my luck too well
And I'll probably never see you again
I'll probably never see you again
I'll probably never see you again

Promotional Poster

Scan from "Hand In Glove" promo poster - Marc Capella / thesmiths.cat

Live History

Play count (The Smiths concert): 173

The Smiths live history:

• Manchester, England 1983-02-04 (The Smiths concert)
• London, England 1983-05-06 (The Smiths concert)
• London, England 1983-05-21 (The Smiths concert)
• Birmingham, England 1983-06-03 (The Smiths concert)
• London, England 1983-06-29 (The Smiths concert)
• Bournemouth, England 1983-07-01 (The Smiths concert)
• Manchester, England 1983-07-06 (The Smiths concert)
• London, England 1983-07-07 (The Smiths concert)
• London, England 1983-08-07 (The Smiths concert)
• London, England 1983-08-09 (The Smiths concert)

... further results

The Smiths live history - played in concert twice:

• London, England 1983-07-07 (The Smiths concert)
• London, England 1983-08-09 (The Smiths concert)
• Leeds, England 1983-08-11 (The Smiths concert)
• Norwich, England 1983-08-19 (The Smiths concert)
• London, England 1983-08-30 (The Smiths concert)
• London, England 1983-09-15 (The Smiths concert)
• London, England 1983-09-25 (The Smiths concert)
• Birmingham, England 1983-09-30 (The Smiths concert)
• London, England 1983-10-05 (The Smiths concert)
• Sheffield, England 1983-10-17 (The Smiths concert)

... further results

Play count (Morrissey concert): 31

Morrissey live history:

• Lyon, France 2002-10-27 (Morrissey concert)
• Paris, France 2002-10-28 (Morrissey concert)
• Birmingham, England 2002-10-30 (Morrissey concert)
• Bradford, England 2002-10-31 (Morrissey concert)
• Blackburn, England 2002-11-02 (Morrissey concert)
• Glasgow, Scotland 2002-11-03 (Morrissey concert)
• London, England 2002-11-05 (Morrissey concert)
• Athens, Greece 2002-11-08 (Morrissey concert)
• Athens, Greece 2002-11-09 (Morrissey concert)
• Las Vegas, Nevada 2004-04-17 (Morrissey concert)

... further results

Appears On

• Hand In Glove (single)
• The Smiths (album)
• Hatful Of Hollow
• How Soon Is Now? (single)
• The Queen Is Dead
• There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (single)
• Louder Than Bombs
• Best...I
• Singles
• The Very Best Of The Smiths
• The Sound Of The Smiths
• The Smiths Singles Box
• Complete

Appears On Covers Compilation

• Godfathers Of Change Vol. 1: A Tribute To The Smiths
• Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before: A Tribute To The Smiths
• Please, Please, Please: A Tribute To The Smiths
• Rockabye Baby! (Lullaby Renditions Of The Smiths)

Cover Versions

• Blossoms
• Gerard
• Michael Shannon
• Rick Astley
• Sandie Shaw
• Steven Charles Boone
• The Wedding Present
• This Charming Band
• Vanilla Swingers

Related Items

• "Hand In Glove" 20 Years On: Unraveling the identity of The Smiths first cover star - Morrissey-solo (May 13, 2003)

Mentioned In

• Shirley Bassey

Discogs Information

Credits

• Bass Guitar - Andy Rourke
• Drums - Mike Joyce
• Guitar, Harmonica - Johnny Marr
• Lacquer Cut By - Porky (5)
• Music By [All] - Johnny Marr
• Photography By - Jim French (4)
• Producer, Sleeve - The Smiths
• Voice - Morrissey
• Words By [All] - Morrissey
• Written-By - Johnny Marr
• Written-By - Morrissey

Notes

Labels: ℗ 1983

Back cover: [A-side] Recorded at Strawberry Studios March 83 [B-side] Recorded live at The Hacienda Manchester 83

Endless Gratitude to Joe and Janet Contact address: 70, Portland St, Manchester M3. 061-236 8167

Images

• Hand In Glove - Discogs master release: https://www.discogs.com/master/77418
• Hand In Glove (7" 45 RPM Single Solid Centre, Manchester Address) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/452932-The-Smiths-Hand-In-Glove

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

A side recorded at Strawberry Studios, March 83. B side recorded live at The Hacienda, Manchester 83.

London Collier street address.

Negative version of the original sleeve.

Images

• Hand In Glove (7" 45 RPM Single Reissue Negative Sleeve) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/5040462-The-Smiths-Hand-In-Glove

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

Sandie Shaw sings The Smiths songs in place of Morrissey.

[Sleeve:] Cover star: Rita Tushingham Culled from A Taste Of Honey (directed by Tony Richardson, 1961). Layout [...] at Ai Recorded at Matrix (London) Feb. 1984 ℗ © 1984 Rough Trade Records Ltd

Additional runout information: - Runouts are etched except for the stamped Aston Clinton stamper numbers and letters - Letter A appears as a "broken" A (Λ)

Images

• Hand In Glove (12" 45 RPM Single) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/456736-Sandie-Shaw-Hand-In-Glove

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

℗ & © 1984 Rough Trade Records Ltd.

Sandie Shaw sings Smiths songs in place of Morrissey, who does back-up vocals.

Cover star: Rita Tushingham, culled from A Taste Of Honey.

Text within circle on front cover reads "Platte in mehrfarbigem Vinyl"

Images

• Hand In Glove (12" 45 RPM Maxi-Single Marbled) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/1456424-Sandie-Shaw-Hand-In-Glove

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

Record Store Day UK exclusive. Limited edition red vinyl,1500 copies. Comes with obi strip (crediting the release to 'Sandie Shaw + The Smiths'), poster and insert (in Japanese).

'Jeane' is an extended version, running at 3:12 compared to the original running time of 2:50.

Images

• Hand in Glove (12" 45 RPM Maxi-Single Record Store Day Limited Edition Red) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/23637638-Sandie-Shaw-Hand-in-Glove

Wikipedia Information

"Hand in Glove" is the debut single by English rock band the Smiths, written by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr. It was released in May 1983 on independent record label Rough Trade. It peaked at No. 3 on the UK Indie Chart but did not make the top 75 of the UK Singles Chart, settling outside at No. 124. A remixed version of the song was featured on the band's debut album, The Smiths, in 1984. That same year, a cover version recorded by singer Sandie Shaw featuring Smiths members Marr, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce as backing musicians reached No. 27 on the UK Singles Chart. The Smiths' original single mix was included on the compilation albums Hatful Of Hollow, also released in 1984, and Louder Than Bombs, released in 1987.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_in_Glove

Related Forum Threads

• 30th anniversary of "Hand In Glove" release (original release date: May 13, 1983) - Morrissey-solo (May 13, 2013)
• RSD 2022 drop 2: Sandie Shaw - Hand In Glove coloured vinyl 12" released (June 18, 2022) - Morrissey-solo (Jun 17, 2022)
• Sandie Shaw "Hand In Glove" re-issue enters the Official UK Vinyl Singles Chart at #2 - Morrissey-solo (Jun 24, 2022)
• [Morrissey Central] "40 YEARS AGO" (May 17, 2023) - Morrissey-solo (May 17, 2023)
• Email from The Smiths - "40 years of 'Hand in Glove'" - Morrissey-solo (Aug 16, 2023)
• The Smiths A-Z: "Hand in Glove" - Morrissey-solo (Feb 10, 2022)